The Water of the Wondrous Isles · Chapter
VI: Of the Sundering of Birdalone from Gerard and His Sons explained
Birdalone, disguised as a young man in light armor, departs from the City of the Five Crafts with Gerard and his sons.
What happens
Birdalone, disguised as a young man in light armor, departs from the City of the Five Crafts with Gerard and his sons. After a five-day journey, they stop at a place where the road turns from Mostwyke. There, Birdalone announces that they must part: she will go to Greenford to seek her friends, while they return to Five Crafts and eventually to Utterhay. Gerard expresses no grudge but asks for prayers at his grave. Robert confesses his unrequited love, blessing her pursuit of her true lover. Giles asks for a kiss at parting and future meeting, which Birdalone grants, affirming her love for them as brothers. They part in tears, and Birdalone rides on alone toward Greenford.
Themes in this chapter
Journey and Quest
Birdalone continues her quest to find her friends, parting from Gerard and his sons to pursue her goal.
Love and Desire
Robert and Giles express their love for Birdalone, while she affirms her love for them as brothers, highlighting different forms of love and desire.
Characters to notice
- Birdalone
Disguised as a young man, she parts from Gerard and his sons to seek her friends at Greenford, affirming her love for them as brothers.
- Gerard of the Clee
Accepts the parting without grudge, asking only that Birdalone kiss his burial stone and sing masses for him.
- Robert Gerardson
Confesses his unrequited love for Birdalone, blessing her pursuit of her bodily lover and affirming his enduring devotion.
- Giles Gerardson
Slow to speech, he asks for a kiss at parting and future meeting, which Birdalone grants, calling him brother.
Key passages
“She was armed in a light hauberk, and over it a long and loose surcoat that came down beneath the knee of her; and a sallet she had upon her head, wide but light, so that not very much of her face was to be seen.”
Birdalone wore a light chainmail shirt under a long, loose overcoat that reached below her knees, and a wide but lightweight helmet that concealed most of her face.
Describes Birdalone's disguise as a young man.
“I have a hope that we shall yet meet again, be it in Utterhay or in some other place.”
Birdalone expresses hope for a future reunion with Gerard and his sons, either in Utterhay or elsewhere.
Birdalone's parting words of hope.
“I have loved thee in such wise that never mayst thou love me as much as I love thee, if thou hast anywhere, as I deem thou hast, a lover of thy body, whom thou lovest.”
Robert confesses his love, acknowledging that Birdalone likely loves another man more than she could ever love him.
Robert's declaration of unrequited love.
“I will crave this of thee, that thou kiss me on the lips, now whenas we part; and again, that thou wilt do as much when first we meet again hereafter.”
Giles asks Birdalone to kiss him on the lips at their parting and again when they next meet.
Giles's request for a kiss as a token of affection.