fairfriend
;
that
is
for
the
departure
,
and
I
have
yet
a
word
to
say
unto
thee
:
to
wit
,
that
I
long
to
go
out-a-gates
,
and
it
will
solace
me
and
give
me
patience
to
abide
the
coming
of
my
friends
.
For
thou
must
know
,
Sir
Aymeris
,
that
I
was
reared
amidst
the
woods
and
the
meadows
,
with
the
burning
of
the
sun
,
and
the
buffets
of
the
wind
;
and
now
for
lack
of
some
deal
of
that
am
I
waxing
white
and
faint
.
And
thou
wouldst
not
have
me
falling
sick
on
thine
hands
now
,
wouldst
thou
?
Nay
,
surely
,
lady
,
said
Sir
Aymeris
;
this
very
day
I
will
ride
out
with
thee
;
and
two
score
or
more
of
weaponed
men
shall
ride
with
us
for
fear
of
mishaps
.
Said
Birdalone
,
knitting
her
brows
:
Nay
,
knight
,
I
need
not
thy
men-at-arms
;
I
would
fain
go
free
and
alone
.
For
hast
thou
not
heard
how
that
the
Red
Knight
is
hurt
and
keepeth
his
bed
?
So
what
peril
is
there
?
Said
Sir
Aymeris
:
Yea
,
lady
;
but
the
Red
Knight
is
not
the
only
foe
,
though
he
be
the
worst
:
but
it
may
well
be
that
the
story
is
but
feigned
,
for
the
said
enemy
hath
many
wiles
.
And
look
you
,
kind
lady
,
it
is
most
like
that
by
now
he
hath
heard
how
in
my
poor
castle
is
kept
a
jewel
,
a
pearl
of
great
price
,
that
hath
not
its
like
in
the
world
,
and
will
encompass
the
stealing
of
it
if
he
may
.
Laughed
Birdalone
,
and
said
:
But
how
if
the
said
jewel
hath
a
will
,
and
legs
and
feet
thereto
,
and
is
ready
to
take
the
peril
on
her
,
and
will
wend
out-a-gates
if
she
will
?
What
wilt
thou
do
then
,
lord
?
Then
,
said
the
castellan
,
I
shall
fetch
thee
back
,
and
,
though
it
be
a
grief
to
me
,
shall
have
thee
borne
back
perforce
if
nought
else
may
do
.
For
so
the
oath
sworn
to
my
lords
compelleth
me
.
Again
laughed
Birdalone
,
and
said
:
Hearken
,
whereto
cometh
all
this
kneeling
and
hand-kissing
!
But
bear
in
mind
,
fair
lord
,
how
once
on
a
time
thou
wouldst
have
me
out-a-gates
,
would
I
,
would
I
not
,
and
now
,
will
I
,
will
I
not
,
thou
wouldst
keep
me
within
;
so
have
times
changed
,
and
mayhappen
they
may
change
yet
again
.
But
tell
me
,
am
I
mistress
over
my
women
to
bid
them
what
I
will
?
Certes
,
said
he
,
and
over
all
of
us
.
Said
she
:
If
then
I
bade
them
,
some
two
or
three
,
come
with
me
into
the
meadows
and
woods
a
half
day’s
journey
for
our
disport
,
how
then
?
For
that
once
,
said
Sir
Aymeris
,
I
should
bid
them
disobey
their
lady
.
Said
Birdalone
:
And
how
if
they
disobeyed
thee
,
and
obeyed
me
?
Quoth
Sir
Aymeris
:
If
they
bring
thee
back
safe
,
they
may
chance
to
sing
to
the
twiggen
fiddle-bow
,
that
they
may
be
warned
from
such
folly
;
but
if
they
come
back
without
thee
,
by
All-hallows
the
wind
of
wrath
shall
sweep
their
heads
off
them
!
Birdalone
flushed
red
at
his
word
,
and
was
silent
a
while
;
then
she
said
,
making
cheerful
countenance
again
:
Thou
art
a
hard
master
,
lord
castellan
;
but
I
must
needs
obey
thee
.
Therefore
I
will
take
thy
bidding
,
and
ride
abroad
in
such
wise
that
I
shall
scare
the
land
with
an
army
,
since
no
otherwise
may
I
look
on
the
summer
land
.
But
today
I
will
not
go
,
nor
tomorrow
belike
;
but
some
day
soon
.
And
in
good
sooth
I
thank
thee
for
thy
heedful
care
of
me
,
and
wish
I
were
better
worth
it
.
Nay
,
nay
,
thou
shalt
not
kneel
to
me
,
but
I
to
thee
:
for
thou
art
verily
the
master
.
Therewith
she
rose
from
beside
him
,
and
knelt
down
before
him
and
took
his
hand
and
kissed
it
,
and
went
her
ways
,
leaving
him
ravished
with
love
of
her
.
But
now
she
had
no
scorn
of
him
,
but
deemed
,
as
was
true
,
that
he
was
both
valiant
and
trusty
and
kind
,
and
she
thanked
him
in
her
heart
as
well
as
in
words
.
Chapter
IV
~
Of
Birdalone’s
Faring
Abroad
Indeed
Birdalone
longed
on
any
terms
to
be
out-a-gates
and
to
have
some
joy
of
the
summer
;
for
now
she
began
to
see
that
she
might
have
to
abide
some
while
ere
her
friends
should
come
to
her
in
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
;
and
she
was
angry
with
herself
that
her
longing
was
thus
wasting
her
,
and
she
rebuked
herself
and
said
:
Where
is
now
that
Birdalone
who
let
but
few
days
go
by
without
some
joyance
of
the
earth
and
its
creatures
?
she
who
bore
lightly
the
toil
of
a
thrall
,
and
gibes
and
mocking
and
stripes
?
Surely
this
is
grievous
folly
,
that
I
should
be
worsened
since
I
have
come
to
be
the
friend
of
gentle
ladies
,
and
noble
champions
,
and
mighty
warriors
.
Had
it
not
been
better
to
have
abided
under
the
witch-wife’s
hand
?
For
not
every
day
nor
most
days
did
she
torment
me
.
But
now
for
many
days
there
has
been
pain
and
grief
and
heart-sickness
hour
by
hour
;
and
every
hour
have
I
dreaded
the
coming
of
the
next
hour
,
till
I
know
not
how
to
bear
it
.
So
she
strove
with
herself
,
and
became
of
better
heart
,
and
set
herself
strongly
to
the
learning
of
the
clerkly
lore
;
she
gathered
her
wits
together
,
and
no
longer
looked
for
every
day
and
every
hour
to
bring
about
the
return
of
the
Champions
,
nor
blamed
the
day
and
the
hour
because
they
failed
therein
,
and
in
all
wise
she
strove
to
get
through
the
day
unworn
by
vain
longing
.
Wherefore
,
on
a
day
when
three
whole
weeks
were
gone
since
the
day
of
departure
,
she
was
glad
when
the
castellan
came
to
her
and
said
:
Lady
,
these
two
days
I
have
had
men
out
to
spy
the
land
,
and
their
word
goes
that
nought
is
stirring
which
a
score
of
us
well-armed
might
have
cause
to
fear
;
wherefore
tomorrow
,
if
it
be
thy
will
,
we
shall
bring
thee
out-a-gates
,
and
so
please
thee
,
shall
be
in
no
haste
to
come
back
,
but
may
lie
out
in
the
wildwood
one
night
,
and
come
back
at
our
leisure
on
the
morrow
of
tomorrow
.
How
sayest
thou
of
thy
pleasure
herein
?
She
thanked
him
,
and
yeasaid
it
eagerly
,
and
next
morning
they
set
forth
;
and
Birdalone
had
with
her
three
of
the
women
,
and
they
had
sumpter-beasts
with
them
,
and
tents
for
Birdalone
and
her
maids
.
