Ashe
spake
,
came
thrusting
a
man
through
the
throng
,
eager
and
pale-faced
;
who
but
the
chaplain
;
and
he
said
:
He
would
not
let
me
speak
,
this
fool
;
I
cannot
choose
my
time
.
Lords
,
I
bear
evil
tidings
and
an
ugly
welcome
home
.
The
Lady
Birdalone
is
in
peril
,
and
she
is
not
in
the
castle
;
I
wot
not
where
she
is
.
Ye
must
send
armed
men
to
seek
her
out
.
Thereat
fell
the
silence
of
woe
upon
the
throng
;
but
Arthur
ran
forward
on
the
priest
with
drawn
sword
,
and
cried
out
:
I
misdoubt
me
that
thou
art
a
traitor
;
speak
!
or
I
will
slay
thee
here
and
now
.
If
I
be
a
traitor
,
quoth
Leonard
,
I
shall
tell
thee
in
little
while
what
ye
must
do
to
undo
my
treason
,
if
there
be
yet
time
thereto
;
so
slay
me
not
till
ye
have
heard
,
and
then
do
what
ye
will
with
me
.
But
Baudoin
put
Arthur
aside
,
and
said
:
Refrain
thee
a
little
,
fair
brother
,
else
shall
words
tumble
over
each
other
and
we
shall
know
nothing
clear
.
Sir
Aymeris
,
bring
our
dear
ladies
to
the
fairest
chambers
,
and
do
all
honour
and
courtesy
to
them
.
And
ye
,
sweetlings
,
ye
will
not
begrudge
us
that
we
go
to
seek
your
friend
.
Thou
priest
,
come
with
us
a
little
apart
,
and
tell
thy
tale
as
shortly
as
thou
mayst
,
and
fear
nought
;
we
be
not
God’s
dastards
,
as
the
Red
Knight
and
his
men
.
Viridis
wept
and
kissed
her
love
before
all
folk
,
and
bade
him
go
and
do
his
best
to
find
her
friend
,
or
never
come
back
to
her
else
.
Much
moved
,
even
to
tears
,
was
Aurea
withal
,
and
reached
her
hand
to
Baudoin
,
and
said
:
If
any
man
on
earth
can
help
us
it
is
thou
.
Go
thou
.
But
Atra
wept
not
,
and
but
said
to
Arthur
:
Go
thou
,
it
is
meet
.
Therewith
were
the
ladies
brought
to
fair
chambers
;
but
the
three
knights
went
with
the
priest
and
Sir
Aymeris
into
the
solar
,
and
set
a
guard
at
the
door
that
their
talk
should
be
privy
.
Chapter
III
~
How
They
Follow
the
Slot
of
Birdalone
and
the
Black
Knight
It
was
but
five
minutes
ere
the
priest
had
told
them
all
that
need
was
;
so
they
let
him
abide
alone
there
,
though
sooth
to
say
there
was
none
of
them
but
had
good
will
to
break
his
neck
;
and
the
same
rede
had
all
three
,
that
there
was
nought
for
it
but
to
go
their
ways
with
all
speed
to
the
Black
Valley
of
the
Greywethers
,
and
follow
up
the
slot
of
Birdalone
if
it
might
yet
be
found
;
wherefore
they
bade
saddle
their
horses
straightway
;
and
while
that
was
a-doing
they
ate
a
morsel
,
and
bade
farewell
to
their
lovelings
.
And
they
dight
them
to
go
,
they
three
together
,
with
but
one
squire
and
a
sergeant
,
who
were
both
of
them
keen
trackers
and
fell
woodsmen
.
But
ere
they
went
,
by
the
rede
of
Arthur
they
bade
Sir
Aymeris
to
arm
a
two
score
of
men
and
ride
toward
the
Red
Hold
,
and
beset
the
ways
‘twixt
that
and
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
;
for
one
and
all
they
deemed
that
if
any
harm
befell
Birdalone
,
the
Red
Knight
would
be
at
the
bottom
of
it
.
So
rode
those
fellows
,
and
came
unto
the
dale
but
some
four
hours
after
Birdalone
had
happened
on
the
stranger
knight
;
and
they
took
up
the
slot
of
her
,
but
not
easily
,
whereas
the
ground
was
hard
and
stony
;
howbeit
,
they
found
tokens
of
the
knight
also
,
finding
here
and
there
what
they
deemed
the
footprints
of
a
tall
man
.
And
this
was
grievous
to
those
fellows
,
since
now
they
could
not
but
deem
that
somewhat
untoward
had
befallen
Birdalone
.
But
they
went
on
making
out
the
slot
,
and
they
followed
it
with
much
toil
until
they
came
to
the
doom-ring
in
the
head
of
the
dale
,
whereas
Birdalone
and
the
stranger
had
sat
down
to
meat
;
but
by
that
time
,
so
toilsome
had
been
their
going
,
it
was
somewhat
more
than
dusk
,
and
there
was
nought
for
it
but
to
abide
there
night-long
.
So
a
while
they
sat
talking
,
all
of
them
,
and
the
squire
and
the
sergeant
aforesaid
were
not
a
little
timorous
of
the
adventure
of
making
that
stead
unkenned
their
sleeping
chamber
;
and
to
while
away
the
time
,
their
lords
made
them
tell
tales
such
as
they
knew
concerning
that
place
;
and
both
they
said
that
they
had
never
erst
come
into
the
dale
but
a
very
little
way
,
and
said
that
they
had
done
so
then
but
trusting
in
their
lords’
bidding
and
the
luck
of
the
Quest
.
Thereafter
turned
the
talk
as
to
what
had
befallen
Birdalone
,
and
the
chances
of
coming
on
her
;
and
,
as
folk
will
in
such
a
plight
,
they
talked
the
matter
over
and
over
again
till
they
were
weary
and
could
say
no
more
.
Then
they
went
to
sleep
,
and
nought
befell
them
till
they
awoke
in
the
broad
daylight
;
but
they
had
little
inkling
of
what
hour
it
was
,
for
all
the
dale
was
full
of
thick
white
mist
that
came
rolling
down
from
the
mountains
,
so
that
they
could
scarce
see
their
hands
before
them
,
and
there
they
had
to
tarry
still
,
would
they
,
would
they
not
;
and
the
sergeant
fell
to
telling
tales
of
folk
who
had
been
lost
in
that
stony
maze
;
and
all
of
them
deemed
,
more
or
less
,
that
this
was
the
work
either
of
evil
wights
,
or
it
might
be
of
the
wizardry
of
the
Red
Knight
;
and
,
to
be
short
,
they
all
deemed
that
he
it
was
who
had
wielded
it
,
save
the
sergeant
,
who
said
that
the
mountain
wights
were
the
masters
and
not
the
servants
of
him
of
the
Red
Hold
.
Thus
,
then
,
it
betided
;
but
when
the
said
mist
had
been
hanging
upon
them
for
some
six
hours
,
it
rolled
up
like
a
curtain
,
and
lo
the
blue
sky
and
the
sun
,
and
the
mountains
as
clear
blue
as
in
a
picture
;
and
they
saw
by
the
sun
that
it
was
but
a
little
after
high
noon
.
But
as
they
rejoiced
herein
,
and
betook
them
once
more
to
tracking
out
the
slot
of
Birdalone
and
the
other
,
the
sky
became
suddenly
overcast
,
and
down
from
the
jaws
of
the
mountain
came
a
storm
of
wind
and
rain
,
and
thunder
and
lightning
,
so
great
that
they
might
scarce
see
each
other’s
faces
,
and
when
it
cleared
off
,
in
about
an
hour
and
a
half
,
and
went
down
the
wind
to
the
south-east
,
the
stream
was
waxen
great
,
and
ran
brown
and
furious
down
the
dale
,
so
that
it
was
fordable
only
here
and
there
;
and
as
for
tracking
the
slot
of
those
twain
,
there
was
no
need
to
talk
thereof
,
for
the
fury
of
the
driving
rain
had
washed
all
away
.
