yeare
even
they
unto
whom
I
was
sent
,
but
they
who
sent
me
,
and
who
saved
me
from
death
and
worse
,
bade
me
do
mine
errand
in
such
a
way
,
that
I
should
speak
with
each
one
of
you
privily
,
and
that
for
a
token
each
should
tell
me
a
thing
known
but
to
him
and
his
love
,
and
to
me
unto
whom
she
hath
told
it
.
Now
am
I
all
ready
to
do
mine
errand
thus
,
and
no
other
wise
.
Laughed
they
now
,
and
were
merry
,
and
the
Green
Knight
blushed
like
a
maiden
;
forsooth
like
to
his
very
speech-friend
Viridis
.
But
the
Black
Squire
said
:
Fair
fellows
,
get
we
all
into
the
pleasance
this
fair
morn
,
and
sit
there
on
the
grass
,
and
our
sweet
lady
shall
take
us
one
after
other
into
the
plashed
alley
,
and
have
the
tokens
of
us
.
Even
so
they
did
,
and
went
into
the
pleasance
,
which
was
a
goodly
little
garth
south
of
the
castle
,
grassed
,
and
set
thick
with
roses
and
lilies
and
gillyflowers
,
and
other
fragrant
flowers
.
There
then
they
sat
on
the
daisied
greensward
,
the
three
lords
together
,
and
Birdalone
over
against
them
,
and
they
three
watched
her
beauty
and
loveliness
and
wondered
thereat
.
But
she
said
:
Now
it
comes
to
the
very
point
of
mine
errand
;
wherefore
I
bid
thee
,
Baudoin
the
Golden
Knight
,
to
come
apart
with
me
and
answer
to
my
questions
,
so
that
I
may
know
surely
that
I
am
doing
mine
errand
aright
.
Therewith
she
arose
to
her
feet
,
and
he
also
,
and
he
led
her
into
the
plashed
alley
,
out
of
earshot
of
the
other
twain
,
who
lay
upon
the
grass
biding
their
turn
with
but
little
patience
.
But
when
those
two
were
in
the
deep
shade
of
the
alley
,
Birdalone
said
:
Thou
must
know
,
Sir
Golden
Knight
,
that
the
three
lovers
of
you
three
were
good
to
me
in
my
need
,
and
clad
my
nakedness
from
their
very
bodies
,
but
this
raiment
they
lent
me
,
and
gave
it
not
;
for
they
bade
me
give
it
up
piece
by
piece
each
unto
the
one
who
had
given
it
to
his
love
,
whom
I
should
know
by
the
token
that
he
should
tell
truly
the
tale
of
its
giving
.
Now
,
fair
sir
,
I
know
well
,
for
I
have
been
told
,
what
was
the
tale
of
thy
giving
this
golden
gown
to
Aurea
,
and
that
same
tale
shalt
thou
now
tell
me
,
and
if
thou
tell
it
aright
,
then
is
the
gown
thine
.
Begin
,
then
,
without
more
tarrying
.
Lady
,
said
the
knight
,
thus
it
was
:
Aurea
,
my
sweetling
,
abode
with
an
ancient
dame
,
a
kinswoman
of
hers
,
who
was
but
scantly
kind
to
her
;
and
on
a
day
when
we
had
met
privily
,
and
were
talking
together
,
my
love
lamented
the
niggard
ways
of
her
said
kinswoman
,
and
told
how
she
had
no
goodly
gown
to
make
her
fair
when
feasts
were
toward
;
but
I
laughed
at
her
,
and
told
her
that
so
clad
as
she
was
(
and
her
attire
was
verily
but
simple
)
she
was
fairer
than
any
other
;
and
then
,
as
ye
may
wot
,
there
was
kissing
and
clipping
between
us
;
but
at
last
,
as
from
the
first
I
meant
it
,
I
promised
her
I
would
purvey
her
such
a
gown
as
no
lady
should
go
with
a
better
in
all
the
country-side
;
but
I
said
that
in
return
I
must
have
the
gown
she
went
in
then
,
which
had
so
long
embraced
her
body
and
been
strained
so
close
to
her
body
and
her
sides
,
and
was
as
it
were
a
part
of
her
.
That
she
promised
me
with
kisses
,
and
I
went
away
as
merry
as
a
bird
.
Straightway
thereafter
I
did
do
make
this
very
gown
,
which
thou
bearest
,
dear
maiden
,
and
on
the
appointed
day
she
came
out
to
me
unto
the
same
place
clad
as
she
was
before
;
but
the
new
gown
I
had
with
me
.
Hard
by
our
trysting-place
was
a
hazel-copse
thick
enow
,
for
it
was
midsummer
,
and
she
said
she
would
go
thereinto
and
shift
gowns
,
and
bear
me
out
thence
the
gift
of
the
old
clout
(
so
she
called
it
,
laughing
merrily
)
.
But
I
said
:
Nay
,
I
would
go
into
the
copse
with
her
to
guard
her
from
evil
things
,
beasts
or
men
;
and
withal
to
see
her
do
off
the
old
gown
,
that
I
might
know
before
I
wedded
her
whatlike
stuffing
and
padding
went
to
make
the
grace
of
her
flanks
and
her
hips
.
And
again
was
she
merry
,
and
she
said
:
Come
,
then
,
thou
Thomas
unbelieving
,
and
see
the
side
of
me
.
So
we
went
into
that
cover
together
,
and
she
did
off
her
gown
before
mine
eyes
,
and
stood
there
in
her
white
coat
with
her
arms
bare
,
and
her
shoulders
and
bosom
little
covered
,
and
she
was
as
lovely
as
a
woman
of
the
faery
.
Then
I
made
no
prayer
unto
her
for
leave
,
but
took
my
arms
about
her
,
and
kissed
her
arms
and
shoulders
and
bosom
all
she
would
suffer
me
,
for
I
was
mad
with
love
of
her
naked
flesh
.
Then
she
did
on
this
golden
gown
,
and
departed
when
she
had
given
me
the
old
clout
aforesaid
,
and
I
went
away
with
it
,
scarce
feeling
the
ground
beneath
my
feet
;
and
I
set
the
dear
gown
in
a
fair
little
coffer
,
and
here
in
this
castle
I
have
it
now
,
and
many
times
I
take
it
forth
and
kiss
it
and
lay
my
head
upon
it
.
Now
this
is
a
simple
tale
,
lady
,
and
I
am
ashamed
that
I
have
made
it
so
long
for
thee
.
And
yet
I
know
not
;
for
thou
seemest
to
me
so
kind
and
loving
and
true
,
that
I
am
fain
that
thou
shouldest
know
how
sorely
I
love
thy
friend
and
mine
.
Birdalone
deemed
Baudoin
a
good
man
indeed
,
and
the
tears
came
into
her
eyes
as
she
answered
and
said
:
True
is
thy
tale
,
dear
friend
,
and
I
have
deemed
it
rather
short
than
long
.
I
see
well
that
thou
art
Aurea’s
very
lover
;
and
it
joys
me
to
think
that
thou
,
O
terrible
champion
,
art
yet
so
tender
and
true
.
Now
is
the
golden
gown
thine
,
but
I
will
pray
thee
to
lend
it
me
a
little
longer
.
But
this
jewel
shalt
thou
have
from
my
neck
here
and
now
;
and
thou
knowest
whence
it
came
,
thine
Aurea’s
neck
forsooth
.
Therewith
she
betook
it
him
,
and
he
held
it
in
his
hand
doubtfully
a
while
,
and
then
he
said
:
Dear
maiden
,
I
thank
thee
,
but
I
will
take
this
collar
,
and
lay
it
in
my
casket
,
and
be
glad
thereof
;
and
that
the
more
,
as
,
now
I
look
on
thee
,
I
see
nought
missing
from
the
loveliness
of
thine
own
neck
.