So
they
rode
by
pleasant
ways
and
fair
meadows
,
and
the
weather
was
good
,
for
it
was
now
the
first
days
of
July
,
and
all
was
as
lovely
as
might
be
;
and
for
that
while
Birdalone
cast
off
all
her
cares
,
and
was
merry
,
and
of
many
words
and
sweet
;
and
all
the
folk
rejoiced
thereat
,
for
all
loved
her
in
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
,
besides
those
one
or
two
that
loved
her
overmuch
.
Rode
they
thus
a
twelve
miles
or
more
,
and
then
they
came
,
as
their
purpose
was
,
to
the
beginning
of
a
woodland
plenteous
of
venison
,
and
they
hunted
here
,
and
Birdalone
took
her
part
therein
,
and
all
praised
her
woodcraft
;
albeit
because
of
her
went
a
head
or
two
free
that
had
fallen
else
,
whereas
of
the
carle
hunters
were
some
who
deemed
the
body
of
her
better
worth
looking
on
than
the
quarry
.
Howsoever
,
they
slew
of
hind
and
roe
and
other
wood-cattle
what
they
would
,
some
deal
for
their
supper
in
the
wilderness
,
some
to
bear
home
to
the
castle
.
But
when
night
was
nigh
at
hand
they
made
stay
in
a
fair
wood-lawn
about
which
ran
a
clear
stream
,
whereby
they
pitched
the
ladies’
tent
;
and
Birdalone
and
hers
went
down
into
the
water
and
washed
the
weariness
off
them
;
and
her
ladies
wondered
at
the
deftness
of
Birdalone’s
swimming
;
for
they
bathed
in
a
pool
somewhat
great
into
which
the
stream
widened
,
so
that
there
was
space
enough
for
her
therein
.
By
then
they
were
washen
and
clad
goodly
in
raiment
which
they
had
brought
on
the
sumpters
,
the
men
had
lighted
fires
and
were
cooking
the
venison
,
and
anon
there
was
supper
and
banquet
in
the
wildwood
,
with
drinking
of
wine
and
pleasant
talk
and
the
telling
of
tales
and
singing
of
minstrelsy
;
and
so
at
last
,
when
night
was
well
worn
,
and
out
in
the
open
meadows
the
eastern
sky
was
waxing
grey
,
then
Birdalone
and
her
ladies
went
to
bed
in
their
fair
tents
,
and
the
men-at-arms
lay
down
on
the
greensward
under
the
bare
heaven
.
Chapter
V
~
Sir
Aymeris
Showeth
Birdalone
the
Mountains
Afar
Off
When
it
was
morning
and
they
arose
,
the
day
was
as
fair
as
yesterday
,
and
folk
were
even
as
joyous
as
they
had
been
then
,
all
but
Birdalone
,
and
she
was
silent
and
downcast
,
even
when
she
came
forth
from
the
fresh
water
into
the
sweetness
of
the
midsummer
wood
.
She
had
dreamed
in
the
night
that
she
was
all
alone
in
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
,
and
that
her
old
mistress
came
to
her
from
out
of
the
Sending
Boat
to
fetch
her
away
,
and
brought
her
aboard
,
and
stripped
her
of
her
rich
garments
and
sat
facing
her
,
drawing
ugsome
grimaces
at
her
;
and
she
thought
she
knew
that
her
friends
were
all
dead
and
gone
,
and
she
had
none
to
pity
or
defend
her
.
Then
somehow
were
they
two
,
the
witch
and
she
,
amidmost
of
the
Isle
of
Nothing
,
and
the
witch
drew
close
anigh
her
,
and
was
just
going
to
whisper
into
her
ear
something
of
measureless
horror
,
when
she
awoke
;
and
the
sun
was
bright
outside
the
shaded
whiteness
of
her
tent
;
the
shadows
of
the
leaves
were
dancing
on
the
ground
of
it
;
the
morning
wind
was
rustling
the
tree-boughs
,
and
the
ripple
of
the
stream
was
tinkling
hard
by
.
At
first
was
Birdalone
joyous
that
what
she
had
awakened
from
was
but
a
dream
;
but
presently
she
felt
the
burden
of
her
longing
,
and
she
said
to
herself
that
when
they
came
back
to
the
castle
they
should
find
tidings
,
and
that
she
should
know
either
that
her
friends
were
indeed
dead
,
or
that
they
were
come
back
again
alive
and
well
.
And
then
she
thought
within
herself
,
suppose
the
three
Champions
and
their
loves
were
dead
and
gone
,
how
would
she
do
with
those
that
were
left
her
,
as
Sir
Aymeris
,
and
Leonard
the
priest
,
and
her
women
?
and
her
soul
turned
with
loathing
from
a
life
so
empty
as
that
would
be
;
and
yet
she
blamed
herself
that
she
was
so
little
friendly
to
these
lesser
friends
,
whom
forsooth
she
loved
because
of
her
love
for
the
greater
ones
.
So
,
as
abovesaid
,
she
was
troubled
and
silent
amongst
the
joy
of
the
others
.
That
saw
Sir
Aymeris
the
castellan
;
and
when
they
had
broken
fast
and
were
getting
to
horse
,
he
came
to
her
and
said
:
Lady
,
the
day
is
yet
young
,
and
if
we
fetch
a
compass
by
a
way
that
I
wot
of
we
shall
see
places
new
to
thee
,
and
mayhappen
somewhat
wonderful
,
and
yet
come
home
timely
to
the
castle
.
Wilt
thou
?
Birdalone
was
still
somewhat
distraught
,
but
she
knew
not
how
to
naysay
him
,
though
at
heart
she
would
liefer
have
gone
back
to
the
castle
by
the
shortest
way
.
So
folk
brought
her
her
palfrey
,
and
they
rode
their
ways
,
the
castellan
ever
by
her
side
.
And
by
fair
ways
indeed
they
went
,
and
so
joyous
was
all
about
them
,
that
little
by
little
Birdalone’s
gladness
came
back
to
her
,
and
she
made
the
most
of
it
to
be
as
merry
of
seeming
as
she
might
be
.
Now
they
rode
fair
and
softly
by
thicket
and
copse
and
glade
of
the
woodland
,
following
up
the
stream
aforesaid
for
the
more
part
,
till
at
last
the
trees
failed
them
suddenly
,
and
they
came
forth
on
to
a
wide
green
plain
,
all
unbuilded
,
so
far
as
their
eyes
could
see
,
and
beyond
it
the
ridges
of
the
hills
and
blue
mountains
rising
high
beyond
them
.
When
Birdalone’s
eyes
beheld
this
new
thing
,
of
a
sudden
all
care
left
her
,
and
she
dropped
her
rein
,
and
smote
her
palms
together
,
and
cried
out
:
Oh
!
but
thou
art
beautiful
,
O
earth
,
thou
art
beautiful
!
Then
she
sat
gazing
on
it
,
while
the
greyhead
turned
and
smiled
on
her
,
well
pleased
of
her
pleasure
.
After
a
while
she
said
:
And
might
we
go
nigher
?
Yea
,
certes
,
said
he
,
yet
I
doubt
if
thou
wilt
like
it
the
better
,
the
nigher
thou
art
.
Ah
!
she
said
,
but
if
I
were
only
amidst
it
,
and
a
part
of
it
,
as
once
I
was
of
the
woodland
!
So
thitherward
they
rode
over
the
unharvested
mead
,
and
saw
hart
and
hind
thereon
,
and
wild
kine
,
and
of
smaller
deer
great
plenty
,
but
of
tame
beasts
none
;
and
the
hills
were
before
them
like
a
wall
.
