huntersof
the
edges
of
the
wood
,
and
suchlike
.
These
deemed
me
a
holy
man
,
whereas
I
was
but
surly
.
Somewhat
also
they
feared
me
,
whereas
in
some
of
their
huntings
or
goings
and
comings
after
prey
I
had
put
forth
all
my
strength
,
eked
out
by
the
lore
of
knighthood
,
which
was
strange
to
them
.
One
man
there
was
of
them
who
was
fashioned
of
the
minstrel
craft
by
nature
,
and
who
forgathered
with
me
specially
,
till
we
became
friends
,
and
he
was
a
solace
to
me
,
with
his
tales
and
his
songs
of
a
rougher
people
than
I
had
been
wont
to
deal
with
.
But
when
I
had
been
in
that
place
for
two
years
he
died
of
a
sickness
,
and
I
was
left
lonely
,
and
my
soreness
of
heart
fell
upon
me
till
I
scarce
knew
what
next
I
should
do
.
So
I
fared
away
yet
deeper
into
the
wildwood
,
taking
with
me
the
harp
which
my
friend
had
given
me
before
he
died
.
It
was
summer
,
and
I
wandered
about
ever
deeper
into
the
wood
,
until
belike
I
had
scarce
been
able
to
win
out
of
it
if
I
had
tried
.
At
last
,
when
the
autumn
came
,
I
built
myself
again
some
sort
of
a
bower
in
a
clearing
of
the
wood
wherein
was
water
,
and
the
resort
of
plenteous
venison
.
What
befell
next
?
My
mind
is
not
over-clear
concerning
it
all
,
for
I
was
now
becoming
more
of
a
beast
than
a
man
.
But
this
I
know
,
that
some
men
of
the
bands
whom
I
had
chased
happened
on
me
.
They
knew
me
not
for
their
old
foeman
,
but
of
their
kind
it
was
to
torment
and
slay
any
man
whom
they
might
lightly
overcome
.
Yet
was
not
the
battle
so
over-light
but
that
I
slew
and
hurt
divers
of
them
ere
they
got
me
under
and
stripped
me
and
bound
my
hands
and
tormented
me
,
after
the
manner
that
the
devils
shall
do
with
them
when
they
shall
go
to
their
reward
.
Yet
somehow
I
lived
,
though
they
deemed
me
dead
,
and
I
crawled
away
thence
when
they
were
gone
;
and
somehow
I
was
healed
of
my
body
,
but
I
was
confused
of
my
wit
thereafter
,
and
now
can
call
to
mind
but
little
of
what
befell
me
as
I
strayed
from
place
to
place
,
save
that
I
remember
I
was
hapless
and
heart-sore
ever
:
and
also
meseemeth
that
I
saw
visions
at
whiles
,
and
those
who
had
been
in
my
life
before
these
things
,
their
images
would
come
before
me
to
mock
me
as
I
sat
singing
whiles
and
whiles
playing
the
string-play
(
for
my
harp
I
bore
ever
with
me
)
;
and
whiles
I
bewailed
me
,
and
called
for
help
on
them
that
would
not
or
might
not
help
me
.
And
now
I
may
not
even
tell
the
years
of
my
abiding
in
the
desert
,
how
many
they
be
.
But
I
pray
thee
let
us
on
more
swiftly
yet
.
Said
the
wood-wife
:
Thou
hast
told
me
but
little
of
thy
life
,
Black
Squire
,
but
it
is
enough
maybe
;
and
I
see
that
thou
mayst
not
tell
me
more
because
thou
hast
thy
mind
set
on
what
may
betide
thee
when
this
day
is
over
.
But
thou
must
know
that
thou
hast
come
into
the
wood
of
Evilshaw
,
wherein
,
besides
those
savage
men
who
quelled
thee
and
their
like
,
there
be
uncouth
things
no
few
,
and
wights
that
be
not
of
the
race
of
Adam
;
wherefore
no
great
marvel
is
it
that
thou
sawest
visions
,
and
images
of
them
that
were
not
by
thee
.
Yea
,
said
he
,
but
one
vision
had
I
that
confused
and
overcame
me
more
than
all
others
,
and
meseemeth
that
came
to
me
not
long
ago
.
For
first
I
saw
the
shape
of
her
that
my
soul
desireth
ever
,
and
it
wept
and
lamented
for
me
;
and
then
for
a
little
I
seemed
as
if
I
were
coming
forth
from
my
confusion
of
wit
;
when
lo
!
there
issued
from
the
thicket
another
image
of
my
beloved
and
blamed
me
and
threatened
me
.
God
wot
good
cause
there
was
of
the
blame
.
But
tell
me
,
mother
,
since
thou
callest
thyself
wise
,
what
may
this
portend
?
The
wood-wife
laughed
:
Since
I
am
wise
,
said
she
,
I
will
foretell
thee
good
days
.
And
now
we
will
talk
no
more
of
thee
or
thy
love
or
thy
sorrow
,
but
since
thou
wilt
so
fiercely
devour
the
way
,
I
will
tell
thee
a
tale
or
two
of
this
wood
and
its
wights
to
save
us
from
over-much
weariness
.
So
did
she
,
talking
and
telling
as
they
went
;
and
she
went
on
a
pace
before
him
,
and
howsoever
long
or
hardly
he
might
stride
he
might
not
overgo
her
.
And
so
fast
they
went
,
that
they
were
within
a
little
way
of
the
Oak
of
Tryst
a
good
while
before
the
sun
had
set
,
though
they
had
set
out
from
the
cave
three
hours
after
the
hour
when
Birdalone
and
the
wood-wife
had
left
the
House
under
the
Wood
on
the
yesterday
.
They
had
come
to
a
steep
rock
that
rose
up
from
a
water’s
side
,
and
the
wood-wife
bade
stay
,
whether
Arthur
would
or
no
,
and
she
made
him
eat
and
drink
,
bringing
the
victual
and
wine
from
out
of
a
cleft
in
the
said
rock
.
And
she
held
him
there
till
the
night
was
come
and
there
was
a
glimmer
of
the
rising
moon
in
the
east
,
and
he
was
ill
at
ease
and
restless
;
but
still
she
held
him
there
till
the
moon
rose
high
and
shone
upon
them
,
and
the
shadows
of
the
oak-boughs
lay
black
all
around
.
Then
she
bade
him
arise
,
and
led
him
on
to
the
Oak
of
Tryst
,
yea
and
somewhat
beyond
it
toward
the
great
water
.
Then
she
spake
to
him
:
Black
Squire
,
I
am
now
come
home
,
and
will
lead
thee
no
further
;
I
was
deeming
that
we
should
have
slept
in
the
wood
a
good
way
from
this
,
and
then
would
I
have
brought
thee
on
thy
way
tomorrow
morning
;
but
the
eagerness
of
thine
heart
hath
made
thy
feet
so
speedy
,
that
we
be
here
somewhat
rathe
,
and
yet
I
am
not
ill-pleased
therewith
.
Then
she
turned
him
about
and
said
:
Look
down
the
bent
and
tell
me
what
thou
seest
.
He
said
:
I
see
the
boles
of
goodly
trees
,
and
betwixt
them
the
gleaming
of
a
great
water
.
She
said
:
Go
thitherward
then
while
the
moon
is
yet
at
her
brightest
,
and
thou
shalt
presently
come
to
wide
meads
lying
along
the
water
,
and
a
stream
running
through
them
.
Enter
then
into
the
meads
and
look
about
thee
,
and
thou
shalt
see
a
little
house
(
there
is
none
other
nigh
)
standing
just
across
the
said
stream
;
go
up
thither
boldly
and
crave
guesting
from
whomsoever
thou
shalt
find
there
,
and
maybe
things
shall
go
after
thy
mind
.