Thus
fared
they
the
whole
day
betwixt
fog
and
clear
weather
,
and
they
laid
them
down
to
rest
at
night
sore
disheartened
.
When
the
day
broke
they
talked
together
as
to
what
was
best
to
do
;
and
the
sergeant
aforesaid
spake
:
Lords
,
said
he
,
meseemeth
I
am
more
at
home
in
the
Black
Valley
than
ye
be
;
heed
ye
not
wherefore
.
Now
so
it
is
that
if
we
tarry
here
till
night
come
we
wot
not
what
of
evil
may
betide
us
,
or
at
the
least
we
do
nought
.
Or
if
we
turn
back
and
go
southward
out
of
the
dale
we
shall
be
safe
indeed
;
but
safe
should
we
have
been
at
your
house
,
lords
,
and
should
have
done
no
less
.
But
now
I
shall
tell
you
that
,
if
ye
will
,
lords
,
I
shall
guide
you
to
a
pass
that
goeth
out
of
the
head
of
the
dale
to
our
right
hands
,
and
so
turneth
the
flank
of
the
mountains
,
and
cometh
out
into
the
country
which
lieth
about
the
Red
Hold
;
and
meseemeth
it
is
thitherward
that
we
must
seek
if
we
would
hear
any
tidings
of
the
lady
;
for
there
may
we
lay
in
ambush
and
beset
the
ways
that
lead
up
to
the
Hold
,
by
which
she
must
have
been
brought
if
she
hath
not
been
carried
through
the
air
.
How
say
ye
,
lords
?
Soothly
there
is
peril
therein
;
yet
meseemeth
peril
no
more
than
in
our
abiding
another
night
in
the
Black
Valley
.
Said
Arthur
:
We
heed
not
the
peril
if
there
be
aught
to
be
done
;
wherefore
let
us
be
stirring
straightway
.
And
so
said
they
all
.
Wherefore
they
gat
to
horse
,
and
rode
up
to
the
very
head
of
the
valley
,
and
the
weather
was
now
calm
and
bright
.
But
the
sergeant
brought
them
to
the
pass
whereof
the
stranger
knight
had
spoken
to
Birdalone
,
which
led
into
the
Red
Knight’s
country
,
and
without
more
ado
they
entered
it
when
it
was
now
about
three
hours
after
noon
.
But
the
way
was
both
steep
and
rough
,
so
that
they
had
much
toil
,
and
went
not
very
far
ere
night
fell
upon
them
,
and
the
moon
was
not
yet
up
.
So
when
they
had
stumbled
on
another
two
hours
,
and
their
horses
were
much
spent
and
they
themselves
not
a
little
weary
,
they
laid
them
down
to
sleep
,
after
they
had
eaten
such
meat
as
they
had
with
them
,
in
a
place
where
was
a
little
grass
for
the
horses
to
bite
;
for
all
the
road
hitherto
had
been
mere
grim
stones
and
big
rocks
,
walled
on
either
side
by
stony
screes
,
above
which
rose
steep
and
beetling
crags
.
In
the
dawn
they
arose
again
,
and
made
no
ado
till
they
were
in
the
saddle
,
and
rode
till
they
came
to
the
crest
of
the
pass
,
and
came
out
thence
after
a
while
on
to
the
swelling
flank
of
a
huge
mountain
(
as
it
might
be
the
side
of
the
mountain
of
Plinlimmon
in
Wales
)
,
which
was
grassed
and
nought
craggy
,
but
utterly
treeless
.
Now
the
sergeant
led
them
somewhat
athwart
the
said
mountain
till
they
began
to
go
down
,
and
saw
below
them
a
country
of
little
hills
much
covered
with
wood
,
and
in
a
while
,
and
ere
it
was
noon
,
they
were
among
the
said
woods
,
which
were
grown
mostly
with
big
trees
,
as
oak
here
and
beech
there
,
and
the
going
was
good
for
them
.
Chapter
IV
~
Of
the
Slaying
of
Friend
and
Foe
So
came
they
,
three
hours
after
noon
,
to
where
was
a
clearing
in
the
woodland
,
and
a
long
narrow
plain
some
furlong
over
lay
before
them
,
with
a
river
running
along
it
,
and
the
wood
rose
on
the
other
side
high
and
thick
,
so
that
the
said
plain
looked
even
as
a
wide
green
highway
leading
from
somewhence
to
somewhither
.
At
the
edge
hereof
their
way-leader
,
the
sergeant
,
bade
draw
rein
,
and
said
:
Lords
,
we
are
now
in
the
lands
of
the
Red
Hold
,
and
therein
is
mickle
peril
and
dread
to
any
save
stout
hearts
as
ye
be
;
but
meseems
we
are
so
steaded
,
that
whatever
may
come
out
of
the
Black
Valley
of
the
Greywethers
to
the
Red
Hold
,
ye
now
may
scarce
miss.
Yonder
along
this
plain
to
the
north
lies
the
way
to
the
said
Hold
,
and
any
man
coming
from
the
head
of
the
valley
is
sure
to
come
by
the
way
we
have
come
,
and
will
pass
us
not
many
yards
at
the
worst
from
where
we
now
be
.
On
the
other
hand
,
if
any
come
to
the
Hold
from
the
mouth
of
the
Black
Valley
,
then
along
this
green
road
must
they
needs
pass
under
your
very
eyes
.
Lastly
,
if
we
do
what
we
are
come
to
do
,
to
wit
,
to
deliver
the
lady
from
the
Red
Knight
,
then
,
the
deed
done
,
we
have
to
take
the
green
road
southward
,
and
ride
it
for
a
league
and
then
turn
east
,
and
we
shall
have
our
heads
turned
toward
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
,
and
shall
speedily
fall
in
with
Sir
Aymeris
and
our
men
who
be
guarding
the
out-gates
of
the
Red
Knight’s
country
toward
our
house
.
So
now
,
by
my
rede
,
ye
shall
lay
in
covert
here
and
abide
a
while
what
may
befall
;
if
nought
come
hereby
ere
two
hours
be
lacking
of
sunset
,
then
may
we
seek
further
.
They
all
yeasaid
this
,
and
gat
off
their
horses
,
and
lay
quiet
on
the
grass
,
not
even
speaking
save
softly
.
And
when
they
had
abided
thus
scarce
an
hour’s
space
,
the
squire
,
who
was
a
man
of
very
fine
ear
,
held
up
his
hand
as
though
to
bid
utter
silence
,
and
all
hearkened
eagerly
.
Presently
he
said
:
Hear
ye
not
?
Said
Arthur
:
Meseemeth
I
hear
a
faint
tinkle
as
of
a
sheep-bell
.
Said
the
squire
:
’Tis
the
clashing
of
swords
down
the
plain
to
the
south
,
and
meseemeth
’tis
but
of
two
:
ride
we
thither
?
Quoth
Baudoin
:
Nay
,
not
by
my
rede
;
for
if
we
can
hear
them
they
can
hear
us
;
let
us
quietly
edge
along
afoot
somewhat
nigher
their
way
,
ever
keeping
the
cover
of
the
wood
betwixt
us
and
the
open
plain
.
Now
then
to
it
;
and
let
each
man
keep
his
weapons
ready
.
Even
so
did
they
,
and
spread
out
in
a
line
as
they
went
,
in
such
wise
that
there
was
some
six
paces
betwixt
each
man
of
them
,
and
they
went
softly
forward
;
Baudoin
went
first
,
Hugh
second
,
then
Arthur
;
then
the
squire
and
the
sergeant
last
of
all
.