But
as
they
drew
nigher
,
they
saw
where
the
said
wall
of
the
hills
was
cloven
by
a
valley
narrow
and
steep-sided
,
that
went
right
athwart
the
lie
of
the
hills
;
the
said
valley
was
but
little
grassed
,
and
the
bare
rocks
were
crow-black
.
When
they
had
gone
a
little
further
,
they
could
see
that
the
ground
near
the
foot
of
the
hills
rose
in
little
knolls
and
ridges
,
but
these
were
lower
and
fewer
about
the
entry
into
that
valley
.
Also
presently
they
came
upon
a
stream
which
ran
out
of
the
said
valley
,
and
Sir
Aymeris
said
that
this
was
the
water
whereby
they
had
lain
last
night
;
albeit
here
it
was
little
indeed
.
Now
when
they
had
ridden
some
five
miles
over
the
plain
,
they
came
amongst
those
knolls
at
the
mouth
of
the
valley
,
and
Sir
Aymeris
led
Birdalone
up
to
the
top
of
one
of
the
highest
of
them
,
and
thence
they
could
look
into
that
dale
and
see
how
it
winded
away
up
toward
the
mountains
,
like
to
a
dismal
street
;
for
not
only
was
it
but
little
grassed
,
but
withal
there
was
neither
tree
nor
bush
therein
.
Moreover
,
scattered
all
about
the
bottom
of
the
dale
were
great
stones
,
which
looked
as
if
they
had
once
been
set
in
some
kind
of
order
;
and
that
the
more
whereas
they
were
not
black
like
the
rocks
of
the
dale-side
,
but
pale
grey
of
hue
,
so
that
they
looked
even
as
huge
sheep
of
the
giants
feeding
down
the
dale
.
Then
spake
Birdalone
:
Verily
,
sir
knight
,
thou
saidst
but
sooth
that
I
should
see
things
new
and
strange
.
But
shall
we
go
a
little
way
into
this
valley
today
?
Nay
,
lady
,
said
Sir
Aymeris
,
nor
tomorrow
,
nor
any
day
uncompelled
;
neither
shall
we
go
nigher
unto
it
than
now
we
be
.
Wherefore
not
?
said
Birdalone
,
for
meseemeth
it
is
as
the
gate
of
the
mountains
;
and
fain
were
I
in
the
mountains
.
Lady
,
said
the
castellan
,
overmuch
perilous
it
were
to
ride
the
valley
,
which
,
as
thou
sayest
,
is
the
very
gate
of
the
mountains
.
For
the
said
dale
,
which
hight
the
Black
Valley
of
the
Greywethers
,
hath
a
bad
name
for
the
haunting
of
unmanlike
wights
,
against
which
even
our
men-at-arms
might
make
no
defence
.
And
if
any
might
escape
them
,
and
win
through
the
gates
and
up
into
the
mountains
,
I
wot
not
if
suchlike
devils
and
things
unkent
be
there
in
the
mountain-land
,
but
of
a
sooth
there
be
fierce
and
wild
men
,
like
enough
to
devils
,
who
know
no
peace
,
and
slay
whatsoever
cometh
unto
them
,
but
if
they
themselves
be
slain
of
them
.
Well
,
said
Birdalone
,
then
today
,
at
least
,
we
go
not
into
the
dale
;
but
knowest
thou
any
tales
of
these
wild
places
?
Many
have
I
heard
,
said
he
,
but
I
am
an
ill
minstrel
and
should
spoil
them
in
the
telling
.
Ask
them
of
Sir
Leonard
our
priest
,
he
knoweth
of
them
better
than
others
,
and
hath
a
tongue
duly
shapen
for
telling
them
.
Birdalone
answered
nought
thereto
;
she
but
turned
her
horse’s
head
and
rode
down
the
knoll
;
and
so
they
came
unto
their
company
,
and
all
went
their
ways
toward
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
.
Nought
befell
them
on
their
way
home
;
but
the
nigher
they
came
to
the
castle
the
more
pensive
waxed
Birdalone
,
and
,
though
she
hid
it
,
when
they
were
come
to
the
gate
she
scarce
had
her
wit
;
for
it
was
as
if
she
thought
to
have
one
rushing
out
and
crying
:
Tidings
,
tidings
!
they
are
come
.
Nowise
it
so
befell
;
they
were
no
more
come
than
was
the
Day
of
Doom
.
And
a
little
after
they
were
within
gates
;
it
was
night
,
and
Birdalone
crept
wearily
up
to
her
chamber
,
and
gat
to
bed
,
and
so
tired
was
she
that
she
fell
asleep
at
once
and
dreamed
not
.
Chapter
VI
~
Birdalone
Heareth
Tell
Tales
of
the
Black
Valley
of
the
Greywethers
On
the
morrow
was
Birdalone
heavier
of
heart
than
ever
yet
,
and
wearier
for
tidings
;
and
she
wondered
how
she
could
have
been
so
joyous
that
day
in
the
wildwood
.
Yet
she
thought
much
of
the
Valley
of
the
Greywethers
,
and
that
solaced
her
somewhat
after
a
while
,
so
sore
she
longed
to
go
thither
;
and
,
as
’tis
said
,
one
nail
knocks
out
the
other
.
So
that
morning
,
when
she
had
had
her
lesson
of
priest
Leonard
,
she
spake
thereof
to
him
,
and
told
him
what
Sir
Aymeris
had
said
concerning
his
knowledge
thereof
;
and
she
asked
him
what
he
knew
.
I
have
been
there
,
said
he
.
She
started
at
that
word
and
said
:
Did
aught
of
evil
befall
thee
?
Nay
,
said
he
,
but
a
great
fear
and
dread
hung
about
me
;
and
’tis
said
that
they
try
their
luck
overmuch
who
go
thither
twice
.
Birdalone
said
:
Tell
me
now
of
the
tales
that
be
told
of
that
valley
.
Quoth
Leonard
:
They
be
many
;
but
the
main
of
them
is
this
:
that
those
Greywethers
be
giants
of
yore
agone
,
or
landwights
,
carles
,
and
queans
,
who
have
been
turned
into
stone
by
I
wot
not
what
deed
;
but
that
whiles
they
come
alive
again
,
and
can
walk
and
talk
as
erst
they
did
;
and
that
if
any
man
may
be
so
bold
as
to
abide
the
time
of
their
awakening
,
and
in
the
first
moment
of
their
change
may
frame
words
that
crave
the
fulfilment
of
his
desire
,
and
if
therewith
he
be
both
wise
and
constant
,
then
shall
he
have
his
desire
fulfilled
of
these
wights
,
and
bear
his
life
back
again
from
out
the
dale
.
And
thus
must
he
speak
and
no
otherwise
:
O
Earth
,
thou
and
thy
first
children
,
I
crave
of
you
such
and
such
a
thing
,
whatsoever
it
may
be
.
And
if
he
speak
more
than
this
,
then
is
he
undone
.
He
shall
answer
no
question
of
them
;
and
if
they
threaten
him
he
shall
not
pray
them
mercy
,
nor
quail
before
their
uplifted
weapons
;
nor
,
to
be
short
,
shall
he
heed
them
more
than
if
they
still
were
stones
unchanged
.
Moreover
,
when
he
hath
said
his
say
,
then
shall
these
wights
throng
about
him
and
offer
him
gold
and
gems
,
and
all
the
wealth
of
the
earth
;
and
if
that
be
not
enough
,
they
shall
bring
him
the
goodliest
of
women
,
with
nought
lacking
in
her
shape
,
but
lacking
all
raiment
,
so
that
he
shall
see
her
as
she
is
verily
shapen
.