More
than
this
I
may
not
do
for
thee
.
Farewell
then
,
and
if
thou
wilt
thou
mayst
meet
me
again
;
that
is
to
say
,
that
which
is
verily
me
:
but
it
is
like
that
this
shape
which
hath
been
striding
on
with
thee
daylong
thou
shalt
not
see
any
more
.
He
looked
on
her
wondering
,
for
she
seemed
to
grow
goodly
and
stately
before
his
eyes
.
But
even
as
he
stretched
forth
his
hand
to
take
hers
,
she
turned
about
suddenly
and
fared
into
the
wood
out
of
his
sight
,
wending
full
as
swiftly
as
might
have
been
looked
for
.
Then
he
drew
his
sword
and
turned
his
face
from
the
wood
,
and
went
down
toward
the
water
.
Chapter
XXVII
~
Sir
Arthur
Cometh
to
the
House
Under
the
Wood
So
came
Arthur
into
the
meadows
,
and
went
eagerly
but
warily
over
the
dewy
grass
.
And
here
and
there
a
cow
rose
before
him
and
went
bundling
down
the
mead
a
little
way
,
and
the
owls
cried
out
from
behind
him
,
and
a
fox
barked
from
the
thicket’s
edge
.
Then
he
found
himself
on
the
stream-side
,
and
he
stayed
and
looked
from
side
to
side
,
and
lo
!
on
the
other
side
of
the
stream
a
little
house
that
looked
familiar
to
him
as
a
yeoman’s
dwelling
in
the
builded
lands
,
and
the
thatch
thereon
shone
under
the
moon
and
its
windows
were
yellow
with
candle-light
;
and
so
homely
it
seemed
to
him
,
that
he
thrust
his
sword
into
the
sheath
and
lightly
crossed
the
brook
,
and
came
to
the
door
and
laid
his
hand
upon
the
latch
and
lifted
it
and
shoved
the
door
,
and
all
was
open
before
him
.
His
eyes
,
coming
from
the
night
,
dazzled
with
the
bright
light
of
the
candles
,
but
he
saw
a
fair
woman
rising
up
in
her
place
,
and
he
said
:
May
a
traveller
in
the
woodland
be
welcome
here
to-night
,
dealing
with
all
in
all
honour
?
But
the
woman
came
toward
him
holding
out
her
two
hands
,
and
ere
he
could
cry
out
that
he
knew
her
,
she
had
thrown
herself
upon
him
,
and
had
cast
her
arms
about
him
and
was
kissing
his
face
,
and
murmuring
:
O
welcome
indeed
!
welcome
,
welcome
,
and
welcome
!
And
so
sore
did
his
past
grief
and
his
desire
move
him
,
that
he
was
weak
before
her
,
and
held
down
his
hands
and
let
her
do
.
And
both
those
were
breathless
with
wonder
and
joy
and
longing
;
and
they
stood
aloof
a
little
in
a
while
and
looked
on
each
other
,
she
with
heaving
bosom
and
streaming
eyes
,
and
he
with
arms
stretched
forth
and
lips
that
strove
with
his
heart’s
words
and
might
not
utter
them
;
but
once
more
she
gave
herself
to
him
,
and
he
took
her
in
his
arms
strongly
now
,
so
that
she
was
frail
and
weak
before
him
,
and
he
laid
his
cheek
to
her
cheek
and
his
lips
to
her
lips
,
and
kissed
her
eyes
and
her
shoulders
and
murmured
over
her
.
And
then
again
they
stood
apart
,
and
she
took
him
by
the
hand
and
led
him
to
the
settle
,
and
set
him
down
by
her
,
and
herself
by
him
;
and
a
while
they
said
nought
.
Then
she
spake
as
one
who
had
come
to
herself
and
was
calm
,
though
her
heart
was
aflame
for
love
:
Tell
me
,
love
,
when
thine
hand
was
on
the
latch
didst
thou
look
to
find
me
here
in
this
house
?
for
thine
hand
it
was
that
waked
me
;
I
heard
not
thy
foot
before
the
threshold
,
for
I
was
weary
and
slumbering
.
Alas
!
that
I
lost
the
sound
of
thy
feet
!
He
spake
,
and
his
voice
sounded
false
unto
him
,
as
if
it
came
from
another’s
mouth
:
I
wot
not
;
the
woman
that
led
me
nearby
seemed
to
bid
me
hope
.
Then
he
said
:
Nay
,
the
sooth
is
that
I
should
have
died
if
I
had
not
found
thee
here
;
I
have
been
sick
so
long
with
hoping
.
Again
were
they
silent
till
she
said
:
I
would
that
I
had
heard
thee
crossing
the
brook
.
But
the
wood-wife
bade
me
look
for
thee
no
earlier
than
tomorrow
;
else
had
I
time
enough
;
and
I
would
have
made
the
house
trim
with
the
new
green
boughs
,
and
dighted
our
bed
with
rose
blooms
;
and
I
would
have
done
on
me
my
shining
gown
that
the
wood-wife
gave
me
.
For
indeed
she
was
but
clad
in
her
scanty
smock
and
nought
else
.
But
he
laid
his
head
on
her
bosom
and
kissed
her
all
about
,
and
said
:
Nay
,
my
own
love
,
it
is
well
,
it
is
better
.
And
she
murmured
over
him
:
O
friend
,
my
dear
,
think
not
that
I
had
will
to
hide
me
from
thee
.
All
that
is
here
of
me
is
thine
,
and
thine
,
and
thine
.
And
she
took
his
hand
and
they
arose
together
,
and
she
said
:
O
friend
,
I
fled
from
thee
once
and
left
thee
lonely
of
me
because
I
deemed
need
drave
me
to
it
;
and
I
feared
the
strife
of
friends
,
and
confusion
and
tangle
.
Now
if
thou
wilt
avenge
thee
on
me
thou
mayest
,
for
I
am
in
thy
power
.
Yet
will
I
ask
thee
what
need
will
drive
thee
to
leave
me
lonely
?
He
said
:
The
need
of
death
.
But
she
said
:
Mayhappen
we
shall
lie
together
then
,
as
here
to-night
we
shall
lie
.
Chapter
XXVIII
~
Fair
Days
in
the
House
of
Love
On
the
morrow
it
was
sweet
times
betwixt
those
twain
,
and
what
was
hard
and
fierce
of
their
love
they
seemed
to
have
put
behind
them
.
A
dear
joy
it
was
to
Birdalone
that
day
to
busy
herself
about
the
housekeeping
,
and
to
provide
whatsoever
seemed
now
,
or
had
seemed
to
her
in
her
early
days
,
to
be
dainties
of
their
meadow
and
woodland
husbandry
,
as
cream
and
junkets
and
wood-fruit
and
honey
,
and
fine
bread
made
for
that
very
occasion
.
Withal
she
was
careful
as
a
mother
with
a
child
that
he
should
not
over-weary
himself
with
the
sun
of
the
early
summer
,
but
rather
to
follow
the
brook
up
into
the
wood
and
lie
adown
in
the
flecked
shadow
and
rest
him
wholly
,
as
if
there
were
nought
for
him
to
do
but
to
take
in
rest
all
that
was
done
for
his
service
,
both
by
the
earth
and
by
the
hands
and
nimble
feet
of
Birdalone
.
And
as
she
was
wilful
in
other
ways
of
her
cherishing
,
so
also
in
this
,
that
for
nought
in
that
daylight
would
she
go
anywise
disarrayed
,
nay
not
so
much
as
to
go
barefoot
,
though
he
prayed
her
thereof
sorely
,
and
told
her
that
fairer
and
sweeter
she
was
in
her
smock
alone
than
in
any
other
raiment
.
