第7章

Thereinhefoundaladoffifteenwinters，andamaidenspinning，theytwoalone，whohailedhimandaskedhispleasure，andhebadethembringhimmeatanddrink，andlooktohishorse，forthathehadamindtorestawhile。Sotheybroughthimbreadandflesh，andgoodwineofthehill-side，inalittlehallwellarrayedasofitskind；

andhesatdownandthedamselservedhimattable，butthelad，whohadgonetoseetohishorse，didnotcomeback。

Sowhenhehadeatenanddrunk，andthedamselwasstillthere，helookedonherandsawthatshewassadanddroopingofaspect；

andwhereasshewasafairmaiden，Ralph，nowthathewasfull，felltopityingher，andaskedherwhatwasamiss。“For。”saidhe，“thouartfairandailestnought；thatiscleartosee；

neitherdwellestthouinpenury，butbyseeminghastenoughandtospare。

Orartthouaservantinthishouse，andhathanyonemisusedthee？”

Sheweptathiswords，forindeedhespokesoftlytoher；

thenshesaid：“Younglord，thouartkind，anditisthykindnessthatdraweththetearsfromme；elseitwerenotwelltoweepbeforeayoungman：thereforeIpraytheepardonme。

Asforme，Iamnoservant，norhasanyonemisusedme：

thefolkroundaboutaregoodandneighbourly；andthishouseandthecroft，andavineyardhardby，allthatismineownandmybrother’s；thatistheladwhohathgonetotendthinehorse。Yea，andweliveinpeacehereforthemostpart；

forthisthorp，whichiscalledBourtonAbbas，isalandoftheAbbeyofHigham；thoughitbetheoutermostofitslandsandtheAbbotisagoodlordandadefenceagainsttyrants。

Alliswellwithmeifonethingwerenot。”

“Whatisthyneedthen？”saidRalph，“ifperchanceImightamendit。”

Andashelookedonherhedeemedheryetfairerthanhehaddoneatfirst。

Butshestayedherweepingandsobbingandsaid：“Sir，IfearmethatI

havelostadearfriend。”“Howthen。”saidhe，“whyfearestthou，andknowestnot？doththyfriendliesickbetweenlifeanddeath？”

“OSir。”shesaid，“itistheWoodwhichistheevilanddisease。”

“Whatwoodisthat？”saidhe。

Shesaid：“TheWoodPerilous，thatliethbetwixtusandtheBurgoftheFourFriths，andallabouttheBurg。And，Sir，ifyebemindedtoridetotheBurgto-day，doitnot，forthroughthewoodmustthouwendthereto；andyeareyoungandlovely。

Thereforetakemyrede，andabidetilltheChapmenwendthitherfromHigham，whoridemanyincompany。For，lookyou，fairlord，yehaveaskedofmygrief，andthisitisandnoughtelse；

thatmyveryearthlyloveandspeech-friendrodefivedaysagotowardtheBurgoftheFourFrithsallalonethroughtheWoodPerilous，andhehasnotcomeback，thoughwelookedtoseehiminthreedays’wearing：buthishorsehascomeback，andthereinsandthesaddleallbloody。”

Andshefella-weepingwiththetellingofthetale。ButRalphsaid(forheknewnotwhattosay)：“Keepagoodheart，maiden；maybeheissafeandsound；oftareyoungmenfondtowanderwide，evenasImyself。”

Shelookedathimhardandsaid：“Ifthouhaststolenthyselfawayfromthemthatlovethee，thouhastdoneamiss。

Thoughthouartalord，andsofairasIseethee，yetwillI

telltheesomuch。”

Ralphreddenedandanswerednought；butdeemedthemaidenbothfairandsweet。Butshesaid：“Whetherthouhastdonewellorill，donoworse；

butabidetilltheChapmencomefromHigham，ontheirwaytotheBurgoftheFourFriths。Heremaystthoulodgewellandsafelyifthouwilt。

Orifourhallbenotdaintyenoughforthee，thengobacktoHigham：

Iwarrantmethemonkswillgivetheegoodguestingaslongasthouwilt。”

“Thouartkind，maiden。”saidRalph，“butwhyshouldItarryforanhost？andwhatshouldIfearintheWood，asevilasitmaybe？

