“Wheredostthoucomefrom，whereisthinehome？”SaidRalph，“Upmeads。”
　　“Wellthen。”quoththebigknight，“gobacktoUpmeads，andlive。”
　　Ralphshookhisheadandknithisbrowsandsaid，“Iwillnot。”
　　“Yea。”saidtheKnight，“thouwiltnotlive？ThenmustIshapemetothyhumour。Standonthyfeetandfightitout；fornowIamcoolIwillnotslayaswordlessman。”
　　Ralphstaggereduptohisfeet，butwassofeeblestill，thathesankdownagain，andmuttered：“Imaynot；Iamsickandfaint；“
　　andtherewithswoonedawayagain。ButtheKnightstoodawhileleaningonhissword，andlookingdownonhimnotunkindly。
　　ThenheturnedabouttotheLady，butlo！shehadlefthisside。
　　Shehadglidedaway，andgottoherhorse，whichwastetheredontheothersideoftheoak-tree，andhadloosedhimandmountedhim，andsosatinthesaddlethere，thereinsgatheredinherhands。
　　Shesmiledontheknightashestoodastonished，andcriedtohim；
　　“Now，lord，Iwarnthee，drawnotasinglefootnighertome；
　　forthouseestthatIhaveSilverfaxbetweenmyknees，andthouknowesthowswiftheis，andifIseetheemove，heshallspringawaywithme。
　　ThouwottesthowwellIknowallthewaysofthewoodland，andItelltheethatthewaysbehindmetotheDryTreebeallsafeandopen，andthatbeyondtheGlidingRiverIshallcomeonRogeroftheRopewalkandhismen。Andifthouthinkesttorideafterme，andovertakeme，castthethoughtoutofthymind。
　　Forthyhorseisstrongbutheavy，asismeetforsobigaknight，andmoreverheismanyyardsawayfrommeandSilverfax：
　　sobeforethouartinthesaddle，whereshallIbe？Yea。”fortheKnightwashandlinghisanlace“thoumaystcastit，andperadventuremaysthitSilverfaxandnotme，andperadventurenot；andIdeemthatitismybodyalivethatthouwouldesthavebackwiththee。
　　Sonow，wiltthouhearken？”
　　“Yea。”quoththeknight，thoughforwrathhecouldscarcebringthewordfromhismouth。
　　“Hearken。”shesaid，“thisisthebargaintobestruckbetweenus：
　　evennowthouwouldstnotrefrainfromslayingthisyoungman，unlessperchanceheshouldsweartodepartfromus；andasforme，IwouldnotgobackwiththeetoSunhome，whereerstthoushamedstme。
　　NowwillIbuythynay-saywithmine，andifthougivetheyounglinghislife，andsufferhimtocomehiswayswithus，thenwillIgohomewiththeeandwillridewiththeeinalltheloveanddutythatIowethee；orifthoulikethisfashionofwordsbetter，Iwillgivetheemybodyforhislife。
　　Butifthoulikestnotthebargain，thereisnotanotherpieceofgoodsfortheeinthemarket，forthenIwillridemywaystotheDryTree，andthoushaltslaythepooryouth，ormakeofhimthyswornfriend，likeaswasWalter——whichthouwilt。”
　　Soshespake，andRalphyetlayonthegrassandheardnought。
　　ButtheKnight’sfacewasdarkandswollenwithangerasheanswered：
　　“Myswornfriend！yea，Iunderstandthygibe。IneednotthywordstobringtomymindhowIhaveslainoneswornfriendforthysake。”
　　“Nay。”shesaid，“notformysake，forthineownfolly’ssake。”
　　Heheededhernot，butwenton：“Andasforthisone，Isayagainofhim，ifhebenotthydevil，thenthoumeanesthimforthylover。
　　AndnowIdeemthatIwillverilyslayhim，erehewakeagain；
　　belikeitwerehisbetterluck。”
　　Shesaid：“Iwotnotwhythouhagglestoverthepriceofthatthouwouldesthave。Ifthouhavehimalongwiththee，shallhenotbeinthypower——asIshallbe？andthoumaystslayhim——orme——
　　whenthouwilt。”
　　“Yea。”hesaid，grimly，“whenthouartwearyofhim。
　　Oartthounotshamelessamongstwomen！YetmustIneedspaythyprice，thoughmyhonourandthewelfareofmylifegowithit。
