# XXIV: Face-of-God Giveth That Token to the Bride explained — The Roots of the Mountains

> Chapter companion for The Roots of the Mountains by William Morris.

## What happens

Face-of-god gives the Bride the ring from Sun-beam as a token of his oath to give her the second man-child he begets. The Bride, heartbroken, declares she will announce the sundering herself and forbids Face-of-god from speaking of it. She resolves to bear the sorrow alone, while Face-of-god longs for the spring market and Sun-beam.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Sacrifice

Face-of-god sacrifices his bond with the Bride for his love of Sun-beam, while the Bride sacrifices her pride to bear the sorrow alone.

### Honor and Oath-Keeping

Face-of-god swears a solemn oath to give the Bride the second man-child, and the Bride insists on taking the public blame to preserve honor.

## Character check-ins

### Face-of-god

Gives the Bride the ring from Sun-beam and swears the oath. He is abashed by her grief but remains resolved in his love for Sun-beam.

### The Bride

Receives the ring and hears the message. She weeps openly, forbids Face-of-god from taking blame, and declares she will announce the sundering herself.

### Gold-mane

Referred to as Gold-mane by the Bride; he is the same as Face-of-god. He struggles with guilt but holds to his troth with Sun-beam.

### Sun-beam

Mentioned as the Mountain-Woman who sent the ring and message; Face-of-god longs to see her again at the spring market.

### Iron-face

Mentioned as the Alderman who bid the Bride sleep in the House of the Face.

## Key lines

> She saith, that thou shalt bear in mind, That tomorrow is a new day.

Sun-beam sends a message that the future holds hope and change.

_The Bride rejects this comfort, feeling trapped in her present sorrow._

> I swear to give to my kinswoman the Bride the second man-child that I beget; to be hers, to leave or cherish, to love or hate, as her will may bid her.

Face-of-god swears to give the Bride his second son, granting her full authority over the child.

_This oath formalizes the severance of their romantic bond while acknowledging kinship._

> I shall declare unto men that I will not wed thee; and belike they may wonder why it is, till they see thee wedded to the Woman of the Mountain.

The Bride will announce publicly that she refuses to marry Face-of-god, allowing him to marry Sun-beam without scandal.

_She takes the burden of shame upon herself to protect Face-of-god's honor._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_roots_of_the_mountains_se/chapters/xxiv-face-of-god-giveth-that-token-to-the-bride
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_roots_of_the_mountains_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_roots_of_the_mountains_se/chapters