SoRalphsmiledonhimandsaid：“Thouhastnoweapon，then？”
　　“Whatneedforweapon？”saidhe；“sincewearenotofmightforbattle。
　　Thisismyweapon。”saidhe，touchinghisfiddle，“andwithalitismyfieldandmineacrethatraisethflesh-meatandbreadforme：
　　yea，andwhilesalittledrink。”
　　Sotheyrodeontogetherandthemanwasblitheandmerry：
　　andRalphsaidtohim：“Sincewearefellowsforagoodwhile，asIsuppose，whatshallIcallthee？”Saidhe，“MorfinntheMinstrelIhight，toservethee，fairlord。
　　OrsomecallmeMorfinntheUnmanned。WiltthounotnowaskmeconcerningthatprivywordthatIhadforthyears？”
　　“Yea。”saidRalphreddening，“hathittodowithawoman？”
　　“Naughtless。”saidMorfinn。“ForIheardoftheeaskingmanyquestionsthereofinGoldburg，andIsaidtomyself，nowmayI，whoamboundforUtterness，doagoodturntothisfairyounglord，whosefacebewrayethhisheart，andtellethallmenthatheiskindandbounteous；sothatthereisnodoubtbuthewillrewardmewellatonceforanyhelpImaygivehim；
　　andalsoitmaybethathewilldomeagoodturnhereafterinmemoryofthisthatIhavedonehim。”
　　“Speak，wiltthounot。”saidRalph，“andtellmeatonceifthouhastseenthiswoman？BesurethatIshallrewardthee。”“Nay，nay，fairsir。”
　　saidMorfinn；“awomanIhaveseenbroughtcaptivetotheHouseofUtterbol。
　　Seethoutoitifitbeshewhomthouseekest。”
　　Hesmiledtherewith，butnowRalphdeemedhimnotsodebonnaireashehadatfirst，fortherewasmockinginthesmile；
　　thereforehewaswroth，butherefrainedhimandsaid：
　　“SirMinstrel，Iwotnotwhythouhastcomewithataleinthymouthanditwillnotoutofit：loyou，willthisopenthedoorsofspeechtothee“andhereachedhishandouttohimwithtwopiecesofgoldlyingtherein“orshallthis？”
　　andtherewithhehalfdrewhisswordfromhissheath。
　　SaidMorfinn，grinningagain：“Nay，Ifearnotthebaresteelinthinehands，Knight；forthouhastnotfoolwrittenplaininthyface；
　　thereforethouwiltnotslaythyway-leader，orevenangerhimovermuch。
　　Andastothygold，thewagesshallbepaidatthejourney’send。
　　Iwasbutseekingaboutinmymindhowbesttotelltheemytalesothatthoumightestbelievemyword，whichistrue。Thusitgoes：
　　AsIleftUtterbolamonthago，Isawadamselbroughtincaptivethere，andsheseemedtomesoexceedingfairthatIlookedhardonher，andaskedoneofthemen-at-armswhoismyfriendconcerningthemarketwhereatshewascheapened；andhetoldmethatshehadnotbeenbought，buttakenoutofthehandsofthewildmenfromthefurthermountains。
　　Isthataughtliketoyourstory，lord？”“Yea。”saidRalph，knittinghisbrowsineagerness。“Well。”saidMorfinn，“buttherearemorefairwomenthanoneintheworld，andbelikethisisnotthyfriend：
　　sonow，aswellasImay，Iwilltelltheewhat-likeshewas，andifthouknowesthernot，thoumaystgivemethosetwogoldpiecesandgobackagain。Shewastallratherthanshort，andslimratherthanbiglymade。Butmanywomenarefashionedso：
　　anddoubtlessshewaswornbytravel，sinceshehasatleastcomefromoverthemountains：butthatislittletotellherby：
　　herhands，andherfeetalsoforshewasahorsebackandbarefoot
　　wroughtwellbeyondmostwomen：yetsomightithavebeenwithsome：
　　yetfew，methinks，ofwomenwhohaveworkedafield，asIdeemhertohavedone，wouldhavehandsandfeetsoshapely：herfacetannedwiththesun，butwithfaircolourshiningthroughit；herhairbrown，yetwithafairbrightcolourshiningtherein，andveryabundant：
　　hercheekssmooth，roundandwellwroughtasanyimagercoulddothem：
　　herchinroundandcloven：herlipsfullandred，butfirm-setasifshemightbebothvaliantandwroth。Hereyessetwideapart，greyanddeep：herwholefacesweetofaspect，asthoughshemightbeexceedingkindtoonethatpleasedher；yethighandproudofdemeanouralso，meseemed，asthoughshewerecomeofgreatkindred。
