Butthatkindfolkgatheredroundus，andaskedusnostorytilltheyhadfedus，andbathedus，andcladusaftertheirfashion。
Andthen，despitethenakednessandpovertywhereintheyhadfirstseenus，theywouldhaveitthatweweregodssentdowntothemfromtheworldbeyondthemountainsbytheirfathersofoldtime；forofHolyChurch，andtheBlessedTrinity，andtheMotherofGodtheyknewnomorethandidIatthattime，butwereheathen，astheGentilesofyoreagone。
AndevenwhenweputallthatGodhoodfromus，andtoldthemaswemightandcouldwhatwewere(forwehadnohearttolietosuchsimplefolk)，theirkindnessabatednothing，andtheybadeusabidethere，andwereourlovingfriendsandbrethren。
“ThereinsoothhadIbeencontenttoabidetilleldcameuponme，butmylordwouldnothaveitso，butlongedforgreaterthingsforme。Thoughinsoothtomeitseemedasifhispromiseofworshipofmebythefolkhadbeenalreadyfulfilled；
forwhenwehadabidedtheresomewhile，andourbeauty，whichhadbeenmarredbythetravailofourway-faring，hadcomebacktousinfull，oritmaybeincreasedsomewhat，theydidindeeddealwithuswithmorelovethanwouldmostmenwiththesaints，weretheytocomebackontheearthagain；
andtheirchildrenwouldgatherroundaboutmeandmakemeapartakeroftheirsports，andbelothtoleaveme；andthefacesoftheiroldfolkwouldquickenandgladdenwhenIdrewnigh：
andasfortheiryoungmen，itseemedofthemthattheylovedtheverygroundthatmyfeettrodon，thoughitgrievedmethatI
couldnotpleasuresomeoftheminsuchwiseastheydesired。
Andallthiswassoftandfullofdelightformysoul：
andI，whosebodyalittlewhileagohadbeendriventodailytoilwithevilwordsandstripes，andwhohadknownnotwhatwordsofthanksandpraisemightmean！
“Butsoitmustbethatweshoulddepart，andthekindfolkshowedushowsoretheirheartswereofourdeparture，buttheygainsaidusinnowise，butratherfurtheredusalltheymight，andwewentourwaysfromthemridingonhornedneat(fortheyknewnotofhorses)，anddrivingoneforasumpterbeastbeforeus；
andtheyhadgivenusbowsandarrowsforourdefence，andthatwemightgetusvenison。
“Itisnottobesaidthatwedidnotencounterperils；
butthereofIwilltelltheenaughtasnow。Wecametootherpeoples，richerandmightierthanthese，andIsawcastles，andabbies，andchurches，andwalledtowns，andwonderedatthemexceedingly。
Andintheseplacesfolkknewofthekingdomofmylordandhisfather，andwhereastheywerenotofhisfoes(wholayforthemorepartontheothersideofhisland)，andmylordcouldgivesuretokensofwhathewas，weweretreatedwithhonourandworship，andmylordbegantobehimselfagain，andtobearhimasamightyman。
Andheretomewassomegaininthatpovertyandnakednesswherewithwecameoutofthemountainsandtheraimentofthesimplefolk；
forhadIbeencladinmypoorclothandgoat-skinsoftheHouseoftheSorcerer，andheinhisbraveattireandbrightarmour，theywouldhavesaid，itisathrallthatheisassottedof，andwouldhavemadesomestoryandpretenceoftakingmefromhim；
buttheydeemedmeagreatladyindeed，andaking’sdaughter，accordingtothetalethathetoldthem。Forsoothmanymenthatsawmedesiredmebeyondmeasure，andassuredlysomegreatproudmanorotherwouldhavetakenmefrommylord，butthattheyfearedthewrathofhisfather，whowasamightymanindeed。
“Yea，onewhileaswesojournedbyacertaintownbutalittleoutsidethewalls，acertainyoungman，agreatchampionandexceedingmasterful，cameuponmewithhissquiresasIwaswalkinginthemeadows，andboremeoff，andwouldhavetakenmetohiscastle，butthatmylordfollowedwithafewoftheburghers，andtherewasabattlefought，whereinmylordwashurt；buttheyoungchampionheslew；andIcannotsaybutlwassorryofhisdeath，thoughgladofmydeliverance。
“Again，onatimeweguestedinagreatbaron’shouse，whodealtsofoullybyusthathegavemylordasleepingpotioninhisgood-nightcup，andcametomeinthedeadnightandrequiredmeofmylove；