Now
when
they
had
gone
but
a
quarter
of
an
hour
,
the
squire
caught
up
with
Arthur
,
and
spake
to
him
softly
,
and
said
:
The
voice
of
the
swords
has
been
silent
now
a
while
,
and
I
heard
a
voice
crying
out
e’en
now
,
a
woman’s
voice
.
And
now
again
I
could
well-nigh
deem
that
I
hear
horse-hoofs
.
Arthur
nodded
to
him
,
and
they
went
but
a
little
further
ere
he
said
:
Lo
,
lo
!
’tis
the
time
of
the
eyes
now
!
Here
come
folk
.
And
therewithal
they
stayed
them
.
For
the
wood
turned
somewhat
here
,
so
as
to
hide
all
but
a
little
of
the
plain
,
and
round
the
wood
neb
the
new-comers
hove
in
sight
,
and
were
close
on
them
at
once
,
so
that
they
might
see
them
clearly
,
to
wit
,
a
knight
weaponed
,
clad
all
in
red
,
a
very
big
man
,
riding
on
a
great
bay
horse
,
and
behind
him
a
woman
going
afoot
in
very
piteous
plight
;
for
she
was
tethered
to
the
horse’s
crupper
by
a
thong
that
bound
her
wrists
together
,
so
that
she
had
but
just
room
left
‘twixt
her
and
the
horse
that
she
might
walk
,
and
round
about
her
neck
was
hung
a
man’s
head
newly
hewn
off
.
This
sight
they
all
saw
at
once
,
and
were
out
of
the
wood
in
a
trice
with
weapons
aloft
,
for
they
knew
both
the
man
and
the
woman
,
that
they
were
the
Red
Knight
and
Birdalone
.
So
swift
and
sudden
had
they
been
,
that
he
had
no
time
either
to
spur
or
even
to
draw
his
sword
;
but
he
had
a
heavy
steel
axe
in
his
hand
as
the
first
man
came
up
to
him
,
which
was
the
tall
Baudoin
;
and
therewith
he
smote
down
on
Baudoin
so
fierce
and
huge
a
stroke
,
that
came
on
him
betwixt
neck
and
shoulder
,
that
all
gave
way
before
it
,
and
the
Golden
Knight
fell
to
earth
all
carven
and
stark
dead
:
but
even
therewith
fell
Hugh
,
the
squire
,
and
the
sergeant
on
the
Red
Knight
;
for
Arthur
had
run
to
Birdalone
and
sheared
her
loose
from
her
tether
.
The
sergeant
smote
him
on
the
right
arm
with
a
maul
,
so
that
the
axe
fell
to
the
ground
;
the
squire’s
sword
came
on
the
side
of
his
head
,
and
,
as
it
was
cast
back
beneath
the
stroke
,
Hugh
thrust
his
sword
through
the
throat
of
him
,
and
down
he
fell
unto
the
earth
and
was
dead
in
less
than
a
minute
.
Then
gathered
the
others
round
about
Baudoin
,
and
saw
at
once
that
he
was
dead
;
and
Birdalone
came
thrusting
through
the
press
of
them
,
and
knelt
down
beside
him
,
and
when
she
saw
her
friend
so
piteously
dight
,
she
wept
and
wailed
over
him
as
one
who
might
not
be
comforted
;
and
Hugh
stood
over
her
and
let
his
tears
fall
down
upon
the
dead
man
;
and
withal
the
squire
and
the
sergeant
did
not
refrain
their
lamentations
,
for
sore
beloved
was
Sir
Baudoin
the
Golden
Knight
.
But
Arthur
spake
dry-eyed
,
though
there
was
grief
in
his
countenance
,
and
he
said
:
Fellows
,
and
thou
,
lady
,
let
us
lament
afterwards
,
but
now
is
time
for
us
to
get
us
gone
hence
as
speedily
as
may
be
.
Yet
I
will
ask
,
doth
any
know
whose
is
this
head
that
the
slain
tyrant
here
had
hung
about
the
lady’s
neck
?
May
the
fiends
curse
him
therefor
!
Said
the
sergeant
:
Yea
,
lords
,
that
wot
I
;
this
is
the
head
of
the
Red
Knight’s
captain
and
head
man
,
Sir
Thomas
of
Estcliffe
;
one
of
the
hardiest
of
knights
he
was
while
he
was
alive
,
as
ye
surely
wot
,
lords
;
neither
,
as
I
have
heard
say
,
was
he
as
cruel
a
tyrant
as
his
lord
that
lieth
there
ready
for
the
ravens
.
Now
had
Birdalone
arisen
and
was
standing
facing
Arthur
;
her
face
was
pale
and
full
of
anguish
,
and
she
was
dabbled
with
blood
from
the
dead
man’s
neck
;
but
there
was
nought
of
shame
in
her
face
as
she
stood
there
and
spoke
:
O
my
living
friends
,
who
have
but
now
saved
me
,
ye
and
my
dead
friends
,
from
what
shame
and
death
I
know
not
,
the
tale
of
this
woeful
hap
is
over
long
to
tell
if
there
be
peril
at
hand
,
and
I
scarce
alive
from
dread
and
sorrow
;
but
shortly
thus
it
is
:
This
man
,
whose
head
here
lieth
,
entrapped
me
as
I
foolishly
wandered
in
the
Black
Valley
,
and
afterwards
delivered
me
,
and
was
leading
me
to
your
castle
,
my
friends
,
when
this
other
one
,
his
master
,
the
tyrant
of
the
Red
Hold
,
came
upon
him
,
and
fell
upon
him
and
slew
him
as
a
traitor
,
and
dighted
me
as
ye
saw
.
And
woe’s
me
!
I
am
the
fool
whose
folly
has
slain
your
friend
and
mine
.
Wherefore
I
am
not
worthy
of
your
fellowship
,
and
ye
shall
cast
me
forth
of
it
;
or
to
slay
me
were
better
.
So
she
spake
,
gazing
earnestly
on
Arthur
;
and
so
troubled
and
grieved
,
that
she
might
well
have
died
but
for
her
woodland
breeding
,
and
the
toil
of
the
days
she
had
won
through
in
the
House
under
the
Wood
.
But
Hugh
spake
gently
to
her
and
said
:
Keep
up
thine
heart
yet
,
maiden
;
for
the
hand
of
Fate
it
is
that
led
thee
,
and
none
doeth
grievously
amiss
but
if
he
mean
wrong-doing
in
his
heart
;
and
we
know
thee
for
true
;
and
thou
hast
been
our
helper
,
and
brought
our
lovelings
unto
us
to
make
us
happy
.
But
she
brake
out
weeping
afresh
,
and
said
:
O
no
,
no
!
it
is
but
woe
and
weariness
I
have
brought
unto
my
friends
;
and
to
myself
woe
and
weariness
yet
more
.
And
she
looked
piteously
into
Arthur’s
face
,
and
hard
and
stern
it
seemed
unto
her
;
and
she
writhed
and
wrung
her
hands
for
anguish
.
But
he
spake
and
said
:
This
will
we
look
into
when
we
be
safe
behind
our
walls
,
and
see
what
she
hath
done
amiss
and
what
not
amiss
.
But
now
is
there
but
one
thing
to
do
,
and
that
is
to
get
us
speedily
on
our
way
to
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
,
and
bind
our
fellow’s
body
on
his
horse
that
he
also
may
ride
with
us
,
and
the
lady
shall
ride
the
horse
of
the
accursed
thief
.
Then
they
turned
to
go
toward
their
horses
;
but
therewith
Birdalone
smote
her
foot
against
the
slain
knight’s
head
,
and
shrank
aback
from
it
,
and
pointed
down
toward
it
and
spake
no
word
;
and
Hugh
said
:
Friends
,
the
lady
is
right
,
this
at
least
we
will
cover
with
earth
.