Go
to
thy
fellows
now
,
said
Birdalone
,
and
send
me
the
Green
Knight
,
the
goodly
lad
.
So
went
he
,
and
presently
came
Hugh
thither
merry
and
smiling
,
and
said
:
Thou
hast
been
long
about
the
first
token
,
sweet
mistress
;
I
fear
me
I
shall
make
no
such
goodly
story
as
hath
Baudoin
.
And
yet
,
said
she
,
Viridis’
tale
was
the
longest
of
all
.
I
doubt
thou
mayst
fail
in
the
token
.
And
she
laughed
;
and
he
no
less
,
and
took
her
by
the
shoulders
,
and
kissed
her
cheek
frankly
,
and
in
such
wise
that
she
feared
him
nought
,
and
said
:
Now
that
is
to
pay
thee
for
thy
gibe
;
what
wouldst
thou
have
of
me
?
Said
Birdalone
:
I
would
have
thee
tell
me
how
it
was
that
Viridis
came
by
the
smock
with
the
green
boughs
aflame
,
which
now
I
bear
upon
me
.
Hearken
,
darling
lady
,
said
he
:
On
a
day
Viridis
and
I
were
alone
in
the
meadow
,
and
so
happy
,
that
we
might
find
nought
to
do
save
to
fall
into
strife
together
;
and
I
said
it
to
her
,
that
she
loved
me
not
as
well
as
I
loved
her
;
which
,
by
the
way
,
was
no
less
than
a
lie
,
for
of
all
things
living
she
is
the
most
loving
,
and
when
we
be
together
she
knoweth
not
how
to
make
enough
of
me
.
Well
,
we
fell
to
wrangling
after
the
manner
of
lovers
,
till
I
,
having
nothing
else
to
say
,
bade
her
remember
that
since
we
had
first
come
to
love
each
other
,
I
had
given
her
many
things
,
and
she
had
given
me
nothing
.
Lo
,
then
!
my
dear
,
what
an
ill-conditioned
lad
was
I
.
But
,
little
as
I
meant
it
,
she
took
it
all
amiss
,
and
leapt
up
,
and
fell
to
running
back
home
over
the
meadow
;
thou
mayst
think
how
easily
I
caught
up
with
her
,
and
how
little
loth
she
was
to
be
dragged
back
by
the
shoulders
.
So
when
we
were
sitting
again
under
the
thorn-bush
,
we
had
well-nigh
done
our
wrangle
;
but
she
unlaced
her
gown
and
drew
down
a
corner
thereof
,
to
show
me
her
shoulder
,
how
I
had
hurt
it
e’en
now
;
and
forsooth
some
little
mark
there
was
on
the
rose-leaf
skin
;
and
that
made
good
time
for
kissing
again
,
as
ye
may
well
wot
.
Then
she
said
unto
me
:
And
how
may
I
,
a
poor
damsel
,
give
thee
gifts
,
and
my
kindred
all
greedy
about
me
?
Yet
would
I
give
thee
a
gift
,
such
as
I
may
,
if
I
but
knew
what
thou
wouldst
take
.
Now
my
heart
was
afire
with
that
kissing
of
her
shoulder
,
and
I
said
that
I
would
have
that
very
same
smock
from
her
body
,
which
then
she
bore
,
and
that
thereof
I
should
deem
that
I
had
a
rich
gift
indeed
.
What
!
said
she
,
and
wouldst
thou
have
it
here
and
now
?
And
indeed
I
think
she
would
have
done
it
off
her
that
minute
had
I
pressed
her
,
but
I
lacked
the
boldness
thereto
;
and
I
said
:
Nay
,
but
would
she
bring
it
unto
me
the
next
time
we
met
;
and
forsooth
she
brought
it
folded
in
a
piece
of
green
silk
,
and
dearly
have
I
loved
it
and
kissed
it
sithence
.
But
as
for
thy
smock
,
I
had
it
fairly
wrought
and
embroidered
with
the
flaming
green
branches
,
as
thou
seest
it
,
and
I
gave
it
to
her
;
but
not
on
the
day
when
she
gave
me
the
gift
;
for
the
new
one
was
long
about
doing
.
Now
this
is
all
the
tale
,
and
how
Viridis
might
eke
it
into
a
long
one
,
I
wot
not
.
But
let
it
be
,
and
tell
me
,
have
I
won
thy
smock
,
or
lost
it
?
Birdalone
laughed
on
him
and
said
:
Well
,
at
least
thou
shalt
have
it
as
a
gift
;
and
thou
mayst
call
it
given
either
by
Viridis
or
me
,
which
thou
wilt
.
But
with
it
goes
another
gift
;
which
thou
mayst
have
at
once
since
thou
must
lend
me
the
smock
a
little
longer
.
And
therewith
she
betook
him
her
girdle
,
and
he
kissed
it
,
but
said
:
Nay
,
fair
lady
,
this
befitteth
well
the
loveliness
of
thy
body
that
thou
shouldst
wear
it
;
and
well
it
befitteth
the
truth
and
love
of
thy
soul
toward
it
for
me
;
I
pray
thee
to
keep
it
.
Nevertheless
,
she
said
,
I
will
not
have
it
,
for
it
goeth
with
mine
errand
that
thou
take
it
of
me
.
Now
I
bid
thee
depart
,
and
send
hither
thy
fellow
,
the
Black
Squire
.
Went
he
then
,
and
anon
comes
the
Black
Squire
,
and
now
that
he
was
alone
with
Birdalone
this
first
time
,
he
seemed
moody
and
downcast
,
all
unlike
the
two
others
.
He
stood
a
little
aloof
from
Birdalone
,
and
said
:
What
wouldst
thou
ask
of
me
?
Her
heart
was
somewhat
chilled
by
his
moodiness
,
for
erst
had
she
deemed
him
the
kindest
of
the
three
;
but
she
said
:
It
is
of
mine
errand
to
ask
of
thee
concerning
this
foot-gear
which
Atra
lent
me
until
I
give
it
unto
thee
,
if
thou
be
verily
her
lover
.
Said
he
:
I
was
verily
her
lover
.
Birdalone
said
:
Then
canst
thou
tell
me
the
manner
of
thy
giving
these
fair
shoon
unto
Atra
?
He
said
:
Even
so
;
we
were
walking
together
in
this
country-side
and
came
to
a
ford
of
the
river
,
and
it
was
somewhat
deep
and
took
me
to
over
the
knee
,
so
I
bore
her
over
in
my
arms
;
then
we
went
on
a
little
further
till
we
must
cross
the
river
back
again
in
another
place
,
and
there
the
ford
was
shallower
,
and
,
the
day
being
hot
,
Atra
must
needs
wade
it
on
her
own
feet
.
So
she
did
off
hosen
and
shoon
,
and
I
led
her
by
the
hand
,
and
it
took
her
but
up
to
mid-leg
.
But
when
we
came
up
out
of
the
water
and
were
on
the
grass
again
,
I
craved
the
gift
of
her
foot-gear
for
the
love
of
her
,
and
she
gave
it
straightway
,
and
fared
home
barefoot
,
for
it
was
over
the
meads
we
were
wending
in
early
summer
,
and
the
grass
was
thick
and
soft
.
But
thereafter
I
did
do
make
the
fair
shoon
which
thou
hast
on
thy
feet
,
and
gave
them
to
her
.
And
,
for
a
further
token
that
my
tale
is
true
,
I
shall
tell
thee
that
the
name
of
the
first
ford
we
waded
that
day
is
the
Grey-nag’s
Wade
,
and
the
second
is
called
Goat
Ford
.
This
is
all
my
tale
,
lady
;
is
the
token
true
?