　　Yethowifhehavenowilltofarewithus？”Shelaughedandsaid：
　　“Thenshaltthouhavehimwiththeeasthycaptiveandthrall。
　　Hastthounotconqueredhiminbattle？”Hestoodsilentamomentandthenhesaid：“Thousayestit；heshallcomewithme，willhe，nillhe，unarmed，andasaprisoner，andthespoilofmyvaliancy。”
　　Andhelaughed，notaltogetherinbitterness，butasifsomejoywererisinginhisheart。“Now，myQueen。”saidhe，“thebargainisstruckbetwixtus，andthoumayestlightdownoffSilverfax；
　　asforme，Iwillgofetchwaterfromthelake，thatwemaywakeupthisvaliantandmightyyouth，thisnewfoundjewel，andbringhimtohiswitsagain。”
　　Sheanswerednought，butrodeherhorseclosetohimandlighteddownnimbly，whilehisgreedyeyesdevouredherbeauty。
　　Thenhetookherhandanddrewhertohim，andkissedhercheek，andshesufferedit，butkissedhimnotagain。
　　Thenhetookoffhishelm，andwentdowntothelaketofetchupwatertherein。
　　CHAPTER23
　　TheLeechcraftoftheLadyMeanwhileshewenttoRalphandstoodbyhim，whonowbegantostiragain；
　　andshekneltdownbyhimandkissedhisfacegently，androseuphastilyandstoodalittlealoofagain。
　　NowRalphsatupandlookedabouthim，andwhenhesawtheLadyhefirstblushedred，andthenturnedverypale；
　　forthefulllifewasinhimagain，andheknewher，andlovedrewstronglyathisheart-strings。Butshelookedonhimkindlyandsaidtohim：“Howfaresitwiththee？
　　Iamsorryofthyhurtwhichthouhasthadforme。”Hesaid：
　　“Forsooth，Lady，achanceknockortwoisnogreatmatterforaladofUpmeads。Butoh！Ihaveseentheebefore。”
　　“Yea。”shesaid，“twicebefore，fairknight。”“Howisthat？”
　　hesaid；“onceIsawthee，thefairestthingintheworld，andevilmenwouldhaveledtheetoslaughter；butnottwice。”
　　Shesmiledonhimstillmorekindly，asifhewereadearfriend，andsaidsimply：“IwasthatladinthecloakthatyesawintheFlowerdeLuce；andafterwardswhenye，thouandRoger，fledawayfromtheBurgoftheFourFriths。
　　IhadcomeintotheBurgwithmycaptainofwarattheperilofourlivestodeliverfourfaithfulfriendsofminewhowereelsedoomedtoanevildeath。”
　　Hesaidnought，butgazedatherface，wonderingathervaliancyandgoodness。Shetookhimbythehandnow，andhelditwithoutspeakingforalittlewhile，andhesattherestilllookingupintoherface，wonderingathersweetnessandhishappiness。
　　Thenshesaid，asshedrewherhandawayandspakeinsuchavoice，andsolookingathim，thateverywordwasasacaresstohim：
　　“Thysouliscomingbacktothee，myfriend，andthouartwellatease：
　　isitnotso？”
　　“Oyea。”hesaid，“andIwokeuphappilye’ennow；
　　forme-dreamedthatmygossipcametomeandkissedmekindly；
　　andsheisafairwoman，butnotayoungwoman。”
　　Ashespoketheknight，whohadcomenearlynoiselesslyoverthegrass，stoodbythem，holdinghishelmfullofwater，andlookinggrimlyuponthem；buttheLadylookedupathimwithwideeyeswonderingly，andRalph，beholdingher，deemedthatallhehadheardofhergoodnesswasbuttheverysooth。
　　Buttheknightspake：“Youngman，thouhastfoughtwithme，thouknowestnotwherefore，andgrimwasmymoodwhenthoumadestthineonset，andstillis，sothatneverbutoncewiltthoubenigherthydeaththanthouhastbeenthishour。
　　ButnowIhavegiventheelifebecauseoftheaskingofthislady；
　　andtherewithIgivetheeleavetocomethywayswithus：
　　nay，ratherIcommandtheetocome，forthouartmyprisoner，tobekeptorransomed，orsetfreeasIwill。Butmywillisthatthoushaltnothavethinearmourandweapons；andthereisacauseforthis，whichmayhappenIwilltelltheehereafter。