For
in
the
morning
she
went
in
her
woodland
green
let
down
to
her
heels
,
and
when
the
day
wore
towards
evening
,
and
the
wind
came
cool
from
over
the
Great
Water
,
then
she
did
on
her
wonder-raiment
which
the
wood-wife
had
given
her
,
and
led
Arthur
over
the
meadows
here
and
there
,
and
went
gleaming
by
the
side
of
the
black-clad
man
along
the
water’s
lip
.
And
they
looked
forth
on
to
Green
Eyot
and
Rock
Eyot
,
and
stood
by
the
shallow
bight
where
she
had
bathed
those
times
;
and
they
went
along
to
the
dismal
creek
where
the
Sending
Boat
was
wont
to
lie
,
and
where
yet
lay
the
scattered
staves
of
it
;
and
then
along
the
meadow-land
they
went
from
end
to
end
,
resting
oft
on
the
flowery
grass
,
till
the
dews
began
to
fall
and
the
moon
cast
shadows
on
the
greensward
.
Then
home
they
fared
to
the
house
;
and
again
on
the
way
must
Birdalone
feign
for
their
disport
that
the
witch
was
come
back
again
,
and
was
awaiting
her
to
play
the
tyrant
with
her
;
and
Arthur
fell
in
with
her
game
,
and
kissed
her
and
clipped
her
,
and
then
drew
his
sword
and
said
:
By
All-hallows
I
shall
smite
off
her
head
if
she
but
lay
a
finger
on
thee
.
So
they
played
like
two
happy
children
till
they
came
to
the
door
of
the
house
,
and
Birdalone
shoved
it
open
,
and
they
two
looked
in
together
and
saw
nought
worse
therein
save
the
strange
shadows
that
the
moon
cast
from
the
settle
on
to
the
floor
.
Then
Birdalone
drew
in
her
love
,
and
went
about
lighting
the
candles
and
quickening
a
little
cooking
fire
on
the
hearth
,
till
the
yellow
light
chased
the
moon
away
from
the
bed
of
their
desire
.
Chapter
XXIX
~
Those
Twain
Will
Seek
the
Wisdom
of
the
Wood-Wife
Again
next
day
was
their
life
such
as
it
had
been
the
day
before
;
and
as
they
lay
in
cool
shadow
of
a
great
oak
,
Birdalone
fell
to
telling
Arthur
all
the
whole
story
of
her
dealings
with
the
wood-wife
,
and
how
that
she
had
so
loved
her
and
holpen
her
,
that
through
her
love
and
her
help
she
had
escaped
the
witch
and
her
snares
,
who
would
have
turned
her
into
a
half-devil
for
the
undoing
of
manfolk
.
And
how
that
the
said
wood-wife
had
never
appeared
to
her
but
as
an
image
and
double
of
herself
,
save
on
the
time
when
she
played
the
leech
to
him
.
Then
she
told
him
how
all
had
gone
when
the
wood-wife
had
sought
him
out
for
the
fulfilment
of
their
love
,
and
of
the
dreadful
day
when
they
had
come
upon
him
out
of
his
wit
and
but
little
manlike
.
Then
she
asked
,
would
he
,
within
the
next
day
or
two
,
that
they
should
go
see
the
wood-wife
together
and
thank
her
for
her
help
,
and
bring
him
within
the
ring
of
her
love
and
guarding
;
and
he
yeasaid
it
with
a
good
will
.
After
this
she
would
have
him
tell
her
of
how
things
had
gone
with
him
since
that
evil
day
when
he
had
come
home
from
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
and
found
her
gone
.
So
he
told
her
somewhat
,
and
of
his
dole
and
misery
,
and
his
dealings
with
the
foemen
of
Greenford
;
but
yet
scantly
,
and
as
one
compelled
;
and
at
last
he
said
:
Dear
love
,
since
thou
art
cossetting
me
with
all
solace
of
caresses
,
I
pray
thee
remember
my
trouble
and
grief
,
how
sore
they
were
,
and
do
with
me
as
with
a
sick
man
getting
well
,
as
I
wot
surely
thou
wouldest
do
;
and
do
thou
that
which
is
at
this
present
the
softest
and
merriest
to
me
,
and
that
forsooth
is
,
that
thou
shouldest
talk
and
tell
,
and
I
should
hearken
the
sweetness
of
the
music
,
and
only
here
and
there
put
in
a
word
to
rest
thee
and
make
thy
tale
the
sweeter
.
She
laughed
with
love
on
him
,
and
without
more
ado
fell
to
telling
everything
she
might
think
of
,
concerning
her
days
in
the
House
of
Captivity
,
both
when
she
was
but
a
bairn
,
and
when
she
was
grown
to
be
a
young
woman
;
and
long
was
she
about
the
tale
,
nor
was
it
all
done
in
one
day
;
and
a
multitude
of
things
she
told
him
which
are
not
set
down
in
this
book
.
In
the
evening
when
they
were
going
again
to
and
fro
the
meads
,
it
was
other
talk
they
fell
on
,
to
wit
,
of
their
fellows
of
the
Quest
,
both
of
Sir
Hugh
and
the
three
lovely
ladies
:
and
now
was
Arthur
nought
but
kind
when
he
spake
of
Atra
,
nor
spake
Birdalone
otherwise
;
but
she
said
:
I
shall
now
say
a
hard
word
,
yet
must
thou
bear
it
,
my
loveling
,
since
we
twain
are
now
become
one
,
and
have
but
one
joy
together
and
one
sorrow
.
Deemest
thou
that
Atra
is
yet
alive
?
Sooth
it
is
,
said
Arthur
,
it
may
well
be
that
I
have
slain
her
.
And
what
may
we
do
by
her
if
ever
we
fall
in
with
her
alive
?
said
Birdalone
.
I
wot
not
,
said
Arthur
;
some
would
say
that
we
have
done
penance
for
our
fault
,
both
thou
and
I
;
and
what
other
penance
may
we
do
,
save
sundering
from
each
other
?
And
by
God
above
I
will
not
.
By
thine
head
and
thine
hands
I
will
not
,
said
Birdalone
.
So
said
they
;
but
therewith
their
eyes
told
tales
of
the
fair
eve
and
the
lovely
meadows
,
and
the
house
,
the
shrine
of
the
dear
white
bed
no
less
sweet
to
them
than
erst
;
but
then
presently
Birdalone
stayed
her
love
,
and
took
her
arms
about
him
,
and
each
felt
the
sweetness
of
the
other’s
body
,
and
joy
blossomed
anew
in
their
hearts
.
Then
fell
Arthur
to
telling
of
the
deeds
and
the
kindness
of
Baudoin
,
whom
never
again
they
should
see
on
the
earth
;
and
they
turned
back
home
to
the
house
,
and
on
the
way
spake
Birdalone
:
This
is
what
I
would
we
should
do
:
whereas
I
have
sought
thee
and
thou
me
,
and
we
have
found
each
other
,
whereas
ye
sought
me
when
I
went
astray
in
the
Black
Valley
of
the
Greywethers
,
and
before
,
when
ye
three
sought
your
own
loves
,
now
I
would
that
we
should
seek
our
fellows
and
have
joy
in
them
,
and
thole
sorrow
with
them
as
in
days
gone
by
.
Spake
Arthur
:
Dear
is
the
rest
with
thee
in
this
wilderness
;
yet
were
it
a
deed
of
fame
,
and
would
bring
about
a
day
of
joy
,
might
we
find
our
friends
again
,
and
knit
up
the
links
of
the
fellowship
once
more
.
But
thou
the
wise
and
valiant
!
belike
thou
hast
in
thine
head
some
device
whereby
this
might
be
set
about
.