But
whoso
shall
take
any
one
of
all
these
gifts
is
lost
for
ever
,
and
shall
become
one
of
that
Stony
People
;
and
whoso
naysayeth
them
all
until
the
cock
crow
,
and
abideth
steady
by
his
one
craving
,
shall
win
fulfilment
thereof
,
and
,
as
some
say
,
all
those
gifts
aforesaid
;
for
that
the
Stony
People
may
not
abide
the
day
to
take
them
back
again
.
He
was
silent
therewith
,
and
nought
spake
Birdalone
,
but
looked
down
on
the
ground
,
and
longing
encompassed
her
soul
.
Then
the
priest
spake
again
:
This
were
a
fair
adventure
,
lady
,
for
a
hapless
one
,
but
for
the
happy
it
were
a
fool’s
errand
.
She
answered
not
,
and
they
parted
for
that
time
.
But
the
next
week
,
there
being
yet
no
tidings
come
to
hand
,
Birdalone
prayed
the
castellan
to
take
her
out-a-gates
again
,
that
she
might
once
more
behold
the
mountains
,
and
the
gates
thereof
;
and
he
yeasaid
her
asking
,
and
went
with
her
,
well
accompanied
,
as
before
;
but
this
time
,
by
Birdalone’s
will
,
they
rode
straight
to
the
plain
aforesaid
,
and
again
she
looked
into
that
dale
of
the
Greywethers
from
the
knoll
.
Somewhat
belated
they
were
,
so
that
they
might
not
get
back
to
the
castle
before
dusk
,
wherefore
again
they
lay
out
in
the
wildwood
,
but
there
lacked
somewhat
of
the
triumph
and
joyance
which
they
had
had
that
other
day
.
They
came
back
to
the
castle
on
the
morrow
somewhat
after
noon
,
and
found
no
news
there
;
nor
,
to
say
sooth
,
did
Birdalone
look
for
any
;
and
her
heart
was
heavy
.
Chapter
VII
~
Birdalone
Beguileth
the
Priest
to
Help
Her
to
Outgoing
Now
had
the
time
so
worn
that
the
season
was
in
the
first
days
of
August
,
and
weariness
and
heartsickness
increased
on
Birdalone
again
,
and
she
began
to
look
pined
and
pale
.
Yet
when
she
spake
of
the
tarrying
of
the
Champions
both
to
the
castellan
and
Sir
Leonard
the
priest
(
who
was
the
wiser
man
of
the
two
)
,
each
said
the
same
thing
,
to
wit
,
that
it
was
no
marvel
if
they
were
not
yet
come
,
seeing
whatlike
the
adventure
was
;
and
neither
of
those
two
seemed
in
anywise
to
have
lost
hope
.
Thrice
in
these
last
days
did
Birdalone
go
out-a-gates
with
Sir
Aymeris
and
his
company
;
and
the
last
of
the
three
times
the
journey
was
to
the
knoll
that
looked
into
the
Black
Valley
;
but
now
was
Birdalone’s
pleasure
of
the
sight
of
it
afar
off
marred
by
her
longing
to
be
amidst
thereof
;
yet
she
did
not
show
that
she
was
irked
by
the
refraining
of
her
desire
to
enter
therein
,
and
they
turned
,
and
came
home
safely
to
the
castle
.
On
the
morrow
she
sat
with
Sir
Leonard
the
priest
over
the
writing
lesson
,
and
she
let
it
be
long
,
and
oft
he
touched
her
hand
,
so
that
the
sweetness
of
unfulfilled
desire
went
deep
to
his
heart
.
At
last
Birdalone
looked
up
and
said
:
Friend
,
I
would
ask
thee
if
thou
seest
any
peril
in
my
entering
the
Black
Valley
of
the
Greywethers
by
daylight
if
I
leave
it
by
daylight
?
Alone
?
quoth
he
.
Yea
,
she
said
,
alone
.
He
pondered
a
little
,
and
then
said
:
Sooth
to
say
I
deem
the
peril
little
in
the
valley
itself
,
if
thou
be
not
overcome
by
terror
there
.
Yea
,
for
my
part
I
am
not
all
so
sure
that
thou
shalt
see
the
wonder
of
the
Stony
Folk
coming
alive
;
for
’tis
not
said
that
they
quicken
save
on
certain
nights
,
and
chiefly
on
Midsummer
Night
;
unless
it
be
that
the
trier
of
the
adventure
is
some
one
fated
above
others
thereto
;
as
forsooth
thou
mayst
be
.
And
as
for
peril
of
evil
men
,
there
are
few
who
be
like
to
be
as
venturesome
as
thou
or
I
.
They
durst
not
enter
that
black
street
,
save
sore
need
compel
them
.
But
forsooth
,
going
thither
,
and
coming
back
again
,
some
peril
there
may
be
therein
.
And
yet
for
weeks
past
there
has
been
no
word
of
any
unpeace
;
and
the
Red
Knight
it
is
said
for
certain
is
not
riding
.
Birdalone
was
silent
a
while
;
then
she
said
:
Fair
and
kind
friend
,
I
am
eating
my
heart
out
in
longing
for
the
coming
back
of
my
friends
,
and
it
is
like
,
that
unless
I
take
to
some
remedy
,
I
shall
fall
sick
thereby
,
and
then
when
they
come
back
there
shall
be
in
me
but
sorry
cheer
for
them
.
Now
the
remedy
I
know
,
and
it
is
that
I
betake
me
alone
to
this
adventure
of
the
Black
Valley
;
for
meseemeth
that
I
shall
gain
health
and
strength
by
my
going
thither
.
Wherefore
,
to
be
short
,
if
thou
wilt
help
me
,
I
will
go
tomorrow
.
What
sayest
thou
,
wilt
thou
help
me
?
He
turned
very
red
and
spake
:
Lady
,
why
shouldest
thou
go
,
as
thy
name
is
,
birdalone
?
Thou
hast
called
me
just
now
thy
kind
friend
,
so
kind
as
it
was
of
thee
;
now
therefore
why
should
not
thy
friend
go
with
thee
?
Kindly
indeed
she
smiled
on
him
,
but
shook
her
head
:
I
call
thee
trusty
and
dear
friend
again
,
said
she
;
but
what
I
would
do
I
must
do
myself
.
Moreover
to
what
end
shouldst
thou
go
?
If
I
fall
in
with
ghosts
,
a
score
of
men
would
help
me
nought
;
and
if
I
happen
on
weaponed
men
who
would
do
me
scathe
,
of
what
avail
were
one
man
against
them
?
And
look
thou
,
Sir
Leonard
,
there
is
this
avail
in
thine
abiding
behind
;
if
I
come
not
back
in
two
days’
space
,
or
three
at
the
most
,
thou
wilt
wot
that
I
have
fared
amiss
,
and
then
mayst
thou
let
it
be
known
whither
I
went
,
and
men
will
seek
me
and
deliver
me
maybe
.
Therewith
she
stayed
her
words
suddenly
,
and
turned
very
pale
,
and
laid
her
hand
on
her
bosom
,
and
said
faintly
:
But
O
my
heart
,
my
heart
!
If
they
should
come
while
I
am
away
!
And
she
seemed
like
to
swoon
.
Leonard
was
afraid
thereat
,
and
knew
not
what
to
do
;
but
presently
the
colour
came
into
her
face
again
,
and
in
a
little
while
she
smiled
,
and
said
:
Seest
thou
not
,
friend
,
how
weak
I
am
gotten
to
be
,
and
that
I
must
now
beyond
doubt
have
the
remedy
?
Wilt
thou
not
help
me
do
it
?
Yea
verily
,
said
he
;
but
in
what
wise
wilt
thou
have
it
?
He
spake
as
a
man
distraught
and
redeless
;
but
she
smiled
on
him
pleasantly
,
and
said
:
Now
by
this
time
shouldst
thou
have
devised
what
was
to
do
,
and
spared
me
the
pain
thereof
.
