“Ispakehastily，forIwasashamedofherwords，thoughIonlyhalfunderstoodthem：’Iheartheeanddeemthatthoumockestme：
Ihaveneverknownamother；Iambutapoorthrall，agoatherddwellingwithamistressinanookofthiswildwood：
Ihaveneverapieceofbread；butastothegoats’milk，thatthoushalthaveatonce。’SoIcalledoneofmygoatstome，forIknewthemall，andmilkedherintoawoodenbowlthatI
carriedslungaboutme，andgavetheoldwomantodrink：
andshekissedmyhandanddrankandspakeagain，butnolongerinawhiningvoice，likeabeggarbiddingalmsinthestreet，butfrankandfree。
“’Damsel，’shesaid，’nowIseethatthysoulgoeswiththybody，andthatthouartkindandproudatonce。Andwhateverthouart，itisnomocktosayofthee，thatthouartasfairasthefairest；
andIthinkthatthiswillfollowthee，thathenceforthnomanwhoseeththeeoncewillforgettheeever，orceasetolongforthee：
ofasuretythisistheyweird。NowIseethatthouknowestnomoreoftheworldanditswaysthanoneofthehindsthatruninthesewoods。
Soifthouwilt，Iwillsitdownbytheeandtelltheemuchthatshallavailthee；andthouinthyturnshalttellmeallthetaleconcerningthydwellingandthyservice，andthelike。’
“Isaid，Imaynot，Idurstnot；Iserveamightymistress，andshewouldslaymeifsheknewthatIhadspokentothee；
andwoe’sme！Ifearthatevennowshewillnotfailtoknowit。
Departinpeace。”
“’Nay，’shesaid，’thouneedestnottellme，forIhaveaninklingofherandherways：butIwillgivetheewisdom，andnotsellittheeataprice。
Sitdownthen，fairchild，onthisflowerygrass，andIwillsitbesidetheeandtelltheeofmanythingsworththineheeding。’
Sotherewesatawhile，andingoodsoothshetoldmemuchoftheworldwhichIhadnotyetseen，ofitsfairnessanditsfoulness；
oflifeanddeath，anddesireanddisappointment，anddespair；
sothatwhenshehaddone，ifIwerewiserthanerst，Iwasperchancelittlemorejoyous；andyetIsaidtomyselfthatcomewhatwouldI
wouldbeapartofallthat。
“Butatlastshesaid：’Lothedayiswaning，andthouhasttwothingstodo；eithertogohometothymistressatonce，orfleeawayfromherbythewaythatIshallshowthee；andifthouwiltberuledbyme，andcanstbearthythralldomyetalittlewhilethouwiltnotfleeatonce，butabidetillthouhastseenmeagain。
Andsinceitisherethatthouhastmetme，heremaystthoumeetmeagain；
forthedaysarelongnow，andthoumaysteasilywinthywayhitherbeforenoononanyday。’
“SoItiedmygoatskinshoestomyfeet，anddravemygoatstogether，andwewentuptogetheroutofthedale，andwereinthewide-spreadingplainofthewaste；andthecarlinesaid：
’Dostthouknowthequartersoftheheavenbythesun？’
’Yea，’saidI。’Then，’quothshe，’whensothoudesiresttodepartandcomeintotheworldoffolkthatIhavetoldtheeof，setthyfacealittlenorthofwest，andthoushaltfallinwithsomethingorsomebodybeforelong；butbespeedyonthatdayasthouartlight-footed，andmakeallthewaythoucanstbeforethymistresscomestoknowofthydeparture；
fornotlightlywillanyoneletloosesuchathrallasthou。’
“Ithankedher，andshewentherwaysoverthewaste，Iwottednotwhither，andIdravemygoatshomeasspeedilyasImight；themistressmeddlednotwithmebywordordeed，thoughIwasshortofmyduetaleofyarn。
ThenextdayIlongedsoretogotothedaleandmeetthecarlinebutdurstnot，andthenextdayIfaredinlikeways；butthethirddayIlongedsotogo，thatmyfeetmustneedstakemethere，whatsoevermightbefall。
AndwhenIhadbeeninthedalealittle，thithercamethecarline，andsatdownbymeandfelltoteachingmewisdom，andshowedmelettersandtoldmewhattheywere，andIlearnedlikealittleladinthechorister’sschool。
“ThereafterImasteredmyfearofmymistressandwenttothatdaledaybyday，andlearnedofthecarline；
thoughatwhilesIwonderedwhenmymistresswouldletlooseherfuryuponme；forIcalledtomindthethreatshehadmadetomeonthedaywhensheofferedupmywhitegoat。
AndImadeupmymindtothis，thatifshefelluponmewithdeadlyintentIwoulddomybesttoslayherbeforesheshouldslayme。
Butsoitwas，thatnowagainsheheldherhandfrommybody，andscarcecastawordatmeever，butgloomedatme，andfaredasifhatredofmehadgrowngreatinherheart。