Do
ye
go
fetch
hither
our
horses
,
since
we
be
on
the
road
,
and
I
will
do
here
what
need
is
meanwhile
.
So
they
went
on
that
errand
,
and
then
Hugh
and
Birdalone
between
them
dug
a
hole
with
the
swords
and
laid
the
head
of
the
captain
of
the
Red
Knight
therein
.
And
forsooth
,
somewhat
would
Birdalone
have
wept
for
him
had
she
had
a
tear
to
spare
.
Then
they
fell
to
and
bound
the
dead
Baudoin
on
the
Red
Knight’s
mighty
bay
steed
,
so
that
no
time
might
be
wasted
;
and
when
that
was
done
,
and
the
others
had
not
come
back
with
their
horses
,
Hugh
took
Birdalone’s
hand
and
led
her
down
to
the
stream
and
washed
the
gore
off
her
bosom
,
and
she
washed
her
face
and
her
hands
and
let
him
lead
her
back
again
in
such
wise
that
now
she
could
hearken
to
the
words
of
comfort
he
spake
to
her
,
and
piteous
kind
he
seemed
unto
her
;
so
that
at
last
she
plucked
up
heart
,
and
asked
him
how
Viridis
did
.
Quoth
he
:
They
be
all
safe
at
home
in
the
castle
,
and
Viridis
is
well
and
loveth
thee
well
.
And
Aurea
was
well
,
woe
worth
the
while
for
her
now
!
As
for
Atra
,
she
has
not
been
so
glad
as
the
other
twain
,
I
wot
not
wherefore
.
Even
as
he
spake
were
the
others
come
up
with
the
horses
,
and
Arthur
nodded
yeasay
when
he
saw
what
had
been
done
with
Baudoin
dead
;
and
so
they
gat
to
horse
,
and
Birdalone
it
was
that
rode
Baudoin’s
steed
.
Then
they
went
their
ways
,
crossing
the
river
into
the
wood
;
and
the
sergeant
was
ever
way-leader
,
but
the
squire
led
the
horse
which
bore
the
sorrowful
burden
of
the
dead
Knight
of
the
Quest
.
Chapter
V
~
They
Come
Home
to
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
Now
they
had
gone
but
some
three
hours
,
riding
dreary
and
nigh
speechless
all
of
them
,
ere
they
began
to
know
the
land
they
were
in
,
and
that
they
were
coming
to
the
place
where
they
might
look
presently
to
fall
in
with
Sir
Aymeris
and
his
company
;
and
even
so
the
meeting
betid
,
that
they
saw
men
standing
and
going
about
their
horses
beside
a
little
wood
,
and
knew
them
presently
for
their
folk
,
who
mounted
at
once
and
spurred
forward
to
meet
them
,
spears
aloft
.
Speedily
then
was
the
joy
of
those
abiders
turned
into
sorrow
,
nor
may
the
grief
of
Sir
Aymeris
be
told
,
so
great
it
was
;
and
Birdalone
looked
on
and
saw
the
mourning
and
lamentation
of
the
warriors
,
and
eked
was
her
anguish
of
mind
;
and
she
beheld
Arthur
the
Black
Squire
,
how
he
sat
still
upon
his
horse
with
a
hard
and
dreary
countenance
,
and
looked
on
those
mourners
almost
as
if
he
contemned
them
.
But
Sir
Aymeris
came
up
to
Birdalone
,
and
knelt
before
her
and
kissed
her
hand
,
and
said
:
If
my
heart
might
rejoice
in
aught
,
as
some
day
it
will
,
it
would
rejoice
in
seeing
thee
safe
and
sound
,
lady
;
here
at
least
is
gain
to
set
beside
the
loss
.
She
thanked
him
,
but
looked
askance
toward
Arthur
,
who
said
:
If
that
be
gain
,
yet
is
there
more
,
for
the
Red
Knight
lieth
in
the
green
plain
for
a
supper
to
the
wolf
and
the
crow
.
Vengeance
there
hath
been
,
and
belike
more
yet
may
come
.
But
now
,
if
ye
have
lamented
as
much
as
ye
deem
befitteth
warriors
,
let
us
tarry
here
no
longer
;
for
even
yet
meseemeth
shall
we
be
safer
behind
walls
,
now
that
our
chief
and
captain
is
slain
,
I
scarce
know
in
what
quarrel
.
None
naysaid
it
,
so
they
all
rode
forth
together
,
and
the
sergeant
and
the
squire
and
Sir
Hugh
told
of
their
tale
what
they
might
to
Sir
Aymeris
and
the
others
;
but
Arthur
held
his
peace
,
and
rode
aloof
from
Birdalone
,
whereas
Sir
Aymeris
and
Hugh
rode
on
either
side
of
her
,
and
did
not
spare
to
comfort
her
what
they
might
.
They
rode
straight
on
,
and
made
no
stay
for
nightfall
,
and
thus
came
home
to
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
before
the
day
was
full
;
and
woeful
was
their
entry
as
they
went
in
the
dawn
underneath
the
gate
of
the
said
castle
,
and
soon
was
the
whole
house
astir
and
lamenting
.
As
for
Birdalone
,
when
she
got
down
from
her
horse
in
the
gateway
,
and
was
stiff
and
weary
of
body
,
and
all
dazed
and
confused
of
mind
,
there
was
but
little
life
in
her
;
nor
could
she
so
much
as
think
of
the
new
day
and
Aurea’s
awakening
,
but
crept
up
unto
her
own
chamber
,
so
long
as
it
seemed
since
she
had
left
it
,
though
it
was
but
a
little
while
;
and
she
cast
herself
upon
the
bed
and
fell
asleep
whether
she
would
or
not
,
and
so
forgat
her
much
sorrow
and
her
little
hope
.
Chapter
VI
~
Of
the
Talk
Betwixt
Birdalone
and
Viridis
When
she
woke
again
,
she
had
slept
the
night
away
,
and
it
was
broad
day
,
and
for
a
moment
she
lay
wondering
what
was
the
burden
upon
her
;
but
presently
she
called
it
all
to
mind
,
and
deemed
it
were
well
might
she
forget
it
all
again
.
Anon
she
became
aware
of
someone
moving
about
the
chamber
,
and
she
looked
about
unhappily
;
and
lo
!
a
woman
,
fair
and
dainty
,
clad
all
in
green
,
and
it
was
Viridis
that
had
come
there
.
But
when
she
saw
Birdalone
stirring
,
she
came
up
to
her
and
kissed
her
sweetly
and
kindly
,
and
wept
over
her
,
so
that
Birdalone
might
nowise
refrain
her
tears
.
But
when
she
might
cease
weeping
,
she
said
to
Viridis
:
Tell
me
,
art
thou
weeping
for
thy
friend
who
is
lost
,
and
who
shall
be
thy
friend
no
more
;
or
thy
friend
whom
thou
hast
found
?
Said
Viridis
:
Forsooth
I
have
wept
for
Baudoin
plenteously
,
and
he
is
worthy
of
it
,
for
he
was
valiant
and
true
and
kind
.
Said
Birdalone
:
True
is
that
;
but
I
meant
not
my
question
so
;
but
rather
I
would
ask
thee
if
thou
weepest
because
thine
heart
must
needs
cast
me
away
,
or
because
thou
hast
found
me
again
?
Quoth
Viridis
:
Whoso
may
be
dead
,
or
whoso
alive
,
but
if
it
were
Hugh
,
my
loveling
,
I
were
rejoiced
beyond
measure
to
find
thee
,
my
friend
.