Birdalone
said
:
Simple
is
my
device
,
to
wit
,
that
we
ask
one
who
is
wiser
than
I
.
Let
us
tarry
not
,
but
go
tomorrow
and
see
the
wood-wife
and
talk
with
her
concerning
it
.
Then
she
smiled
upon
him
and
said
:
But
when
thou
seest
her
,
wilt
thou
be
aghast
if
she
come
before
us
in
my
shape
of
what
I
was
five
years
agone
,
or
six
?
Nay
,
nay
,
he
said
,
thou
art
not
so
terrible
as
that
;
not
very
far
do
I
run
from
thee
now
.
And
therewith
they
kissed
and
embraced
,
and
so
entered
the
House
of
Love
.
Chapter
XXX
~
They
Have
Speech
with
Habundia
Concerning
the
Green
Knight
and
His
Fellows
When
the
morrow
was
they
arose
and
went
their
ways
toward
the
wood
,
and
Birdalone
in
her
hunter’s
coat
,
quiver
at
back
and
bow
in
hand
.
They
came
to
the
Oak
of
Tryst
,
and
Birdalone
was
at
point
to
call
on
the
wood-wife
by
the
burning
of
a
hair
of
hers
,
when
she
came
lightly
from
out
the
thicket
,
clad
as
Birdalone
,
and
her
very
image
.
She
stood
before
them
with
a
glad
countenance
,
and
said
:
Welcome
to
the
seekers
and
finders
.
But
Arthur
stepped
forth
and
knelt
before
her
,
and
took
her
right
hand
and
kissed
it
,
and
said
:
Here
I
swear
allegiance
to
thee
,
O
Lady
of
the
Woods
,
to
do
thy
will
in
all
things
,
and
give
thee
thanks
from
my
heart
more
than
my
tongue
can
say
.
Quoth
the
wood-wife
:
I
take
thine
allegiance
,
fair
young
man
,
and
mine
help
shalt
thou
have
henceforward
.
Then
she
smiled
and
her
eyes
danced
for
merriment
,
and
she
said
:
Yet
thy
thanks
meseemeth
for
this
while
are
more
due
to
the
wise
carline
who
brought
thee
through
the
woods
two
days
ago
,
and
only
left
thee
when
the
way
was
easy
and
clear
to
thee
.
Lady
,
said
Arthur
,
I
know
now
how
great
is
thy
might
,
and
that
thou
canst
take
more
shapes
than
this
only
;
and
humbly
I
thank
thee
that
for
us
thou
hast
taken
the
shape
that
I
love
the
best
of
all
on
the
earth
.
Said
the
wood-wife
:
Stand
up
,
Black
Squire
,
and
consider
a
little
what
thou
wouldst
have
me
do
for
thee
,
while
I
have
speech
with
mine
image
yonder
.
And
therewith
she
came
up
to
Birdalone
,
and
drew
her
a
little
apart
,
and
fell
to
stroking
her
cheeks
and
patting
her
hands
and
diversely
caressing
her
,
and
she
said
to
her
:
How
now
,
my
child
,
have
I
done
for
thee
what
I
promised
,
and
art
thou
wholly
happy
now
?
O
yea
,
said
Birdalone
;
if
nought
else
befell
us
in
this
life
but
to
dwell
together
betwixt
the
woodland
and
the
water
,
and
to
see
thee
oft
,
full
happy
should
we
be
.
Nevertheless
,
said
Habundia
,
art
thou
not
come
hither
to
ask
somewhat
of
me
,
that
ye
may
be
happier
?
So
it
is
,
wise
mother
,
said
Birdalone
;
grudge
not
against
me
therefor
,
for
more
than
one
thing
drives
me
thereto
.
I
will
not
grudge
,
said
the
wood-wife
;
but
now
I
will
ask
thy
mate
if
he
has
thought
what
it
is
that
he
will
have
of
me
.
And
she
turned
to
Arthur
,
who
came
forth
and
said
:
Lady
,
I
have
heard
thee
,
and
herein
would
we
have
thee
help
us
:
There
were
erst
six
fellows
of
us
,
three
caries
and
three
queans
,
to
whom
was
added
this
sweetling
here
;
but
one
of
them
,
to
wit
the
Golden
Knight
,
was
slain
,
and
for
the
rest
.
.
.
Yea
,
I
know
,
said
the
wood-wife
;
my
child
here
hath
told
me
all
;
and
now
ye
wot
not
where
they
are
or
if
they
be
yet
alive
,
all
or
any
of
them
.
Now
is
it
not
so
that
ye
would
seek
these
friends
,
if
it
were
but
to
greet
them
but
once
,
and
that
ye
would
ask
of
the
wise
wood-wife
help
to
find
them
?
Is
there
any
more
of
the
tale
?
Nay
,
lady
,
said
Arthur
.
Said
she
:
Well
then
,
that
help
shall
ye
have
,
were
it
but
for
the
sake
of
that
little
Viridis
whereof
my
child
hath
told
me
.
Wherefore
abide
tidings
of
me
for
a
fourteen
days
,
and
seek
not
to
me
ere
then
;
and
meantime
fear
not
,
nor
doubt
me
,
for
many
messengers
I
have
,
and
ever
may
I
do
somewhat
if
the
end
of
the
tale
is
to
be
told
in
these
woodlands
:
and
I
deem
these
friends
will
not
be
hard
to
draw
hither
,
for
it
is
most
like
that
they
be
thinking
of
you
and
longing
for
you
,
as
ye
for
them
.
And
now
I
will
depart
on
my
business
,
which
is
yours
,
and
do
ye
be
happy
today
in
the
woodland
,
and
tomorrow
in
the
meadows
and
by
the
water
;
and
let
no
trouble
weigh
down
your
happy
days
.
Therewith
she
flitted
away
from
them
,
when
she
had
kissed
them
both
.
But
when
she
was
gone
they
fared
away
together
deep
into
the
wood
,
and
were
exceeding
merry
disporting
them
,
and
on
their
return
they
gat
them
venison
for
their
meat
,
and
so
came
back
to
the
House
of
Love
when
the
moon
was
up
and
shining
brightly
.
Chapter
XXXI
~
Habundia
Cometh
with
Tidings
of
Those
Dear
Friends
Wore
the
days
thenceforth
merrily
;
and
one
day
it
was
delight
in
the
wide
meads
,
and
another
they
went
a
long
way
west
along
the
water-side
,
and
so
into
another
meadow-plain
,
smaller
than
their
home
—
plain
,
which
Birdalone
had
never
erst
come
into
;
and
three
eyots
lay
off
it
,
green
and
tree-beset
,
whereto
they
swam
out
together
.
Then
they
went
into
the
wood
thereby
in
the
heat
of
the
afternoon
,
and
so
wore
the
day
,
that
they
deemed
themselves
belated
,
and
lay
there
under
a
thorn-bush
the
night
through
.
Another
day
Birdalone
took
her
mate
over
on
to
Green
Eyot
and
Rock
Eyot
,
and
showed
him
all
the
places
she
was
used
to
haunt
.
And
they
had
their
fishing-gear
with
them
,
and
angled
off
the
eyots
a
good
part
of
the
day
,
and
had
good
catch
,
and
swam
back
therewith
merrily
.
And
Birdalone
laughed
,
and
said
that
it
seemed
to
her
as
if
once
again
she
were
ransoming
her
skin
of
the
witch-wife
by
that
noble
catch
.
Divers
times
also
they
fared
into
the
wood
,
and
thrice
they
lay
out
the
night
there
in
some
woodlawn
where
was
water
;
and
on
one
of
these
times
it
happed
that
Arthur
awoke
in
the
grey
dawn
,
and
lay
open-eyed
but
not
moving
for
a
little
;
and
therewith
he
deemed
he
saw
the
gleam
of
war-gear
in
the
thicket
.
