Butthatkindfolkgatheredroundus，andaskedusnostorytilltheyhadfedus，andbathedus，andcladusaftertheirfashion。
　　Andthen，despitethenakednessandpovertywhereintheyhadfirstseenus，theywouldhaveitthatweweregodssentdowntothemfromtheworldbeyondthemountainsbytheirfathersofoldtime；forofHolyChurch，andtheBlessedTrinity，andtheMotherofGodtheyknewnomorethandidIatthattime，butwereheathen，astheGentilesofyoreagone。
　　AndevenwhenweputallthatGodhoodfromus，andtoldthemaswemightandcouldwhatwewereforwehadnohearttolietosuchsimplefolk，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，andwewentourwaysfromthemridingonhornedneatfortheyknewnotofhorses，anddrivingoneforasumpterbeastbeforeus；
　　andtheyhadgivenusbowsandarrowsforourdefence，andthatwemightgetusvenison。
　　“Itisnottobesaidthatwedidnotencounterperils；
　　butthereofIwilltelltheenaughtasnow。Wecametootherpeoples，richerandmightierthanthese，andIsawcastles，andabbies，andchurches，andwalledtowns，andwonderedatthemexceedingly。
　　Andintheseplacesfolkknewofthekingdomofmylordandhisfather，andwhereastheywerenotofhisfoeswholayforthemorepartontheothersideofhisland，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。
　　Sothatthebaronwouldhaveheldmetherebeingamightyman
　　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。