And
again
she
kissed
her
as
one
who
was
glad
and
kind
.
But
for
new
rest
of
soul
and
for
joy
,
Birdalone
fell
a-weeping
afresh
.
Again
she
spake
:
And
what
mind
have
the
others
about
me
?
For
thou
art
but
one
,
though
the
dearest
,
save
.
.
.
And
would
they
punish
me
for
my
fault
and
folly
that
has
slain
the
best
man
in
the
world
?
If
the
punishment
be
short
of
putting
me
forth
of
their
fellowship
,
I
were
fain
thereof
.
Viridis
laughed
:
Forsooth
,
she
said
,
they
have
much
to
punish
thee
for
!
whereas
it
was
by
thy
doing
and
thy
valiance
that
we
all
came
together
again
and
the
Quest
was
accomplished
.
Nay
,
but
tell
me
,
said
Birdalone
,
what
do
they
say
of
me
,
each
one
of
them
?
Viridis
reddened
;
she
said
:
Hugh
,
my
mate
,
saith
all
good
of
thee
;
though
no
one
of
carl-folk
may
be
sorrier
of
the
loss
of
his
fellow
.
Aurea
layeth
not
the
death
of
her
man
upon
thee
;
and
she
saith
:
When
the
fountain
of
tears
is
dried
up
in
me
,
I
will
see
her
and
comfort
her
,
as
she
me
.
Atra
saith
:
she
saith
but
little
,
yet
she
saith
:
So
is
it
fated
.
I
had
done
belike
no
better
,
but
worse
than
she
.
Now
turned
Birdalone
red
and
then
pale
again
,
and
she
said
,
but
in
a
quavering
voice
:
And
the
Black
Squire
,
Arthur
,
what
sayeth
he
?
Said
Viridis
:
He
sayeth
nought
of
thee
,
but
that
he
would
hear
all
the
tale
of
what
befell
thee
in
the
Black
Valley
.
Sweet
friend
,
said
Birdalone
,
I
pray
thee
of
thy
kindness
and
sweetness
that
thou
go
unto
him
presently
and
bring
him
in
hither
,
and
then
I
will
tell
him
all
;
and
he
and
thou
and
I
together
.
Viridis
said
:
There
is
this
to
be
said
,
that
when
a
man
loveth
a
woman
he
coveteth
her
,
to
have
her
all
wholly
to
himself
,
and
hard
and
evil
he
groweth
for
the
time
that
he
misdoubteth
her
whom
he
loveth
.
And
I
will
tell
thee
that
this
man
is
jealous
lest
thou
wert
never
so
little
kind
to
the
slain
stranger
knight
whose
head
the
tyrant
hung
about
thee
.
Furthermore
,
I
fear
there
is
no
help
for
it
that
thou
wilt
undo
the
happiness
of
one
of
us
,
that
is
Atra
;
yet
were
it
better
that
that
befell
later
than
sooner
.
And
if
Sir
Arthur
come
in
here
to
thee
,
and
hath
thy
tale
with
none
beside
save
me
,
meseems
the
poor
Atra
will
feel
a
bitter
smart
because
of
it
.
Were
it
not
better
that
we
all
meet
presently
in
the
solar
,
and
that
there
thou
tell
thy
tale
to
us
all
?
and
thereafter
shall
we
tell
the
tale
of
our
deliverance
and
our
coming
hither
.
And
thus
doing
,
it
will
seem
less
like
to
the
breaking
up
of
our
fellowship
.
Said
Birdalone
:
It
will
be
hard
for
me
to
tell
my
tale
before
Atra
and
before
him
.
Might
it
not
be
that
thou
hearken
to
it
here
and
now
,
and
tell
it
to
the
others
hereafter
?
Nay
,
nay
,
said
Viridis
,
I
am
not
a
proper
minstrel
to
take
the
word
out
of
thy
mouth
.
Never
shall
I
be
able
to
tell
it
so
that
they
shall
trow
it
as
if
they
had
seen
it
all
.
Besides
,
when
all
is
told
,
then
shall
we
be
more
bound
together
again
.
I
pray
thee
,
and
I
pray
thee
,
sweet
,
do
so
much
for
me
as
to
tell
thy
tale
to
the
fellowship
of
us
.
And
if
it
be
hard
to
thee
,
look
upon
it
as
my
share
of
the
punishment
which
is
due
to
thee
for
falling
into
that
mishap
.
Smiled
Birdalone
ruefully
,
and
said
:
So
be
it
;
and
may
the
share
of
the
others
be
as
light
as
thine
,
sister
.
Yet
soothly
were
I
liefer
that
my
body
and
my
skin
should
pay
the
forfeit
.
But
now
,
since
I
must
needs
do
this
,
the
sooner
is
the
better
meseemeth
.
In
a
little
half
hour
,
said
Viridis
,
will
I
bring
what
is
left
of
our
fellowship
into
the
solar
to
hearken
thee
.
So
come
thou
there
unto
us
when
thou
art
clad
.
And
hear
thou
!
be
not
too
meek
and
humble
,
and
bow
thyself
to
us
in
fear
of
our
sorrow
.
For
whereas
thou
didst
speak
of
our
punishing
thee
,
there
will
be
one
there
whom
thou
mayst
easily
punish
to
thy
pleasure
;
forsooth
,
friend
,
I
rue
that
so
it
is
;
but
since
it
will
not
better
be
,
what
may
I
do
but
wish
thee
happy
and
him
also
.
Therewith
she
turned
and
went
out
of
the
chamber
,
and
Birdalone
,
left
to
herself
,
felt
a
secret
joy
in
her
soul
that
she
might
not
master
,
despite
the
sorrow
of
her
friends
,
whatever
it
might
be
.
Chapter
VII
~
Birdalone
Telleth
the
Tale
of
Her
Wandering
Up
the
Valley
of
the
Greywethers
Now
Viridis
did
as
she
said
,
and
brought
them
all
in
to
the
solar
;
there
was
none
lacking
save
Baudoin
,
and
they
sat
silently
in
a
half
ring
,
till
the
door
opened
and
Birdalone
came
in
to
them
,
clad
all
simply
in
but
a
black
coat
;
and
she
made
obeisance
to
them
,
and
stood
there
with
her
head
bent
down
as
if
they
were
her
judges
,
for
so
in
sooth
she
deemed
them
.
Then
Hugh
bade
her
sit
down
amongst
them
;
but
she
said
:
Nay
,
I
will
not
sit
amongst
you
till
ye
have
heard
my
story
,
and
ye
have
told
me
that
I
am
yet
of
your
fellowship
.
None
said
aught
;
Atra
looked
straight
before
her
,
and
her
eyes
met
not
Birdalone’s
eyes
;
Arthur
looked
down
on
the
ground
;
but
Hugh
and
Viridis
looked
kindly
on
Birdalone
,
and
to
Viridis’
eyes
the
tears
were
come
.
Then
spake
Birdalone
and
said
:
I
am
here
as
one
that
hath
done
amiss
;
but
I
will
tell
you
,
so
that
ye
may
not
think
worse
of
me
than
ye
should
,
that
when
ye
were
gone
,
ye
Champions
,
and
the
time
wore
long
that
ye
came
not
again
,
it
lay
heavy
on
my
heart
,
and
hope
waned
and
fear
waxed
,
and
my
soul
so
grieved
my
body
that
I
thought
to
fall
sick
thereof
,
and
I
knew
that
it
would
be
ill
for
you
to
come
home
hither
and
find
me
sick
;
so
that
I
longed
sore
to
do
somewhat
which
should
make
me
whole
again
.
Then
weird
would
that
I
should
hear
all
the
tale
of
the
Black
Valley
of
the
Greywethers
,
and
of
how
therein
is
whiles
granted
fulfilment
of
desire
;
and
methought
how
well
it
were
if
I
might
seek
the
adventure
there
and
accomplish
it
.
