第12章

“Well。”theFranklinsaid“thouseemestatrueman，andyetIwouldcounseltheetoputareinonthytonguewhenthouartmindedtotalkoftheDeviloftheDryTree，orthoumaystcometoharmintheBurg。”

Hewalkedawaytowardsthegallowstherewith；andRogersaid，almostasifheweretalkingtohimself；“Aheavy-footedfoolgoethyonder；

butafterthistalkwewerebetterhiddenbythewallsoftheFlower-de-Luce。”

Sotherewiththeywentontowardthehostel。

Butthemarketplacewaswide，andtheywereyetsomeminutesgettingtothedoor，anderetheycamethereRalphsaid，knittinghisbrowsanxiously：

“Isthiswomanfairorfoultolookon？”“Thatisnoughtsoeasytotellof。”saidRoger，“whilessheisfoul，whilesveryfair，whilesyoungandwhilesold；whilescruelandwhileskind。

Butnotethis，whensheisthekindestthenarehercarlesthecruellest；

andsheisthekindertothembecausetheyarecruel。”

Ralphponderedwhathesaid，andwonderedifthiswereverilythewomanwhomhehaddelivered，orsomeother。

Asifansweringtohisunspokenthought，Rogerwenton：

“TheyspeakbutofonewomanamongstthemoftheDryTree，butinsooththeyhavemanyotherswhoarelikeuntoherinonewayorother；andthisagainisareasonwhytheymaynotlayhandsontheveryQueenofthemall。”’

Therewithaltheycameuntothehostel，andfounditfairenoughwithin，thehallgreatandgoodlyforsuchahouse，andwithbutthreechapmen-carlestherein。Straightwaytheycalledformeat，foritwasnowpastnoon，andthefolkofthehouseservedthemwhenthegroomshadtakenchargeofFalcon。

AndRogerservedRalphasifhewereverilyhisman。

ThenRalphwenttohischamberaloftandrestedawhile，butcamedownintothehallalittlebeforenones，andfoundRogertherewalkingupanddownthehallfloor，andnomanelse，sohesaidtohim：“ThoughthouartnotoftheBurg，thouknowestit；wiltthounotcomeabroadthen，andshowitme？forIhaveamindtolearnthewaysofthefolkhere。”

SaidRoger，andsmiledalittle：“Ifthoucommandestmeasmylord，Iwillcome；yetIwerebetterpleasedtoabidebehind；forIamwearywithnight-wakingandsorrow；andhaveaburdenofthought，onewhichImustbeartotheendoftheroad；andifIputitdownI

shallhavetogobackandtakeitupagain。”

Ralphthoughtthatheexcusedhimselfwithmorewordsthanwereneeded；

buthetooklittleheedofit，butnoddedtohimfriendly，andwentoutofthehouseafoot，butlefthisweaponsandarmourbehindhimbytheredeofRoger。

CHAPTER13

TheStreetsoftheBurgoftheFourFrithsHewentaboutthestreetsandfoundthemallmuchliketotheonewhichtheyhadenteredbythenorthgate；hesawnopoororwretchedhouses，andnoneverybigasofgreatlords；theywerewellandstoutlybuilded，butasaforesaidnotmuchadornedeitherwithcarvenworkorpainting：

therewerefolkenoughinthestreets，andnowRalph，aswasliketobe，lookedspeciallyatthewomen，andthoughtmanyofthemlittlebetter-favouredthanthemen，beingbothdarkandlow；

neitherweretheygailyclad，thoughtheirraiment，likethehouses，wasstoutandwellwrought。Buthereandtherehecameonawomantallerandwhiterthantheothers，asthoughshewereofanotherblood；

allsuchoftheseashesawwerecladotherwisethanthedarkerwomen：

theirheadsuncoifed，uncoveredsaveforsomegarlandorsilkenband：

theirgownsyellowlikewheat-straw，butgailyembroidered；

sleevelesswithalandshort，scarcereachingtotheancles，andwhilessothinthattheywererathercladwiththeembroiderythanthecloth；

shoestheyhadnot，butsandalsboundontheirnakedfeetwithwhitethongs，andeachboreanironringaboutherrightarm。

Themorepartofthemenworeweaponsattheirsidesandhadstavesinhand，andwerecladinshortjerkinsbrownorblueofcolour，andlookedreadyforbattleifanymomentshouldcallthemthereto；

butamongthemweremenofdifferentfavourandstaturefromthese，tallerforthemostpart，unarmed，andcladinlonggownsoffaircolourswithclothsofthinandgay-colouredwebtwistedabouttheirheads。

Thesehetookformerchants，astheywereofteneststandinginandabouttheboothsandshops，whereofthereweresomeinallthestreets，thoughthemarketforvictualsandsuchlikehefoundoverforthatday，andbutscantilypeopled。

