Littleistobetoldofhisjourneythroughthedowns：
　　ashetoppedalowhillwhereonweresevengrave-moundsoftheancientfolkinarow，hecameonashepherdlyingamidstofhissheep：
　　themansprangtohisfeetwhenheheardhorse-hoofsanighhimandsawtheglintofsteel，andhesethishandtoashortspearwhichlaybyhim；butwhenhesawnoughtbutRalph，andheardhowhegavehimtheseleoftheday，henoddedhisheadinafriendlyway，thoughhesaidnoughtinsalutation；
　　forthelonelinessofthedownsmadethespeechslowwithinhim。
　　AgainsometwomilesfurtheronRalphmetaflockofsheepcomingdownabentwhichtheroadclimbed，andwiththemwerethreemen，theirdrovers，andtheydrewnighhimashewasamidstofthesheep，sothathecouldscarceseetheway。Eachofthesethreehadaweapon；
　　oneapole-axe，anotheralongspear，andthethirdaflailjointedandboundwithiron，andananlacehangingathisgirdle。
　　Sotheystoodinthewayandhailedhimwhenthesheepweregonepast；andthemanwiththespearaskedhimwhitheraway。
　　“IamturnedtowardHigham-on-the-Way。”quothhe；“andhowmanymilesshallIrideereIgetthere？”
　　Saidoneofthem：“Littlelessthantwenty，lord。”Nowitwaspastnoontwohours，andthedaywashot；sowhereasthefacesofthemenlookedkindandfriendly，albeitsomewhatrugged，helighteddownfromhishorseandsatdownbytheway-side，anddrewhisbottleofgoodwinefromoutofhiswallet，andaskedthemeniftheywereinhaste。“Nay，master。”
　　saidheofthepole-axe，whilealleyesturnedtothebottle，“HEhasgonebytoolong；andwillneithermeddlewithus，normaywedealwithhim。”
　　“Wellthen。”quothRalph，“thereistimeforbever。
　　Haveyeoughtofacup，thatwemaydrinktoeachother？”
　　“Yea。”saidthecarlewiththeanlace，“thathaveI。’’Therewithhedrewfromhispoucharam’shornrimmedwithsilver，andhelditup，andsaidasifhewerespeakingtoit：“Now，Thirly，rejoice！foryeshallhavelord’swinepouredintothymaw。”
　　TherewithhehelditouttowardRalph，wholaughedandfilleditup，andfilledforhimselfalittlesilvercupwhichhecarried，andsaid：“Toyou，shepherds！Muchwoolandlittlecry！”
　　Andhedrankwithal。
　　“AndI。”quoththemanwiththehorn，“callthishealth；
　　Muchcryandlittlewool！”
　　“Well，well，howmeanyebythat，GreasyWat？”saidthemanwiththespear，takingthehornashespake；“thatisbutapoorwishforalordthatdrinkethoutofourcup。”
　　SaidWat：“Why，neighbour，why！thywitisnonetoohasty。
　　Thewoolthataknightshearethiswarandbattle；
　　thatiswoundinganddeath；butthecryisthetalkandboastingandminstrelsythatgoethbeforeallthis。
　　Whichisthebestwishtowishhim？thewoundsandthedeath，orthefore-rumourandstirthereofwhichhurtethnoman？”
　　Ralphlaughedthereat，andwasmerryandblithewiththem；
　　butthespearman，whowasanoldman，said：
　　“ForallWatsayeth，lord，andhisjapes，yemustnotmisdeemofusthatweshepherdsoftheDownscandonoughtbutruntoalesandfeasts，andthatwearebutpot-valiant：maybethouthyselfmaystlivetoseethingsgootherwise：andinthatdaymaywehavesuchastheeforcaptain。
　　Now，fairlord，Idrinktothycrownofvalour，andthygoodluck；
　　andwethanktheeforthewineandyetmorefortheblithefellowship。”
　　SoRalphfilleduptheram’shorntillDameKatherine’sgoodislandwinewaswell-nighspent；andatlasthesaid：
　　“Now，mymasters，Imusttohorse；butIprayyoutellorwedepart，whatdidyemeanwhenyesaidthatHEhadgonepast？
　　WhoisHE？”
　　Themerryfacesofthemenchangedathisword，andtheylookedineachother’sfaces，tillatlasttheoldspearmanansweredhim：
　　“Fairlord，thesethingswehavelittlewilltotalkabout：
　　forwebepoormenwithnomastertofleeceus，andnolordtohelpus：