So
he
kept
as
still
as
he
might
,
but
gat
his
sword
out
of
its
sheath
without
noise
,
and
then
leapt
up
suddenly
,
and
sprang
thitherward
whereas
he
had
seen
that
token
,
and
again
saw
armour
gleam
and
heard
some
man
crashing
through
the
underwood
,
for
all
was
gone
in
one
moment
.
So
he
woke
up
Birdalone
,
and
they
bended
their
bows
both
of
them
,
and
searched
the
thicket
thereabouts
heedfully
,
arrow
on
string
,
but
found
nought
fiercer
than
a
great
sow
and
her
farrow
.
So
came
the
full
day
,
and
they
gat
them
back
to
their
meadows
and
their
house
;
but
thereafter
were
they
warier
in
going
about
the
woodland
.
In
all
joyance
then
wore
the
days
till
the
fifteenth
,
and
in
the
morning
early
they
went
their
ways
to
the
Oak
of
Tryst
,
and
had
no
need
to
call
Habundia
to
them
,
for
presently
she
came
forth
out
of
the
thicket
,
with
her
gown
gathered
up
into
her
girdle
and
bow
in
hand
.
But
she
cast
it
down
and
ran
up
to
Birdalone
,
and
kissed
her
and
clipped
her
,
and
then
she
took
a
hand
of
Arthur
and
a
hand
of
Birdalone
,
and
held
them
both
and
said
:
My
child
,
and
thou
dear
knight
,
have
ye
still
a
longing
to
fall
in
with
those
friends
of
yours
,
and
to
run
all
risk
of
whatsoever
contention
and
strife
there
may
be
betwixt
you
thereafter
?
Yea
,
certes
,
said
Arthur
;
and
even
so
said
Birdalone
.
Well
is
that
then
,
said
the
wood-wife
;
but
now
and
for
this
time
,
ere
I
help
you
,
I
shall
put
a
price
upon
my
help
,
and
this
is
the
price
,
that
ye
swear
to
me
never
wholly
to
sunder
from
me
;
that
once
in
the
year
at
least
,
as
long
as
ye
be
alive
and
wayworthy
,
ye
come
into
the
Forest
of
Evilshaw
,
and
summon
me
by
the
burning
of
a
hair
of
mine
,
that
we
may
meet
and
be
merry
for
a
while
,
and
part
with
the
hope
of
meeting
once
more
at
least
.
And
if
ye
will
not
pay
the
price
,
go
in
peace
,
and
ye
shall
yet
have
my
help
in
all
other
matters
that
may
seem
good
unto
you
,
but
not
in
this
of
joining
your
fellowship
together
.
How
sayest
thou
,
Birdalone
,
my
child
?
How
sayest
thou
,
Black
Squire
,
whom
,
as
meseemeth
,
I
have
delivered
from
a
fate
worse
than
death
,
and
have
brought
out
of
wretchedness
into
bliss
?
Spake
Birdalone
:
Had
I
dared
,
I
would
have
bidden
thee
to
swear
to
me
even
such
an
oath
,
to
wit
,
that
thou
wouldst
never
wholly
sunder
thee
from
me
.
How
then
may
I
not
swear
this
that
thou
biddest
me
,
and
that
with
all
joy
and
trustiness
?
Spake
Arthur
:
Lady
,
had
I
no
will
to
swear
oath
for
thy
sake
,
yet
with
a
good
will
would
I
swear
it
for
my
true-love’s
sake
who
loveth
thee
.
Yet
verily
of
mine
own
will
would
I
swear
it
joyfully
,
were
it
for
nought
else
save
to
pleasure
thee
,
who
hast
done
so
kindly
by
me
,
and
hath
given
me
back
my
manhood
and
my
love
,
which
else
I
had
miserably
lost
.
Spake
the
wood-wife
:
It
is
well
again
.
Join
hands
then
,
and
swear
as
I
have
bidden
you
by
the
love
ye
bear
each
other
.
Even
so
they
did
,
and
then
the
wood-wife
kissed
them
both
and
said
:
Now
do
I
deem
you
earth’s
very
children
and
mine
,
and
this
desire
of
yours
is
good
,
and
it
shall
be
done
if
I
may
bring
it
about
;
yet
therein
the
valiance
and
wisdom
of
you
both
may
well
be
tried
.
For
this
have
I
found
out
by
my
messengers
and
others
,
that
your
friends
are
alive
,
all
of
them
;
and
they
have
thought
of
you
in
their
inmost
hearts
,
and
have
long
determined
that
they
must
needs
go
seek
you
if
they
are
to
live
lives
happy
and
worthy
.
Furthermore
,
their
quest
hath
drawn
them
hither
to
Evilshaw
(
nor
say
I
that
I
have
been
nothing
therein
)
,
and
they
are
even
now
in
the
wood
.
But
ye
shall
know
that
peril
encompasses
them
;
for
they
fare
but
a
few
,
and
of
those
few
be
there
two
traitors
who
are
minded
to
deliver
them
to
the
men
of
the
Red
Company
,
unto
whom
three
women
as
fair
as
your
she-friends
were
a
prize
indeed
.
Wherefore
the
Red
Folk
are
dogging
them
,
and
will
fall
upon
them
when
they
find
the
occasion
.
But
I
shall
see
to
it
that
the
occasion
shall
be
in
time
and
place
where
they
shall
not
be
unholpen
.
Now
what
ye
have
to
do
for
your
parts
,
is
to
waylay
the
waylayers
,
and
keep
watch
and
ward
anigh
the
road
they
must
needs
take
,
and
to
fall
on
when
need
is
.
But
this
again
I
shall
see
to
,
that
your
onset
fail
not
.
But
now
ye
may
say
:
Since
thou
art
mighty
,
why
shouldst
not
thou
thyself
take
our
friends
out
of
the
hands
of
these
accursed
,
as
thou
couldst
well
do
,
and
we
to
take
no
part
therein
?
My
friends
,
this
might
indeed
well
be
;
but
thou
,
Birdalone
,
hast
told
me
the
whole
tale
,
and
how
that
there
be
wrongs
to
be
forgiven
which
cannot
be
made
right
,
and
past
kindness
to
be
quickened
again
,
and
coldness
to
be
kindled
into
love
,
and
estrangement
into
familiar
friendship
;
and
meseems
that
the
sight
of
your
bodies
and
your
hands
made
manifest
to
the
eyes
of
them
may
do
somewhat
herein
.
Yet
if
otherwise
ye
think
,
then
so
let
it
be
,
and
go
ye
back
to
the
House
under
the
Wood
,
and
in
three
days’
time
I
will
bring
you
your
friends
all
safe
and
sound
.
Now
they
both
said
that
they
would
not
for
aught
that
they
should
have
no
hand
in
the
deliverance
of
them
;
so
the
wood-wife
said
:
Come
with
me
,
and
I
shall
lead
you
to
the
place
of
your
ambush
.
Then
all
they
went
on
together
,
and
fared
a
long
way
west
,
and
toward
the
place
where
erst
they
two
had
found
Arthur
;
and
at
last
,
two
hours
before
sunset
,
they
came
to
where
was
a
glade
or
way
between
the
thickets
,
which
was
as
it
were
a
little
beaten
by
the
goings
of
man-folk
.
And
the
wood-wife
did
them
to
wit
,
that
the
evil
folk
aforesaid
had
so
used
it
and
beaten
it
,
that
it
might
just
look
as
if
folk
were
wont
to
pass
that
way
,
whereas
it
was
not
very
far
from
their
chiefest
haunt
and
stronghold
.
