“ThouseestIambecomegreat？”saidhe。“Yea。”saidRalph，“Igivetheejoythereof！”SaidthenewLord：
“PerchancethouwiltbedeemingthatsinceIwasoncethywar-takenthrallIshouldgivemyselfuptothee：
butItelltheeIwillnot：forIhavemuchtodohere。
MoreoverIdidnotrunawayfromthee，butthourannestfromme，lad。”
ThereatinhisturnRalphfellalaughing，andwhenhemightspeakhesaid：
“Whatneedeththelordofallthesespearstobegoffhisservicetothepoorwanderingknight？”
ThenBullputhisarmsabouthim，andsaid：
“Iamfainatthesightofthee，timewasthouwertakindladandagoodmaster；yetnaughtsomerryasthoushouldesthavebeen；butnowIseethatgladnessplaysallaboutthyface，andsparklesinthineeyes；andthatisgood。
Butthesethyfellows？Ihaveseentheoldcarlebefore：
hewasdwellinginthewildwoodbecausehewasoverwisetolivewithotherfolk。Butthisyoungman，whomayhebe？
Orelse——yea，verily，itisayoungwoman。Yea，andnowIdeemthatitisthethrallofmybrotherBullNosy。
Thereforebyheritagesheisnowmine。”
Ralphheardthewordsbutsawnotthesmilingface，sowrothhewas；
thereforethebareswordwasinhisfistinatwinkling。
ButerehecouldsmiteBullcaughtholdofhiswrist，andsaid：
“Master，master，thouartbutasorrylawyer，orthouwouldsthavesaid：
’Thouartmythrall，andhowshallathrallhaveheritage？’
DostthounotseethatIcannotownhertillIbefree，andthatthouwiltnotgivememyfreedomsaveforhers？There，nowisallthematteroftheservicedulysettled，andIamfreeandaLord。
Andthisdamselisfreealso，and——yea，isshenotthywell-beloved，King’sSon？”
Ralphwassomewhatabashed，andsaid：“Icravethypardon，Lord，formisdoubtingthee：butthinkhowfeeblearewetwoloversamongstthehostsofthealiens。”
“Itiswell，itiswell。”saidBull，“andinverysoothIdeemtheemyfriend；andthisdamselwasmybrother’sfriend。
Sitdown，dearmaiden，Ibidthee；andthoualso，Omanoverwise；
andletusdrinkacup，andthenwewilltalkaboutwhatwemaydoforeachother。”
Sotheysatdownallonthegrass，andtheLordofUtterbolcalledforwine，andtheydranktogetherinthemerryseasonofMay；
andthenewLordsaid：“Herebewefriendscometogether，anditwerepityofourlivesifwemustneedssunderspeedily：
howbeit，itisthoumustruleherein，King’sSon；
forinmyeyesthouartstillgreaterthanI，Omymaster。
ForIcanseeinthineeyesandthygait，andinthinealso，maiden，thatyehavedrunkoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
ThereforeIprayyougentlyandheartilythatyecomehomewithmetoUtterbol。”
Ralphshookhishead，andanswered：“LordofUtterbol，Ibidtheeallthanksforthyfriendliness，butitmaynotbe。”
“Buttakenote。”saidBull，“thatallischangedthere，andithathbecomeamerrydwellingofmen。WehavecastdowntheRedPillar，andtheWhiteandtheBlackalso；anditisnolongeraplaceoftormentandfear，andcozeningandmurder；buttheverythrallsarehappyandfree-spoken。Nowcomeye，ifitwerebutforamoon’swearing：
Ishallbethereineightdays’time。Yea，LordRalph，thouwould’stseeoldacquaintancetherewithal：forwhenIslewthetyrant，whoforsoothowedmenolessthanhislifeforthemurderofmybrother，Imadeatonementtohiswidow，andweddedher：
afairwomanasthouwottest，lord，andofgoodkindred，andofnoillconditions，asiswellseennowthatsheliveshappydays。
ThoughIhaveheardsaythatwhileshewasunderthetyrantshewassomewhatroughwithherwomenwhenshewassad。Eh，fairsir！
butisitnotsothatshecastsheep’seyesonthee，timewas，inthissamedale？”
Ralphreddenedandanswerednaught；andBullspakeagain，laughing：
