第5章

howbeittheywerenowiseroughwithfolk，buthumbleandcourteous。

Manyandmanywerethetorchesandcressetsburningsteadilyinthecalmair，sothat，asaforesaid，nightwasturnedintoday。

Butonthescaffoldaforesaidwerestandingbrightandgayfigures，whosenamesorwhattheywereRalphhadnotimetoask。

Nowthebellsbegantoclashfromthegreattoweroftheminster，andinalittlewhiletheyhadclashedthemselvesintoorderandrangclearandtuneablyforaspace；andwhiletheywereringing，lo！thosegay-cladpeopledepartedfromthescaffold，andacanvaspaintedlikeamountain-side，rockyandwithcavestherein，wasdrawnupatthebackofit。

Thencamethereononecladlikeakingholdingafairmaidenbythehand，andwithhimwasadamerichlycladandwithacrownonherhead。

Sothesetwokissedthemaiden，andlamentedoverher，andwenttheirways，andthemaidenleftalonesatdownuponarockandcoveredupherfaceandwept；andwhileRalphwonderedwhatthismightmean，orwhatgrievedthemaiden，therecamecreeping，asitwerefromoutofacrannyoftherocks，awormhuge-headedandcoveredoverwithscalesthatglitteredinthetorch-light。ThenRalphsprangupinhisplace，forhefearedforthemaidenthatthewormwoulddevourher：butthemonkwhosatbyhimpulledhimdownbytheskirt，andlaughedandsaid：

“Sitstill，lord！forthechampionalsohasbeenprovided。”

ThenRalphsatdownagainsomewhatabashedandlookedon；yetwashisheartinhismouththewhile。Andsowhilethemaidenstoodasoneastoniedbeforetheworm，whogapeduponherwithwideopenmouth，therecameforthfromacleftintherocksagoodlyknightwhoboresilver，aredcross；

andhehadhisswordinhishand，andhefelluponthewormtosmitehim；

andthewormrampedupagainsthim，andtherewasbattlebetwixtthem，whilethemaidenkneltanighwithherhandsclaspedtogether。

ThenRalphknewthatthiswasaplayofthefightofSt。Georgewiththeworm；sohesatsilenttillthechampionhadsmittenofftheworm’sheadandhadcometothemaidenandkissedandembracedher，andshownherthegrislyhead。

Thenpresentlycamemanyfolkontothescaffold，towit，thekingandqueenwhowerethefatherandmotherofthemaiden，andabishopcladinveryfairvestments，andknightswithal；

andtheystoodaboutSt。Georgeandthemaiden，andwiththemwereminstrelswhofelltoplayinguponharpsandfiddles；

whileothersomefelltosingingasweetsonginhonourofSt。George，andthemaidendelivered。

Sowhenitwasalldone，themonksaid：“Thisplayissetforthbythemen-at-armsofourlordAbbot，whohavegreatdevotiontowardSt。George，andheistheirfriendandtheirgoodlord。

Buthereafterwillbeotherplays，ofwildmenandtheirfeastinginthewoodsintheGoldenAgeoftheworld；

andthatisdonebythescribesandthelimners。AndafterthatwillbeapageantofSt。Agnesorderedbytheclothiersandthewebbers，whichbebothmanyanddeftinthisgoodtown。

Albeitthouartayoungmanandhastriddenfarto-daybelike，andmayhappenthouwiltnotbeabletoendureit：

soitmaybewelltobringtheeoutofthisthrongstraightway。

MoreoverIhavebethoughtme，thatthereismuchofwhatispresentlytocomewhichweshallseebetterfromtheminsterroof，orevenitmaybefromthetower：wiltthoucomethen？”

Ralphhadlieferhavesatthereandseenalltheplaystotheend，fortheyseemedtohimexceedingfair，andliketoravishthesoulfromthebody；howbeit，beingshamefaced，heknewnothowtogainsaythebrother，whotookhimbythehand，andledhimthroughthepresstothewestfrontoftheminster，whereonthenorthsidewasalittledoorinanook。

Sotheywentupastairthereinagoodwaytilltheycameintoagalleryoverthewesterndoor；andlookingforththenceRalphdeemedthathecouldhaveseenalongwayhaddaylightbeen，foritwashigherthanthetopsofthehighesthouses。

Sotheretheyabodeaspacelookingdownonthesquareanditsthrong，andthebells，whichhadbeenringingwhentheycameup，nowceasedawhile。