Onemanjourneyingwithlittlewealth，andunknown，andhenoweakling，butbearinggoodweapons，hathnoughttodreadofstrong-thieves，whoeverrobwhereitiseasiestandgainfullest。AndwhatworsemayImeetthanstrong-thieves？”

“Butthoumayestmeetworse。”shesaid；andtherewithfella-weepingagain，andsaidamidsthertears：“Owearyonmylife！AndwhyshouldIheedtheewhennoughtheedethme，neithertheSaintsofGod’sHouse，northeMasterofit；northefatherandthemotherthatwereoncesopiteouskindtome？

OifImightbutdrinkadraughtfromtheWELLATTHEWORLD’SEND！”

Heturnedaboutonherhastilyatthatword；forhehadrisentodepart；

beinggrievedathergriefandwishfultobeawayfromit，sincehemightnotamendit。Butnowhesaideagerly：

“WherethenisthatWell？Knowyeofitinthisland？”

“AtleastIknowthehearsaythereof。”shesaid；“butasnowthoushaltknownomorefrommethereof；lestthouwanderthewiderinseekingit。

Iwouldnothavethylifespilt。”

Everashelookedonherhethoughtherstillfairer；

andnowhelookedlongonher，sayingnought，andsheonhiminlikewise，andthebloodrosetohercheeksandherbrow，butshewouldnotturnherfromhisgaze。Atlasthesaid：

“Wellthen，Imustdepart，nomorelearnedthanIcame：

butyetamIlesshungryandthirstythanIcame；andhavethouthankstherefor。”

TherewithhetookfromhispouchagoldpieceofUpmeads，whichwasgood，andofthetouchoftheEasterlings，andhelditouttoher。

Andsheputoutheropenhandandheputthemoneyinit；butthoughtitgoodtoholdherhandawhile，andshegainsayedhimnot。

Thenhesaid：“Wellthen，Imustneedsdepartwiththingsleftastheyare：

wiltthoubidthybrotherbringhithermyhorse，fortimepresses。”

“Yea。”shesaid(andherhandwasstillinhis)，“Yetdothineutmost，yetshaltthounotgettotheBurgbeforenightfall。

Owiltthounottarry？”

“Nay。”hesaid，“myheartwillnotsufferit；lestIdeemmyselfadastard。”

Thenshereddenedagain，butasifshewerewroth；andshedrewherhandawayfromhisandsmoteherpalmstogetherthriceandcriedout：

“HoHugh！bringhithertheKnight’shorseandbespeedy！”

Andshewenthitherandthitheraboutthehallandintothebutteryandback，puttingawaythevictualandvesselsfromtheboardandmakingasifsheheededhimnot：andRalphlookedonher，anddeemedthateachwayshemovedwasbetterthanthelast，soshapelyoffashionshewas；

andagainhebethoughthimoftheEven-songoftheHighHouseatUpmeads，andhowitbefittedher；forshewentbarefootafterthemannerofmaidenswhoworkafield，andherfeetweretannedwiththesunofhayharvest，butasshapelyasmightbe；butshewascladgoodlywithal，inagreengownwroughtwithflowers。

Sohewatchedhergoingtoandfro；andatlasthesaid：

“Maiden，wiltthoucomehitheralittle，beforeIdepart？”

“Yea。”shesaid；andcameandstoodbeforehim：

andhedeemedthatshewasscarcesosadasshehadbeen；

andshestoodwithherhandsjoinedandhereyesdowncast。

Thenhesaid：

“NowIdepart。YetIwouldsaythis，thatIamsorryofthysorrow：

andnowsinceIshallneverseetheemore，smallwouldbetheharmifI

weretokissthylipsandthyface。”

Andtherewithhetookherhandsinhisanddrewhertohim，andputhisarmsaboutherandkissedhermanytimes，andshenothinglothebyseeming；

andhefoundherassweetasMayblossom。

Thereaftershesmiledonhim，yetscarceforgladness，andsaid：

“ItisnotallsosurethatIshallnotseetheeagain；

yetshallIdototheeasthouhastdonetome。”

Therewithshetookhisfacebetweenherhands，andkissedhimwell-favouredly；

sothatthehourseemedgoodtohim。

Thenshetookhimbythehandandledhimout-a-doorstohishorse，wherebytheladhadbeenstandingagoodwhile；andhewhenhesawhissistercomeoutwiththefairknighthescowledonthem，andhandledaknifewhichhungathisgirdle；butRalphheededhimnought。