“Sothedayswentby，andmyfeethadwornapaththroughthewildernesstotheDaleofLore，andMayhadmeltedintoJune，andthelatterdaysofJunewerecome。AndonMidsummerDayIwentmywaystothedaleaccordingtomywont，when，asIasdrivingonmygoatshastilyIsawabrightthingcomingovertheheathtowardme，andIwentonmywaytomeetit，forIhadnofearnow，exceptwhatfearofmymistresslingeredinmyheart；nay，IlookedthateverythingIsawofnewshouldaddsomejoytomyheart。
SopresentlyIsawthatitwasaweaponedmanridingawhitehorse，andanonhehadcomeuptomeanddrawnreinbeforeme。
Iwonderedexceedinglyatbeholdinghimandtheheartleapedwithinmeathisbeauty；forthoughthecarlinehadtoldmeofthelovelinessofthesonsofmen，thatwasbutwordsandIknewnotwhattheymeant；
andtheothersthatIhadseenwerenotyoungmenorgoodly，andthoselast，asItoldthee，Icouldscarceseetheirfaces。
“AndthisonewasevenfairerthanthedeadwomanthatIhadburied，whosefacewaswornwithtoilandtrouble，asnowIcalledtomind。
Hewascladinbrightshiningarmourwithagaysurcoatofgreen，embroideredwithflowersoverit；hehadalightsalletonhishead，andtheyellowlocksofhishairfloweddownfromunder，andfellonhisshoulders：hisfacewasasbeardlessasthine，dearfriend，butnotclearbrownliketothinebutwhiteandredlikeablossom。”
Ralphspakeandsaid：“Belikeitwasawoman；“andhisvoicesoundedloudinthequietplace。Shesmiledonhimandkissedhischeek，andsaid：“Nay，nay，dearChampion，itisnotso。
Godresthissoul！manyayearhehasbeendead。”
SaidRalph：“Manyayear！whatmeanestthou？”“Ah！”shesaid，“fearnot！asIamnow，soshallIbefortheemanyayear。
WasnotthyfearthatIshouldvanishawayorchangeintosomethingunsightlyandgruesome？Fearnot，Isay；amInotawoman，andthineown？”
Andagainsheflushedbrightred，andhergreyeyeslightened，andshelookedathimallconfusedandshamefaced。
Hetookherfacebetweenhishandsandkissedheroverandover；thenhelethergo，andsaid：“Ihavenofear：
goonwiththytale，forthewordsthereofareasthykissestome，andtheembracingofthinehandsandthybody：
tellon，Ipraythee。”Shetookhishandinhersandspake，tellinghertaleasbefore。
“Friend，well-belovedforever！Thisfairyoungknightlookedonme，andashelooked，hisfaceflushedasredasminedidevennow。
AndItelltheethatmyheartdancedwithjoyasIlookedonhim，andhespakenotforalittlewhile，andthenhesaid：
’Fairmaiden，canstthoutellmeofanywhowilltellmeawordofthewaytotheWellattheWorld’sEnd？’Isaidtohim，’Nay，Ihaveheardthewordonceandnomore，Iknownottheway：
andIamsorrythatIcannotdofortheethatwhichthouwouldest。’
AndthenIspakeagain，andtoldhimthatheshouldbynomeansstopatourhouse，andltoldhimwhatitwaslike，sothathemightgiveitthegoby。Isaid，’Evenifthouhasttoturnbackagain，andfailtofindthethingthouseekest，yetIbeseechtheeridenotintothattrap。’
“Hesatstillonhissaddleawhile，staringatmeandIathim；
andthenhethankedme，butwithsobadagrace，thatIwonderedofhimifhewereangry；andthenheshookhisrein，androdeoffbriskly，andIlookedafterhimawhile，andthenwentonmyway；
butIhadgonebutashortwhile，whenIheardhorse-hoofsbehindme，andIturnedandlooked，andlo！itwastheknightcomingbackagain。
SoIstayedandabidedhim；andwhenhecameuptome，heleaptfromhishorseandstoodbeforemeandsaid：’Imustneedsseetheeonceagain。’
“Istoodandtrembledbeforehim，andlongedtotouchhim。
Andagainhespake，breathlessly，asonewhohasbeenrunning：
’Imustdepart，forIhaveathingtodothatImustdo；
butIlongsorelytotouchthee，andkissthee；yetunlessthoufreelywillestit，Iwillrefrainme。’ThenIlookedathimandsaid，’Iwillitfreely。’Thenhecamecloseuptome，andputhishandonmyshoulderandkissedmycheek；
butIkissedhislips，andthenhetookmeinhisarms，andkissedmeandembracedme；andthereinthatplace，andinalittlewhile，welovedeachothersorely。