Butpresentlytherearosegreatshoutsandclamouramongstthefolkbelow，andtheycouldseemenwithtorchesdrawingneartothepileofwood，andthenallofasuddenshotupfromitagreatspiringflame，andallthepeopleshoutedtogether，whilethebellsbrokeoutagainovertheirheads。

Thenthebrotherpointedaloofwithhisfingerandsaid：

“Loyou！fairlord，howbalespeakstobaleallalongtheheadlandsofthedown-country，andbelowthereinthethorpsbytheriver！”

ForsoothRalphsawfireafterfirebreakouttothewestward；

andthebrothersaid：“Andifwestoodoverthehighaltarandlookedeast，yewouldseemoreofsuchfiresandmanymore；andallthesebalesarepiledupandlightedbyvassalsandvilleinsofmylordAbbot：

nowto-nighttheyarebutmereMidsummerbale-fires；butdoubtyenotthatiftherecamewarintothelandeachoneofthesebaleswouldmeanatleastahalf-scoreofstoutmen，archersandmen-at-arms，allreadytoservetheirlordatalladventure。Allthisthetyrantsroundabout，thathateholyChurchandoppressthepoor，knowfullwell；

thereforeweliveinpeaceintheselands。”

Ralphhearkened，butsaidnought；foramidstallthisflashingoffireandflame，andthecryingoutoffolk，andthemeasuredclashofthebellssonearhim，histhoughtwasconfused，andhehadnowordsreadytohand。

Butthemonkturnedfromtheparapetandlookedhimfullinthefaceandsaidtohim：

“Thouartafairyoungman，andstrong，andofgentlebloodasIdeem；

andthouseemesttometohavetheluckylookinthineeyes：

nowItelltheethatifthouwerttotakeservicewithmylordthoushouldestneverrueit。Yea，whyshouldestthounotwaxinhisservice，andbecomehisCaptainofCaptains，whichisanofficemeetforkings？”

Ralphlookedonhim，butanswerednought，forhecouldnotgatherhisthoughtsforananswer；andthebrothersaid：

“Thinkofit，Ibidthee，fairyounglord；andbesurethatnowhereshaltthouhaveabetterlivelihood，notevenwertthouaking’sson；forthechildrenofmylordAbbotaresuchthatnonedarethtodothemanydispleasure；

neitherisanyoverlordasgoodasisHolyChurch。”

“Yea。”saidRalph，“doubtlessthousayestsooth；yetIwotnotthatI

amcomeforthtoseekamaster。”

Saidthebrother：“Nay，dobutseethelordAbbot，asthoumaystdoto-morrow，ifthouwilt。”

“Iwouldhavehisblessing。”saidRalph。

“Nolessshaltthouhave。”saidthebrother；“butlookyoudownyonder；

forIcanseetokensthatmylordisevennowcomingforth。”

Ralphlookeddownandbeheldthefolkpartingtorightandleft，andalanemadeamidstthethrong，guardedbymen-at-armsmingledwiththecross-bearersandbrethren；andthesoundoftrumpetsblaredforthoverthenoisesofthethrong。

“IfthelordAbbotcometh。”saidRalph，“Iwerefainofhisblessingto-nightbeforeIsleep：sogowedownstraightwaythatImaykneelbeforehimwiththerest。”

“What！”saidthemonk，“Wiltthou，mylord，kneelamongstalltheseburgessesandvavassorswhenthoumightestseetheAbbotinhisownchamberfacetofacealonewithhim？”

“Father。”saidRalph，“Iamnogreatman，andImustneedsdepartbetimesto-morrow；forIperceivethatherearethingstoomightyandover-masteringforsuchasIbe。”

“Well。”saidthemonk，“yetmaystthoucomebackagain；

soatpresentIwillmakenomorewordsaboutit。”

Sotheywentdown，andcameoutamidstthethrong，abovewhichthebalestillflaredhigh，makingthesummernightaslightasday。

ThebrothermadewayforRalph，sothattheystoodinthefrontrowoffolk：theyhadnotbeenthereoneminuteeretheyheardthesoundofthebrethrensinging，andtheAbbotcameforthoutofthelanethatwentdowntothegate。

Thenallfolkwentdownupontheirknees，andthusabodehim。

RightsoRalphdeemedthathefeltsomeonepullhissleeve，butinsuchathrongthatwasnoughtofawonder；howbeit，heturnedandlookedtohisleft，whencecamethetug，andsawkneelingbesidehimatallman-at-arms，whoboreasalletonhisheadinsuchwisethatitcoveredallhisfacesavethepointofhischin。