Two
things
I
need
of
thee
:
the
first
and
most
,
to
be
put
out
of
the
castle
privily
betimes
in
the
morning
when
nought
is
stirring
;
the
second
,
to
have
my
palfrey
awaiting
me
somewhat
anigh
the
gate
,
so
that
I
may
not
have
to
go
afoot
:
for
I
am
become
soft
and
feeble
with
all
this
house-life
.
Leonard
seemed
to
wake
up
with
that
word
,
and
said
:
I
have
the
key
of
the
priest’s
door
of
the
chapel
,
and
the
postern
beyond
it
;
that
shall
be
thine
out-gate
,
lady
.
I
will
come
and
scratch
at
thy
chamber-door
much
betimes
,
and
I
will
see
to
it
that
thy
palfrey
is
bestowed
in
the
bower
wherein
thou
didst
rest
the
first
night
thou
camest
amongst
us
.
She
said
:
I
trust
thee
,
friend
.
And
she
thanked
him
sweetly
,
and
then
rose
up
and
fell
to
pacing
the
hall
up
and
down
.
Leonard
hung
about
watching
her
a
while
,
she
nought
forbidding
him
,
for
her
thoughts
were
elsewhere
,
and
she
had
forgotten
him
;
and
at
last
he
went
his
ways
to
set
about
doing
what
she
would
.
Chapter
VIII
~
Birdalone
Fares
On
Her
Adventure
Dawn
was
but
just
beginning
when
Birdalone
awoke
,
and
though
she
had
not
heard
Leonard
at
the
door
,
she
sprang
out
of
bed
and
clad
herself
,
doing
on
her
black
gown
;
and
she
had
a
scrip
with
some
bread
therein
,
and
a
sharp
knife
at
her
girdle
.
Then
even
as
she
had
done
she
heard
the
priest’s
nail
on
the
door
,
and
she
turned
thereto
;
but
as
she
went
,
her
eye
caught
her
bow
and
quiver
of
arrows
where
they
hung
on
the
wall
,
so
she
took
the
bow
in
her
hand
and
slung
the
quiver
over
her
shoulder
ere
she
opened
the
door
and
found
Leonard
standing
there
.
Neither
of
them
spake
aught
,
but
they
stole
downstairs
,
and
so
to
the
chapel
and
out
by
the
priest’s
door
and
the
postern
in
the
wall-nook
,
and
were
presently
out
in
the
fresh
morning
air
;
and
Birdalone
was
joyous
and
lightfoot
,
and
scarce
felt
the
earth
beneath
her
soles
for
pleasure
of
her
hope
,
whereas
she
deemed
she
had
a
thing
to
crave
of
the
Stony
Folk
,
if
they
should
come
alive
before
her
.
Fain
were
she
,
if
she
might
withal
,
to
give
a
joy
to
some
other
;
so
that
when
they
were
gone
but
a
little
way
from
the
castle
she
reached
out
her
hand
to
Leonard
and
took
his
,
and
said
:
Hand
in
hand
we
walked
when
first
I
went
this
way
,
and
I
deemed
thee
kind
and
friendly
then
,
and
even
so
hast
thou
been
sithence
.
He
was
dumbfoundered
at
first
for
joy
of
the
touch
of
her
hand
and
the
sweetness
of
her
words
;
but
presently
he
spake
to
her
confused
and
stammering
,
and
praised
her
that
she
had
thought
to
take
her
bow
and
arrows
;
for
,
said
he
,
that
they
might
stand
her
in
stead
for
defence
or
for
getting
of
food
,
or
for
an
excuse
for
wending
the
woods
.
She
nodded
yeasay
unto
him
,
and
bade
him
again
to
bide
three
days
for
her
,
and
if
she
came
not
again
in
that
time
,
to
make
a
clean
breast
of
it
to
Sir
Aymeris
.
Yea
,
said
the
priest
,
and
then
.
.
.
Why
,
what
then
?
He
can
but
shove
me
out
by
the
shoulders
,
and
then
I
can
seek
to
the
little
house
of
canons
that
is
at
Gate
Cross
on
the
road
to
Greenford
.
Ah
,
my
friend
!
said
Birdalone
,
how
we
women
think
of
nothing
at
all
but
ourselves
!
And
wilt
thou
be
thrust
out
of
thine
home
for
helping
me
herein
?
Why
did
I
not
look
to
my
palfrey
myself
?
And
the
keys
I
might
have
stolen
from
thee
,
always
with
thy
good
will
.
But
now
I
see
that
I
have
done
thee
a
hurt
.
Said
Sir
Leonard
:
Lady
,
a
priest
hath
a
home
wheresoever
is
an
house
of
religion
.
There
is
no
harm
done
,
save
Sir
Aymeris
bethink
him
of
hanging
me
over
the
battlements
;
as
I
doubt
he
will
not
with
a
priest
.
Moreover
,
I
pray
thee
believe
,
that
wert
thou
gone
from
the
castle
,
house
and
home
were
none
for
me
there
.
And
he
looked
upon
her
piteously
,
as
if
he
were
beseeching
.
But
she
knew
not
what
to
say
,
and
hung
her
head
adown
;
and
presently
they
were
come
to
the
bower
in
the
copse
,
which
this
time
was
a
stable
for
Birdalone’s
palfrey
instead
of
a
chamber
for
herself
.
So
Leonard
went
in
and
fetched
out
the
comely
beast
;
and
Birdalone
stood
with
him
just
in
the
cover
of
the
copse
waiting
to
put
her
foot
in
the
stirrup
;
but
she
might
not
but
abide
to
look
upon
the
priest
,
who
stood
there
as
if
he
were
striving
with
his
words
.
So
she
said
:
Now
is
need
of
haste
to
be
gone
.
Yet
one
word
,
my
friend
:
Is
there
aught
betwixt
us
wherein
I
have
done
thee
wrong
?
If
so
it
be
,
I
pray
thee
to
say
out
what
it
is
;
for
it
may
be
(
though
I
think
it
not
)
thou
shalt
not
see
me
again
from
henceforth
.
He
caught
his
breath
,
as
if
he
had
much
ado
to
refrain
the
sobbing
;
but
he
mastered
it
,
and
said
:
Lady
and
dear
friend
,
if
I
see
thee
not
again
,
I
heed
not
what
shall
befall
me
.
Thou
hast
done
me
no
wrong
.
There
is
this
only
betwixt
us
,
that
I
love
thee
,
and
thou
lovest
not
me
.
She
looked
on
him
sweetly
and
pitifully
,
and
said
:
I
may
not
choose
but
understand
thy
word
,
to
wit
,
that
thy
love
for
me
is
the
desire
of
a
man
toward
a
woman
;
and
that
is
unhappy
;
for
I
love
thee
indeed
,
but
not
as
a
woman
loveth
a
man
.
It
is
best
to
say
thus
much
to
thee
downright
.
But
I
feel
in
my
heart
that
when
I
have
said
it
,
it
is
as
much
as
to
say
that
I
cannot
help
thee
,
and
therefore
am
I
sorry
indeed
.
He
stood
before
her
abashed
,
but
he
said
at
last
:
Now
art
thou
so
sweet
,
and
so
kind
,
and
so
true
,
that
I
must
perforce
love
thee
yet
more
;
and
this
maketh
me
bold
to
say
that
thou
mayst
help
me
a
little
,
or
so
meseemeth
.
How
so
?
said
Birdalone
.
Quoth
he
:
If
thou
wouldst
suffer
me
to
kiss
thy
face
this
once
.
She
shook
her
head
,
and
spake
:
How
may
it
avail
thee
,
when
it
is
for
once
,
and
once
only
,
as
forsooth
it
must
be
?
Yet
it
is
thy
choice
,
not
mine
,
and
I
will
not
naysay
thee
.