andIwouldnot，andhethreatenedmesorely，andcalledmeathrallandacastawaythatmylordhadpickedupofftheroad：
butIgataknifeinmyhandandwasforwardingmyselfwhenIsawthatmylordmightnotwake：sothefelonwentawayforthattime。
Butonthemorrowcametwoevilmenintothehallwhomhehadsuborned，andborefalsewitnessthatIwasathrallandarunaway。
Sothatthebaronwouldhaveheldmethere(beingamightyman)
despitemylordandhiswrathandhisgrief，hadnotayoungknightofhishousebeen，whosworethathewouldslayhimunlessheletusgo；andwhereastherewereotherknightsandsquirestherepresentwhomurmured，thebaronwasinawaycompelled。
Sowedeparted，anddiversofthesaidknightsandsquireswentwithustoseeussafeontheway。
“Butthiswasnightothekingdomofmylord’sfather，andthatfelonbaronIcameacrossagain，andhewaseverafteroneofmyworstfoes。
“Moreover，thatyoungchampionwhohadfirststoodupinthehallrodewithusstill，whentheothershadturnedback；andIsoonsawofhimthathefoundithardtokeephiseyesoffme；andthatalsosawmylord，anditwasanearthingthattheydidnotdrawswordthereover：
yetwasthatknightnoevilman，butgoodandtrue，andIwasexceedinglysorryforhim；butIcouldnothelphimintheonlywayhewouldtakehelpofme。
“Loyou，myfriend，thebeginningsofevilinthoselongpastdays，andtheseedsofill-hapsowninthefieldofmynewlifeevenbeforethefurrowwasturned。
“Well，wecamesoonintomylord’scountry，andfairandrichandlovelywasitinthosedays；freefromtroubleandunpeace，ahappyabodeforthetillersofthesoil，andthefashionersofwares。
Thetidingshadgonetothekingthatmylordwascomeback，andhecametomeethimwithagreatcompanyofknightsandbarons，arrayedinthenoblestfashionthatsuchfolkuse；sothatI
wasbewilderedwiththeirglory，andbesoughtmylordtoletmefallbackoutoftheway，andperchancehemightfindmeagain。
Buthebademerideonhisrighthand，forthatIwasthehalfofhislifeandhissoul，andthatmyfriendswerehisfriendsandmyfoeshisfoes。
“Thentherecametomeaninklingofthethingsthatshouldbefall，andIsawthatthesweetandcleanhappinessofmynewdayswasmarred，andhadgrownintosomethingelse，andIbegantoknowthepainofstrifeandthegriefofconfusion：butwhereasIhadnotbeenbreddelicately，buthadenduredwoesandgriefsfrommyyoungestdays，Iwasnotabashed，buthardenedmyhearttofaceallthings，evenasmylordstrovetohardenhisheart：for，indeed，IsaidtomyselfthatifIwastohimasthehalfofhislife，hewastomelittlelessthanthewholeofmylife。
“Itisasifithadbefallenyesterday，myfriend，thatIcalltomindhowwestoodbesideourhorsesinthemidstoftheringofgreatmencladingoldandgleamingwithsteel，inthemeadowwithoutthegates，thepeaceandlowlygoodlinesswhereofwithitsflocksandherdsfeeding，andhusbandmentendingtheearthanditsincrease，thatgreatandnoblearrayhadchangedsoutterly。Therewestood，andIknewthattheeyesofallthoselordsandwarriorsweresetuponmewondering。Buttheloveofmylordandthelate-learnedknowledgeofmybeautysustainedme。
Thentheringofmenopened，andthekingcameforthtowardsus；
atallmanandbig，offifty-fivewinters，goodlyofbodyandliketomylordtolookupon。Hecasthisarmsaboutmylord，andkissedhimandembracedhim，andthenstoodalittlealooffromhimandsaid：
’Well，son，hastthoufoundit，theWellattheWorld’sEnd？’
“’Yea，’saidmylord，andtherewithliftedmyhandtohislipsandkissedit，andIlookedthekinginhisface，andhiseyeswereturnedtome，butitwasasifhewerelookingthroughmeatsomethingbehindme。
“Thenhesaid：’Itisgood，son：comehomenowtothymotherandthykindred。’Thenmylordturnedtomewhilethekingtooknoheed，andnomanintheringofknightsmovedfromhisplace，andhesetmeinthesaddle，andturnedabouttomount，andtherecamealordfromtheringofmengloriouslybedight，andhebowedlowlybeforemylord，andheldhisstirrupforhim：