A
little
on
the
north
side
of
this
half-blind
way
,
and
some
ten
yards
through
the
thicket
,
the
ground
fell
away
into
a
little
dale
,
the
bottom
whereof
was
plain
and
well
grassed
,
and
watered
by
a
brook
.
Thither
the
wood-wife
brought
the
twain
;
and
when
they
all
stood
together
on
the
brook-side
,
she
said
to
them
:
Dear
friends
,
this
is
your
woodland
house
for
this
time
,
and
I
rede
you
go
not
forth
of
it
,
lest
ye
happen
upon
any
of
those
evil
men
;
for
nought
have
ye
to
fear
from
any
save
them
.
Here
amidst
these
big
stones
,
which
make
,
see
ye
,
as
it
were
a
cavern
,
have
I
stowed
victual
for
you
;
and
armour
therewithal
,
because
,
though
both
of
you
are
in
a
manner
armed
,
yet
who
knoweth
where
a
shaft
drawn
at
a
venture
may
reach
.
And
from
the
said
stones
she
drew
forth
two
very
fair
armours
,
helm
and
hauberk
,
and
leg
and
arm
wards
;
and
they
were
all
of
green
,
and
shone
but
little
,
but
were
fashioned
as
no
smith
of
man-folk
could
have
done
the
like
.
This
is
thine
,
Sir
Arthur
,
said
the
wood-wife
,
and
thou
wilt
wear
it
like
as
it
were
silk
;
and
this
thine
,
my
child
,
and
thou
art
strong
enough
to
bear
such
light
gear
.
And
I
charge
you
both
to
do
on
this
gear
presently
,
nor
do
it
off
till
ye
have
achieved
the
adventure
.
And
now
this
is
the
last
word
:
here
is
a
horn
of
oliphant
which
thou
shalt
wear
about
thy
neck
,
Birdalone
;
and
if
thou
be
sore
bestead
,
or
thy
heart
faileth
thee
,
blow
in
it
,
yet
not
before
the
onfall
;
and
then
,
whether
thou
blow
much
or
little
,
thou
shalt
be
well
holpen
.
Now
be
not
downcast
if
nought
befall
to-night
or
tomorrow
,
or
even
the
day
after
;
but
if
the
third
day
be
tidingless
,
then
at
sunset
burn
a
hair
of
my
head
,
Birdalone
,
and
I
will
come
to
you
.
And
now
farewell
!
for
I
have
yet
to
do
in
this
matter
.
With
that
she
kissed
Birdalone
fondly
and
embraced
Arthur
,
and
went
her
way
;
and
those
twain
abode
in
the
dale
,
and
slept
and
watched
by
turns
,
and
all
was
tidingless
till
the
morrow’s
dawn
;
neither
was
there
aught
to
tell
of
on
that
day
and
the
night
that
ended
it
.
Chapter
XXXII
~
Of
the
Fight
in
the
Forest
and
the
Rescue
of
Those
Friends
from
the
Men
of
the
Red
Company
Light
was
growing
on
the
dawn
of
the
next
day
,
and
the
colours
of
things
could
be
seen
,
when
Birdalone
,
who
was
holding
this
last
watch
of
the
night
,
stood
still
and
hearkened
,
deeming
that
she
could
hear
some
noise
that
was
neither
the
morning
wind
in
the
tree-boughs
nor
the
going
of
the
wild
things
anear
them
in
the
wood
.
So
she
did
off
her
helm
to
hear
the
better
,
and
stood
thus
a
little
;
then
she
turned
about
and
stooped
down
to
Arthur
,
who
was
yet
sleeping
,
and
put
forth
a
hand
to
rouse
him
.
But
or
ever
she
touched
him
,
broke
forth
a
sound
of
big
and
rough
voices
and
laughter
,
and
amidst
it
two
shrieks
as
of
women
.
Arthur
heard
it
,
and
was
on
his
feet
in
a
moment
,
and
helmed
,
and
he
caught
up
his
bended
bow
and
cast
on
the
quiver
(
for
Birdalone
was
already
weaponed
)
,
and
without
more
words
they
went
forth
swiftly
up
the
bank
and
through
the
thicket
till
they
were
looking
on
the
half-blind
way
,
but
under
cover
,
and
there
was
nothing
before
them
as
yet
.
There
they
stayed
and
hearkened
keenly
.
There
were
no
more
shrieks
of
women
,
nor
heard
they
any
weapon
clash
,
but
the
talking
and
laughter
of
men
went
on
;
and
at
last
they
heard
a
huge
and
grim
whoop
of
many
men
together
;
and
then
thereafter
was
less
sound
of
talking
,
but
came
the
jingle
as
of
arms
and
harness
;
and
Arthur
whispered
in
Birdalone’s
ear
:
Stand
close
!
they
have
gotten
to
horse
,
and
will
be
coming
our
way
.
Nock
an
arrow
.
And
even
so
did
he
.
Therewith
they
heard
clearly
the
riding
of
men
,
and
in
less
than
five
minutes’
space
they
saw
three
big
weaponed
men
riding
together
,
clad
in
red
surcoats
,
and
they
were
so
nigh
that
they
heard
the
words
of
their
speech
.
One
said
to
the
other
:
How
long
shall
the
knight
hold
out
,
think
ye
?
Oh
,
a
week
maybe
,
said
the
other
.
Meseems
it
was
scathe
that
we
stayed
not
a
while
to
pine
him
,
said
the
first
man
.
Nay
,
said
the
second
,
we
be
over-heavy
laden
with
bed-gear
to
tarry
.
And
they
all
laughed
thereat
,
and
so
went
on
out
of
hearing
.
But
then
came
four
on
together
,
whereof
one
,
a
gaunt
,
oldish
man
,
was
saying
:
It
is
not
so
much
how
long
we
shall
be
getting
there
,
but
what
shall
betide
when
we
get
there
.
For
this
is
not
like
lifting
a
herd
of
neat
,
whereof
sharing
is
easy
,
but
with
this
naked-skinned
,
two-legged
cattle
,
which
forsooth
ye
can
eat
and
yet
have
,
there
may
well
be
strife
over
the
sharing
.
And
look
to
it
if
it
hath
not
begun
already
:
we
must
needs
dismount
three
of
our
best
men
that
these
white-skinned
bitches
forsooth
may
each
have
a
horse
to
herself
,
or
else
would
they
be
fighting
as
to
which
should
have
a
damsel
of
them
before
him
on
the
saddle
:
curse
the
fools
!
Laughed
out
they
who
were
about
him
,
and
one
young
man
cast
a
jeer
at
him
the
meaning
whereof
they
might
not
catch
,
and
again
they
laughed
;
and
that
deal
passed
on
.
And
next
came
a
bigger
rout
,
a
half
score
or
so
,
and
they
also
laughing
and
jeering
;
but
amidst
them
,
plain
to
see
riding
a-straddle
,
their
ankles
twisted
together
under
the
horses’
bellies
,
their
hands
bound
behind
them
,
first
Atra
,
black-clad
as
erst
;
then
Aurea
,
in
a
gown
of
wheat-colour
;
then
Viridis
,
green-clad
.
Atra
rode
upright
,
and
looking
straight
before
her
;
Aurea
hung
her
head
all
she
might
,
and
her
long
red
hair
fell
about
her
face
;
but
Viridis
had
swooned
,
and
was
held
up
in
the
saddle
by
one
of
the
caitiffs
on
each
side
of
her
.
They
were
but
little
disarrayed
,
save
that
some
felon
had
torn
the
bosom
of
Viridis’
gown
,
and
dragged
down
the
cloth
so
that
her
left
shoulder
was
bare
.
Arthur
looked
,
and
drew
at
the
caitiff
who
went
afoot
beside
Atra
,
and
Birdalone
at
him
who
went
by
Viridis
,
for
she
wotted
whitherward
Arthur’s
shaft
would
be
turned
.
