第4章

Littleistobetoldofhisjourneythroughthedowns：

ashetoppedalowhillwhereonweresevengrave-moundsoftheancientfolkinarow，hecameonashepherdlyingamidstofhissheep：

themansprangtohisfeetwhenheheardhorse-hoofsanighhimandsawtheglintofsteel，andhesethishandtoashortspearwhichlaybyhim；butwhenhesawnoughtbutRalph，andheardhowhegavehimtheseleoftheday，henoddedhisheadinafriendlyway，thoughhesaidnoughtinsalutation；

forthelonelinessofthedownsmadethespeechslowwithinhim。

AgainsometwomilesfurtheronRalphmetaflockofsheepcomingdownabentwhichtheroadclimbed，andwiththemwerethreemen，theirdrovers，andtheydrewnighhimashewasamidstofthesheep，sothathecouldscarceseetheway。Eachofthesethreehadaweapon；

oneapole-axe，anotheralongspear，andthethirdaflailjointedandboundwithiron，andananlacehangingathisgirdle。

Sotheystoodinthewayandhailedhimwhenthesheepweregonepast；andthemanwiththespearaskedhimwhitheraway。

“IamturnedtowardHigham-on-the-Way。”quothhe；“andhowmanymilesshallIrideereIgetthere？”

Saidoneofthem：“Littlelessthantwenty，lord。”Nowitwaspastnoontwohours，andthedaywashot；sowhereasthefacesofthemenlookedkindandfriendly，albeitsomewhatrugged，helighteddownfromhishorseandsatdownbytheway-side，anddrewhisbottleofgoodwinefromoutofhiswallet，andaskedthemeniftheywereinhaste。“Nay，master。”

saidheofthepole-axe，whilealleyesturnedtothebottle，“HEhasgonebytoolong；andwillneithermeddlewithus，normaywedealwithhim。”

“Wellthen。”quothRalph，“thereistimeforbever。

Haveyeoughtofacup，thatwemaydrinktoeachother？”

“Yea。”saidthecarlewiththeanlace，“thathaveI。’’Therewithhedrewfromhispoucharam’shornrimmedwithsilver，andhelditup，andsaidasifhewerespeakingtoit：“Now，Thirly，rejoice！foryeshallhavelord’swinepouredintothymaw。”

TherewithhehelditouttowardRalph，wholaughedandfilleditup，andfilledforhimselfalittlesilvercupwhichhecarried，andsaid：“Toyou，shepherds！Muchwoolandlittlecry！”

Andhedrankwithal。

“AndI。”quoththemanwiththehorn，“callthishealth；

Muchcryandlittlewool！”

“Well，well，howmeanyebythat，GreasyWat？”saidthemanwiththespear，takingthehornashespake；“thatisbutapoorwishforalordthatdrinkethoutofourcup。”

SaidWat：“Why，neighbour，why！thywitisnonetoohasty。

Thewoolthataknightshearethiswarandbattle；

thatiswoundinganddeath；butthecryisthetalkandboastingandminstrelsythatgoethbeforeallthis。

Whichisthebestwishtowishhim？thewoundsandthedeath，orthefore-rumourandstirthereofwhichhurtethnoman？”

Ralphlaughedthereat，andwasmerryandblithewiththem；

butthespearman，whowasanoldman，said：

“ForallWatsayeth，lord，andhisjapes，yemustnotmisdeemofusthatweshepherdsoftheDownscandonoughtbutruntoalesandfeasts，andthatwearebutpot-valiant：maybethouthyselfmaystlivetoseethingsgootherwise：andinthatdaymaywehavesuchastheeforcaptain。

Now，fairlord，Idrinktothycrownofvalour，andthygoodluck；

andwethanktheeforthewineandyetmorefortheblithefellowship。”

SoRalphfilleduptheram’shorntillDameKatherine’sgoodislandwinewaswell-nighspent；andatlasthesaid：

“Now，mymasters，Imusttohorse；butIprayyoutellorwedepart，whatdidyemeanwhenyesaidthatHEhadgonepast？

WhoisHE？”

Themerryfacesofthemenchangedathisword，andtheylookedineachother’sfaces，tillatlasttheoldspearmanansweredhim：