　　Isthisaughtliketothyfriend？”
　　Hespakeallthisslowlyandsmoothlyandthatmockingsmilecameintohisfacenowandagain。Ralphgrewpaleashespokeandknittedhisbrowsasoneingreatwrathandgrief；andhewasslowtoanswer；
　　butatlasthesaid“Yea。”shortlyandsharply。
　　ThensaidMorfinn：“Andyetafterallitmightnotbeshe：
　　fortheremightbeanotherortwoeveninthesepartsofwhomallthismightbesaid。ButnowIwilltelltheeofherraiment，thoughtheremaybebutlittlehelptotheetherein，asshemayhaveshifteditmanytimessincethouhastseenher。Thusitwas：
　　shewascladoutwardlyinagreengown，shortofskirtasofonewonttogoafoot；somewhatstraightinthesleevesasofonewhohathhouseholdworktodo，andtherewasbroiderymanycolouredontheseamsthereof，andaborderofflower-workroundthehem：
　　andthisInoted，thatacantleoftheskirthadbeenrentawaybysomehapofthejourney。Nowwhatsayestthou，fairlord？
　　HaveIdonewelltobringtheethistale？”
　　“Oyea，yea。”saidRalph，andhemightnotcontainhimself；butsetspurstohishorseandgallopedonaheadforsomefurlongorso：
　　andthendrewreinandgatoffhishorse，andmadeasifhewouldseetohissaddle-girths，forhemightnotrefrainfromweepingthesweetandbittertearsofdesireandfear，sostirredthesoulwithinhim。
　　Morfinnrodeonquietly，andbythenhecameup，Ralphwasmountingagain，andwhenhewasinthesaddleheturnedawayhisheadfromhisfellowandsaidinahuskyvoice：
　　“Morfinn，Icommandthee，orifthouwiltIbeseechthee，thatthouspeaknottomeagainofthiswomanwhomIamseeking；
　　foritmovethmeovermuch。”“Thatiswell，lord。”saidMorfinn，“Iwilldoafterthycommand；andtherebemanyothermatterstospeakofbesidesonefairwoman。”
　　Thentheyrodeonsoberlyawhile，andRalphkeptsilence，asherodeponderingmuch；buttheminstrelhummedsnatchesofrhymeasherodetheway。
　　ButatlastRalphturnedtohimsuddenlyandsaid：“Tellme，way-leader，inwhatwisedidtheyseemtobeusingthatwoman？”
　　Theminstrelchuckled：“Fairlord。”saidhe，“ifIhadamindformockingImightsayoftheethatthoublowestbothhotandcold，sinceitwasbuthalfanhouragothatthoubadestmespeaknaughtofher：butIdeemthatIknowthymindherein：
　　soIwilltelltheethattheyseemedtobeusinghercourteously；
　　asisnomarvel；forwhowouldwishtomarsofairanimage？
　　O，itwillbewellwithher：InotedthattheLordseemedtothinkitgoodtoridebesideher，andeyeherallover。
　　Yea，sheshallhaveamerrylifeofitifshebutdosomewhataftertheLord’swill。”
　　Ralphlookedaskanceathimfiercely，buttheotherheededitnaught：
　　thensaidRalph，“Andhowifshedonothiswill？”SaidMorfinn，grinning：
　　“ThenhathmyLordamanyservantstodohiswill。”Ralphheldhispeaceforalongwhile；atlastheturnedaclearedbrowtoMorfinnandsaid；
　　“DostthoutelloftheLordofUtterbolthatheisagoodlordandmercifultohisfolkandservants？”
　　“Fairsir。”saidtheminstrel；“thouhastbiddenmenotspeakofonewoman，nowwillIpraytheenottospeakofoneman，andthatismyLordofUtterbol。”
　　Ralph’sheartfellatthisword，andheaskednoquestionastowherefore。
　　Sonowtheyrodeonboth，rathermorethansoberlyforawhile：
　　butthedaywasfair；thesunshone，thewindblew，andthesweetscentsfloatedaboutthem，andRalph’sheartcastoffitsburdensomewhatandhefelltospeechagain；andtheminstrelansweredhimgailybyseeming，notingmanythingsastheyrodealong，asonethattookdelightinthefashionoftheearth。
　　Itwasafreshandbrightmorningofearlyautumn，thesheaveswereontheacres，andthegrapeswereblackeningtothevintage，andthebeastsandbirdsatleastweremerry。
　　Butlittlemerrywerethehusbandmenwhomtheymet，eithercarlesorqueans，andtheywerescantilyandfoullyclad，andsullen-faced，ifnothunger-pinched。