And
therewith
she
put
up
her
face
to
him
,
and
he
kissed
her
cheek
without
touching
her
otherwise
,
and
then
he
kissed
her
mouth
;
and
she
knew
that
he
was
both
timorous
and
sad
,
and
she
was
ashamed
to
look
on
him
,
or
to
speak
to
him
any
more
,
lest
she
should
behold
him
ashamed
;
so
she
but
said
:
Farewell
,
friend
,
till
tomorrow
at
least
.
And
therewith
her
foot
was
in
the
stirrup
,
and
anon
she
sat
in
the
saddle
,
and
her
palfrey
was
ambling
briskly
on
the
way
she
would
.
Chapter
IX
~
Birdalone
Comes
to
the
Black
Valley
Little
is
to
tell
of
Birdalone’s
journey
unto
the
knoll
above
the
Black
Valley
of
the
Greywethers
.
It
was
about
noon
when
she
came
there
,
and
had
met
but
few
folk
on
the
way
,
and
those
few
were
husbandmen
,
or
carlines
,
or
maidens
wending
afield
betimes
not
far
from
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
.
Now
she
sat
on
her
horse
and
looked
down
into
the
dale
and
its
stony
people
once
more
,
and
saw
nought
stirring
save
three
ravens
who
,
not
far
off
,
were
flapping
about
from
stone
to
stone
of
the
Greywethers
,
and
croaking
loud
to
each
other
as
if
some
tidings
were
toward
.
She
watched
their
play
for
a
little
,
and
then
gat
off
her
horse
,
and
sat
down
on
the
grass
of
the
knoll
,
and
drew
forth
her
victual
,
and
ate
and
drank
;
for
she
deemed
it
happier
to
eat
and
drink
there
than
in
the
very
jaws
of
the
Black
Valley
.
Soon
was
her
dinner
done
,
and
then
she
got
to
her
saddle
again
,
and
rode
slowly
down
to
the
little
stream
,
and
along
it
toward
the
valley
and
the
gates
of
the
mountains
,
which
she
had
been
fain
to
pass
through
;
but
now
,
as
had
happed
with
her
that
morning
when
she
was
boun
for
the
Sending
Boat
,
somewhat
she
hung
back
from
the
adventure
,
and
when
she
lacked
but
some
five
score
yards
from
the
very
dale
itself
,
she
lighted
down
again
,
and
let
her
way-beast
bite
the
grass
,
while
she
sat
down
and
watched
the
rippling
water
.
In
a
while
she
drew
off
shoon
and
hosen
,
and
stood
in
the
shallow
ripple
,
and
bathed
her
hands
and
face
withal
,
and
stooped
up-stream
and
drank
from
the
hollow
of
her
hands
,
and
so
stepped
ashore
and
was
waxen
hardier
;
then
she
strung
her
bow
and
looked
to
the
shafts
in
her
quiver
,
and
did
on
her
foot-gear
,
and
mounted
once
more
,
and
so
rode
a
brisk
amble
right
on
into
the
dale
,
and
was
soon
come
amongst
the
Greywethers
;
and
she
saw
that
they
were
a
many
,
and
that
all
the
bottom
of
the
dale
was
besprinkled
with
them
on
either
side
of
the
stream
,
and
some
stood
in
the
very
stream
itself
,
the
ground
whereof
was
black
even
as
the
rest
of
the
valley
,
although
the
water
ran
over
it
as
clear
as
glass
.
As
for
the
dale
,
now
she
was
fairly
within
it
,
she
could
see
but
a
little
way
up
it
,
for
it
winded
much
,
and
at
first
away
from
her
left
hand
,
and
the
sides
of
it
went
up
in
somewhat
steep
screes
on
either
side
,
which
were
topped
with
mere
upright
staves
and
burgs
of
black
rock
;
and
these
were
specially
big
and
outthrusting
on
the
right
hand
of
her
;
and
but
a
furlong
ahead
of
where
she
was
,
one
of
these
burgs
thrust
out
past
the
scree
and
came
down
sheer
into
the
dale
,
and
straitened
it
so
much
that
there
was
but
little
way
save
by
the
stream
itself
,
which
ran
swift
indeed
,
but
not
deep
,
even
there
where
it
was
straitened
by
the
sheer
rocks
.
But
up
the
dale
would
she
go
,
whatever
was
before
her
;
and
now
she
told
herself
her
very
purpose
,
as
forsooth
she
scarce
had
heretofore
;
to
wit
,
that
she
would
abide
in
the
dale
the
night
over
and
see
what
should
betide
,
and
if
those
wights
should
chance
to
come
alive
,
then
she
looked
to
have
valiance
enough
to
face
them
and
crave
the
fulfilment
of
her
desire
.
So
she
took
the
water
and
rode
the
stream
till
she
was
past
the
said
sheer
rock
,
and
then
the
valley
widened
again
,
and
presently
was
wider
than
it
was
in
the
beginning
;
and
here
again
were
the
Greywethers
grown
many
more
and
closer
together
,
and
,
as
she
deemed
,
were
set
in
rings
round
about
one
very
big
one
,
which
,
forsooth
,
was
somewhat
in
the
shape
of
a
man
sitting
down
with
his
hands
laid
on
his
knees
.
Birdalone
reined
up
for
a
minute
,
and
looked
about
her
,
and
then
went
up
on
to
the
grass
,
and
rode
straight
to
the
said
big
stone
,
and
there
lighted
down
from
off
her
horse
again
,
and
stood
by
the
stone
and
pondered
.
Presently
she
deemed
that
she
saw
something
dark
moving
just
beyond
the
stone
,
but
if
it
were
so
,
it
was
gone
in
a
twinkling
;
nevertheless
she
stood
affrighted
,
and
stared
before
her
long
,
and
saw
no
more
,
but
yet
for
a
while
durst
not
move
hand
nor
foot
.
At
last
her
courage
came
again
,
and
she
thought
:
Yet
how
if
this
great
chieftain
be
inwardly
stirring
and
will
come
awake
?
Shall
I
say
the
word
now
,
lest
hereafter
it
be
of
no
avail
?
Therewith
she
stretched
out
her
right
hand
and
laid
it
on
the
stone
,
and
spake
aloud
:
O
Earth
,
thou
and
thy
first
children
,
I
crave
of
you
that
he
may
come
back
now
at
once
and
loving
me
.
And
her
voice
sounded
strange
and
unkent
to
her
in
that
solitude
,
and
she
rued
it
that
she
had
spoken
.
Chapter
X
~
How
Birdalone
Fell
in
with
A
Man
in
the
Black
Valley
of
the
Greywethers
Came
new
tidings
therewithal
;
for
the
moment
after
she
had
spoken
,
a
tall
man
drew
out
from
behind
the
big
stone
,
and
stood
before
her
;
and
at
first
it
was
in
her
mind
that
this
was
the
very
chieftain
come
alive
for
her
,
and
for
terror
she
was
like
to
swoon
this
time
;
but
he
spake
nought
a
while
,
but
looked
on
her
eagerly
and
curiously
.
She
came
to
herself
presently
,
so
much
that
she
could
see
him
clearly
,
and
was
now
growing
more
shamefast
than
afraid
,
when
she
saw
beyond
doubt
that
the
man
was
of
the
sons
of
Adam
;
but
what
with
her
shame
that
was
now
,
and
her
fear
that
had
been
,
she
yet
had
no
might
to
move
,
but
stood
there
pale
and
trembling
like
a
leaf
,
and
might
scarce
keep
her
feet
.
Now
the
new-comer
bowed
before
her
smiling
,
and
said
:
I
ask
thy
pardon
,
fair
damsel
(
or
indeed
I
should
say
fairest
damsel
)
,
that
I
have
scared
thee
.