Outofoneofthesemarkets，whichwasthefishandfowlmarket，hecameintoalongstreetthatledhimdowntoagaterightoveragainstthatwherebyhehadenteredtheBurg；andashecametheretohesawthattherewasawidewayclearofallhousesinsideofthewall，sothatmen-at-armsmightgofreelyfromoneparttotheother；andhehadalsonotedthatawidewayledfromeachortoutofthegreatplace，andeachendednotbutinagate。

Butastoanycastleinthetown，hesawnone；andwhenheaskedaburgherthereof，thecarlelaughedinhisface，andsaidtohimthatthewholeBurg，housesandall，wasacastle，andthatitwouldturnouttobenoneoftheeasiesttowin。

AndforsoothRalphhimselfwasmuchofthatmind。

Nowhewasjustwithinthesouthgatewhenheheldthistalk，andthereweremanyfolktherebyalready，andmoreflockingthereto；

sohestoodtheretoseewhatshouldbetide；andanonheheardgreatblowingofhornsandtrumpetsallalongthewall，and，ashedeemed，otherhornsansweredfromwithout；andsoitwas；

forsoonthewithoutwardhornsgrewlouder，andthefolkfellbackoneithersideoftheway，andnextthegateswerethrownwideopen(whichbeforehadbeenshutsaveforawicket)andthereaftercamethefirstofacompanyofmen-at-arms，foot-men，withbillssome，andsomewithbows，andall-armedknightsandsergeantsa-horseback。

SostreamedintheseweaponedmentillRalphsawthatitwasagreathostthatwasenteringtheBurg；andhisheartrosewithinhim，sowarrior-liketheywereofmenandarray，thoughnobigmenoftheirbodies；andmanyofthemboresignsofbattleaboutthem，bothinthebatteringoftheirarmourandtherendingoftheirraiment，andthecloutstiedaboutthewoundsontheirbodies。

Afterawhileamongthewarriorscameherdsofneatandflocksofsheepandstringsofhorses，ofthespoilwhichthehosthadlifted；

andthenwainsfilled，somewithweaponsandwargear，andsomewithbalesofgoodsandhouseholdstuff。Lastcamecaptives，somegoingafootandsomeforwearinessborneinwains；

forallthesewar-takenthrallswerewomenandwomen-children；

ofmalestherewasnotsomuchasalittlelad。OfthewomenmanyseemedfairtoRalphdespitetheirgriefandtravel；

andashelookedonthemhedeemedthattheymustbeofthekindredandnationofthefairwhitewomenhehadseeninthestreets；

thoughtheywerenotcladlikethose，butdiversely。

SoRalphgazedonthispageanttillallhadpassed，andhewaswearywiththeheatandthedustandtheconfusedclamourofshoutingandlaughterandtalking；andwhereasmostofthefolkfollowedafterthehostandtheirspoil，thestreetsofthetownthereaboutweresoonleftemptyandpeaceful。

Soheturnedintoastreetnarrowerthanmost，thatwenteastfromtheSouthGateandwasmuchshadedfromtheafternoonsun，andwentslowlydownit，meaningtocomeabouttheinsideofthewalltillheshouldhittheEastGate，andsointotheGreatPlacewhenthefolkshouldhavegonetheirwayshome。

Hesawnofolkinthestreetsavehereandthereanoldwomansittingatthedoorofherhouse，andmaybeayoungchildwithher。

Ashecametowherethestreetturnedsomewhat，evensuchacarlinewassittingonacleanwhitedoor-steponthesunnyside，somewhatshadedbyatallrose-laureltreeinagreattub，andshesangasshesatspinning，andRalphstayedtolisteninhisidlemood，andheheardhowshesanginadry，harshvoice：

ClashedswordonshieldIntheharvestfield；AndnomanblamesTheredredflames，War’scandle-wickOnroofandrick。NowdeadliestheyeomanunweptandunknownOnthefieldhehathfurrowed，theridgehehathsown：

AndallinthemiddleofwethersandneatThemaidensaredrivenwithbloodontheirfeet；Foryet’twixttheBurg-gateandbattlehalf-wonThedust-drivenhighwaycreepsuphillandon，Andthesmokeofthebeaconsgoescoilingaloft，Whilethegatheringhornblowethloud，louderandoft。

ThrowwidethegatesFornoughtnightwaits；ThoughthechaseisdeadThemoon’so’erheadAndweneedtheclearOurspoiltoshare。

Shakethelotsinthehelmthenforbrethrenarewe，Andthegoodsofmymissingaregainfultothee。Lo！thinearethewethers，andhisarethekine；Andthecoltsofthemarshlandunbrokenarethine，Withthedapple-greystallionthattrampledhisgroom；

