howbeittheywerenowiseroughwithfolk，buthumbleandcourteous。
　　Manyandmanywerethetorchesandcressetsburningsteadilyinthecalmair，sothat，asaforesaid，nightwasturnedintoday。
　　Butonthescaffoldaforesaidwerestandingbrightandgayfigures，whosenamesorwhattheywereRalphhadnotimetoask。
　　Nowthebellsbegantoclashfromthegreattoweroftheminster，andinalittlewhiletheyhadclashedthemselvesintoorderandrangclearandtuneablyforaspace；andwhiletheywereringing，lo！thosegay-cladpeopledepartedfromthescaffold，andacanvaspaintedlikeamountain-side，rockyandwithcavestherein，wasdrawnupatthebackofit。
　　Thencamethereononecladlikeakingholdingafairmaidenbythehand，andwithhimwasadamerichlycladandwithacrownonherhead。
　　Sothesetwokissedthemaiden，andlamentedoverher，andwenttheirways，andthemaidenleftalonesatdownuponarockandcoveredupherfaceandwept；andwhileRalphwonderedwhatthismightmean，orwhatgrievedthemaiden，therecamecreeping，asitwerefromoutofacrannyoftherocks，awormhuge-headedandcoveredoverwithscalesthatglitteredinthetorch-light。ThenRalphsprangupinhisplace，forhefearedforthemaidenthatthewormwoulddevourher：butthemonkwhosatbyhimpulledhimdownbytheskirt，andlaughedandsaid：
　　“Sitstill，lord！forthechampionalsohasbeenprovided。”
　　ThenRalphsatdownagainsomewhatabashedandlookedon；yetwashisheartinhismouththewhile。Andsowhilethemaidenstoodasoneastoniedbeforetheworm，whogapeduponherwithwideopenmouth，therecameforthfromacleftintherocksagoodlyknightwhoboresilver，aredcross；
　　andhehadhisswordinhishand，andhefelluponthewormtosmitehim；
　　andthewormrampedupagainsthim，andtherewasbattlebetwixtthem，whilethemaidenkneltanighwithherhandsclaspedtogether。
　　ThenRalphknewthatthiswasaplayofthefightofSt。Georgewiththeworm；sohesatsilenttillthechampionhadsmittenofftheworm’sheadandhadcometothemaidenandkissedandembracedher，andshownherthegrislyhead。
　　Thenpresentlycamemanyfolkontothescaffold，towit，thekingandqueenwhowerethefatherandmotherofthemaiden，andabishopcladinveryfairvestments，andknightswithal；
　　andtheystoodaboutSt。Georgeandthemaiden，andwiththemwereminstrelswhofelltoplayinguponharpsandfiddles；
　　whileothersomefelltosingingasweetsonginhonourofSt。George，andthemaidendelivered。
　　Sowhenitwasalldone，themonksaid：“Thisplayissetforthbythemen-at-armsofourlordAbbot，whohavegreatdevotiontowardSt。George，andheistheirfriendandtheirgoodlord。
　　Buthereafterwillbeotherplays，ofwildmenandtheirfeastinginthewoodsintheGoldenAgeoftheworld；
　　andthatisdonebythescribesandthelimners。AndafterthatwillbeapageantofSt。Agnesorderedbytheclothiersandthewebbers，whichbebothmanyanddeftinthisgoodtown。
　　Albeitthouartayoungmanandhastriddenfarto-daybelike，andmayhappenthouwiltnotbeabletoendureit：
　　soitmaybewelltobringtheeoutofthisthrongstraightway。
　　MoreoverIhavebethoughtme，thatthereismuchofwhatispresentlytocomewhichweshallseebetterfromtheminsterroof，orevenitmaybefromthetower：wiltthoucomethen？”
　　Ralphhadlieferhavesatthereandseenalltheplaystotheend，fortheyseemedtohimexceedingfair，andliketoravishthesoulfromthebody；howbeit，beingshamefaced，heknewnothowtogainsaythebrother，whotookhimbythehand，andledhimthroughthepresstothewestfrontoftheminster，whereonthenorthsidewasalittledoorinanook。
　　Sotheywentupastairthereinagoodwaytilltheycameintoagalleryoverthewesterndoor；andlookingforththenceRalphdeemedthathecouldhaveseenalongwayhaddaylightbeen，foritwashigherthanthetopsofthehighesthouses。
　　Sotheretheyabodeaspacelookingdownonthesquareanditsthrong，andthebells，whichhadbeenringingwhentheycameup，nowceasedawhile。