But
sooth
to
say
I
beheld
thee
coming
riding
,
and
even
from
a
little
aloof
I
could
see
that
nought
which
might
befall
could
ever
make
it
up
to
me
for
not
seeing
thee
close
at
hand
and
hearing
thee
speak
.
Wherefore
I
hid
myself
behind
the
king’s
stone
here
;
and
no
harm
is
done
thereby
I
trow
;
for
now
I
see
that
the
colour
is
coming
into
thy
cheeks
again
,
and
thy
fear
is
gone
.
And
as
for
me
,
thou
hast
not
fled
away
from
me
,
as
thou
wouldst
have
done
had
I
not
hidden
and
come
on
thee
suddenly
;
and
then
thou
being
horsed
and
I
unhorsed
,
thou
wouldst
have
escaped
me
,
whereas
now
thou
art
within
reach
of
my
hand
.
Then
he
smiled
,
and
said
:
Furthermore
,
thou
hast
told
so
little
of
thy
secret
to
this
stony
king
here
,
that
I
am
little
the
wiser
for
thy
word
,
and
thou
the
little
more
betrayed
.
Only
this
I
will
say
,
that
if
He
loveth
thee
not
,
He
is
more
of
a
fool
than
I
be
.
He
reached
out
his
hand
to
hers
,
but
she
drew
it
aback
,
and
grew
yet
more
ashamed
,
and
could
find
no
word
for
him
.
His
voice
was
soft
and
full
,
and
he
spake
deftly
,
but
she
was
not
content
with
it
for
its
kindness
,
as
she
had
been
with
all
the
other
men
whom
she
had
met
since
she
left
the
House
under
the
Wood
,
and
she
durst
not
trust
her
hand
to
him
.
As
for
his
aspect
,
she
saw
that
he
was
tall
and
well-knit
,
and
goodly
of
fashion
;
dark-haired
,
with
long
hazel
eyes
,
smooth-cheeked
and
bright-skinned
;
his
nose
long
,
and
a
little
bent
over
at
the
end
,
and
coming
down
close
to
his
lips
,
which
were
full
and
red
;
his
face
was
hairless
save
for
a
little
lip-beard
.
He
was
so
clad
,
that
he
had
no
helm
on
his
head
,
but
a
little
hat
with
a
broad
gold
piece
in
the
front
thereof
;
he
was
girt
to
a
long
sword
,
and
had
an
anlace
also
in
his
belt
,
and
Birdalone
saw
the
rings
of
a
fine
hauberk
at
his
collar
and
knees
;
otherwise
he
was
not
armed
.
Over
his
hauberk
he
wore
a
black
surcoat
,
without
device
of
any
kind
,
and
his
foot
and
leg
gear
were
of
the
same
hue
;
wherefore
may
we
call
him
the
Black
Knight
.
Sooth
to
say
,
for
all
his
soft
speech
,
she
feared
him
and
rued
the
meeting
of
him
.
Now
he
spake
to
her
again
:
I
see
that
thou
art
wroth
with
me
,
lady
;
but
mayhappen
it
is
not
so
ill
that
I
have
happened
on
thee
;
for
this
dale
hath
a
bad
name
for
more
than
one
thing
,
and
is
scarce
meet
for
damsels
to
wander
in
.
But
now
since
thou
hast
a
weaponed
man
with
thee
,
and
thou
,
by
All-hallows
!
not
utterly
unarmed
,
thou
mayst
well
go
up
the
valley
and
see
something
more
thereof
.
So
come
now
,
mount
thine
horse
again
,
and
I
will
lead
him
for
thee
.
Now
Birdalone
found
speech
and
said
:
Knight
,
for
such
thou
seemest
to
me
,
I
deem
now
that
I
have
no
need
to
fare
further
in
this
dale
,
but
I
will
get
me
into
the
saddle
and
turn
my
horse’s
head
outward
again
,
giving
thee
good
day
first
and
thanking
thee
for
thy
courtesy
.
And
therewith
she
turned
to
get
to
her
palfrey
,
but
sore
trembling
the
while
;
but
he
followed
her
and
said
,
with
brow
somewhat
knitted
:
Nay
,
lady
,
I
have
left
my
horse
somewhat
further
up
,
and
I
must
go
back
to
fetch
him
,
that
we
may
wend
out
of
the
dale
together
.
For
I
will
not
suffer
thee
to
flee
from
me
and
fall
into
the
hands
of
evil
wights
,
be
they
ghosts
or
living
men
,
and
that
the
less
since
I
have
heard
the
speech
in
thy
mouth
,
as
of
honey
and
cream
and
roses
.
Therefore
if
thou
go
out
of
the
dale
,
I
shall
go
with
thee
afoot
,
leading
thine
horse
.
And
look
to
it
if
it
be
courteous
to
unhorse
a
knight
,
who
is
ready
to
be
thy
servant
.
Moreover
,
since
thou
hast
come
to
this
dale
of
wonder
,
and
mayst
leave
it
safely
,
pity
it
were
that
thou
shouldst
see
nought
thereof
,
for
strange
is
it
forsooth
,
and
belike
thou
shalt
never
seek
thither
again
.
Wherefore
I
crave
of
thee
,
once
more
,
to
mount
thine
horse
and
let
me
lead
thee
up
the
dale
.
He
spake
these
last
words
rather
as
one
giving
a
command
than
making
a
prayer
,
and
Birdalone
feared
him
now
sorely
.
Forsooth
she
had
her
bended
bow
in
hand
;
but
let
alone
that
the
knight
was
over-near
to
her
that
she
might
get
a
shaft
out
of
her
quiver
and
nock
it
,
ere
he
should
run
in
on
her
,
and
let
alone
also
that
he
was
byrnied
,
she
scarce
deemed
that
it
behoved
her
to
slay
or
wound
the
man
because
she
would
be
quit
of
him
.
Wherefore
angrily
,
and
with
a
flushed
face
,
she
answered
him
:
So
shall
it
be
then
,
Sir
Knight
;
or
rather
so
must
it
be
,
since
thou
compellest
me
.
He
laughed
and
said
:
Nay
,
now
thou
art
angry
.
I
compel
thee
not
,
I
but
say
that
it
will
not
do
for
thee
to
compel
me
to
leave
thee
.
Go
which
way
thou
wilt
,
up
the
dale
,
or
down
it
and
out
of
it
;
it
is
all
one
unto
me
,
so
long
as
I
am
with
thee
.
Forsooth
,
damsel
,
I
have
said
harder
words
to
ladies
who
have
done
my
pleasure
and
not
deemed
themselves
compelled
.
She
paled
but
answered
nought
;
then
she
mounted
her
palfrey
,
and
the
knight
went
to
her
bridle-rein
without
more
words
,
and
so
led
her
on
up
the
valley
by
the
easiest
way
amongst
the
Greywethers
.
Chapter
XI
~
Birdalone
is
Led
Up
the
Black
Valley
As
they
went
,
the
knight
fell
a-talking
to
Birdalone
,
and
that
without
any
of
the
covert
jeering
which
he
had
used
erewhile
;
and
he
showed
her
places
in
the
dale
,
as
caverns
under
the
burgs
,
and
little
eyots
in
the
stream
,
and
certain
stones
amongst
the
Greywethers
whereof
stories
ran
;
and
how
this
and
the
other
one
had
fared
in
dealings
with
the
land-wights
,
and
how
one
had
perished
,
and
another
had
been
made
happy
,
and
so
forth
.
Withal
he
told
of
the
mountain-folk
,
and
in
especial
how
they
of
the
plains
,
when
he
was
scarce
more
than
a
boy
,
had
met
them
in
battle
in
that
same
dale
,
and
how
fierce
the
fight
was
;
whereas
the
mountain-men
were
fighting
for
a
life
of
desires
accomplished
,
which
hitherto
had
been
but
a
dream
unto
them
;
and
the
men
of
the
plain
fought
for
dear
life
itself
,
and
for
all
that
made
it
aught
save
death
in
life
.
