The Well at the World's End: A Tale

ng Knowe Once More.

him well-weaponed to Cheaping Knowe: withal he counselled him to take a good gift with him to

d from Goldburg with his men, and he loth to depart, and they gave him farewell lovingly. Thereafter Ralph's new men came to him in the hostelry, and he feasted them and did well to them, so that they praised him much. Then he ga

they were a band of stout men, and partly because a little before there had been a great overthrow of the wild men of those mountains a

ered in with earth, whereon the grass was now beginning to grow, and with a great standing stone on the top thereof, whereon was graven the image

and they came before the gate thereof safe and sound on the third day; and slept in the hostelry of the chapmen. On the morrow Ralph went up to the King's Castle with

lk hung up before chapmen's booths, and whipping-cheer, and the pillar, and such like. But whereas he might not help he would not hee

he chiefs of the Porte, and his captains and sergeants, who were, so to say, his barons,

om the high-place in chains by bailiffs and tipstaves; and he doubted not that these wer

him, and craved his good will and leave to wage

Sir; prithee on what errand?" Answered Ralph: "For no errand, lord, save to fare home to mine own land." "Where is thine own land?" said the King, stretching out his legs and lying back in his chair. "West-away, lord, many a mile," said R

w himself up, and his brows were knit a little, but his eyes sparkled from under them, and his cheeks were bright and rosy. He half drew the sword from the scabbard, and sent it back rattling, so that the sound of it went about the hall; he upreared

k from Ralph and stood in an ordered rank on either side of him and bent their heads before him. None spoke till the

nt: and moreover the giving shall cost thee nothing: I crave of thee to give me life and limb and freedom for the poor folk whom I saw led down the hall by thy tips

gift of Goldburg and open it before the King; and they did so. But when the King cast eyes on the wares his face was gladdened, for he was a greedy wolf, and whoso had been close to his mouth would have heard him mutter: "So mighty! yet so wealthy!" But he thanked Ralph aloud and in smooth words. And Ralph made obeisance to him again, and then turned and went his ways dow

for all his seeming wretchedness he was but disguised, and was in sooth a man of worship, and one of the Porte. Quoth he: "I am of the King's Council, and I must needs tell thee a thing of the King: that though he was at the first overawed and cowed by the majesty of thee, a Friend of the Well, he presently came to himself, which was but ill; so that what for greed, what for fear even, he is minded to send men to waylay thee, some three leagues from the town, on your way to the mountains, but ye shall easily escape his gin now I have had speech of t

said the man, "and from Swevenham I came hither, and fain would I go thither, and little hope I have thereof save

rt best go to thine house and truss what stuff thou mayst ha

e; it were nowise safe for me to go back into the town; for this tyrant wages many a spy: yea, forsooth, I fear me by certain tokens that it is not all so certain that I have not been spied

told him on what errand the man was come, and ask him if he deemed him trusty. Then the Sage went up to Michael and looked him hard in the face

el, "and dost tho

he was, and the two men of Swevenham made joy of each other. And Ralph was fain of them, and went into the chamber wherein sat Ursula, and told h