True
it
is
,
squire
,
said
Birdalone
,
and
was
silent
awhile
,
and
he
also
.
Then
she
looked
on
him
friendly
,
and
said
:
Thou
art
out
of
heart
as
now
,
my
friend
.
Fear
not
,
for
thou
shalt
without
doubt
see
thy
speech-friend
again
.
Moreover
here
is
a
ring
which
she
set
upon
my
finger
,
bidding
me
give
it
thee
.
And
she
held
it
out
unto
him
.
He
took
the
ring
,
and
said
:
Yea
,
it
is
best
that
I
have
it
of
thee
,
lest
unluck
come
thereof
.
She
saw
trouble
in
his
face
,
but
knew
not
what
to
say
to
cheer
him
,
and
they
stood
silently
facing
one
another
for
awhile
.
Then
he
said
:
Let
us
back
to
our
fellows
,
and
talk
it
over
,
what
is
now
to
be
done
.
So
they
went
their
ways
to
where
lay
the
other
two
upon
the
green
grass
,
and
the
Black
Squire
lay
down
beside
them
;
but
Birdalone
stood
before
them
and
spake
unto
the
three
.
Chapter
VI
~
How
the
Champions
Would
Do
Birdalone
to
Be
Clad
Anew
in
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
Lords
,
she
said
,
now
is
it
clear
by
the
tokens
that
mine
errand
is
to
you
and
none
other
;
now
therefore
am
I
to
tell
you
what
to
do
to
come
unto
your
speech-friends
and
deliver
them
and
bring
them
back
hither
.
For
this
is
their
case
,
that
they
are
in
captivity
in
a
wonder-isle
of
this
great
water
,
and
it
is
called
the
Isle
of
Increase
Unsought
.
Spake
the
Golden
Knight
:
Fair
lady
,
we
have
heard
before
that
our
friends
fared
hence
,
or
rather
were
taken
hence
over
the
water
.
And
that
is
the
cause
why
we
builded
this
castle
on
the
water’s
edge
,
on
the
very
stead
where
was
raised
the
pavilion
,
the
house
made
for
the
ladies
to
abide
therein
the
battle
of
the
Champions
.
Since
that
time
,
moreover
,
many
a
barge
and
keel
have
we
thrust
out
into
the
water
,
that
we
might
accomplish
the
Quest
whereunto
we
were
vowed
;
but
ever
one
way
went
our
seafaring
,
that
when
we
were
come
so
far
out
into
the
water
as
to
lose
sight
of
land
,
came
upon
us
mist
,
rose
against
us
dusk
and
darkness
;
and
then
a
fierce
driving
wind
that
drave
us
back
to
this
shore
.
It
is
but
six
days
ago
since
we
tried
this
adventure
for
the
last
time
,
and
belike
the
same
shall
befall
us
the
next
time
we
try
it
.
Wherefore
I
must
ask
thee
,
lady
,
dost
thou
know
any
way
whereby
we
may
come
to
the
said
isle
?
For
if
thou
dost
,
full
surely
we
will
try
it
,
whatsoever
may
be
the
risk
thereby
to
our
bodies
or
our
souls
.
Full
surely
I
do
,
said
Birdalone
;
else
how
had
I
come
from
thence
hither
mine
own
self
?
And
therewith
she
told
them
of
the
Sending
Boat
,
what
it
was
,
and
how
she
had
come
all
the
way
by
means
thereof
from
the
Isle
of
Increase
Unsought
;
and
they
all
hearkened
her
heedfully
,
and
wondered
both
at
the
sorcery
,
and
the
valiant
heart
of
her
who
had
driven
it
as
she
would
in
despite
of
the
evil
.
But
in
the
end
she
spake
and
said
:
Lords
,
ye
have
now
heard
some
deal
of
my
story
,
even
that
which
concerns
you
thereof
;
and
which
must
needs
be
told
at
once
:
wherefore
doubtless
ye
shall
fare
unto
your
speech-friends
by
this
ferry
in
the
very
wise
that
I
shall
show
you
;
unless
perchance
ye
deem
that
I
have
been
lying
and
making
light
tales
to
you
,
as
,
sooth
to
say
,
I
deem
ye
think
it
not
.
Spake
the
Golden
Knight
:
Damsel
,
in
all
wise
we
trow
in
thee
and
thy
tale
.
And
God
forbid
that
we
should
tarry
!
Go
we
hence
this
very
day
.
Yea
,
but
hearken
,
said
the
Black
Squire
:
Is
it
not
a
part
of
this
damsel’s
errand
that
she
should
deliver
to
us
the
raiment
of
our
friends
,
which
now
she
beareth
on
her
own
body
,
that
we
may
bear
it
back
unto
them
?
Sooth
is
that
,
said
Birdalone
,
and
ye
may
well
wot
that
this
may
be
nought
but
needful
,
whereas
the
said
ladies
be
all
beset
by
sorceries
.
See
ye
then
,
fellows
,
said
the
Black
Squire
,
it
may
not
be
today
nor
yet
tomorrow
that
we
may
take
the
road
.
For
ye
wot
that
there
is
no
woman’s
gear
in
all
the
castle
,
and
we
must
needs
send
otherwhere
to
seek
it
.
Look
thou
,
maiden
,
said
the
Golden
Knight
,
laughing
,
how
duly
this
young
knight
thinketh
of
thee
;
whereas
I
,
who
am
his
elder
,
and
should
be
wiser
than
he
,
am
but
heedless
of
thee
.
I
pray
thy
pardon
.
Moreover
,
said
the
Black
Squire
,
there
may
well
be
wisdom
in
abiding
;
for
it
is
to
be
thought
that
our
dear
loves
considered
this
,
and
knew
what
the
time
of
tarrying
should
be
,
and
have
so
dight
their
matter
as
to
fit
in
therewith
;
and
I
may
not
deem
it
of
them
that
they
would
have
us
array
this
our
dear
sister
and
theirs
in
unseemly
wise
.
Nay
,
for
that
would
be
an
ill
beginning
of
this
deal
of
the
Quest
.
Now
all
yeasaid
this
gladly
;
and
the
Green
Knight
said
:
It
were
not
so
ill
done
that
we
should
see
more
of
our
sister
here
ere
we
depart
,
and
hear
more
of
her
tale
;
for
meseemeth
she
began
it
erewhile
but
half-way
.
And
he
turned
to
Birdalone
,
and
took
her
hand
and
caressed
it
.
Birdalone
smiled
on
them
somewhat
shyly
,
and
thanked
them
;
but
bade
them
spend
as
little
time
as
might
be
on
her
arrayal
.
For
,
said
she
,
though
those
ladies
may
well
have
reckoned
on
the
time
of
the
arrayal
of
my
body
,
yet
surely
also
they
shall
have
reckoned
with
the
eager
fire
of
love
in
the
hearts
of
you
,
and
the
haste
it
shall
breed
therein
.
Well
pleased
were
they
with
that
word
of
hers
,
but
none
the
less
sent
two
sergeants
and
a
squire
with
led
horses
unto
the
cheaping-town
,
a
goodly
and
great
town
hight
Greenford
,
which
was
some
twenty
miles
thence
,
with
the
errand
to
bring
back
with
them
a
good
shaper
and
embroideress
,
and
sewing-women
,
and
cloth
and
silk
and
linen
,
and
all
things
needful
.
As
for
jewels
,
each
one
of
them
was
fain
to
give
her
something
which
he
prized
,
and
fair
and
rich
were
the
gifts
,
though
they
had
not
been
made
for
women
.
As
a
fair
SS
collar
of
gold
,
which
the
Golden
Knight
gave
her
,
and
a
girdle
of
broad
golden
plates
,
wrought
beauteously
,
which
was
the
gift
of
the
Black
Squire
.