　　Butpresentlytherearosegreatshoutsandclamouramongstthefolkbelow，andtheycouldseemenwithtorchesdrawingneartothepileofwood，andthenallofasuddenshotupfromitagreatspiringflame，andallthepeopleshoutedtogether，whilethebellsbrokeoutagainovertheirheads。
　　Thenthebrotherpointedaloofwithhisfingerandsaid：
　　“Loyou！fairlord，howbalespeakstobaleallalongtheheadlandsofthedown-country，andbelowthereinthethorpsbytheriver！”
　　ForsoothRalphsawfireafterfirebreakouttothewestward；
　　andthebrothersaid：“Andifwestoodoverthehighaltarandlookedeast，yewouldseemoreofsuchfiresandmanymore；andallthesebalesarepiledupandlightedbyvassalsandvilleinsofmylordAbbot：
　　nowto-nighttheyarebutmereMidsummerbale-fires；butdoubtyenotthatiftherecamewarintothelandeachoneofthesebaleswouldmeanatleastahalf-scoreofstoutmen，archersandmen-at-arms，allreadytoservetheirlordatalladventure。Allthisthetyrantsroundabout，thathateholyChurchandoppressthepoor，knowfullwell；
　　thereforeweliveinpeaceintheselands。”
　　Ralphhearkened，butsaidnought；foramidstallthisflashingoffireandflame，andthecryingoutoffolk，andthemeasuredclashofthebellssonearhim，histhoughtwasconfused，andhehadnowordsreadytohand。
　　Butthemonkturnedfromtheparapetandlookedhimfullinthefaceandsaidtohim：
　　“Thouartafairyoungman，andstrong，andofgentlebloodasIdeem；
　　andthouseemesttometohavetheluckylookinthineeyes：
　　nowItelltheethatifthouwerttotakeservicewithmylordthoushouldestneverrueit。Yea，whyshouldestthounotwaxinhisservice，andbecomehisCaptainofCaptains，whichisanofficemeetforkings？”
　　Ralphlookedonhim，butanswerednought，forhecouldnotgatherhisthoughtsforananswer；andthebrothersaid：
　　“Thinkofit，Ibidthee，fairyounglord；andbesurethatnowhereshaltthouhaveabetterlivelihood，notevenwertthouaking’sson；forthechildrenofmylordAbbotaresuchthatnonedarethtodothemanydispleasure；
　　neitherisanyoverlordasgoodasisHolyChurch。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“doubtlessthousayestsooth；yetIwotnotthatI
　　amcomeforthtoseekamaster。”
　　Saidthebrother：“Nay，dobutseethelordAbbot，asthoumaystdoto-morrow，ifthouwilt。”
　　“Iwouldhavehisblessing。”saidRalph。
　　“Nolessshaltthouhave。”saidthebrother；“butlookyoudownyonder；
　　forIcanseetokensthatmylordisevennowcomingforth。”
　　Ralphlookeddownandbeheldthefolkpartingtorightandleft，andalanemadeamidstthethrong，guardedbymen-at-armsmingledwiththecross-bearersandbrethren；andthesoundoftrumpetsblaredforthoverthenoisesofthethrong。
　　“IfthelordAbbotcometh。”saidRalph，“Iwerefainofhisblessingto-nightbeforeIsleep：sogowedownstraightwaythatImaykneelbeforehimwiththerest。”
　　“What！”saidthemonk，“Wiltthou，mylord，kneelamongstalltheseburgessesandvavassorswhenthoumightestseetheAbbotinhisownchamberfacetofacealonewithhim？”
　　“Father。”saidRalph，“Iamnogreatman，andImustneedsdepartbetimesto-morrow；forIperceivethatherearethingstoomightyandover-masteringforsuchasIbe。”
　　“Well。”saidthemonk，“yetmaystthoucomebackagain；
　　soatpresentIwillmakenomorewordsaboutit。”
　　Sotheywentdown，andcameoutamidstthethrong，abovewhichthebalestillflaredhigh，makingthesummernightaslightasday。
　　ThebrothermadewayforRalph，sothattheystoodinthefrontrowoffolk：theyhadnotbeenthereoneminuteeretheyheardthesoundofthebrethrensinging，andtheAbbotcameforthoutofthelanethatwentdowntothegate。
　　Thenallfolkwentdownupontheirknees，andthusabodehim。
　　RightsoRalphdeemedthathefeltsomeonepullhissleeve，butinsuchathrongthatwasnoughtofawonder；howbeit，heturnedandlookedtohisleft，whencecamethetug，andsawkneelingbesidehimatallman-at-arms，whoboreasalletonhisheadinsuchwisethatitcoveredallhisfacesavethepointofhischin。