“Fairlord，thesethingswehavelittlewilltotalkabout：

forwebepoormenwithnomastertofleeceus，andnolordtohelpus：

alsowebefolkunlearnedandunlettered，andfromourwayoflife，whereaswedwellinthewilderness，weseldomcomewithinthedoorsofachurch。Butwhereaswehavedrunkwiththee，whoseemesttobeamanoflineage，andthouhastbeenblithewithus，wewilltelltheethatwehaveseenoneridingsouthalongtheGreenway，cladinacoatasgreenastheway，withtheleaflesstreedoneonhisbreast。Sonightohimwewerethatweheardhiscryashespedalong，asyemayhearthelapwingwhining；forhesaid：

’POINTANDEDGE，POINTANDEDGE！THEREDWATERAMIDSTOFTHEHILLS！’

Inmylifetimesuchamanhath，tomyknowledge，beenseenthricebefore；

andaftereachsightofhimfollowedevildaysandthedeathofmen。

MoreoverthisistheEveofSt。John，andwedeemthetokentheworsetherefor。Orhowdeemestthou？”

Ralphstoodsilentawhile；forhewasthinkingofthebigmanwhomhehadmetatthechurchyardgate，andallthistaleseemedwonderfultohim。

Butatlasthesaid：

“Icannottellwhatthereisinit；hereinamInohelptoyou。

To-dayIambutlittle；thoughImayonedaybegreat。

YetthismayIdoforyou；tomorrowwillIletsingamassinSt。Mary’sChurchonyourbehoof。Andhereafter，ifIwaxasmywillis，andIcometobelordintheselands，IwilllooktoittodowhatagoodlordshoulddofortheshepherdsoftheDowns，sothattheymaylivewell，anddieingoodhope。

SomaytheMotherofGodhelpmeatneed！”

Saidtheoldshepherd：“Thouhastswornanoath，anditisagoodoath，andwellsworn。Nowifthoudostasthouswearest，wordscanbutlittlethanks，yetdeedsmay。Whereforeifeverthoucomestbackhither，andartinsuchneedthatathrongofmenmayhelptheetherein；thenletlightagreatfireuponeachcornerofthetopmostwallofBearCastle，andcalltomindthiswatch-word：’SMITEASIDETHEAXE，OBEAR-FATHER，’

andthenshaltthouseewhatshallbetidetheeforthygood-hap：farewellnow，withthesaintstoaid！”

Ralphbadethemlivewellandhail，andmountedhishorseandrodeoffdowntheGreenway，andasherodetheshepherdswavedtheirweaponstohimintokenofgood-will。

RalphComethtoHigham-on-the-WayNoughtmorebefellRalphtotelloftillhecametotheendoftheDownsandsawHighamlyingbelowhimoverlookedbyawhitecastleonaknoll，andwithariverlappingitaboutandwindingonthroughitsfairgreenmeadowsevenasClementhadtold。

Fromamidstitshousesroseupthreetowersofchurchesabovetheirleadenroofs，andhighaboveall，longandgreat，theAbbeyChurch；

andnowwasthelowsunglitteringonitsgildedvanesandthewingsoftheangelshighuponthebattlements。

SoRalphrodedowntheslopesandwasbriskaboutit，foritwasdrawingtowardsunset，andheknewnotatwhathourtheyshuttheirgates。

Theroadwassteepandwinding，anditwasthemorepartofanhourerehecametothegate，whichwasopen，andliketobeyet，formanyfolkwerethrongingin，whichthrongalsohadhinderedhimsoonafterhecameintotheplaincountry。Thegatewasfairandstrong，butRalphsawnomen-at-armsaboutitthatevening。Herodeintothestreetunquestioned，andthereinwasthethronggreatofpeoplecladinfairandgayattire；

andpresentlyRalphcalledtomindthatthiswasSt。John’sEve，sothatheknewthattherewassomefeasttoward。

Atlastthethrongwassothickthathewasstayedbyit；

andtherewithalareligiouswhowasbesidehimandthrustupagainsthishorse，turnedtohimandgavehimgoodeven，andsaid：“Bythyweaponsandgearthouartastrangerhereinourburg，SirKnight？”

“Soitis。”saidRalph。

“Andwhitheraway？”saidthemonk；“hastthousomekinsmanorfriendinthetown？”

“Nay。”saidRalph，“IseekagoodhostelrywhereImayabidethenightformymoney。”

Themonkshookhisheadandsaid：“Seeyethefolk？Itisholidaytime，andmidsummerafterhaysel。Yeshallscarcegetlodgingoutsideourhouse。

Butwhatthen？Comethouthitherstraightwayandhaveharbourofthebest，andseeourprior，wholovethyoungandbriskmen-at-armsliketothee。

Lonow！thethrongopenethalittle；Iwillwalkbythybridleandleadtheetheshortestroadthither。”