Albeit
he
did
not
offer
to
clasp
it
round
her
loins
,
as
she
deemed
he
would
;
for
when
the
Green
Knight
brought
his
gift
,
a
great
gold
ring
,
very
ancient
of
fashion
,
he
would
have
her
turn
back
the
sleeve
from
her
fore-arm
,
that
he
might
set
his
dwarf-wrought
gold
upon
the
bare
flesh
;
neither
did
he
refrain
him
from
kissing
it
withal
.
But
the
messengers
came
back
with
their
work-women
and
stuffs
early
on
the
morrow
;
and
now
was
changed
all
the
manner
of
the
womanless
castle
,
and
men
were
full
merry
therein
.
Chapter
VII
~
Of
Birdalone
,
How
She
Told
the
Champions
All
Her
Tale
It
was
a
matter
of
eight
days
,
the
making
of
all
Birdalone’s
raiment
,
and
meanwhile
she
was
ever
with
the
three
Champions
,
either
all
three
together
,
or
one
or
other
of
them
.
And
as
to
their
manners
with
her
,
ever
was
the
Golden
Knight
of
somewhat
sober
demeanour
,
as
if
he
were
an
older
man
than
he
verily
was
.
The
Green
Knight
was
for
ever
praising
Birdalone’s
beauty
to
her
face
,
and
seemed
to
find
it
no
easy
matter
to
keep
his
eyes
off
her
,
and
somewhat
he
wearied
her
with
kisses
and
caresses
;
but
a
gay
and
sportive
lad
he
was
;
and
when
she
rebuked
him
for
his
overmuch
fondness
,
as
now
and
again
she
did
,
he
would
laugh
at
himself
along
with
her
;
and
in
sooth
she
deemed
him
heart-whole
,
and
of
all
truth
to
Viridis
,
and
oft
he
would
talk
of
her
to
Birdalone
,
and
praise
her
darling
beauty
to
her
,
and
tell
of
his
longing
for
his
love
aloof
.
Only
,
quoth
he
,
here
art
thou
,
my
sister
,
dwelling
amongst
us
,
and
shedding
thy
fragrance
on
us
,
and
showing
to
us
,
wilt
thou
,
wilt
thou
not
,
as
do
the
flowers
,
all
the
grace
and
loveliness
of
thee
;
and
thou
so
tender
of
heart
withal
,
that
thou
must
not
blame
me
overmuch
if
whiles
I
forget
that
thou
art
my
sister
,
and
that
my
love
is
,
woe’s
me
!
far
away
.
So
thou
wilt
pardon
me
,
wilt
thou
not
?
Yea
,
verily
,
said
she
,
with
a
whole
heart
.
Yet
thou
needest
not
reach
out
for
my
hand
;
thou
hast
had
enough
of
it
this
morning
.
And
she
hid
it
,
laughing
,
in
the
folds
of
her
gown
;
and
he
laughed
also
,
and
said
:
Of
a
truth
thou
art
good
in
all
wise
,
and
a
young
fool
am
I
;
but
Viridis
shall
make
me
wiser
,
when
we
come
together
again
.
Sawest
thou
ever
so
fair
a
damsel
?
Never
,
she
said
,
and
surely
there
is
none
fairer
in
all
the
world
.
So
hold
thee
aloof
now
for
a
while
,
and
think
of
her
.
As
for
the
Black
Squire
,
hight
Arthur
,
Birdalone
was
troubled
for
him
,
and
he
made
her
somewhat
sad
.
True
it
is
that
he
came
not
before
her
again
so
moody
and
downcast
as
when
he
was
giving
her
the
token
;
yet
she
deemed
that
he
enforced
himself
to
seem
of
good
cheer
.
Furthermore
,
though
he
sought
her
company
ever
,
and
that
lonely
with
him
,
and
would
talk
with
her
almost
as
one
man
with
another
,
though
with
a
certain
tenderness
in
his
voice
,
and
looking
earnestly
on
her
the
while
,
yet
never
would
he
take
her
hand
,
or
touch
her
in
any
wise
.
And
true
it
is
that
she
longed
for
the
touch
of
his
hand
.
On
the
third
day
of
her
sojourn
in
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
,
Birdalone
took
heart
at
the
much
egging
of
her
friends
,
as
they
sat
all
together
in
the
meadow
without
the
castle
,
to
tell
them
all
the
story
of
her
;
she
hid
none
,
save
concerning
the
wood-mother
,
for
she
deemed
that
her
sweet
friend
would
love
her
the
better
if
she
babbled
not
of
her
.
So
the
Champions
hearkened
her
telling
the
tale
in
her
clear
lovely
voice
,
and
great
was
their
love
and
pity
for
the
poor
lonely
maiden
.
And
in
especial
clear
it
was
to
see
that
they
were
sore
moved
when
she
told
how
she
first
came
on
the
Sending
Boat
,
and
how
the
witch-wife
tormented
her
innocent
body
for
that
guilt
.
Then
Baudoin
laid
his
hand
upon
her
head
,
and
spake
:
Poor
child
,
much
indeed
hast
thou
suffered
!
and
now
I
will
say
it
,
that
it
was
for
us
and
our
loves
that
thou
hast
borne
all
this
anguish
of
captivity
and
toil
and
stripes
.
But
Hugh
leaned
over
to
her
,
as
she
sat
with
her
head
hanging
down
,
and
kissed
her
cheek
,
and
said
:
Yea
!
and
I
was
not
there
to
smite
the
head
off
that
accursed
one
;
and
I
knew
nought
of
thee
and
thine
anguish
,
as
I
took
my
light
pleasure
about
these
free
meadows
.
And
he
turned
very
red
,
and
went
nigh
to
weep
.
Arthur
sat
still
with
his
eyes
bent
down
on
the
ground
,
and
he
said
nothing
;
and
Birdalone
glanced
on
him
wistfully
ere
she
went
on
with
her
tale
.
And
she
went
on
and
told
closely
all
that
had
happened
unto
her
in
the
crossing
of
the
water
and
on
the
Isle
of
Increase
Unsought
,
and
the
other
Wonder
Isles
;
and
she
deemed
it
not
too
much
that
she
should
tell
it
twice
over
,
nor
they
that
twice
over
they
should
hearken
it
.
That
same
evening
as
Birdalone
walked
by
herself
in
the
castle
pleasance
,
she
saw
Arthur
peering
about
as
if
he
were
seeking
someone
;
so
she
stood
forth
,
and
asked
him
was
he
seeking
aught
;
and
he
said
:
Thee
was
I
seeking
.
But
she
durst
not
ask
him
what
he
would
,
but
stood
silent
and
trembling
before
him
,
till
he
took
her
hand
,
and
spake
not
loud
but
eagerly
.
After
what
thou
hast
told
us
today
,
I
seem
to
know
thee
what
thou
art
;
and
I
tell
thee
that
it
is
a
pain
and
grief
to
me
to
leave
thee
,
yea
to
leave
thee
were
it
but
for
a
minute
.
O
I
pray
thee
pity
me
for
the
sundering
.
And
therewith
he
turned
about
and
hastened
into
the
castle
.
But
Birdalone
stood
there
with
her
heart
beating
fast
and
her
flesh
quivering
,
and
a
strange
sweetness
of
joy
took
hold
of
her
.
But
she
said
to
herself
that
it
was
no
wonder
though
she
felt
so
happy
,
seeing
that
she
had
found
out
that
,
despite
her
fears
,
this
one
of
her
friends
loved
her
no
less
well
than
the
others
.
And
then
she
spake
it
in
a
soft
voice
that
she
would
indeed
pity
him
for
the
sundering
,
yea
,
and
herself
also
.