　　ThenRalphbethoughthimofthemanoftheleaflesstree，andhelookedtoseewhatarmourythemanboreonhiscoat；
　　buthehadnothingsavealoosefrockofwhitelinenoverhishauberk。Nevertheless，heheardavoiceinhisear，whichsaid，“Thesecondtime！”whereonhedeemedthatitwasverilythatsameman：yethadhenoughttodotolayholdonhim，andhemightnotspeakwithhim，foreventherewithcametheAbbotingarmentsallofgold，goinga-footunderacanopyofbaudekyn，withthepreciousmitreonhishead，andthecrozierbornebeforehim，asifhehadbeenapatriarch：
　　forhewasanexceedingmightylord。
　　Ralphlookedhardonhimashepassedby，blessingthefolkwithupraisedhand；andhesawthathewasatallspareman，clean-shaven，andthin-faced；butnooldman，belikescarceoffiftywinters。
　　Ralphcaughthiseye，andhesmiledonthegoodlyyoungmansokindly，thatforamomentRalphdeemedthathewoulddwellinSt。Mary’sHouseforalittlewhile；for，thoughthe，ifmyfather，orNicholas，hearofmetherein，theymustevenletmealonetoabidehere。
　　TherewiththeAbbotwentforthtohisplace，andsathimdownunderagoodlyclothofestate，andfolkstoodupagain；
　　butwhenRalphlookedforthemaninthesallethecouldseenoughtofhim。NowwhentheAbbotwassetdown，menmadeaclearringroundaboutthebale，andtherecameintothesaidringtwelveyoungmen，eachcladinnoughtsaveagoat-skin，andwithgarlandsofleavesandflowersabouttheirmiddles：
　　theyhadwiththemawheeldoneaboutwithstrawandhemppayedwithpitchandbrimstone。Theysetfiretothesame，andthentrundleditblazingroundaboutthebaletwelvetimes。
　　Thencametothemtwelvedamselscladinsuch-likeguiseastheyoungmen：thenbothbands，theyoungmenandthemaidens，drewneartothebale，whichwasnowburninglow，andstoodaboutit，andjoinedhands，andsodancedrounditawhile，andmeantimethefiddlesplayedanuncouthtunemerrily：
　　thentheysundered，andeachcoupleofmenandmaidsleaptbackwardandforwardoverthefire；andwhentheyhadallleapt，cameforwardmenwithbucketsofwaterwhichtheycastoverthedancerstillitrandowntheminstreams。
　　Thenwasallthethrongmingledtogether，andfolktrodtheembersofthebaleunderfoot，andscatteredthemhitherandthitheralloverthesquare。
　　Allthiswhilemenweregoingaboutwithpitchersofwineandale，andothergooddrinks；andeverymandrankfreelywhathewould，andtherewasthegreatestgameandjoyance。
　　ButnowwasRalphexceedingweary，andhesaid：“Father，mightestthouleadmeoutofthisthrong，andshowmesomelairwhereImaysleepinpeace，Iwouldthanktheeblithely。”
　　Ashespaketheresoundedagreathornoverthesquare，andtheAbbotroseinhisplaceandblessedallthepeopleoncemore。
　　Thensaidthemonk：
　　“Comethen，fairfield-lord，nowshaltthouhavethywillofbed。”
　　Andhelaughedtherewith，anddrewRalphoutofthethrongandbroughthimintotheAbbey，andintoafairlittlechamber，onthewallwhereofwaspicturedSt。Christopher，andSt。Julianthelordandfriendofwayfarers。
　　ThenhebroughtRalphthewineandspices，andgavehimgood-night，andwenthisways。
　　AsRalphputtheraimentfromoffhimhesaidtohimselfalongdayforsooth，solongthatIshouldhavethoughtnodaycouldhaveheldallthathasbefallenme。SomanystrangethingshaveIseen，thatsurelymydreamsshallbefullofthem；
　　forevennowIseemtoseethem，thoughIwaken。
　　Sohelaydowninhisbedandslept，anddreamedthathewasfishingwithanangleinadeepofUpmeadsWater；andhecaughtmanyfish；
　　butafterawhilewhatsoeverhecaughtwasbutofgildedpaperstuffedwithwool，andatlastthewateritselfwasgone，andhewascastinghisangleontoadryroad。Therewithheawokeandsawthatdaywasdawning，andheardtheminsterclockstrikethree，andheardthethrushessingingtheirfirstsonginthePrior’sgarden。
　　Thenheturnedaboutandslept，anddreamednomoretillhewokeupinthebrightsunnymorning。