　　alsowebefolkunlearnedandunlettered，andfromourwayoflife，whereaswedwellinthewilderness，weseldomcomewithinthedoorsofachurch。Butwhereaswehavedrunkwiththee，whoseemesttobeamanoflineage，andthouhastbeenblithewithus，wewilltelltheethatwehaveseenoneridingsouthalongtheGreenway，cladinacoatasgreenastheway，withtheleaflesstreedoneonhisbreast。Sonightohimwewerethatweheardhiscryashespedalong，asyemayhearthelapwingwhining；forhesaid：
　　’POINTANDEDGE，POINTANDEDGE！THEREDWATERAMIDSTOFTHEHILLS！’
　　Inmylifetimesuchamanhath，tomyknowledge，beenseenthricebefore；
　　andaftereachsightofhimfollowedevildaysandthedeathofmen。
　　MoreoverthisistheEveofSt。John，andwedeemthetokentheworsetherefor。Orhowdeemestthou？”
　　Ralphstoodsilentawhile；forhewasthinkingofthebigmanwhomhehadmetatthechurchyardgate，andallthistaleseemedwonderfultohim。
　　Butatlasthesaid：
　　“Icannottellwhatthereisinit；hereinamInohelptoyou。
　　To-dayIambutlittle；thoughImayonedaybegreat。
　　YetthismayIdoforyou；tomorrowwillIletsingamassinSt。Mary’sChurchonyourbehoof。Andhereafter，ifIwaxasmywillis，andIcometobelordintheselands，IwilllooktoittodowhatagoodlordshoulddofortheshepherdsoftheDowns，sothattheymaylivewell，anddieingoodhope。
　　SomaytheMotherofGodhelpmeatneed！”
　　Saidtheoldshepherd：“Thouhastswornanoath，anditisagoodoath，andwellsworn。Nowifthoudostasthouswearest，wordscanbutlittlethanks，yetdeedsmay。Whereforeifeverthoucomestbackhither，andartinsuchneedthatathrongofmenmayhelptheetherein；thenletlightagreatfireuponeachcornerofthetopmostwallofBearCastle，andcalltomindthiswatch-word：’SMITEASIDETHEAXE，OBEAR-FATHER，’
　　andthenshaltthouseewhatshallbetidetheeforthygood-hap：farewellnow，withthesaintstoaid！”
　　Ralphbadethemlivewellandhail，andmountedhishorseandrodeoffdowntheGreenway，andasherodetheshepherdswavedtheirweaponstohimintokenofgood-will。
　　RalphComethtoHigham-on-the-WayNoughtmorebefellRalphtotelloftillhecametotheendoftheDownsandsawHighamlyingbelowhimoverlookedbyawhitecastleonaknoll，andwithariverlappingitaboutandwindingonthroughitsfairgreenmeadowsevenasClementhadtold。
　　Fromamidstitshousesroseupthreetowersofchurchesabovetheirleadenroofs，andhighaboveall，longandgreat，theAbbeyChurch；
　　andnowwasthelowsunglitteringonitsgildedvanesandthewingsoftheangelshighuponthebattlements。
　　SoRalphrodedowntheslopesandwasbriskaboutit，foritwasdrawingtowardsunset，andheknewnotatwhathourtheyshuttheirgates。
　　Theroadwassteepandwinding，anditwasthemorepartofanhourerehecametothegate，whichwasopen，andliketobeyet，formanyfolkwerethrongingin，whichthrongalsohadhinderedhimsoonafterhecameintotheplaincountry。Thegatewasfairandstrong，butRalphsawnomen-at-armsaboutitthatevening。Herodeintothestreetunquestioned，andthereinwasthethronggreatofpeoplecladinfairandgayattire；
　　andpresentlyRalphcalledtomindthatthiswasSt。John’sEve，sothatheknewthattherewassomefeasttoward。
　　Atlastthethrongwassothickthathewasstayedbyit；
　　andtherewithalareligiouswhowasbesidehimandthrustupagainsthishorse，turnedtohimandgavehimgoodeven，andsaid：“Bythyweaponsandgearthouartastrangerhereinourburg，SirKnight？”
　　“Soitis。”saidRalph。
　　“Andwhitheraway？”saidthemonk；“hastthousomekinsmanorfriendinthetown？”
　　“Nay。”saidRalph，“IseekagoodhostelrywhereImayabidethenightformymoney。”
　　Themonkshookhisheadandsaid：“Seeyethefolk？Itisholidaytime，andmidsummerafterhaysel。Yeshallscarcegetlodgingoutsideourhouse。
　　Butwhatthen？Comethouthitherstraightwayandhaveharbourofthebest，andseeourprior，wholovethyoungandbriskmen-at-armsliketothee。
　　Lonow！thethrongopenethalittle；Iwillwalkbythybridleandleadtheetheshortestroadthither。”