ThenRalphbethoughthimofthemanoftheleaflesstree，andhelookedtoseewhatarmourythemanboreonhiscoat；

buthehadnothingsavealoosefrockofwhitelinenoverhishauberk。Nevertheless，heheardavoiceinhisear，whichsaid，“Thesecondtime！”whereonhedeemedthatitwasverilythatsameman：yethadhenoughttodotolayholdonhim，andhemightnotspeakwithhim，foreventherewithcametheAbbotingarmentsallofgold，goinga-footunderacanopyofbaudekyn，withthepreciousmitreonhishead，andthecrozierbornebeforehim，asifhehadbeenapatriarch：

forhewasanexceedingmightylord。

Ralphlookedhardonhimashepassedby，blessingthefolkwithupraisedhand；andhesawthathewasatallspareman，clean-shaven，andthin-faced；butnooldman，belikescarceoffiftywinters。

Ralphcaughthiseye，andhesmiledonthegoodlyyoungmansokindly，thatforamomentRalphdeemedthathewoulddwellinSt。Mary’sHouseforalittlewhile；for，thoughthe，ifmyfather，orNicholas，hearofmetherein，theymustevenletmealonetoabidehere。

TherewiththeAbbotwentforthtohisplace，andsathimdownunderagoodlyclothofestate，andfolkstoodupagain；

butwhenRalphlookedforthemaninthesallethecouldseenoughtofhim。NowwhentheAbbotwassetdown，menmadeaclearringroundaboutthebale，andtherecameintothesaidringtwelveyoungmen，eachcladinnoughtsaveagoat-skin，andwithgarlandsofleavesandflowersabouttheirmiddles：

theyhadwiththemawheeldoneaboutwithstrawandhemppayedwithpitchandbrimstone。Theysetfiretothesame，andthentrundleditblazingroundaboutthebaletwelvetimes。

Thencametothemtwelvedamselscladinsuch-likeguiseastheyoungmen：thenbothbands，theyoungmenandthemaidens，drewneartothebale，whichwasnowburninglow，andstoodaboutit，andjoinedhands，andsodancedrounditawhile，andmeantimethefiddlesplayedanuncouthtunemerrily：

thentheysundered，andeachcoupleofmenandmaidsleaptbackwardandforwardoverthefire；andwhentheyhadallleapt，cameforwardmenwithbucketsofwaterwhichtheycastoverthedancerstillitrandowntheminstreams。

Thenwasallthethrongmingledtogether，andfolktrodtheembersofthebaleunderfoot，andscatteredthemhitherandthitheralloverthesquare。

Allthiswhilemenweregoingaboutwithpitchersofwineandale，andothergooddrinks；andeverymandrankfreelywhathewould，andtherewasthegreatestgameandjoyance。

ButnowwasRalphexceedingweary，andhesaid：“Father，mightestthouleadmeoutofthisthrong，andshowmesomelairwhereImaysleepinpeace，Iwouldthanktheeblithely。”

Ashespaketheresoundedagreathornoverthesquare，andtheAbbotroseinhisplaceandblessedallthepeopleoncemore。

Thensaidthemonk：

“Comethen，fairfield-lord，nowshaltthouhavethywillofbed。”

Andhelaughedtherewith，anddrewRalphoutofthethrongandbroughthimintotheAbbey，andintoafairlittlechamber，onthewallwhereofwaspicturedSt。Christopher，andSt。Julianthelordandfriendofwayfarers。

ThenhebroughtRalphthewineandspices，andgavehimgood-night，andwenthisways。

AsRalphputtheraimentfromoffhimhesaidtohimselfalongdayforsooth，solongthatIshouldhavethoughtnodaycouldhaveheldallthathasbefallenme。SomanystrangethingshaveIseen，thatsurelymydreamsshallbefullofthem；

forevennowIseemtoseethem，thoughIwaken。

Sohelaydowninhisbedandslept，anddreamedthathewasfishingwithanangleinadeepofUpmeadsWater；andhecaughtmanyfish；

butafterawhilewhatsoeverhecaughtwasbutofgildedpaperstuffedwithwool，andatlastthewateritselfwasgone，andhewascastinghisangleontoadryroad。Therewithheawokeandsawthatdaywasdawning，andheardtheminsterclockstrikethree，andheardthethrushessingingtheirfirstsonginthePrior’sgarden。

Thenheturnedaboutandslept，anddreamednomoretillhewokeupinthebrightsunnymorning。