Nevertheless
,
when
they
met
thereafter
,
his
demeanour
to
her
was
none
otherwise
than
it
had
been
;
but
she
no
longer
heeded
this
since
now
she
trowed
in
him
.
Chapter
VIII
~
In
the
Meanwhile
of
the
Departing
of
the
Champions
,
They
Would
Pleasure
Birdalone
with
Feats
of
Arms
and
Games
of
Prowess
Passed
the
days
now
speedily
,
and
the
three
Champions
did
what
they
might
for
the
solace
of
Birdalone
.
For
they
and
their
household
showed
her
of
arms
,
and
they
tilted
together
courteously
;
and
the
sergeants
stood
forth
,
and
shot
in
the
bow
before
her
,
till
she
herself
by
their
bidding
took
the
bow
in
hand
,
and
shot
straighter
and
well-nigh
as
hard
as
the
best
man
there
,
whereat
they
marvelled
,
and
praised
her
much
.
Then
the
young
men
ran
afoot
before
her
for
the
prize
of
a
belt
and
knife
,
and
forsooth
she
wotted
well
that
were
she
to
run
against
them
with
trussed-up
skirts
she
would
bear
off
the
prize
;
but
she
had
no
heart
thereto
,
for
amidst
them
all
,
and
her
new
friendships
,
she
had
grown
shamefast
,
and
might
play
the
wood-maiden
no
longer
.
Yet
twice
the
Champions
fared
further
afield
with
her
to
show
her
some
woodcraft
;
yet
were
not
very
free
to
go
far
,
because
of
the
ill
neighbours
whereof
the
chaplain
had
told
her
that
first
night
of
her
coming
.
And
in
all
these
pastimes
,
whatso
they
were
,
Birdalone
bore
herself
well
and
merrily
,
and
put
from
her
the
sorrow
of
the
sundering
,
and
the
peril
of
her
dear
friends
which
grew
now
so
near
at
hand
.
The
chaplain
aforesaid
,
who
hight
Leonard
,
she
fell
in
with
not
seldom
;
and
he
was
ever
meek
and
humble
before
her
;
and
ever
withal
was
sorrow
easy
to
be
seen
in
his
countenance
,
and
trouble
withal
;
and
she
knew
not
how
to
help
him
,
save
by
being
courteous
and
kind
with
him
whenso
they
met
;
but
none
the
more
might
he
pluck
up
cheerful
countenance
in
answer
to
her
kindness
.
With
Sir
Aymeris
,
the
grizzle-haired
castellan
,
she
foregathered
also
oft
enough
,
and
could
not
forbear
some
merry
gibes
with
him
concerning
their
first
meeting
,
and
how
that
she
had
been
a
burden
and
a
terror
to
him
;
and
these
mocks
she
made
him
because
she
saw
it
liked
him
not
ill
to
be
mocked
in
friendly
fashion
;
though
forsooth
betwixt
the
laughter
he
looked
on
her
somewhat
ruefully
.
And
ever
,
ere
he
parted
from
her
,
he
made
occasion
to
kiss
her
hands
;
and
she
suffered
it
smiling
,
and
was
debonair
to
him
;
whereas
she
saw
that
he
was
of
good
will
to
her
.
In
such
wise
then
wore
the
hours
and
the
days
.
Chapter
IX
~
Birdalone
Cometh
Before
the
Champions
in
Her
New
Array
Now
the
time
was
come
when
Birdalone
had
all
her
gear
ready
,
and
the
women
were
to
abide
in
the
castle
as
her
serving-damsels
while
the
Champions
were
away
.
So
now
in
the
summer
eve
,
an
hour
before
sunset
,
Birdalone
did
on
the
richest
of
her
new
raiment
,
and
came
into
the
hall
where
sat
the
Three
together
,
and
Sir
Aymeris
with
them
.
She
was
so
clad
,
that
she
had
on
a
green
gown
with
broidered
sleeves
,
and
thereover
a
white
cote-hardie
welted
with
gold
,
and
gold-embroidered
;
on
her
feet
were
gold
shoon
of
window-work
,
pearled
and
gemmed
;
and
on
her
head
a
rose
garland
;
on
her
neck
she
bore
the
Golden
Knight’s
collar
;
her
loins
were
girt
with
the
Black
Squire’s
girdle
;
and
on
her
wrist
was
the
Green
Knight’s
ancient
gold
ring
;
and
she
carried
in
her
arms
Aurea’s
gown
and
Viridis’
shift
and
Atra’s
shoon
.
Rather
sunrise
than
sunset
it
seemed
,
as
verily
Birdalone
she
came
into
the
hall
with
bright
eager
eyes
,
and
flushed
cheeks
,
and
countenance
smiling
with
love
.
The
men
stood
up
all
,
and
would
come
down
from
the
dais
to
meet
her
;
but
she
bade
them
go
back
,
and
sit
each
in
his
place
till
she
stood
before
them
.
Up
the
hall
then
she
walked
,
and
every
step
of
hers
seemed
lovelier
than
the
last
,
till
she
came
to
them
and
gave
unto
each
his
keepsake
,
and
said
:
Champions
,
now
is
mine
errand
all
done
,
save
that
tomorrow
I
must
show
you
the
manner
of
the
Sending
Boat
.
Now
there
is
nought
save
the
darkness
of
the
coming
night
to
hinder
you
from
this
last
deal
of
your
Quest
;
and
it
is
I
that
have
brought
you
to
this
,
and
have
done
this
good
unto
you
,
if
no
more
good
I
do
in
the
world
.
Wherefore
I
pray
you
to
love
me
ever
,
and
bear
me
ever
in
your
minds
.
They
gazed
on
her
,
and
were
overcome
by
her
loveliness
and
grace
,
and
by
the
kindness
and
valiancy
of
her
heart
.
Next
arose
the
Golden
Knight
,
Baudoin
to
wit
,
and
took
a
cross
from
his
breast
,
and
held
it
up
,
and
spake
:
Maiden
,
thou
sayest
well
,
and
never
shall
we
forget
thee
,
or
cease
to
love
thee
;
and
here
I
swear
by
God
upon
the
Tree
,
that
it
shall
be
a
light
thing
for
me
to
die
for
thee
,
if
in
any
need
I
find
thee
.
Brethren
,
will
ye
not
swear
the
same
?
And
this
is
but
thy
due
,
maiden
,
for
I
declare
unto
thee
,
that
when
thou
didst
enter
the
hall
e’en
now
,
it
was
as
if
the
very
sun
of
heaven
was
coming
in
unto
us
.
Thereon
the
other
two
took
the
Rood
and
swore
upon
it
:
and
Hugh
was
hushed
and
meek
and
sad-faced
after
he
had
sworn
;
but
Arthur
the
Black
Squire
bowed
down
his
head
and
wept
,
and
his
fellows
marvelled
nought
thereat
,
neither
did
Birdalone
;
and
all
her
body
yearned
toward
him
to
solace
him
.
Now
turned
Sir
Baudoin
to
the
castellan
and
said
:
Sir
Aymeris
,
I
will
now
swear
thee
to
guard
this
lady
as
the
apple
of
thine
eye
whiles
we
three
be
away
,
and
therein
to
spare
neither
thyself
nor
others
.
For
thou
seest
well
what
grief
it
would
be
to
us
if
she
came
to
any
harm
.
And
to
me
also
,
said
the
castellan
.
And
therewith
he
swore
upon
the
Rood
,
and
then
came
round
the
table
,
and
knelt
before
Birdalone
,
and
kissed
her
hands
.
Thereafter
were
they
all
silent
a
space
;
and
then
came
Birdalone
to
the
inner
side
of
the
table
and
sat
betwixt
Baudoin
and
Hugh
.