Ralphgainsaidhimnot，andtheyboredthroughthethrongofthestreettilltheycameintothemarket-square，whichwasverygreatandclean，pavedwithstonesallover：tallandfairhousesroseuponthreesidesofit，andonthefourthwastheGreatChurchwhichmadethosehousesseembutlow：

mostofitwasnew-built；forthelordAbbotthatthenwas，thoughhehadnotbegunit，hadtakentheworkupfromhisforerunnerandhadpusheditforwardallhemight；forhewasveryrich，andanopen-handedman。

Likedarkgolditshowedundertheeveningsun，andthepaintedandgildedimageryshonelikejewelsuponit。

“Yea。”saidthemonk，ashenotedRalph’swonderatthiswonder；

“amostgoodlyhouseitis，andhappyshalltheybethatdwellthere。”

TherewithheledRalphon，turningasidethroughthegreatsquare。

Ralphsawthatthereweremanyfolktherein，thoughitwastoobigtobethrongedthickwiththem。Amidstofitwasnowagreatpileofwoodhungaboutwithflowers，andhardbyitastagebuiltupwithhangingsofrichclothononesidethereof。Heaskedthemonkwhatthismightmean，andhetoldhimthewoodwasfortheMidsummerbale-fire，andthestagefortheshowthatshouldcomethereafter。

SothebrotherledRalphdownalanetothesouthofthegreatwestdoor，andalongthesideoftheminsterandsocametotheAbbeygate，andtherewasRalphwellgreeted，andhadallthingsgivenhimwhichwereduetoagoodknight；andthenwashebroughtintotheGuest-hall，averyfairchamber，whichwasnowfullofmenofalldegrees。

Hewasshowntoaseatonthedaiswithintwoofthesubprior’s，andbesidehimsatanhonourablelord，avassalofSt。Mary’s。Sowassupperservedwellandabundantly：themeatanddrinkwasofthebest，andthevesselandalltheplenishingwasasgoodasmightbe；

andthewallsofthatchamberwerehungwithnoblearras-clothpicturingthePilgrimageoftheSoulofMan。

EverymantherewhospokewithRalph，andtheyweremany，wasexceedingcourteoustohim；andheheardmuchtalkabouthimofthewealthofthelandsofSt。Mary’satHigham，andhowitwasflourishing；

andoftheAbbothowmightyhewas，sothathemightdowhathewould，andthathiswillwastohelpandtogive，andbeblithewithallmen：

andfolktoldofturmoilandwarinotherlands，andpraisedthepeaceofHigham-on-the-Way。

Ralphlistenedtoallthis，andsmiled，andsaidtohimselfthattoanothermanthismightwellbetheendofhisjourneyforthattime；

butforhimallthispeaceandwell-beingwasnotenough；forthoughitwerearicherlandthanUpmeads，yettothepeaceandthequiethewaswellused，andhehadcomeforthnotforthewinningoffatterpeace，buttotrywhatnewthinghisyouthandhismightandhishighhopeandhisgoodhapmightaccomplish。

Sowhenthesupperwasover，andthewineandspiceshadbeenbrought，theGuest-hallbegantothinsomewhat，andthebrotherwhohadbroughtRalphthithercametohimandsaid：

“Fairlord，itwerenowiseillifyewentforth，asothersofourguestshavedone，toseethedeedsofMidsummerEvethatshallbedoneinthegreatsquareinhonourofHolyJohn；

forourmannerthereinatHighamhasbeenmuchthoughtof。

Lookmyson！”

Hepointedtothewindowsofthehalltherewith，andlo！theygrewyellowandbrightwithsomefirewithout，asifanewfierydayhadbeenbornoutoftheduskofthesummernight；forthelightthatshonethroughthewindowsout-didthecandle-lightinthehall。

Ralphstartedthereatandlaidhisrighthandtotheplaceofhissword，whichindeedhehadleftwiththechamberlain；butthemonklaughedandsaid：“Fearnothing，lord；thereisnofoemaninHigham：

comenow，lestthoubebelatedoftheshow。”

SoheledRalphforth，andintothesquare，wheretherewasaspaceappointedforthebrethrenandtheirgueststoseetheplays；

andthesquarewasnowsofulloffolkthatitseemedlikeasifthattherewerenoonemaninthestreetswhichwereerewhilesothronged。

Therewererowsofmen-at-armsinbrightarmouralsotokeepthefolkintheirplaces，likeashurdlespenthesheepup；