The Water of the Wondrous Isles · Chapter
Of the Love of Gerard's Sons and of Jacobus for Birdalone explained
Birdalone lives in peace and prosperity with her mother Audrey, having been taken into the broiderers' guild.
What happens
Birdalone lives in peace and prosperity with her mother Audrey, having been taken into the broiderers' guild. She maintains Gerard and his sons as her men, but becomes troubled by the love that Robert and Giles Gerardson, as well as Master Jacobus, have for her. Jacobus openly woos her and offers marriage, but she refuses him. Eventually, he gives her the house as a gift and departs, leaving Birdalone to dwell with her mother and household, though her inner longing and sadness grow.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Desire
The chapter centers on the unrequited love of the Gerardsons and Jacobus for Birdalone, and her own hidden longing for another man.
Female Agency and Autonomy
Birdalone manages her own household, maintains her men, and makes her own choices about suitors, though she is moved by Jacobus's generous gift.
Characters to notice
- Birdalone
Now living in peace with her mother Audrey, she is troubled by the love of the Gerardsons and Jacobus, yet remains debonair and generous to all.
- Audrey
Revealed as Birdalone's true mother, she lives with Birdalone in loving-kindness and regains her youthful goodliness.
- Robert Gerardson
One of Gerard's sons, deeply in love with Birdalone but never speaks of it; his longing is evident to her.
- Giles Gerardson
The other son of Gerard, similarly wounded by love for Birdalone, yet serves her faithfully.
- Master Jacobus
The master who openly woos Birdalone and offers marriage; after being refused, he gives her the house as a gift and departs.
Key passages
“she might not fail to see that the love of her had entered into the hearts of the two Gerardsons, Robert and Giles; so that times were when she deemed she must even send them away, but when it came to the point she had not the heart thereto”
Birdalone realized that both Robert and Giles Gerardson had fallen in love with her, and though she sometimes thought she should dismiss them, she could not bring herself to do so.
Highlights Birdalone's compassion and the emotional burden of being loved by those she values as friends.
“I will not that thou shouldst depart out of this house, for a goodly one it is, and full meet for thee; it is for me to depart, and not for thee.”
Jacobus insists that Birdalone should stay in the house, and that he will leave instead, offering her the deed of gift.
Shows Jacobus's generous and self-sacrificing response to rejection, which deeply moves Birdalone.