But
the
Black
Squire
took
up
the
word
and
spake
:
Birdalone
,
sweet
child
,
one
thing
is
to
be
said
,
to
wit
,
that
it
were
well
that
thou
keep
within
walls
while
we
be
away
;
or
at
least
that
thou
go
but
a
little
beyond
the
castle
,
and
never
but
within
a
half
bowshot
,
save
thou
be
well
accompanied
.
For
there
be
men
of
violence
dwelling
no
great
way
off
,
reivers
and
rovers
,
who
would
be
well
pleased
to
take
from
us
anything
which
we
deem
dear
;
besides
others
who
would
think
the
lifting
of
such
a
jewel
good
hap
indeed
.
Sir
Aymeris
,
have
a
care
of
the
Red
Knight
;
and
if
thou
mightest
come
by
a
few
more
stout
lads
,
to
wage
them
,
it
were
well
.
Birdalone
heeded
not
what
the
castellan
answered
,
such
a
shaft
of
joy
went
to
her
heart
when
she
heard
that
friend
speak
her
own
name
in
such
wise
as
he
had
never
done
erst
,
and
that
before
them
all
.
She
but
murmured
some
yeasay
to
that
which
Arthur
had
spoken
unto
her
,
and
then
she
held
her
peace
for
the
sweetness
of
that
moment
.
So
there
they
sat
and
talked
a
while
in
dear
and
pleasant
converse
;
and
Hugh
fell
to
asking
her
of
her
life
in
the
House
under
the
Wood
,
and
she
answered
all
frankly
and
simply
,
and
the
more
she
told
the
dearer
she
seemed
to
them
.
Thus
drew
night
in
,
till
folk
came
flockmeal
into
the
hall
;
for
needs
must
be
feast
and
banquet
for
triumph
of
the
furtherance
of
the
Quest
;
and
the
most
of
men
were
merry
;
but
somewhat
sober
were
all
the
three
Champions
,
so
that
whoso
ran
might
read
it
in
their
faces
.
As
for
Birdalone
,
she
showed
cheerful
to
all
that
folk
which
loved
her
and
praised
her
;
but
inwardly
sorrow
had
come
home
to
her
heart
.
Chapter
X
~
The
Champions
Go
Their
Ways
in
the
Sending
Boat
When
the
sun
was
arisen
on
the
morrow
the
three
Champions
went
down
to
the
landing-place
,
and
there
was
none
with
them
;
for
they
had
given
command
that
no
man
should
pry
into
their
doings
.
Thither
to
them
cometh
Birdalone
,
clad
no
more
in
her
gay
attire
,
but
in
a
strait
black
coat
and
with
unshod
feet
;
and
she
looked
no
sorrier
than
she
was
.
By
Birdalone’s
rede
the
Champions
bore
down
in
their
own
hands
the
victual
and
weapons
and
armour
that
they
needed
for
the
voyage
;
for
she
knew
not
but
that
the
Sending
Boat
might
take
it
amiss
that
any
should
touch
her
save
the
senders
.
And
when
they
had
done
lading
her
,
then
all
four
stood
together
by
the
water’s
edge
,
and
Birdalone
spake
to
her
friends
,
and
again
bade
them
beware
of
the
wiles
of
the
Isle
of
Nothing
;
and
again
she
told
them
of
the
woful
images
of
the
Isle
of
Kings
and
the
Isle
of
Queens
,
and
the
strange
folk
of
the
Isle
of
the
Young
and
the
Old
.
Then
she
said
:
Now
when
ye
come
to
the
Isle
of
Increase
Unsought
,
what
think
ye
to
do
?
Said
the
Green
Knight
:
If
I
might
rule
,
we
should
go
straight
up
to
the
witch
sitting
in
her
hall
,
as
thou
toldest
us
,
my
dear
,
and
then
and
there
smite
the
head
from
off
her
.
His
eyes
flashed
and
his
brow
knitted
,
and
so
fierce
he
looked
that
Birdalone
shrank
back
from
him
;
but
the
Black
Squire
smiled
and
said
:
It
may
come
to
the
smiting
off
of
heads
in
the
end
;
yet
must
we
so
fashion
our
carving
,
that
it
avail
us
for
the
freeing
of
our
friends
;
else
may
the
witch
die
,
and
the
secret
of
the
prison-house
die
with
her
.
How
sayest
thou
,
dear
Birdalone
?
She
reddened
at
the
caress
of
his
voice
,
and
answered
:
By
my
rede
ye
shall
seek
and
find
your
speech-friends
ere
ye
make
open
war
upon
the
witch
;
else
may
her
malice
destroy
them
ere
ye
undo
her
.
Her
face
flushed
yet
more
as
she
spake
again
:
But
concerning
all
things
,
I
deem
that
Atra
may
give
you
the
best
rede
,
when
ye
have
met
the
loves
;
for
that
she
knoweth
more
of
the
isle
and
its
guiles
than
the
others
.
Quoth
Baudoin
:
Herein
is
wisdom
,
sweet
maiden
,
for
as
guileless
as
thou
mayst
be
;
and
so
far
as
we
may
we
shall
follow
thy
rede
;
but
all
lieth
in
the
fathom
of
the
coming
time
.
And
now
this
moment
is
the
moment
of
sundering
and
farewell
.
Came
he
then
to
Birdalone
and
took
his
two
hands
about
her
head
,
and
lifted
her
face
unto
him
,
and
kissed
it
kindly
,
as
a
father
might
kiss
a
daughter
,
and
said
:
Farewell
,
dear
child
,
and
take
heed
to
the
word
that
Arthur
spake
yesterday
,
and
go
not
from
the
castle
even
a
little
way
save
with
good
and
sure
company
.
Then
came
Hugh
to
her
,
and
took
her
hand
somewhat
timidly
;
but
she
put
up
her
face
to
him
in
simple
wise
,
and
he
kissed
either
cheek
of
her
,
and
said
no
more
than
:
Farewell
,
Birdalone
!
Lastly
came
Arthur
,
and
stood
before
her
a
little
;
and
then
he
knelt
down
on
the
stones
before
her
and
kissed
her
feet
many
times
,
and
she
shuddered
and
caught
her
breath
as
they
felt
his
kisses
;
but
neither
he
nor
she
spake
a
word
,
and
he
stood
up
and
turned
away
at
once
toward
the
Sending
Boat
,
and
boarded
her
first
of
the
three
;
and
the
others
followed
straightway
.
Thereafter
the
Champions
bared
each
an
arm
,
and
let
blood
flow
thence
into
a
bowl
,
and
reddened
stem
and
stern
of
their
barge
,
and
then
all
three
spake
the
spell
together
thus
,
as
Birdalone
had
taught
them
:
The
red
raven-wine
now
Hast
thou
drunk
,
stern
and
bow
:
Wake
then
,
and
awake
,
And
the
northern
way
take
!
The
way
of
the
Wenders
forth
over
the
flood
,
For
the
will
of
the
Senders
is
blent
with
the
blood
.
Went
all
as
before
thereafter
,
that
the
Sending
Boat
stirred
under
them
,
and
then
turned
about
and
pointed
her
bows
to
the
northward
,
and
sped
swiftly
over
the
waters
.
It
was
a
fair
sunny
day
,
with
no
cloud
,
nought
save
the
summer
haze
lying
on
the
lake
far
away
.
Birdalone
stood
watching
the
speeding
of
the
boat
,
till
she
could
see
it
no
longer
,
not
even
as
a
fleck
on
the
face
of
the
waters
.
Then
she
turned
away
and
went
toward
her
chamber
,
saying
to
herself
that
the
sundering
was
easier
to
bear
than
she
had
deemed
it
would
be
,
and
that
she
had
a
many
things
to
do
that
day
.