　　Ralphgainsaidhimnot，andtheyboredthroughthethrongofthestreettilltheycameintothemarket-square，whichwasverygreatandclean，pavedwithstonesallover：tallandfairhousesroseuponthreesidesofit，andonthefourthwastheGreatChurchwhichmadethosehousesseembutlow：
　　mostofitwasnew-built；forthelordAbbotthatthenwas，thoughhehadnotbegunit，hadtakentheworkupfromhisforerunnerandhadpusheditforwardallhemight；forhewasveryrich，andanopen-handedman。
　　Likedarkgolditshowedundertheeveningsun，andthepaintedandgildedimageryshonelikejewelsuponit。
　　“Yea。”saidthemonk，ashenotedRalph’swonderatthiswonder；
　　“amostgoodlyhouseitis，andhappyshalltheybethatdwellthere。”
　　TherewithheledRalphon，turningasidethroughthegreatsquare。
　　Ralphsawthatthereweremanyfolktherein，thoughitwastoobigtobethrongedthickwiththem。Amidstofitwasnowagreatpileofwoodhungaboutwithflowers，andhardbyitastagebuiltupwithhangingsofrichclothononesidethereof。Heaskedthemonkwhatthismightmean，andhetoldhimthewoodwasfortheMidsummerbale-fire，andthestagefortheshowthatshouldcomethereafter。
　　SothebrotherledRalphdownalanetothesouthofthegreatwestdoor，andalongthesideoftheminsterandsocametotheAbbeygate，andtherewasRalphwellgreeted，andhadallthingsgivenhimwhichwereduetoagoodknight；andthenwashebroughtintotheGuest-hall，averyfairchamber，whichwasnowfullofmenofalldegrees。
　　Hewasshowntoaseatonthedaiswithintwoofthesubprior’s，andbesidehimsatanhonourablelord，avassalofSt。Mary’s。Sowassupperservedwellandabundantly：themeatanddrinkwasofthebest，andthevesselandalltheplenishingwasasgoodasmightbe；
　　andthewallsofthatchamberwerehungwithnoblearras-clothpicturingthePilgrimageoftheSoulofMan。
　　EverymantherewhospokewithRalph，andtheyweremany，wasexceedingcourteoustohim；andheheardmuchtalkabouthimofthewealthofthelandsofSt。Mary’satHigham，andhowitwasflourishing；
　　andoftheAbbothowmightyhewas，sothathemightdowhathewould，andthathiswillwastohelpandtogive，andbeblithewithallmen：
　　andfolktoldofturmoilandwarinotherlands，andpraisedthepeaceofHigham-on-the-Way。
　　Ralphlistenedtoallthis，andsmiled，andsaidtohimselfthattoanothermanthismightwellbetheendofhisjourneyforthattime；
　　butforhimallthispeaceandwell-beingwasnotenough；forthoughitwerearicherlandthanUpmeads，yettothepeaceandthequiethewaswellused，andhehadcomeforthnotforthewinningoffatterpeace，buttotrywhatnewthinghisyouthandhismightandhishighhopeandhisgoodhapmightaccomplish。
　　Sowhenthesupperwasover，andthewineandspiceshadbeenbrought，theGuest-hallbegantothinsomewhat，andthebrotherwhohadbroughtRalphthithercametohimandsaid：
　　“Fairlord，itwerenowiseillifyewentforth，asothersofourguestshavedone，toseethedeedsofMidsummerEvethatshallbedoneinthegreatsquareinhonourofHolyJohn；
　　forourmannerthereinatHighamhasbeenmuchthoughtof。
　　Lookmyson！”
　　Hepointedtothewindowsofthehalltherewith，andlo！theygrewyellowandbrightwithsomefirewithout，asifanewfierydayhadbeenbornoutoftheduskofthesummernight；forthelightthatshonethroughthewindowsout-didthecandle-lightinthehall。
　　Ralphstartedthereatandlaidhisrighthandtotheplaceofhissword，whichindeedhehadleftwiththechamberlain；butthemonklaughedandsaid：“Fearnothing，lord；thereisnofoemaninHigham：
　　comenow，lestthoubebelatedoftheshow。”
　　SoheledRalphforth，andintothesquare，wheretherewasaspaceappointedforthebrethrenandtheirgueststoseetheplays；
　　andthesquarewasnowsofulloffolkthatitseemedlikeasifthattherewerenoonemaninthestreetswhichwereerewhilesothronged。
　　Therewererowsofmen-at-armsinbrightarmouralsotokeepthefolkintheirplaces，likeashurdlespenthesheepup；