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。