But
when
she
came
into
her
chamber
,
and
shut
the
door
,
she
looked
about
her
on
the
things
which
had
grown
so
familiar
to
her
in
these
few
latter
days
,
and
she
stood
watching
the
bright
sunshine
that
streamed
across
the
floor
and
lay
warm
upon
her
feet
;
then
she
took
three
steps
toward
the
window
,
and
saw
the
lake
lying
all
a-glitter
under
the
sun
,
and
her
heart
failed
her
withal
,
and
she
had
no
might
so
much
as
to
think
about
her
sorrow
and
caress
it
,
but
fell
down
where
she
was
swooning
on
to
the
floor
,
and
lay
there
,
while
all
the
house
began
to
stir
about
her
.
Here
ends
the
Third
Part
of
the
Water
of
the
Wondrous
Isles
,
which
is
called
Of
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
,
and
begins
the
fourth
Part
of
the
said
tale
,
which
is
called
Of
the
Days
of
Abiding
.
The
Water
of
the
Wondrous
Isles
The
Fourth
Part
:
Of
the
Days
of
Abiding
Chapter
I
~
Of
Birdalone’s
Grief
;
and
of
Leonard
the
Chaplain
Now
came
Birdalone
to
herself
,
and
that
was
but
little
joy
unto
her
,
and
she
yet
lay
still
on
the
floor
for
a
while
,
for
she
loathed
the
hour
that
was
to
come
.
Then
the
life
stirred
in
her
,
and
whereas
she
would
not
that
her
women
should
find
her
there
,
she
stood
up
,
and
clad
herself
somewhat
more
seemly
;
yet
she
did
on
her
black
raiment
;
and
determined
in
her
mind
that
nought
would
she
wear
save
black
unadorned
while
her
friends
were
away
.
She
betook
her
now
to
the
chamber
where
her
women
were
gathered
together
,
and
watched
them
working
a
while
,
but
spake
nought
.
Then
she
went
her
ways
into
the
pleasance
,
and
paced
the
plashed
alley
up
and
down
,
letting
the
tears
run
down
from
her
as
they
would
.
Then
she
turned
back
into
the
castle
,
and
went
out-a-gates
and
walked
over
the
meadow
a
little
,
and
might
well
have
gone
further
than
wisdom
would
.
But
the
castellan
espied
her
from
a
window
,
and
came
hurrying
out
after
her
,
and
with
many
prayers
for
pardon
,
brought
her
back
again
,
babbling
to
her
by
the
way
;
but
not
a
word
might
he
get
from
her
;
and
when
he
came
into
the
hall
with
her
,
and
,
after
his
wont
,
knelt
down
to
kiss
her
hands
,
she
caught
them
away
from
him
peevishly
,
and
was
sorry
for
it
thereafter
.
Long
she
sat
in
the
hall
,
scarce
moving
,
till
she
heard
one
entering
from
the
screen
,
and
lo
it
was
Leonard
the
chaplain
.
He
came
her
way
,
and
showed
her
rueful
countenance
;
and
pity
of
him
smote
her
,
and
she
remembered
therewith
how
they
first
went
out
of
gates
together
;
and
at
the
thought
thereof
her
tears
brake
forth
again
,
but
she
made
him
a
sign
with
her
hand
to
sit
down
beside
her
,
and
he
did
so
;
and
when
she
might
for
her
weeping
,
she
looked
kindly
on
him
,
and
he
fell
to
talk
,
making
as
if
he
noted
not
her
tears
and
sorrow
;
but
she
answered
him
little
,
for
she
had
shame
to
begin
the
talk
concerning
the
Champions
and
their
Quest
,
and
their
departure
;
yet
might
she
not
bring
her
tongue
to
make
any
speech
else
.
But
presently
he
took
up
the
word
,
and
asked
her
how
long
a
while
she
deemed
they
would
be
away
,
and
she
answered
,
smiling
on
him
for
thanks
,
and
having
reckoned
the
days
on
her
fingers
:
If
all
go
better
than
well
,
they
may
be
back
in
ten
days’
time
.
Said
the
chaplain
:
There
be
longer
whiles
of
waiting
in
most
men’s
lives
.
Yea
,
she
said
,
but
this
is
the
delay
at
the
best
;
it
may
be
far
longer
;
for
how
may
we
tell
what
haps
may
be
?
Yea
,
said
Leonard
,
shall
we
then
call
it
twenty
days
,
or
thirty
?
Forsooth
,
that
may
be
long
for
thee
;
though
there
be
some
who
must
needs
endure
hope
deferred
a
deal
longer
.
But
it
may
run
out
longer
than
even
thirty
days
,
thy
waiting-tide
.
She
answered
not
,
and
he
said
:
Whenso
the
time
hangs
heavy
on
hand
with
thee
,
if
thou
hast
will
to
fare
abroad
out
of
the
castle
,
I
shall
be
ever
at
hand
to
guide
thee
.
Indeed
,
I
wot
that
the
castellan
will
be
loth
to
let
thee
go
;
but
he
is
old
and
straitlaced
:
and
yet
withal
he
wotteth
,
as
do
we
all
,
that
there
is
now
little
peril
or
none
were
we
to
fare
a
five
miles
or
more
,
whereas
we
are
as
good
as
at
peace
for
the
last
five
days
with
all
save
the
Red
Knight
,
and
of
him
we
wot
that
he
is
gone
into
another
land
with
as
many
of
his
folk
as
be
not
needed
for
the
warding
of
his
hold
.
I
thank
thee
,
said
Birdalone
,
but
it
is
like
to
be
my
will
not
to
fare
out-a-gates
till
the
Champions
come
back
home
.
I
was
glad
e’en
now
when
the
castellan
fetched
me
in
again
:
to
say
sooth
,
fear
of
peril
had
just
entered
my
heart
when
he
came
up
with
me
.
The
priest
seemed
somewhat
chapfallen
at
her
answer
.
He
spake
little
more
,
and
presently
he
stood
up
,
made
his
obeisance
,
and
departed
.
Chapter
II
~
Birdalone
Learneth
Lore
of
the
Priest
.
Ten
Days
of
Waiting
Wear
Wore
that
day
and
the
next
,
and
Birdalone
fell
to
talking
with
her
women
,
whereof
were
five
now
left
;
and
four
of
them
were
young
,
the
eldest
scarce
of
thirty
summers
,
and
the
fifth
was
a
woman
of
sixty
,
both
wise
and
kind
.
All
these
told
her
somewhat
of
their
own
lives
when
she
asked
them
;
and
some
withal
told
of
folk
whom
they
had
known
or
heard
tell
of
.
And
well
pleased
was
Birdalone
to
hear
thereof
,
and
learn
more
of
the
ways
of
the
world
,
and
quick-witted
she
was
at
the
lesson
,
so
that
she
needed
not
to
ask
many
questions
.
Furthermore
,
she
took
to
her
broidering
again
,
and
fell
to
doing
a
goodly
pair
of
shoon
for
Atra
,
since
she
had
worn
those
borrowed
ones
somewhat
hardly
.
And
the
women
wondered
at
her
needlework
,
so
marvellous
fine
as
it
was
,
and
how
that
in
little
space
of
time
were
come
flowers
and
trees
,
and
birds
and
beasts
,
all
lovely
;
and
they
said
that
the
faery
must
have
learned
her
that
craft
.
But
she
laughed
and
reddened
,
and
thought
of
the
wood-mother
;
and
,
sitting
there
within
the
four
walls
,
she
longed
for
the
oak-glades
,
and
the
wood-lawns
,
and
for
the
sight
of
the
beasts
that
dwelt
therein
.