　　Iftheycameacrossanysomewhatjoyous，itwashereandtherecertaingangrelfolkrestingonthewaysidegrass，orcomingoutofwoodsandotherpassesbytwosandthrees，whileswithachildortwowiththem。
　　Thesewereofaspectliketothegipsiesofourtimeandnation，andwerearmedallofthem，andmostlywellcladaftertheirfashion。
　　Sometimeswhentherewereasmanyasfourorfivecarlesofthemtogether，theywoulddrawupamidstofthehighway，butpresentlywouldturnasideatthesighteitherofRalph’swar-gearoroftheminstrel’sraiment。
　　Forsooth，someofthemseemedtoknowhim，andnoddedfriendlytohimastheypassedby，buthegavethembacknogoodday。
　　TheyhadnowriddenoutofthelandsofGoldburg，whichwerenarrowonthatside，andthedaywaswearingfast。
　　Thiswaythelandwasfairandrich，withnohillsofanysize。
　　Theycrossedabigrivertwicebybridges，andsmallstreamsoften，mostlybyfords。
　　Sometwohoursbeforesunsettheycameuponaplacewhereabywayjoinedthehighroad，andontheinglestoodachapelofstonewhetheroftheheathenorChristianmenRalphwottednot，foritwasuncouthoffashion，andbythedoorofthesaidchapel，onatussockofgrass，sataknightall-armedsavethehead，andbesidehimasquireheldhiswar-horse，andfiveothermen-at-armsstoodanighbearinghalberdsandaxesofstrangefashion。
　　Theknightrosetohisfeetwhenhesawthewayfarerscominguptherisingground，andRalphhadhishandonhissword-hilt；
　　buteretheymet，theminstrelsaid，——
　　“Nay，nay，drawthylet-pass，notthysword。Thisknightshaltbidtheetoacourteousjoust；butdothounay-sayit，forheisamerefelon，andshaltsethismen-at-armsonthee，andthenwillrobtheeandslaytheeafter，orcasttheeintohisprison。”
　　SoRalphdrewouthisparchmentwhichMorfinnhadgivenintohiskeeping，andhelditopeninhishand，andwhentheknightcalledoutonhiminaroughvoiceastheydrewanigh，hesaid：
　　“Nay，sir，Imaynotstaymenow，needdrivethmeon。”
　　Quoththeknight，smoothingoutaknittedbrow：“Fairsir，sincethouartafriendofourlord，wiltthounotcomehometomyhouse，whichishardby，andrestawhile，andeatamorsel，anddrinkacup，andsleepinafairchamberthereafter？”
　　“Nay，sir。”saidRalph，“fortimepresses；“andhepassedonwithal，andtheknightmadenosteptostayhim，butlaughedashortlaugh，likeaswinesnorting，andsathimdownonthegrassagain。
　　Ralphheededhimnaught，butwasgladthathislet-passwasshowntobegoodforsomething；buthecouldseethattheminstrelwasnighsickforfearandwasshakinglikeanaspenleaf，anditwaslongerehefoundhistongueagain。
　　Forththentheyrodetilldusk，whentheminstrelstayedRalphataplacewhereasortofhovelslaytogetheraboutahousesomewhatbetterbuilded，whichRalphtookforahostelry，thoughithadnosignnorbush。
　　Theyenteredthesaidhouse，whereinwasanoldwomantowhomtheminstrelspakeawordortwoinatonguethatRalphknewnot，andstraightwayshegotthemvictualanddrinknowiseill，andshowedthemtobedsthereafter。
　　Inspiteofbothvictualsanddrinktheminstrelfellsilentandmoody；
　　itmightbefromweariness，Ralphdeemed；andhehimselfhadnogreatlustfortalk，sohewentbedward，andmadethebedpayforall。
　　RalphHappensonEvilDaysEarlyonthemorrowtheydeparted，andnowinthemorninglightandthesuntheminstrelseemedgladagain，andtalkedabundantly，eventhoughatwhilesRalphansweredhimlittle。
　　Astheyrode，thelandbegantogetlessfertileandless，tillatlasttherewasbuttillagehereandthereinpatches：
　　ofhousestherewerebutfew，andtherestwasbutdarkheathlandandbog，withscraggywoodsscatteredaboutthecountry-side。
　　Naughthappenedtotellof，savethatonceintheafternoon，astheywereridinguptotheskirtsofoneofthewoodsaforesaid，weaponedmencameforthfromitanddrewupacrosstheway；