The
loose
of
the
two
bows
made
but
one
sound
;
both
men
fell
stark
dead
,
and
the
others
huddled
together
a
moment
,
and
then
ran
toward
the
thicket
on
either
hand
,
and
they
who
ran
north
,
two
of
them
saw
not
Arthur
,
because
of
his
green
armour
,
ere
they
felt
the
death
which
lay
in
his
sword
.
And
then
he
brake
out
amidst
them
,
and
there
were
three
of
them
on
him
,
yet
for
no
long
while
,
whereas
their
weapons
bit
not
on
the
armour
of
the
Faery
,
and
his
woodland
blade
sheared
leather
and
ring-mail
to
the
flesh
and
the
bone
:
mighty
were
his
strokes
,
and
presently
all
three
were
wallowing
on
the
earth
.
Even
therewith
the
seven
who
had
passed
on
had
turned
back
and
were
come
on
him
a-horse-back
;
and
hard
had
it
gone
with
him
,
despite
of
his
might
and
his
valour
and
the
trustiness
of
Habundia’s
mail
.
But
meanwhile
Birdalone
had
run
to
Viridis
,
who
had
fallen
a
dead
weight
aside
of
her
horse
,
and
lay
half
hanging
by
the
bonds
of
her
ankles
.
Birdalone
swiftly
cut
the
cords
both
of
her
feet
and
her
hands
,
and
drew
her
off
her
horse
as
best
she
might
,
and
laid
her
down
on
the
grass
;
and
then
ran
to
Arthur
sword
aloft
,
just
as
his
new
battle
was
at
point
to
begin
.
But
as
she
ran
it
came
into
her
mind
in
a
twinkling
that
her
sword
would
be
but
weak
,
and
the
horn
hung
about
her
neck
.
Then
she
stayed
her
feet
,
and
set
the
horn
to
her
lips
and
blew
;
and
the
oliphant
gave
forth
a
long
singing
note
which
was
strange
to
hear
.
But
while
it
was
yet
at
her
lips
one
of
the
caitiffs
was
upon
her
,
and
he
cried
out
:
Hah
the
witch
,
the
accursed
green
witch
!
and
fetched
her
a
great
stroke
from
his
saddle
,
and
smote
her
on
the
helm
;
and
though
his
sword
bit
not
on
that
good
head-burg
,
she
fell
to
the
ground
unwitting
.
Yet
was
not
the
wood-wife’s
promise
unavailing
,
for
even
while
the
voice
of
the
horn
was
in
the
air
,
the
way
and
thickets
were
alive
with
men-at-arms
,
green-clad
as
those
twain
,
who
straightway
fell
on
the
caitiffs
,
and
with
Arthur
to
help
,
left
not
one
of
them
alive
.
Then
went
some
to
Viridis
,
and
raised
her
up
,
and
so
dealt
with
her
that
she
came
to
herself
again
;
and
the
like
they
did
by
Birdalone
,
and
she
stood
,
and
looked
about
confusedly
,
but
yet
saw
this
,
that
they
had
gotten
the
victory
.
Some
went
withal
to
Aurea
,
and
cut
her
bonds
and
took
her
off
her
horse
and
set
her
on
the
ground
;
and
she
was
all
bewildered
,
and
knew
not
where
she
was
.
But
Arthur
,
when
he
saw
Birdalone
on
her
feet
,
and
unhurt
by
seeming
,
went
to
Atra
,
and
cut
her
bonds
and
loosed
her
,
and
set
her
on
the
earth
,
all
without
a
word
,
and
then
stood
before
her
shyly
.
Came
the
colour
back
into
her
face
therewith
,
and
she
flushed
red
,
for
she
knew
him
despite
his
outlandish
green
war-harness
,
and
she
reached
out
her
hand
to
him
,
and
he
knelt
before
her
and
took
her
hand
and
kissed
it
.
But
she
bent
over
him
till
her
face
was
anigh
his
,
and
he
lifted
up
his
face
and
kissed
her
mouth
.
And
she
drew
aback
a
little
,
but
yet
looked
on
him
earnestly
,
and
said
:
Thou
hast
saved
my
life
,
not
from
death
indeed
,
but
from
a
loathsome
hell
;
I
may
well
thank
thee
for
that
.
And
O
,
if
my
thanks
might
be
fruitful
to
thee
!
And
her
bosom
heaved
,
and
the
sobs
came
,
and
the
tears
began
to
run
down
her
cheeks
.
And
he
hung
his
head
before
her
.
But
in
a
while
she
left
weeping
,
and
turned
about
her
face
and
looked
round
the
field
of
deed
;
and
she
said
:
Who
is
yonder
slim
green
warrior
who
hath
even
now
knelt
down
by
Viridis
?
Is
it
not
a
woman
?
Arthur
reddened
:
Yea
,
said
he
;
it
is
Birdalone
.
Thy
love
?
she
said
.
He
said
swiftly
:
Yea
,
and
thy
friend
,
and
this
time
thy
deliverer
.
So
it
is
,
she
said
.
It
is
five
years
since
I
beheld
her
.
My
heart
yearns
for
her
;
I
shall
rejoice
at
the
meeting
of
us
.
She
was
silent
,
and
he
also
a
while
;
then
she
said
:
But
why
tarry
we
here
in
idle
talk
when
he
is
yet
bound
,
and
in
torment
of
body
and
soul
;
he
the
valiant
,
and
the
kind
and
the
dear
brother
?
Come
,
tarry
for
no
question
.
And
she
stepped
out
swiftly
along
the
green
road
going
westward
,
and
Arthur
beside
her
;
and
as
they
went
by
Viridis
,
lo
!
Aurea
had
wandered
unto
them
,
and
now
was
Birdalone
unhelmed
and
kissing
and
comforting
her
.
Then
cried
out
Atra
:
Keep
up
thine
heart
,
Viridis
!
for
now
we
go
to
fetch
thee
thy
man
safe
and
sound
.
So
they
went
but
a
little
way
on
the
green
road
ere
they
came
to
Sir
Hugh
bound
hard
and
fast
to
a
tree-bole
,
and
he
naked
in
his
shirt
,
and
hard
by
lay
the
bodies
of
two
stout
carles
with
their
throats
cut
;
for
these
honest
men
and
the
two
felons
who
had
betrayed
them
were
all
the
following
wherewith
the
Green
Knight
had
entered
Evilshaw
.
And
as
it
fell
,
the
traitors
had
been
set
to
watch
while
the
others
slept
;
and
sleeping
the
caitiffs
found
them
,
and
slew
the
said
men-at-arms
at
once
,
but
bound
Hugh
to
a
tree
that
he
might
be
the
longer
a-dying
;
since
none
looked
for
any
but
their
own
folk
to
pass
by
that
way
.
All
this
they
heard
afterwards
of
Hugh
.
But
now
the
said
Hugh
heard
men
going
,
and
he
opened
his
eyes
,
and
saw
Atra
and
a
man-at-arms
with
her
;
and
he
cried
out
:
Hah
,
what
is
this
now
,
sister
?
a
rescue
?
Yea
,
she
said
,
and
look
thou
on
the
face
of
the
rescuer
;
and
there
is
another
hard
by
,
and
she
is
a
woman
.
Therewith
was
Arthur
on
him
and
cutting
his
bonds
,
and
when
he
was
loose
they
fell
into
each
other’s
arms
,
and
Hugh
spake
:
Now
then
at
last
doth
life
begin
for
me
as
I
willed
it
!
And
hast
thou
my
sweet
she-fellow
,
Birdalone
,
with
thee
?
Yea
,
said
Arthur
.
How
good
is
that
!
said
Hugh
.