Again
she
fell
in
with
Leonard
the
priest
,
and
he
asked
her
could
she
read
in
a
book
,
and
when
she
said
nay
,
he
offered
to
teach
her
that
lore
,
and
she
yeasaid
that
joyously
;
and
thenceforth
would
she
have
him
with
her
every
day
a
good
while
;
and
an
apt
scholar
she
was
,
and
he
no
ill
master
,
and
she
learned
her
A
B
C
speedily
.
Now
it
was
the
ninth
day
since
the
Champions
were
gone
,
and
all
that
time
she
had
not
been
out-a-gates
;
and
after
the
first
two
days
,
had
enforced
herself
to
fill
up
her
time
with
her
work
as
aforesaid
:
but
this
last
day
she
might
do
but
little
,
for
she
could
not
but
take
it
for
sure
that
the
morrow
would
be
the
day
of
return
;
nay
,
even
she
deemed
that
they
might
come
in
the
night-tide
;
so
that
when
she
went
to
bed
,
though
she
was
weary
,
she
would
wake
if
she
might
,
so
that
it
was
nigh
dawn
ere
she
fell
asleep
.
Some
three
hours
after
she
woke
up
,
and
heard
a
sound
of
folk
stirring
in
the
house
,
and
the
clashing
of
weapons
;
and
the
heart
leapt
in
her
,
and
she
said
:
They
are
come
,
they
are
come
!
Nevertheless
she
durst
not
get
out
of
bed
,
lest
her
hope
had
beguiled
her
;
and
she
lay
awake
another
hour
,
and
no
tidings
came
to
her
;
and
then
she
wept
herself
to
sleep
;
and
when
she
awoke
once
more
,
she
found
that
she
must
have
wept
sleeping
,
for
the
pillow
beside
her
face
was
all
wet
with
the
tears
.
The
sun
was
high
now
,
and
his
beams
were
cast
back
from
the
ripple
of
the
lake
,
and
shone
wavering
on
the
wall
of
the
chamber
,
the
window
whereof
gave
on
to
the
water
.
Then
came
a
hand
on
the
latch
of
the
door
,
and
she
started
,
and
her
heart
grieved
her
;
but
it
was
one
of
the
women
who
opened
,
and
came
in
,
and
Birdalone
rose
up
sitting
in
her
bed
,
and
said
faintly
,
for
she
could
scarce
speak
:
Is
any
tiding
toward
,
Catherine
?
The
maid
said
:
Yes
,
my
lady
;
for
early
after
sunrise
came
weaponed
men
to
the
gate
,
and
would
sell
us
beeves
;
and
my
lord
,
Sir
Aymeris
,
must
needs
go
forth
and
chaffer
with
them
,
though
belike
they
had
been
lifting
what
was
neither
ours
,
nor
theirs
,
nor
the
neighbours’
.
Maybe
Sir
Aymeris
looked
to
buy
tidings
from
them
as
well
as
beef
.
Anyhow
they
departed
when
they
had
gotten
their
money
and
drunk
a
cup
.
And
now
it
is
said
that
the
Red
Knight
hath
been
hurt
in
some
fray
,
and
keepeth
his
bed
;
wherefore
the
land
shall
have
peace
of
him
awhile
.
Said
Birdalone
:
I
thank
thee
,
good
Catherine
;
I
shall
lie
a
little
longer
;
depart
now
.
The
woman
went
her
ways
;
and
when
she
was
gone
,
Birdalone
wept
and
sobbed
,
and
writhed
upon
her
bed
,
and
found
no
solace
to
her
grief
.
But
she
arose
and
paced
the
chamber
,
and
sithence
looked
out
of
the
window
over
the
empty
water
,
and
wept
again
.
Then
she
said
:
Yet
they
may
come
ere
noon
,
or
it
may
be
ere
evening
,
or
perchance
tomorrow
morning
.
And
she
stayed
her
weeping
,
and
was
calmer
.
But
still
she
walked
the
floor
,
and
whiles
looked
out
of
window
,
and
whiles
she
looked
on
her
limbs
,
and
felt
the
sleekness
of
her
sides
,
and
she
said
:
O
my
body
!
how
thou
longest
!
But
at
last
she
clad
herself
in
haste
,
and
went
stealthily
from
the
chamber
,
as
if
she
feared
to
meet
anyone
;
and
she
stole
up
to
the
tower-top
that
was
nighest
,
and
looked
through
the
door
on
to
the
leads
,
and
saw
no
one
there
;
so
she
went
out
,
and
stood
by
the
battlement
,
and
gazed
long
over
the
water
,
but
saw
neither
boat
nor
burning
mountain
coming
towards
her
.
Chapter
III
~
Now
Would
Birdalone
Ride
Abroad
After
a
while
she
came
down
again
,
and
went
to
the
women
,
and
sat
working
with
them
a
while
,
and
so
wore
away
two
hours
.
Then
she
sent
for
the
priest
and
had
her
lesson
of
him
;
and
when
she
had
been
at
it
another
two
hours
,
she
bade
him
begin
and
learn
her
writing
;
and
nought
loth
he
was
thereto
;
forsooth
he
had
been
longing
to
pray
her
to
suffer
him
learn
her
,
but
durst
not
.
For
in
such
teaching
needs
must
he
sit
full
nigh
to
her
,
and
watch
her
hands
,
and
her
fingers
striving
to
shape
the
letters
;
nay
,
whiles
must
he
touch
her
hand
with
his
,
and
hold
it
.
Wherefore
now
he
promised
himself
a
taste
of
Paradise
.
Withal
he
was
full
meet
to
learn
her
,
whereas
he
was
one
of
the
best
of
scribes
,
and
a
fair-writer
full
handy
.
So
they
fell
to
the
lesson
,
and
she
became
eager
thereover
,
and
learned
fast
,
and
clave
to
the
work
,
while
his
soul
was
tormented
with
longing
for
her
.
And
thus
wore
a
three
hours
,
and
then
suddenly
she
looked
up
wearily
from
her
work
,
and
her
trouble
was
awake
,
and
the
longing
for
her
speech-friend
,
and
she
gave
the
priest
leave
for
that
day
,
but
suffered
him
to
kiss
her
hand
for
wages
.
Then
she
hurried
up
to
the
tower-top
,
when
the
afternoon
was
wearing
into
evening
;
and
abode
there
a
long
while
looking
over
the
waters
,
till
it
began
to
dusk
,
and
then
came
down
miserably
and
went
to
her
women
.
The
next
day
was
like
unto
this
;
nought
betid
,
and
she
wore
the
hours
whiles
going
up
to
the
tower-top
and
looking
over
the
lake
,
whiles
broidering
amidst
her
maids
,
whiles
learning
her
clerk’s
work
with
Sir
Leonard
,
but
ever
eating
her
heart
out
with
her
longing
.
On
the
third
of
these
days
she
called
the
castellan
to
her
for
a
talk
,
and
asked
him
what
he
thought
of
it
,
this
delay
of
his
lords’
return
.
Quoth
the
greyhead
:
My
lady
,
we
may
not
wonder
if
they
be
tarried
for
a
few
days
;
for
this
is
an
adventure
on
which
they
have
gone
,
and
many
haps
betide
in
such
tales
.
Now
I
beseech
thee
torment
not
thyself
;
for
the
time
is
not
yet
come
for
thee
even
to
doubt
that
they
have
miscarried
.
His
words
solaced
her
much
for
that
time
,
whereas
she
saw
that
he
spake
but
the
sooth
;
so
she
thanked
him
,
and
smiled
upon
him
kindly
;
and
he
was
ravished
thereat
,
and
was
for
kneeling
before
her
at
once
and
kissing
her
hands
after
his
wont
;
but
she
smiled
again
and
refrained
him
,
and
said
:
Nay
,
not
yet
,