Thereof
,
doubtless
,
hath
the
chaplain
,
Sir
Leonard
,
told
you
;
but
this
furthermore
would
I
say
,
that
his
doing
herein
was
nought
;
all
was
done
by
my
doing
and
by
my
bidding
,
and
he
might
not
choose
but
do
it
.
Wherefore
I
do
pray
you
all
earnestly
that
ye
keep
no
grudge
against
him
,
but
pardon
him
all
.
Tell
me
,
then
,
will
ye
do
thus
much
?
Said
Hugh
:
Let
him
be
pardoned
,
if
he
can
take
pardon
.
But
Arthur
spake
not
,
and
Birdalone
looked
on
him
anxiously
,
and
her
face
was
moved
,
and
it
was
with
her
throat
as
if
she
had
swallowed
something
down
.
Then
she
spake
again
,
and
fell
to
tell
them
all
that
had
betid
to
her
when
she
went
to
the
Black
Valley
,
even
as
is
hereafore
writ
,
hiding
nought
that
had
been
done
and
said
;
and
freely
she
told
it
,
without
fear
or
shame
,
and
with
such
clearness
and
sweetness
of
words
that
no
one
of
them
doubted
her
aught
;
and
Arthur
lifted
up
his
head
,
and
once
and
again
his
eyes
met
hers
,
and
there
was
nought
of
hardness
in
them
,
though
they
turned
away
at
once
.
So
at
last
fell
Birdalone
to
telling
what
betid
after
they
two
,
the
stranger
knight
and
she
,
left
the
valley
of
the
force
and
fell
to
riding
the
wildwood
with
their
heads
turned
toward
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
;
and
she
said
:
When
we
turned
into
the
wood
away
from
the
said
valley
it
lacked
some
four
hours
of
noon
;
and
we
rode
till
noon
was
,
and
rested
by
a
stream-side
and
ate
,
for
we
knew
no
cause
wherefore
we
should
hasten
overmuch
;
but
my
fellow
the
strange
knight
was
downcast
and
heavy
,
and
some
might
have
called
him
sullen
.
But
I
strove
to
make
him
of
better
cheer
,
and
spake
to
him
kindly
,
as
to
one
who
of
an
enemy
had
become
a
friend
;
but
he
answered
me
:
Lady
,
it
availeth
not
;
I
grieve
that
I
am
no
better
company
than
thou
seest
me
,
and
I
have
striven
to
be
merrier
;
but
apart
from
all
that
I
wot
and
that
thou
wottest
which
should
make
me
of
evil
cheer
,
there
is
now
a
weight
upon
my
heart
which
I
cannot
lift
,
such
as
never
have
I
felt
erst
.
So
by
thy
leave
we
will
to
horse
at
once
,
that
we
may
the
speedier
come
to
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
and
Sir
Aymeris’
prison
.
So
I
arose
,
but
smiled
on
him
and
said
:
Hold
up
thine
heart
,
friend
!
for
thee
shall
be
no
prison
at
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
,
but
the
fair
welcome
of
friends
.
He
said
nought
,
and
mended
not
his
cheer
;
and
in
this
plight
we
gat
to
horse
and
rode
on
for
some
three
hours
more
,
till
we
came
out
of
the
thick
forest
into
a
long
clearing
,
which
went
like
a
wide
highway
of
greensward
between
the
thicket
,
and
it
seemed
as
if
the
hand
of
man
had
cleared
that
said
green
road
.
Thereto
we
had
come
,
following
a
little
river
which
came
out
on
to
the
clearing
with
us
,
and
then
,
turning
,
ran
well-nigh
amidst
it
toward
the
north
.
Now
when
we
were
come
thither
,
and
were
betwixt
the
thicket
and
the
water’s
edge
,
we
drew
rein
,
and
it
seemed
to
me
as
fair
a
stead
as
might
be
in
the
woodland
,
and
I
looked
thereon
well
pleased
and
with
a
happy
heart
.
But
the
knight
said
:
Lady
,
art
thou
not
exceeding
weary
?
Nay
,
said
I
,
not
in
any
wise
.
Said
he
:
It
is
strange
then
,
for
so
weary
am
I
,
that
I
must
in
any
case
get
off
my
horse
and
lay
me
down
on
the
grass
here
,
or
I
shall
drop
from
the
saddle
.
And
therewith
he
lighted
down
and
stood
by
me
a
little
,
as
to
help
me
off
my
horse
;
but
I
said
to
him
:
Knight
,
I
pray
thee
,
even
if
ye
be
weary
,
to
struggle
forward
a
little
,
lest
we
be
in
peril
here
.
In
peril
?
quoth
he
;
yea
,
that
might
be
if
the
Red
Knight
knew
of
our
whereabouts
;
but
how
should
that
be
?
He
spoke
this
heavily
,
as
one
scarce
awake
;
and
then
he
said
:
I
pray
thee
pardon
me
,
lady
,
but
for
nought
may
I
hold
my
head
up
;
suffer
me
to
sleep
but
a
little
,
and
then
will
I
arise
and
lead
thee
straight
to
thy
journey’s
end
.
Therewithal
he
laid
him
down
on
the
grass
and
was
presently
asleep
,
and
I
sat
down
by
him
all
dismayed
.
At
first
,
indeed
,
I
doubted
some
treachery
in
him
,
for
how
might
I
trust
him
wholly
after
all
that
had
come
and
gone
?
but
when
I
saw
that
there
was
no
feigning
in
his
sleep
,
I
set
that
doubt
aside
,
and
knew
not
what
to
make
of
it
.
Thus
passed
an
hour
,
and
from
time
to
time
I
shook
him
and
strove
to
waken
him
,
but
it
was
all
in
vain
;
so
I
knew
none
other
rede
than
to
abide
his
awakening
;
for
I
knew
not
the
way
to
take
toward
this
castle
;
and
,
moreover
,
though
he
were
a
knight
,
and
armed
,
yet
might
it
be
perilous
for
him
if
he
were
left
there
alone
and
unguarded
;
so
I
abode
.
But
now
came
new
tidings
.
Methought
I
heard
the
sound
of
the
tinkling
of
weapons
and
armour
;
the
green
highway
so
turned
that
a
wood
neb
about
an
hundred
yards
to
the
north
hid
it
from
my
sight
,
so
that
a
man
might
have
drawn
somewhat
near
to
us
without
being
seen
,
came
he
on
the
hither
side
of
the
river
.
So
I
stood
up
hastily
,
and
strung
my
bow
,
and
took
a
shaft
in
my
fingers
,
and
no
sooner
was
it
done
than
there
came
a
rider
round
about
the
aforesaid
wood
neb.
He
was
all-armed
and
had
a
red
surcoat
,
and
rode
a
great
shining
bay
horse
.
I
kept
my
eye
upon
him
while
I
stirred
the
sleeping
knight
with
my
foot
,
and
cried
to
him
to
wake
,
but
he
scarce
moved
,
and
but
uttered
words
without
sense
.
Now
the
new-comer
drew
rein
for
a
moment
when
he
saw
us
,
and
then
moved
on
a
little
toward
me
,
but
I
nocked
a
shaft
and
pointed
it
at
him
,
and
cried
out
to
him
to
stay
.
Then
I
heard
a
great
rattling
laugh
come
from
him
,
and
he
shouted
:
Nay
,
do
thou
stay
,
fair
wood-wife
,
and
I
will
risk
thy
shafts
to
come
at
thee
.
But
why
doth
not
the
sluggard
at
thy
feet
rise
up
and
stand
before
me
,
if
he
be
thy
loveling
?
Or
is
he
dead
?