butlightlyheleaptupintothesaddle，andtookmyreinsandledmealongwithhim，sothatheandthekingandIwentontogether，andallthebaronageandtheirfolkshoutedandtossedswordandspearaloftandfollowedafterus。
Andweleftthemeadowquietandsimpleagain，androdethroughthegateoftheking’schiefcity，whereinwashishighhouseandhiscastle，thedwelling-placeofhiskindredfromofold。
TheLadyTellsoftheStrifeandTroubleThatBefellAfterHerComingtotheCountryoftheKing’sSon“WhenwecametotheKing’sHouse，mylordfollowedhisfatherintothehall，wheresathismotheramongstherdamsels：
shewasafairwoman，andlookedrathermeekthanhigh-hearted；
mylordledmeuptoher，andsheembracedandkissedhimandcaressedhimlong；thensheturnedabouttomeandwouldhavespokentome，buttheking，whostoodbehindus，scowledonher，andsheforebore；
butshelookedmeonsomewhatkindly，andyetasonewhoisafeard。
“Thusitwentfortherestoftheday，andmylordhadmetositbesidehiminthegreathallwhenthebanquetwasholden，andI
ateanddrankwithhimandbeheldallthepageantsbyhisside，andnonemeddledwithmeeithertohelportohinder，becausetheyfearedtheking。YetmanyeyesIsawthatdesiredmybeauty。
Andsowhennightcame，hetookmetohischamberandhisbed，asifIwerehisbridenewwedded，evenasithadbeenwithusonthegrassofthewildernessandthebrackenofthewildwood。
Andthen，atlast，hespaketomeofourcase，andbademefearnot，forthatabandofhisfriends，all-armed，waskeepingwatchandwardinthecloisterwithout。AndwhenIleftthechamberonthemorrow’smorn，thereweretheyyet，allinbrightarmour，andamongstthemtheyoungknightwhohaddeliveredmefromthefelonbaron，andhelookedmournfullyatme，sothatIwassorryforhissorrow。
“AndIknewnowthatthekingwasmindedtoslayme，elsehadhebiddenthrustmefrommylord’sside。
“Soworecertaindays；andontheseventhnight，whenwewerecomeintoourchamber，whichwasafairasanyhouseoutsideofheaven，mylordspaketomeinasoftvoice，andbademenotdooffmyraiment。
’For，’saidhe，’thisnightwemustfleethetown，orweshallbetakenandcastintoprisonto-morrow；forthushathmyfatherdetermined。’
Ikissedhimandclungtohim，andhenolesswasgoodtome。
Andwhenitwasthedeadofnightweescapedoutofourwindowbyaknottedropewhichhehadmadeready，andbeneathwasthecitywall；
andthatcompanyofknights，amongstwhomwastheyoungknightabovesaid，hadtakenaposternthereby，andwereabidingusarmedandwithgoodhorses。Sowecameintotheopencountry，androdeourwayswiththemindtoreachahill-castleofoneofthoseyoungbarons，andtoholdourselvesthereindespiteoftheking。Butthekinghadbeenaswaryaswewereprivy，andnolessspeedythanwe；
andhewasamightyanddeftwarrior，andhehimselffollowedusonthespurwithcertainofhisbestmen-at-arms。Andtheycameuponusaswerestedinawoodsidenotfarfromourhouseofrefuge：
andthekingstoodbytoseethebattlewithhisswordinhissheath，butsoonwasitatanend，forthoughourfriendsfoughtvaliantly，theywereeveryoneslainorhurt，andbutfewescapedwithbarelife；
butthatyoungmanwholovedmesosorelycreptuptomegrievouslyhurt，andIdidnotforbeartokisshimonceontheface，forIdeemedI
shouldsoondiealso，andhisbloodstainedmysleeveandmywrist，buthediednotasthen，butlivedtobeadearfriendtomeforlong。
“Sowe，mylordandI，wereledbacktothecity，andhewasheldinwardandIwascastintoprisonwithchainsandhungerandstripes。
AndthekingwouldhavehadmelietheretillIperished，thatImightbeforgottenutterly；butthereweremanyoftheking’sknightswhomurmuredatthis，andwouldnotforgetme；
sothekingbeingconstrained，hadmebroughtforthtobejudgedbyhisbishopsofsorceryforthebeguilingofmylord。
Longwasthetaletomethen，butIwillnotmakeitlongforthee；
aswasliketobe，Iwasbroughtinguiltyofsorcery，anddoomedtobeburnedintheGreatSquareinthreedaystime。
