my half and join it with thine, for well do I know thy heart, my brother—­and thou art the elder, and Duke; go therefore and woo this lady to wife, and God speed thee, my lord.’  But Beltane said:  ’Shame were it in me to take advantage of my years thus; doth age or rank make a man’s love more worthy?  So, get thee to thy wooing, my brother, and heaven’s blessing on thee.’  Then grew Johan full of joy, saying:  ’So be it, dear my brother, but am I come not to thee within three days at sunset, then shalt know that my wooing hath not prospered.’  Upon the third day, therefore, Beltane the Duke girded on his armour and made ready to ride unto his own demesne, yet tarried until sunset, according to his word.  But his brother Johan came not.  Therefore he, in turn, rode upon his wooing and came unto the lady’s presence in hauberk of mail, and thus ungently clad wooed her as one in haste to be gone, telling her that this world was no place for a man to sigh out his days at a woman’s feet, and bidding her answer him’ Yea’ or ‘Nay’ and let him be gone to his duty.  And she, whom so many had wooed on bended knee, spake him’ Yea’—­for that a woman’s ways be beyond all knowledge—­and therewith gave her beauty to his keeping.  So, forthwith were they wed, with much pomp and circumstance, and so he brought her to his Duchy with great joy and acclaim.  Then would Johan have departed over seas, but Beltane ever dissuaded him, and fain these brethren would have loved each other as they had done aforetime, yet was the beauty of this woman ever betwixt them.  Now, within that year, came news of fire and sword upon the border, of cruel rape and murder, so Beltane sent forth his brother Johan with an army to drive back the invaders, and himself abode in his great castle, happy in the love of his fair, young wife.  But the war went ill, tidings came that Johan his brother was beaten back with much loss and he himself sore wounded.  Therefore the Duke made ready to set forth at the head of a veteran company, but ere he rode a son was born to him, so needs must he come to his wife in his armour, and beholding the child, kissed him.  Thereafter Duke Beltane rode to the war with a glad heart, and fell upon his enemies and scattered them, and pursued them far and smote them even to their own gates.  But in the hour of his triumph he fell, by treachery, into the hands of his cruelest enemy, how it mattereth not, and for a space was lost to sight and memory.  But as for Johan, the Duke’s brother, he lay long sick of his wounds, so came the Duchess and ministered to him; and she was fair, and passing fair, and he was young.  And when his strength was come again, each day was Johan minded to ride forth and seek the Duke his brother—­but he was young, and she passing fair, wherefore he tarried still, bound by the lure of her beauty.  And, upon a soft and stilly eve as they walked together in the garden, she wooed Johan with tender look and word, and wreathed her white arms about him and gave to his her mouth.  And, in that moment came one, fierce and wild of aspect, in dinted casque and rusty mail who stood and watched—­ah God!”