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；