　　ButnowIbidtheedrinkofthiswater，andthendooffthinehelmandhauberkandgivemethyswordanddagger，andgowithuspeaceably；andbenotovermuchashamed，forI
　　haveovercomemenwhoboastedthemselvestobegreatwarriors。
　　SoRalphdrankofthewater，anddidoffhishelm，andcastwateronhisface，andarose，andsaidsmiling：“Nay，mymaster，Iamnoughtashamedofmymishaps：andastomygoingwiththeeandtheLady，thouhastheardmesayunderthydaggerthatIwouldnotforbeartofollowher；
　　soIscarceneedthycommandthereto。”Theknightscowledonhimandsaid：
　　“Holdthypeace，fool！Thouwertbestnotstirmywrathagain。”
　　“Nay。”saidRalph，“thouhastmysword，andmaystslaymeifthouwilt；
　　thereforebenotword-valiantwithme。”
　　SaidtheKnightoftheSun：“Well，well，thouhasttherightofitthere。
　　Onlybewarelestthoutrymeovermuch。Butnowmustwesetforthonourroad；
　　andhereisworkfortheetodo：ahundredyardswithinthethickwoodinastraightlinefromtheoak-treethoushaltfindtwohorses，mineandtheknight’swhofellbeforeme；gothouandbringthemhither；
　　forIwillnotleavetheewithmylady，lestIhavetoslaytheeintheend，andmaybeheralso。”
　　Ralphnoddedcheerfully，andsetoffonhistask，andwasthereadierthereinbecausetheLadylookedonhimkindlyandcompassionatelyashewentbyher。
　　Hefoundthehorsesspeedily，ablackhorsethatwasoftheBlackKnight，andabayoftheKnightoftheSun，andhecamebackwiththemlightly。
　　Butwhenhecametotheoak-treeagain，lo，theknightandtheLadybothkneelingoverthebodyoftheBlackKnight，andRalphsawthattheKnightoftheSunwassobbingandweepingsorely，sothathedeemedthathewastakingleaveofhisfriendthatlaydeadthere：butwhenRalphhadtiedupthoseothertwosteedsbySilverfaxanddrawnreartothosetwain，theKnightoftheSunlookedupathim，andspakeinacheerfulvoice：
　　“Thouseemesttobenoillman，thoughthouhastcomeacrossmylady；
　　sonowIbidtheerejoicethatthereisagoodknightmoreintheworldthanwedeemede’ennow；forthismyfriendWaltertheBlackisalivestill。”
　　“Yea。”saidtheLady，“andbelikeheshalllivealongwhileyet。”
　　SoRalphlooked，andsawthattheyhadstrippedtheknightofhishauberkandhelm，andbaredhisbody，andthattheLadywasdressingagreatandsorewoundinhisside；neitherwashecometohimselfagain：hewasayoungman，andverygoodlytolookon，darkhairedandstraightoffeature，fairofface；
　　andRalphfeltagriefathisheartashebeheldtheLady’shandsdealingwithhisbareflesh，thoughnoughtthemanknewofitbelike。
　　AsfortheKnightoftheSun，hewasnomoregrimandmoody，butsmilingandjoyous，andhespakeandsaid：“Youngman，thisshallstandtheeingoodsteadthatIhavenotslainmyfriendthisbout。Soothtosay，itmightelsehavegonehardwiththeeonthewaytomyhouse，orstillmoreinmyhouse。
　　Butnowbeofgoodheart，forunlessofthineownfollythourunonthesword’spoint，thoumaystyetliveanddowell。”
　　ThenheturnedtotheLadyandsaid：“Dame，forasgoodaleechasyebe，yemaynothealthismansothathemaysitinhissaddlewithinthesetendays；andnowwhatistodointhismatter？”
　　Shelookedonhimwithsmilinglipsandastrangelightinhereyes，andsaid：“Yea，forsooth，whatwiltthoudo？
　　WiltthouabideherebyWalterthyselfalone，andletmebringtheimpofUpmeadshometoourhouse？Orwiltthouridehomeandsendfolkwithalittertous？Orshallthisyounglingrideatalladventure，andseektoSunwaythroughtheblindwoodland？
　　Whichshallitbe？”