Wherefore
up
and
down
the
dale
they
fought
,
at
first
in
ordered
ranks
and
then
in
knots
,
and
lastly
sword
to
sword
and
man
to
man
,
till
there
was
no
foot
of
grass
or
black
sand
there
which
had
not
its
shower
of
blood
;
and
the
stream
was
choked
with
the
dead
,
and
ran
red
out
of
the
dale
;
till
at
last
well-nigh
all
the
host
of
the
mountain-men
was
fallen
,
and
scarce
less
of
the
folk
of
the
plains
,
but
these
men
held
the
field
and
had
the
victory
.
All
this
he
told
her
deftly
and
well
,
and
though
he
said
not
so
right
out
,
yet
let
her
wot
that
,
youth
as
he
was
,
he
was
of
the
battle
;
and
his
voice
was
clear
and
good
,
and
Birdalone’s
wrath
ran
off
her
,
and
she
hearkened
his
tale
,
and
even
asked
him
a
question
here
and
there
;
and
so
courteous
was
this
Black
Knight
now
become
,
that
Birdalone
began
to
think
that
she
had
fallen
short
of
courtesy
to
him
,
because
of
her
fear
and
the
weariness
of
the
waiting
which
so
oppressed
her
;
and
that
shamed
and
irked
her
,
for
she
would
fain
be
of
all
courtesy
.
Wherefore
now
she
deemed
that
perchance
she
had
erred
in
deeming
him
an
evil
man
;
and
she
looked
on
him
from
time
to
time
,
and
deemed
him
goodly
of
fashion
;
she
thought
his
eyes
were
deep
,
and
his
face
sober
and
fair
of
aspect
,
but
that
his
nose
turned
down
at
the
end
,
and
was
over
thin
at
the
bridge
,
and
moreover
his
lips
looked
over-sweet
and
licorous
.
Now
when
the
knight
was
silent
of
his
tales
,
Birdalone
fell
to
asking
him
questions
sweetly
concerning
this
Stony
People
which
was
all
about
them
;
and
he
told
her
all
he
knew
,
soberly
enough
at
first
,
yet
indeed
ended
by
mocking
them
somewhat
,
but
mocked
not
at
her
any
more
.
At
last
he
said
:
Fair
lady
,
that
thou
hast
not
come
here
all
for
nought
I
partly
know
by
those
words
which
I
heard
come
from
thy
mouth
at
the
King’s
Stone
;
wherefore
I
marvelled
indeed
when
I
heard
thee
say
that
thou
wouldst
go
straight
out
of
the
dale
;
for
I
had
deemed
thee
desirous
of
trying
the
adventure
of
waking
this
Stony
People
a-night-tide
.
Forsooth
was
this
thy
mind
when
thou
soughtest
hither
to
the
dale
?
She
reddened
at
his
word
,
and
yeasaid
him
shortly
.
Then
said
he
:
Is
it
not
thy
mind
still
?
Sir
,
said
she
,
as
now
I
have
got
to
fear
it
.
Yea
?
and
that
is
strange
,
said
he
,
for
thou
wouldst
have
waked
the
dale
alone
;
and
now
thou
art
no
longer
alone
,
but
hast
me
to
watch
and
ward
thy
waking
,
thou
art
more
afeard
.
She
looked
on
his
face
steadily
,
to
wot
if
there
were
no
half-hidden
smile
therein
;
but
herseemed
that
he
spake
in
all
soberness
;
and
she
had
nought
to
say
to
him
save
this
:
Sir
,
I
am
now
become
afraid
of
the
waking
.
And
he
said
no
more
thereof
.
Now
they
went
thus
,
and
Birdalone
not
without
pleasure
,
since
her
fear
of
the
knight
was
minished
,
some
three
hours
up
the
dale
,
and
still
were
the
Greywethers
everywhere
about
them
,
so
that
there
were
well-nigh
as
many
hours
as
miles
in
their
wending
.
At
last
they
seemed
to
be
drawing
nigh
to
the
head
of
the
dale
,
and
the
burgs
and
the
rocks
were
before
them
all
round
it
as
a
wall
,
though
yet
about
a
mile
aloof
at
the
further
end
;
and
this
end
it
was
wider
than
elsewhere
.
Came
they
then
to
a
level
space
of
greensward
clear
of
the
grey
stones
,
which
were
drawn
all
around
it
in
ordered
rings
,
so
that
it
was
as
some
doom-ring
of
an
ancient
people
;
and
within
the
said
space
Birdalone
beheld
a
great
black
horse
tethered
and
cropping
the
grass
.
The
knight
led
her
into
the
ring
,
and
said
:
Now
are
we
come
home
for
the
present
,
my
lady
,
and
if
it
please
thee
to
light
down
we
shall
presently
eat
and
drink
,
and
sithence
talk
a
little
.
And
he
drew
nigh
to
help
her
off
her
horse
,
but
she
suffered
him
not
,
and
lighted
down
of
herself
;
but
if
she
suffered
not
his
hand
,
his
eyes
she
must
needs
suffer
,
as
he
gazed
greedily
on
the
trimness
of
her
feet
and
legs
in
her
sliding
from
her
horse
.
Howsoever
,
he
took
her
hand
,
and
led
her
to
a
little
mound
on
the
other
side
of
the
ring
,
and
bade
her
sit
down
there
,
and
so
did
she
,
and
from
under
the
nighest
of
the
stones
he
drew
forth
a
pair
of
saddle-bags
,
and
took
victual
and
wine
thence
,
and
they
ate
and
drank
together
like
old
companions
.
And
now
Birdalone
told
herself
that
the
knight
was
frank
and
friendly
;
yet
forsooth
she
wotted
that
her
heart
scarce
trowed
what
it
feigned
,
and
that
she
yet
feared
him
.
Chapter
XII
~
How
Those
Twain
Get
Them
from
Out
of
the
Black
Valley
of
the
Greywethers
When
they
had
dined
,
and
had
sat
a
while
talking
,
the
knight
said
:
I
will
ask
thee
once
more
wherefore
thou
must
needs
depart
from
this
dale
leaving
the
Greywethers
unwaked
?
Yet
this
must
I
tell
thee
first
,
that
this
ring
at
the
dale’s
end
is
the
only
one
due
place
where
the
Greywethers
can
be
rightly
waked
,
and
that
there
be
few
who
wot
this
.
Wilt
thou
not
tell
me
then
what
is
in
thy
mind
?
Birdalone
gazed
down
on
the
ground
a
while
;
then
she
lifted
up
her
head
and
looked
on
the
Black
Knight
,
and
said
:
Sir
Knight
,
we
have
been
brought
so
close
together
today
,
and
as
meseemeth
I
am
so
wholly
in
thy
power
,
that
I
will
tell
thee
the
very
truth
as
it
is
.
My
mind
it
was
to
wake
the
dale
here
to-night
,
and
take
what
might
befall
me
.
And
well
indeed
might
I
fear
the
adventure
,
which
few
,
meseemeth
,
would
not
fear
.
But
so
strong
is
my
longing
for
that
which
I
would
crave
of
these
wights
,
that
it
overmastered
my
fear
,
and
my
purpose
held
when
I
entered
the
dale
.
Then
I
met
thee
;
and
here
again
is
the
truth
,
take
it
how
thou
wilt
,
that
presently
I
feared
thee
,
and
yet
I
fear
thee
;
for
I
have
noted
thee
closely
all
this
while
,
and
have
seen
of
thee
,
that
thou
art
over
heedful
of
my
poor
body
,
and
wouldst