His
voice
was
harsh
and
big
,
and
I
feared
him
sore
;
and
it
was
as
much
because
of
fear
as
of
hardihood
,
that
I
drew
and
loosed
straightway
;
and
doubtless
it
was
because
of
fear
that
I
saw
my
shaft
fly
an
inch
or
so
over
his
right
shoulder
.
I
heard
his
rattling
laugh
again
,
and
saw
him
bend
forward
as
he
spurred
;
I
knew
that
time
lacked
for
drawing
another
shaft
,
so
I
caught
up
my
skirts
and
ran
all
I
might
;
but
swift-foot
as
I
be
,
it
availed
me
nought
,
for
I
was
cumbered
with
my
gown
,
and
moreover
I
was
confused
with
not
knowing
whither
to
run
,
since
I
wotted
that
in
the
water
the
horse
would
do
better
than
I
.
So
he
was
up
with
me
in
a
twinkling
,
and
reached
out
his
hand
and
caught
hold
of
me
by
the
hair
,
and
tugged
me
to
him
as
he
reined
back
his
horse
.
Then
he
laughed
again
and
said
:
Forsooth
she
will
look
better
when
she
is
no
longer
reddened
and
roughened
with
fleeing
;
and
,
by
Red
Peter
!
what
limbs
she
hath
.
Then
he
let
me
loose
and
got
off
his
horse
,
and
shoved
me
on
before
him
till
we
came
to
where
the
Black
One
lay
still
sleeping
heavily
.
Then
the
Red
Knight
stood
against
me
,
and
looked
hard
into
my
face
;
and
I
saw
how
huge
a
man
he
was
,
and
how
a
lock
of
bright
red
hair
came
out
from
under
his
sallet
.
His
eyes
were
green
and
fierce
underneath
shaggy
red
eyebrows
;
terrible
he
was
to
look
on
.
Now
he
spake
fiercely
and
roughly
,
and
as
though
he
had
something
against
me
:
Tell
me
,
thou
,
who
thou
art
and
who
this
is
?
I
answered
nought
,
for
fear
had
frozen
my
speech
.
He
stamped
his
foot
on
the
ground
and
cried
:
Hah
!
art
thou
gone
dumb
?
Speak
!
thou
wert
best
!
I
said
,
all
quaking
:
My
name
is
Birdalone
;
I
belong
to
no
one
;
I
have
no
kindred
:
as
for
this
man
,
I
know
not
his
name
.
He
said
:
Comest
thou
from
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
?
Art
thou
the
whore
of
those
lily-and-rose
champions
there
?
My
heart
was
hot
with
anger
in
spite
of
my
dread
,
but
I
spake
:
I
came
from
the
Castle
of
the
Quest
.
He
said
:
And
this
man
(
therewith
he
turned
about
and
spurned
him
in
the
side
)
,
where
didst
thou
happen
upon
him
?
Again
I
was
silent
,
and
he
roared
out
at
me
:
So
thou
wilt
not
answer
!
Beware
,
or
I
may
see
how
to
compel
the
speech
of
thee
.
Now
answer
me
this
:
Was
it
in
the
Black
Valley
of
the
Greywethers
that
ye
two
came
together
?
Again
I
knew
not
how
to
answer
,
lest
I
might
do
a
wrong
to
him
who
had
repented
him
of
the
wrong
he
had
done
me
.
But
the
Red
Knight
burst
out
a-laughing
and
said
:
It
shall
be
remembered
against
thee
,
first
,
that
thou
didst
let
fly
a
shaft
at
me
;
second
,
that
thou
didst
run
from
me
;
and
thirdly
,
that
thou
hast
been
slack
in
answering
my
questions
.
But
all
this
scathes
me
nought
;
first
,
because
thy
shaft
missed
me
;
second
,
because
thy
legs
failed
thee
(
though
they
were
fair
to
look
on
,
running
)
;
and
third
,
because
all
thou
canst
tell
me
I
know
without
thine
answering
.
Now
thee
will
I
tell
that
this
is
Friday
,
and
that
ye
two
first
met
in
the
Black
Valley
on
Tuesday
;
now
I
will
ask
this
last
question
,
and
thou
mayst
answer
it
or
not
as
thou
wilt
;
for
presently
I
shall
wake
this
brisk
and
stirring
knight
,
and
I
deem
that
he
will
tell
me
the
truth
of
this
if
of
nought
else
.
Tell
me
,
thou
whore
of
the
Questing
Champions
,
where
and
how
many
times
thou
hast
lain
in
this
good
knight’s
arms
since
last
Tuesday
?
Nowhere
and
never
,
quoth
I
.
Thou
liest
,
I
doubt
thee
,
said
the
Red
Knight
;
howsoever
,
let
us
see
what
this
doughty
one
will
say
.
Hah
!
thou
deemest
he
shall
be
hard
to
wake
up
,
dost
thou
not
!
Well
,
I
shall
see
to
that
.
He
who
giveth
sleep
may
take
it
away
again
.
Therewith
he
went
up
to
the
Black
One
and
stooped
adown
over
his
head
,
and
spake
some
words
over
him
,
but
so
softly
that
I
heard
not
their
import
;
and
straightway
the
sleeper
rose
up
so
suddenly
that
he
wellnigh
smote
against
the
Red
Knight
.
He
stood
awhile
staggering
,
and
blinking
at
the
other
one
,
but
somehow
got
his
sword
drawn
forth
,
and
the
Red
Knight
hindered
him
nought
therein
,
but
spake
anon
when
the
other
was
come
to
himself
somewhat
:
The
sele
of
the
day
to
thee
,
Sir
Thomas
,
True
Thomas
!
Fair
is
thy
bed
,
and
most
fair
thy
bedfellow
.
The
Black
Knight
drew
aback
from
him
and
was
now
come
awake
,
wherefore
he
stood
on
his
guard
,
but
said
nought
.
Then
said
the
Red
Knight
:
Sir
Thomas
,
I
have
been
asking
this
fair
lady
a
question
,
but
her
memory
faileth
her
and
she
may
not
answer
it
;
perchance
thou
mayst
do
better
.
Tell
me
where
and
how
many
times
hast
thou
bedded
her
betwixt
last
Tuesday
and
this
?
Nowhere
and
never
,
cried
Sir
Thomas
,
knitting
his
brows
and
handling
his
sword
.
Hah
,
said
the
Red
Knight
,
an
echo
of
her
speech
is
this
.
Lo
,
the
tale
ye
have
made
up
betwixt
you
.
But
at
least
,
having
done
mine
errand
,
though
meseemeth
somewhat
leisurely
,
and
having
gotten
the
woman
for
me
,
thou
art
now
bringing
her
on
to
the
Red
Hold
,
whatever
thou
hast
done
with
her
on
the
road
?
I
am
not
,
said
my
fellow
,
I
am
leading
her
away
from
the
Red
Hold
.
Pity
of
thee
,
quoth
the
other
,
that
thou
hast
fallen
in
with
me
,
and
thou
but
half-armed
.
And
he
raised
aloft
his
sword
;
but
presently
sank
it
again
,
and
let
the
point
rest
on
the
earth
.
Then
he
spoke
again
,
not
mockingly
as
erst
:
A
word
before
we
end
it
,
Thomas
:
thou
hast
hitherto
done
well
by
me
,
as
I
by
thee
.
I
say
thou
hast
gotten
this
woman
,
and
I
doubt
not
that
at
first
thou
hadst
the
mind
to
bring
her
to
me
unminished
;
but
then
thou
wert
overcome
by
her
beauty
,
as
forsooth
I
know
thee
woman-mad
,
and
thou
hadst
meant
to
keep
her
for
thyself
,
as
forsooth
I
marvel
not
.