AndGileshaththegold-blossomedroseoftheloom。Lo！leapsoutthelastlotandnoughthaveIwon，Butthemaidenunmerry，bybattleundone。

Evenashersongendedcameoneofthosefairyellow-gowneddamselsroundthecornerofthestreet，bearinginherhandalightbasketfullofflowers：

andsheliftedupherheadandbeheldRalphthere；thenshewentslowlyanddroppedhereyelids，anditwaspleasanttoRalphtobeholdher；

forshewasasfairasneedbe。Hercorn-colouredgownwasdaintyandthin，andbutforitssilverembroideryhadhiddenherlimbsbutlittle；

therosinessofheranclesshowedamidstherwhitesandal-thongs，andthereweresilverringsandgoldonherarmsalongwiththeironring。

NowshelifteduphereyesandlookedshylyatRalph，andhesmiledatherwell-pleased，anddeemeditwouldbegoodtohearhervoice；

sohewentuptoherandgreetedher，andsheseemedtotakehisgreetingwell，thoughsheglancedswiftlyatthecarlineinthedoorway。

SaidRalph：“Fairmaiden，Iamastrangerinthistown，andhaveseenthingsIdonotwhollyunderstand；nowwiltthoutellmebeforelaskthenextquestion，whowillbethosewar-takenthrallswhomevennowIsawbroughtintotheBurgbythehost？ofwhatnationbethey，andofwhatkindred？”

Straightwaywasthedamselallchanged；sheleftherdaintytricks，anddrewherselfupstraightandstiff。Shelookedathimintheeyes，flushingred，andwithknitbrows，amoment，andthenpassedbyhimwithswiftandfirmfeetasonebothangryandashamed。

Butthecarlinewhohadbeheldthetwowithagrinonherwrinkledfacechangedaspectalso，andcriedoutfiercelyafterthedamsel，andsaid：

“What！dostthoufleefromthefairyoungman，andhesokindandsoftwiththee，thoujade？Yea，Isupposethoudostfetchandcarryforsomemistresswhoisyoungandafool，andwhohasnotyetlearnedhowtodealwiththedaughtersofthineaccursedfolk。

Ah！ifIhadbutmoneytobuysomeoneofyou，andagoodone，sheshoulddosomethingelseformethanshowingherfairnesstoyoungmen；andIwouldpayherforherlonglegsandherwhiteskin，tillsheshouldcurseherfatethatshehadnotbeenbornlittleanddark-skinnedandfree，andwithheelsun-bloodiedwiththebloodofherback。”

Thusshewenton，thoughthedamselwaslongoutofear-shotofhercurses；

andRalphtarriednottogetawayfromherspitefulbabble，whichhenowpartlyunderstood；andthatallthoseyellow-claddamselswerethrallstothefolkoftheBurg；andbelikewereofthekindredofthosecaptiveslate-takenwhomhehadseenamidstthehostatitsenteringintotheBurg。

Sohewanderedawaythencethinkingonwhatheshoulddotillthesunwasset，andhehadcomeintotheopenspaceunderneaththewalls，andhadgonealongittillhecametotheEastGate：

therehelookedaroundhimalittleandfoundpeopleflowingbackfromtheGreatPlace，wheretotheyhadgatheredtoseethehostmusteredandthespoilblessed；thenhewentonstillunderthewall，andnotednotthathereandthereamanturnedabouttolookuponhimcuriously，forhewasdeepinthought，concerningthethingswhichhehadseenandheardof，andponderedmuchwhatmighthavebefallenhisbrethrensincetheysunderedattheWant-waynightotheHighHouseofUpmeads。

WithalthechiefthingthathedesiredwastogethimawayfromtheBurg，forhefelthimselfunfreetherein；andhesaidtohimselfthatifhewereforcedtodwellamongthisfolk，thathehadbetterneverhavestolenhimselfawayfromhisfatherandmother；andwhilesevenhethoughtthathewoulddohisbestonthemorrowtogethimbackhometoUpmeadsagain。

Butthenwhenhethoughtofhowhislifewouldgoinhisoldhome，thereseemedtohimalack，andwhenhequestionedhimselfastowhatthatlackwas，straightwayheseemedtoseethatLadyoftheWildwoodstandingbeforethemen-at-armsinherscantyraimenttheminutebeforehislifewasatadventurebecauseofthem。

Andinsoothhesmiledtohimselfthenwithabeatingheart，ashetoldhimselfthataboveallthingshedesiredtoseethatLady，whatevershemightbe，andthathewouldfollowhisadventuretotheenduntilhemether。

AmidstthesethoughtshecameuntotheNorthGate，wherebyhehadfirstenteredtheBurg，andbythenitwasasdarkasthesummernightwouldbe；

sohewokeupfromhisdream，asitwere，andtookhiswaybrisklybacktotheFlowerdeLuce。