“Butinawhilehesaidtome：’Imustdepart，forIamasonewhomtheAvengerofBloodfolloweth；andnowIwillgivetheethis，notsomuchasagift，butasatokenthatwehavemetinthewilderness，thouandI。’Therewithheputhishandtohisneck，andtookfromitthisnecklacewhichthouseesthere，andIsawthatitwaslikethatwhichmymistresstookfromtheneckofthedeadwoman。
Andnolessisitliketotheonethatthouwearest，Ralph。
“ItookitinmyhandandweptthatImightnothelphim。
Andhesaid：’Itislittlelikelythatweshallmeetagain；
butbythetokenofthiscollarthoumayestwotthatIeverlongfortheetillIdie：forthoughIamaking’sson，thisisthedearestofmypossessions。’Isaid：
’Thouartyoung，andIamyoung；mayhappenweshallmeetagain：
butthoushaltknowthatIambutathrall，agoatherd。’
ForIknewbywhattheoldwomantoldmeofsomewhatofthemightinessofthekingsoftheworld。’Yea，’hesaid，andsmiledmostsweetly，’thatiseasytobeseen：
yetifIlive，asIthinknottodo，thoushaltsitwheregreatmenshallkneeltothee；notasIkneelnowforlove，andthatImaykissthykneesandthyfeet，butbecausetheyneedsmustworshipthee。’
“Therewithhearosetohisfeetandleaptonhishorse，androdehiswaysspeedily：andIwentuponmywaywithmygoats，andcamedownintotheDaleofLore，andfoundtheoldwomanabidingme；
andshecametome，andtookmebythehands，andtouchedthecollar(forIhaddoneitaboutmyneck)，andsaid：
“’Dearchild，thouneedestnottotellmethytale，forIhaveseenhim。
Butifthoumustneedswearthisnecklace，Imustgivetheeagifttogowithit。Butfirstsitdownbytheoldcarlineawhileandtalkwithher；
formeseemethitwillbebutafewdayserethoushaltdepartfromthisuttermostwilderness，andthewoodsbeforethemountains。
“SoIsatdownbyher，andinspiteofherwordItoldherallthathadbefallenbetwixtmeandtheking’sson：formyheartwastoofullthatI
mightrefrainme。Shenoddedherheadfromtimetotime，butsaidnaught，tillIhadmadeanend：andthenfelltotellingmeofmanymattersformyavail；butyetaroseearlierthanherwontwas；andwhenwewereaboutsunderingonthepathwhichIhadtroddenabovetheDale，shesaid：
’NowmustIgivetheethatgifttogoalongwiththegiftofthelover，theKing’sson；andIthinkthouwiltfinditofavailbeforemanydaysaregoneby。’Therewithshetookfromherpouchastrongsharpknife，anddrewitfromthesheath，andflasheditintheafternoonsun，andgaveittome；andItookitandlaiditinmybosomandthankedher；
forIthoughtthatIunderstoodhermeaning，andhowitwouldavailme。
ThenIwentdrivingmygoatshomespeedily，sothatthesunwasbarelysetwhenIcametothegarth；andagreathorrorratherthanafearofmymistresswasonme；andlo！shestoodinthedoorofthehousegazingdownthegarthandthewoodlandbeyond，asthoughshewerelookingformycoming：
andwhenhereyeslightedonme，shescowled，anddrewherlipsbackfromherteethandclenchedherhandswithfury，thoughtherewasnoughtinthem；
andshewasatallandstrongwoman，thoughnowgrowingsomewhatold：
butasforme，Ihadunsheathedthecarline’sgiftbeforeIcametothegarth，andnowIhelditbehindmybackinmylefthand。
“Ihadstayedmyfeetsomesixpacesfromthethreshold，andmyheartbeatquick，butthesickfearandcoweringhadleftme，thoughthehorrorofhergrewinmyheart。Mygoatshadallgoneoffquietlytotheirhouse，andtherewasnothingbetwixtmeandher。
Inclearingfrommysleevethearmofmewhichheldtheknife，theroughclaspwhichfastenedmyraimenttogetherattheshoulderhadgivenway，andtheclothhadfallenandleftmybosombare，sothatIknewthatthecollarwasclearlytobeseen。Sowestoodamoment，andIhadnowords，butshespakeatlastinahard，snarlingvoice，suchassheoftenestusedtome，butworse。
“’Nowatlastthetimehascomewhenthouartofnomoreusetome；forIcanseetheewhatthouhastgotforthyself。
ButknownowthatthouhastnotyetdrunkoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andthatitwillnotavailtheetofleeoutofthiswood；foraslongasIlivethouwiltnotbeabletogetoutofreachofmyhand；andIshalllivelong：
Ishalllivelong。Come，then，andgivethyselfuptome，thatImaydealwiththeeasIthreatenedwhenIslewthyfriendthewhitegoat；for，indeed，Iknewthenthatitwouldcometothis。’