But
in
thy
love-making
thou
hast
not
bethought
thee
that
keep
her
to
thyself
thou
mayst
not
while
I
am
above
ground
,
save
thou
bewray
me
,
and
join
thee
to
my
foemen
and
thine
.
Because
I
am
such
a
man
,
that
what
I
desire
that
will
I
have
.
For
this
reason
,
when
I
misdoubted
me
of
thee
for
thy
much-tarrying
,
I
cast
the
sleep
over
thee
,
and
have
caught
thee
.
For
what
wilt
thou
do
?
Doubt
it
not
,
that
if
our
swords
meet
,
I
shall
pay
thee
for
trying
to
take
my
bedthrall
from
me
by
taking
from
thee
no
more
than
thy
life
.
But
now
will
I
forgive
thee
all
if
thou
wilt
ride
home
quietly
with
me
and
this
damsel-errant
to
the
Red
Hold
,
and
let
her
be
mine
and
not
thine
so
long
as
I
will
;
and
then
afterwards
,
if
thou
wilt
,
she
shall
be
thine
as
long
as
thou
wilt
.
Now
behold
,
both
this
chance
and
thy
life
is
a
mere
gift
of
me
to
thee
,
for
otherwise
thou
shalt
have
neither
damsel
nor
life
.
Yea
,
yea
,
said
my
friend
,
I
know
what
thou
wouldest
:
I
have
been
no
unhandy
devil
to
thee
this
long
while
,
and
thou
wouldst
fain
keep
me
still
;
but
now
I
will
be
devil
no
longer
,
on
this
earth
at
least
,
but
will
die
and
take
my
luck
of
it
.
And
do
thou
,
God
,
see
to
the
saving
of
this
damsel
,
since
thou
hast
taken
the
matter
out
of
my
hands
.
Farewell
,
dear
maiden
!
Scarce
was
the
word
out
of
his
mouth
ere
his
sword
was
in
the
air
,
and
he
smote
so
fierce
and
straight
that
he
beat
down
the
huge
man’s
blade
,
and
,
ere
he
could
master
it
again
,
smote
the
Red
Knight
so
heavily
on
the
crest
that
he
fell
to
his
knees
;
and
the
heart
rose
in
me
,
for
I
deemed
that
he
might
yet
prevail
;
and
in
as
’twere
a
flash
I
bethought
me
of
the
knife
at
my
girdlestead
,
and
drew
it
and
ran
to
the
Red
Knight
,
and
tore
aside
his
mail
hood
with
one
hand
and
thrust
the
knife
into
his
shoulder
with
the
other
;
but
so
mighty
was
he
that
he
heeded
nought
the
hurt
,
but
swept
his
sword
back-handed
at
the
Black
Knight’s
unarmed
leg
,
and
smote
him
so
sore
a
wound
that
down
he
fell
clattering
.
Then
arose
the
Red
Knight
,
and
thrust
me
from
him
with
the
left
hand
,
and
strode
over
my
fellow-farer
and
thrust
his
sword
through
his
throat
.
Then
he
turned
to
me
,
and
spake
in
a
braying
voice
as
if
a
harsh
horn
were
blown
:
Abide
thou
;
if
thou
takest
one
step
I
will
slay
thee
at
once
.
So
he
went
and
sat
down
on
a
bank
a
little
way
from
the
dead
man
,
and
wiped
his
sword
on
the
grass
and
laid
it
beside
him
,
and
so
sat
pondering
a
while
.
Thereafter
he
called
me
to
him
,
and
bade
me
stand
in
face
of
him
with
my
hands
clasped
before
me
.
Then
he
spake
to
me
:
Thou
art
my
thrall
and
my
having
,
since
I
had
thus
doomed
it
no
few
days
ago
;
and
thou
art
now
in
my
hands
for
me
to
do
with
as
I
will
.
Now
instead
of
being
meek
and
obedient
to
me
thou
hast
rebelled
against
me
,
shot
an
arrow
at
me
,
run
from
me
,
denied
answer
to
my
questions
,
and
thrust
a
knife
into
me
.
To
be
short
,
thou
hast
made
thyself
my
foe
.
Furthermore
,
it
is
by
thy
doing
that
I
have
lost
a
right
good
servant
and
a
trusty
fellow
,
and
one
that
I
loved
;
it
is
thou
that
hast
slain
him
.
Now
have
I
been
pondering
what
I
shall
do
with
thee
.
I
said
:
If
I
have
deserved
the
death
,
then
make
an
end
and
slay
me
presently
;
but
bring
me
not
to
thine
house
,
I
pray
thee
.
I
pray
by
the
mother
that
bore
thee
!
Quoth
he
:
Hold
thy
peace
,
it
is
not
what
thou
deservest
that
I
am
looking
to
,
but
what
shall
pleasure
me
.
Now
hearken
;
I
say
that
thou
hast
made
thee
my
foe
,
and
I
have
overcome
thee
;
thou
art
my
runaway
thrall
,
and
I
have
caught
thee
.
As
my
foe
I
might
slay
thee
in
any
evil
way
it
might
like
me
;
as
my
thrall
I
might
well
chastise
thee
as
sharply
and
as
bitterly
as
I
would
.
But
it
is
not
my
pleasure
to
slay
thee
,
rather
I
will
bring
thee
to
the
Red
Hold
,
and
there
see
what
we
may
make
of
thee
;
whereas
I
cannot
but
deem
that
in
thee
is
the
making
of
somewhat
more
than
a
thrall
;
and
if
not
,
then
a
thrall
must
thou
needs
be
.
Again
as
to
the
chastising
of
thee
,
that
also
I
forgive
thee
since
I
have
gotten
the
hope
aforesaid
.
Yet
forsooth
some
shame
must
I
do
thee
to
pay
thee
back
for
the
love
that
was
betwixt
thee
and
the
slain
man
.
I
will
ponder
what
it
shall
be
;
but
take
heed
that
whatsoever
it
shall
be
,
it
will
not
avail
thee
to
pray
me
to
forego
it
,
though
thy
speech
be
as
fair
and
sweet
as
thy
body
.
Therewith
he
was
silent
a
while
,
and
I
stood
there
not
daring
to
move
,
and
my
heart
was
so
downcast
that
all
the
sweetness
of
life
seemed
departed
.
Yet
I
withheld
lamentations
or
prayers
,
thinking
within
myself
,
who
knows
what
occasion
may
be
between
this
and
the
Red
Hold
for
my
escaping
;
let
me
keep
myself
alive
for
that
if
it
may
be
.
Presently
he
arose
and
took
his
sword
,
and
went
up
to
the
slain
man’s
body
and
smote
the
head
from
off
it
.
Then
he
went
to
the
two
horses
of
Sir
Thomas
and
of
me
,
and
took
from
them
such
gear
of
girths
and
thongs
as
he
would
,
and
therewith
he
dight
me
as
ye
saw
,
doing
a
girth
about
my
middle
and
making
me
fast
to
a
line
wherewith
to
hold
me
in
tow
.
And
then
he
did
that
other
thing
which
sickens
my
very
soul
to
tell
of
,
to
wit
,
that
he
took
the
slain
man’s
head
and
tied
a
lace
thereto
,
and
hung
it
about
my
neck
;
and
as
he
did
so
,
he
said
:
This
jewel
shalt
thou
thyself
bear
to
mine
house
;
and
there
belike
shall
we
lay
it
in
earth
,
since
the
man
was
my
trusty
fellow
.
Lo
now
,
this
is
all
the
ill
I
shall
do
thee
till
it
be
tried
of
what
avail
thou
art
.
This
is
a
shaming
to
thee
and
not
a
torment
,
for
I
will
ride
a
foot’s-pace
,
and
the
green
way
is
both
soft
and