And
yet
,
if
it
might
but
be
that
Baudoin
were
yet
alive
for
us
to
seek
!
Then
he
laughed
and
said
:
These
be
but
sorry
garments
wherewith
to
wend
along
with
dear
and
fair
ladies
,
brother
!
Nay
,
said
Arthur
,
that
may
soon
be
amended
,
for
yonder
,
where
sword
met
sword
,
lieth
raiment
abundantly
on
the
grass
.
Fie
on
it
!
said
Hugh
,
laughing
;
shall
I
do
on
me
the
raiment
of
those
lousy
traitors
?
Not
I
,
by
the
rood
!
Thou
must
seek
further
for
my
array
,
dear
lad
!
So
they
all
laughed
,
and
were
glad
to
laugh
together
.
But
Atra
said
:
It
is
easier
even
than
that
,
for
thine
own
fair
garments
and
weapons
shall
we
find
if
we
seek
them
.
Sooth
to
say
there
was
none
left
to
bear
them
off
,
save
it
were
this
man
,
or
Birdalone
his
mate
.
With
that
word
she
looked
kindly
on
Arthur
,
and
again
they
laughed
all
three
;
though
forsooth
they
were
well-nigh
weeping-ripe
;
one
for
joy
,
and
that
was
Hugh
;
one
for
memory
of
the
days
gone
by
;
and
one
for
the
bitterness
of
love
that
should
never
be
rewarded
;
albeit
dear
even
unto
her
was
the
meeting
of
friends
and
the
glory
of
forgiveness
and
the
end
of
enmity
.
Chapter
XXXIII
~
Viridis
Telleth
the
Tale
of
Their
Seeking
Now
came
they
back
to
where
were
the
three
others
,
and
Viridis
was
quite
come
to
herself
and
ran
to
meet
her
man
,
and
he
took
her
in
his
arms
and
caressed
her
sweetly
;
and
then
he
turned
to
Birdalone
,
and
spared
no
sign
of
friendly
love
to
her
;
and
Arthur
,
for
his
part
,
did
so
much
for
Aurea
and
Viridis
.
No
long
tale
there
was
between
them
for
that
while
,
for
they
would
busk
them
to
be
gone
.
But
first
they
dug
a
grave
for
those
two
poor
men
who
had
been
slain
by
the
felons
,
and
prayed
for
them
.
As
for
the
caitiffs
who
lay
slain
there
,
one
score
and
two
of
them
,
they
left
them
for
the
wolves
to
devour
,
and
the
tearing
of
the
kites
and
crows
;
nor
meddled
they
with
any
of
their
gear
or
weapons
.
But
they
speedily
found
Hugh’s
raiment
,
and
his
pouch
,
wherein
was
money
good
store
;
and
they
found
also
rings
and
ouches
and
girdles
,
which
had
been
torn
from
the
damsels
in
the
first
rage
of
their
taking
.
First
though
,
when
they
had
gathered
together
such
horses
as
they
needed
,
and
let
the
rest
run
wild
,
Birdalone
brought
her
she-friends
down
into
the
dale
,
and
did
them
to
bathe
in
a
pool
of
the
stream
,
and
tended
them
as
if
she
were
their
tire-woman
,
so
that
they
were
mightily
refreshed
;
and
she
made
garlands
for
them
of
the
woodland
flowers
,
as
eglantine
and
honeysuckle
;
and
herself
,
she
bathed
her
,
and
did
not
on
her
battle-gear
again
,
but
clad
her
body
in
her
woman’s
array
.
Then
she
brought
forth
victual
and
wine
from
Habundia’s
store
,
and
set
it
out
on
the
stream-side
;
and
thereafter
she
went
up
the
bent
to
the
green
way
and
fetched
down
Hugh
and
Arthur
,
and
brought
them
to
the
ladies
,
and
bade
them
note
how
trim
and
lovely
they
were
gotten
again
,
and
again
it
could
scarce
be
but
that
kisses
and
caresses
were
toward
;
and
in
all
content
and
love
they
took
their
breakfast
,
though
bitter-sweet
unto
Atra
had
been
the
holding
of
her
hand
by
Arthur
and
the
kissing
of
her
cheek
,
albeit
not
for
worlds
had
she
foregone
it
.
So
there
they
abode
merrily
for
some
three
hours
,
whereas
the
day
was
yet
young
;
and
they
asked
and
told
each
other
much
,
so
that
the
whole
tale
,
both
of
the
seekers
from
the
world
and
of
the
seekers
from
the
water-side
,
came
out
little
by
little
.
Now
of
the
last
ye
have
heard
what
there
is
to
tell
,
but
for
the
others
Viridis
took
up
the
tale
,
as
erst
she
did
with
the
dealings
of
the
Knights
of
the
Quest
in
the
Isle
of
Increase
Unsought
;
and
it
seemed
by
her
tale
that
Hugh
and
the
ladies
,
though
they
were
living
happily
and
prosperously
in
the
land
of
the
Green
Mountains
,
wherein
Hugh
had
wealth
enow
,
yet
the
thought
both
of
Arthur
and
of
Birdalone
would
not
out
of
their
minds
,
and
often
it
was
that
they
thought
of
them
,
not
as
friends
think
of
friends
of
whom
they
are
content
to
know
that
they
are
yet
alive
and
most-like
thriving
,
but
as
friends
think
of
friends
whose
absence
cuts
a
shard
out
of
their
lives
,
so
that
they
long
to
see
them
day
by
day
.
Wherefore
it
came
to
this
at
last
,
after
much
talk
hereof
,
that
Hugh
left
his
possessions
and
his
children
(
for
he
had
two
women-bairns
born
of
Viridis
)
in
the
keeping
of
trusty
folk
,
and
took
with
him
Viridis
his
wife
,
and
Aurea
and
Atra
,
and
they
set
out
to
seek
those
twain
the
world
over
till
they
should
find
them
.
And
first
by
the
rede
of
Atra
they
fared
to
Greenford
,
and
there
tarried
a
month
,
and
sought
tidings
of
many
,
and
heard
a
word
here
and
there
whereby
they
deemed
that
Birdalone
had
passed
therethrough
some
little
time
before
.
So
they
went
thence
to
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
,
and
found
it
in
such
plight
as
ye
have
heard
,
and
it
went
sore
to
their
hearts
to
behold
it
and
to
be
there
.
But
therewithal
they
happed
upon
Leonard
the
priest
,
and
he
was
rejoiced
beyond
measure
to
see
them
,
and
told
them
all
that
ye
have
heard
concerning
Birdalone’s
coming
thither
and
departing
thence
;
and
he
told
them
therewith
about
those
hauntings
and
sendings
in
the
hall
of
the
castle
,
and
that
they
came
to
an
end
the
very
day
that
Birdalone
departed
thence
in
the
Sending
Boat
.
Yet
for
the
last
three
days
there
had
been
visions
therein
;
but
being
questioned
he
was
loth
to
tell
thereof
,
so
they
forbore
him
a
while
.
At
these
tidings
they
were
sore
moved
,
and
they
talked
the
matter
over
betwixt
themselves
(
and
Leonard
also
was
in
their
redes
)
,
and
they
must
needs
deem
that
either
Birdalone
was
cast
away
,
or
that
she
had
come
to
her
old
dwelling
,
the
House
under
the
Wood
,
and
belike
had
fallen
into
the
hands
of
the
witch
once
more
,
and
thereat
were
they
sore
downcast
;
and
yet
somewhat
it
was
,
that
they
had
heard
sure
tidings
of
her
;
though
meanwhile
of
Arthur
had
they
heard
nought
.
While
they
talked
this
over
,
Atra
,
who
had
been
somewhat
silent
,
spake
and