“Yea，soitis：shetoldmethatmuchherself，andafterwardsIheardmorefromherdamselAgatha，whotoldmethemerrytaleofthatdevicetheymadetocatchthee，andhowthoubrakestthroughthenet。Forsooth，thoughthisshetoldmenot，Ideemthatshewouldhavehadthesamegiftoftheeashermistresswould。Well，lad，luckyaretheywithwhomallwomenareinlove。
SonowIpritheetrustsomuchinthyluckastocomewithmetoUtterbol。”
QuothRalph：“Onceagain，LordofUtterbol，wethankthee；
butwhereasthouhastsaidthatthouhastmuchtodointhisland；evensoIhavealandwheredeedsawaitme。
ForIstolemyselfawayfrommyfatherandmother，andwhoknowswhathelptheyneedofmeagainstfoemen，andevildays；
andnowImightgivehelptothemwereIonceathome，andtothepeopleofthelandalso，whoareastout-heartedandvaliantandkindlyfolk。”
ThenewLord’sfacecloudedsomewhat，ashesaid：“Ifthineheartdraweththeetothykindred，thereisnomoretosay。
Asforme，whatIdidwasforkindred’ssake，andthenwhatfollowedafterwastheworkofneed。Well，letitbe！
Butsincewemustneedsparthastily，thisatleastIbidyou，thatyeabidewithmeforto-night，andthebanquetinthegreatpavilion。Howsoeveryemaybebusied，gainsaymenotthis；andto-morrowIshallfurtheryouonyourway，andgiveyouascoreofspearstofollowtheetoGoldburg。
ThenasforGoldburgandCheapingKnowe，seeyetoityourselves：
butbeyondCheapingKnoweandtheplaincountry，thynameisknown，andthelikenessoftheetoldinwords；andnomaninthosemountainsshallhurtorhinderthee，butallthoumeetestshallaidandfurtherthee。Moreover，atthefeastto-nightthoushaltseethyfriendOtter，andheandIbetwixtusshalltelltheehowI
cametoUtterbol，andofthechangeofdays，andhowitbetid。
Forheisnowmyright-handman，ashewasofthedeadman。
Forsooth，aftertheslayingIwouldhavehadhimtakethelordshipofUtterbol，buthewouldnot，soImusttakeitperforceorbeslain，andletanewmasterreigntherelittlebetterthantheold。
Wellthen，howsayestthou？Orwiltthourunfrommewithoutleave-taking，asthoudidstere-whileatGoldburg？”
Ralphlaughedathisword，andsaidthathewouldnotbesochurlishthistime，butwouldtakehisbiddingwithagoodheart；
andthereaftertheyfelltotalkingofmanythings。
ButRalphtooknoteofBull，thatnowhishairandbeardweretrimandhisraimentgoodly，forallhisroughspeechandhislaughterandheart-wholegibesandmocking，hisaspectandbearingwasnobleandknightly。
CHAPTER4
AFeastintheRedPavilionSoinawhiletheywentwithhimtotheTower，andtherewaswoman’sraimentofthebestgottenforUrsula，andafterwardsatnightfalltheywenttothefeastintheRedPavillionofUtterbol，whichawhileagothenow-slainLordofUtterbolhadletmake；
anditwasexceedingrichwithbroideryofpearlandgems：
sinceforsoothgemsandfairwomenwerewhatthelatelordhadlustedforthemost，andhavethemhewouldatthepriceofhowsoevermanytearsandgroans。Butthatpavilionwasyetinallwiseasitwaswonttobe，savingthattheBullhadsupplantedtheBearupontheCastle-wall。
Nowthewayfarersweretreatedwithallhonourandweresetuponthehigh-seat，Ralphupontheright-handoftheLord，andUrsulauponhisleft，andtheSageofSwevenhamoutfromher。
ButonRalph’srighthandwasatfirstavoidplace，wheretoafterawhilecameOtter，theoldCaptainoftheGuard。
Hecameinhastily，andasthoughhehadbutjusttakenhisarmouroff：
forhisraimentwasbutsuchasthemen-at-armofthatcountrywerewonttowearundertheirwar-gear，andwassomewhatstainedandworn；
whereastheotherknightsandlordswerearrayedgrandlyinsilksandfineclothembroideredandbegemmed。
OtterwasfainwhenhesawRalph，andkissedandembracedhim，andsaid：