Asforthedamsel，sheputherbrotheraside，andheldthestirrupforRalph；andwhenhewasinthesaddleshesaidtohim：

“Allluckgowiththee！ForsoothIdeemtheesaferintheWoodthanmywordssaid。VerilyIdeemthatifthouwerttomeetacompanyoffoemen，thouwouldestcompelthemtodothybidding。”

“Farewelltotheemaiden。”saidRalph，“andmaystthoufindthybelovedwholeandwell，andthatspeedily。Fare-well！”

Shesaidnomore；soheshookhisreinandrodehisways；butlookedoverhisshoulderpresentlyandsawherstandingyetbarefootonthedustyhighwayshadinghereyesfromtheafternoonsunandlookingafterhim，andhewavedhishandtoherandsowenthiswaysbetweenthehousesoftheThorp。

RalphComethtotheWoodPerilous。AnAdventureThereinNowwhenhewasclearoftheThorptheroadtookhimoutofthedale；andwhenhewasonthehill’sbrowhesawthatthelandwasofotherfashionfromthatwhichlaybehindhim。

Fortheroadwentstraightthrougharoughwaste，nopasture，saveformountainsheeporgoats，withafewbushesscatteredaboutit；andbeyondthisthelandroseintoalongridge；

andontheridgewasawoodthickwithtrees，andnobreakinthem。

Soonherode，andsoonpassedthatwaste，whichwasdryandparched，andtheafternoonsunwashotonit；sohedeemeditgoodtocomeundertheshadowofthethicktrees(whichatthefirstwerewhollybeechtrees)，foritwasnowthehottestoftheday。

Therewasstillabeatenwaybetweenthetree-boles，thoughnotoverwide，albeit，ahighway，sinceitpiercedthewood。

Sotherebyhewentatasoftpaceforthesavingofhishorse，andthoughtbutlittleofallhehadbeentoldoftheperilsoftheway，andnotalittleofthefairmaidwhomhehadleftbehindattheThorp。

Afterawhilethethickbeech-woodgaveout，andhecameintoaplacewheregreatoaksgrew，fairandstately，asthoughsomelord’swood-reevehadtakencarethattheyshouldnotgrowoverclosetogether，andbetwixtthemthegreenswardwasfine，unbroken，andflowery。

Therebyasherodehebehelddeer，bothbuckandhartandroe，andotherwildthings，butforalongwhilenoman。

Theafternoonworeandstillherodetheoakwood，anddeemeditagoodlyforestforthegreatestkingonearth。

Atlasthecametowhereanotherroadcrossedthewayhefollowed，andaboutthecrosswaywasthegroundcleareroftrees，whilebeyonditthetreesgrewthicker，andtherewassomeunderwoodofhollyandthornasthegroundfelloffastowardsalittledale。

ThereRalphdrewrein，becausehedoubtedinhismindwhichwashisrightroadtowardtheBurgoftheFourFriths；sohegotoffhishorseandabodealittle，ifperchanceanymightcomeby；

helookedabouthim，andnotedontheroadthatcrossedhis，andtheswardaboutit，thesignofmanyhorseshavinggoneby，anddeemedthattheyhadpassedbutalittlewhile。

Sohelayonthegroundtoresthimandlethishorsestrayaboutandbitethegrass；forthebeastlovedhimandwouldcomeathiscallorhiswhistle。

Ralphwasdrowsywhenhelaydown，andthoughhesaidtohimselfthathewouldnowisegotosleep，yetasofthappens，hehadnodefencetomakeagainstsleepiness，andpresentlyhishandsrelaxed，hisheadfellaside，andhesleptquietly。

Whenhewokeupinalittlespaceoftime，heknewatoncethatsomethinghadawakedhimandthathehadnothadhissleepout；

forinhisearswasthetramplingofhorse-hoofsandtheclashingofweaponsandloudspeechofmen。Soheleaptuphastily，andwhilehewasyetscarceawake，tooktowhistlingonhishorse；

buteventherewiththosemenwereuponhim，andtwocameuptohimandlaidholdofhim；andwhenheaskedthemwhattheywould，theybadehimholdhispeace。