“Forsooth，Isawbythyface，lad，thattheworldwouldbesoftbeforethee；
andnowthatIbeholdtheeIknowalreadythatthouhastwonthyquest；
andtheGodsonlyknowtowhathonourthoushaltattain。”
Ralphlaughedforjoyofhim，andyetsaidsoberly：“Astohonour，meseemsI
covetlittleworld’sgoods，savethatitmaybewellwithmyfolkathome。”
NeverthelessasthewordswereoutofhismouthhisthoughtwentbacktothetallmanwhomhehadfirstmetatthechurchyardgateofNetherton，anditseemedtohimthathewishedhisthriving，yea，andinalesserway，hewishedthesametoRogeroftheRope-walk，whereashedeemedthatbothofthese，eachinhisownway，hadbeentruetotheladywhomhehadlost。
ThenOtterfella-talkingtohimofthechangeofdaysatUtterbol，andhowthatitwastheLord’sintentthatacheapingtownshouldgrowupintheDaleoftheTower，andthatthewildernessbeyonditshouldbetilledandbuilded。
“And。”saidhe，“ifthisbedone，andthenewlordlivetoseeit，ashemay，beingbutyoungofyears，hemaybecomeexceedinglymighty，andifheholdoninthewaywhereashenowis，heshallbewell-belovedalso。”
Sotheyspakeofmanythings，andtherewasminstrelsyanddiversejoyance，tillatlasttheLordofUtterbolstoodupandsaid：“NowbringintheBull，thatwemayspeaksomewordsoverhim；forthisisagreatfeast。”
Ralphwonderedwhatbullthismightbewhereofhespake；buttheharpsandfiddlers，andallinstrumentsofmusicstruckupagayandgallanttune，andpresentlytherecameintothehallfourmenrichlyattired，whohelduponspearsacanopyofbawdekin，underwhichwentaman-at-armshelmed，andcladinbrightarmour，whoheldinhishandsagreatgoldencupfashionedliketoabull，andheboreitforthuntothedais，andgaveitintothehandsoftheLord。Thenstraightwayallthenoiseceased，andthegleeandclatterofthehall，andtherewasdeadsilence。
ThentheLordheldthecupaloftandsaidinaloudvoice：
“Hail，allyefolk！IswearbytheBull，andtheythatmadehim，thatinthreeyears’timeorlessIwillhavepurgedallthelandsofUtterbolofallstrong-thievesandcrueltyrants，betheybigorlittle，tillallbepeacebetwixtthemountainsandthemarkofGoldburg；andthewildernessshallblossomliketherose。
OrelseshallIdieinthepain。”
Therewithhedrankofthecup，andallmenshouted。ThenhesathimdownandbadehandthecuptoOtter；andOttertookthecupandlookedintothebowlandsawthewaveofwine，andlaughedandcriedout：
“Asforme，whatshallIswearbutthatIwillfollowtheBullthroughthickandthin，throughpeaceandunpeace，throughgriefandjoy。
Thisismyoath-swearing。”
Andhedrankmightilyandsatdown。
ThenturnedtheLordtoRalphandsaid：“Andthouwhoartmymaster，wiltthounottellthyfriendsandtheGodswhatthouwiltdo？”
“Nogreatmatter，belike。”saidRalph；“butifyewillit，Iwillspeakoutmymindthereon。”
“Wewillit。”saidtheLord。
ThenRalpharoseandtookthecupandlifteditandspake：
“ThisIswear，thatIwillgohometomykindred，yetontheroadwillInotgainsayhelptoanythatcravethit。
SomayallHallowshelpme！”
Therewithhedrank：andBullsaid：“Thisiswellsaid，Ohappyman！
Butnowthatmenhavedrunkwell，doyethreeandOttercomewithmeintotheTower，whereasthechambersaredightforyou，thatImaymakethemostofthisgooddaywhereinIhavemettheeagain。”
Sotheywentwithhim，andwhentheyhadsatdowninthegoodliestchamberoftheTower，andtheyhadbeenservedwithwineandspices，thenewLordsaidtoRalph：“Andnow，mymaster，wiltthounotasksomewhatconcerningme？”“Yea。”saidRalph，“IwillasktheetotellthetaleofhowthoucamestintothyLordship。”
SaidtheLord，“ThisshallyehearofmewithOttertohelpmeout。Hearken！”
