TheLordofUtterbolWillWotofRalph’sMightandMinstrelsyAlittlebeforesunsettheymadehaltforthenight，andRalphwasshowntoatentaserst，andhadmeatanddrinkgoodenoughbroughttohim。
　　ButsomewhatafterhehaddoneeatingcomesDavidtohimandsays：
　　“Up，youngman！andcometomylord，heaskethforthee。”
　　“Whatwillhewantwithme？”saidRalph。
　　“Yea，thatisaproperquestiontoask！”quothDavid；“asthoughtheknifeshouldaskthecutler，whatwiltthoucutwithme？
　　DostthoudeemthatIdurstaskhimofhiswillwiththee？”
　　“Iamreadytogowiththee。”saidRalph。
　　Sotheywentforth；butRalph’sheartfellandhesickenedatthethoughtofseeingthatmanagain。Neverthelesshesethisfaceasbrass，andthrustbackbothhisfearandhishatredforafitteroccasion。
　　SoontheycameintothepavilionoftheLord，whowassittingthereasyestereve，savethathisgownwasred，anddoneaboutwithgoldandturquoiseandemerald。DavidbroughtRalphnightohisseat，butspakenot。Themightylordwassittingwithhisheaddrooping，andhisarmhangingoverhisknee，withaheavycountenanceasthoughhewerebroodingmatterswhichpleasedhimnaught。
　　Butinawhilehesatupwithastart，andturnedaboutandsawDavidstandingtherewithRalph，andspakeatoncelikeamanwakingup：
　　“Hethatsoldtheetomesaidthatthouwertofavailformanythings。
　　Nowtellme，whatcanstthoudo？”
　　Ralphsohatedhim，thathewasofhalfamindtoanswernaughtsavebysmitinghimtoslayhim；buttherewasnoweaponanigh，andlifewassweettohimwithallthetalethatwaslyingahead。
　　Soheansweredcoldly：“Itissooth，lord，thatIcandomorethanonedeed。”
　　“Canstthoubackahorse？”saidtheLord。SaidRalph：“Aswellasmany。”
　　SaidtheLord：“Canstthoubreakawildhorse，andshoehim，andphysichim？”
　　“Notworsethansome。”saidRalph。
　　“Can’stthouplaywithswordandspear？”saidtheLord。
　　“Betterthansomefew。”saidRalph。“HowshallIknowthat？”saidtheLord。
　　SaidRalph：“Tryme，lord！”Indeed，hehalfhopedthatifitcametothat，hemightescapeinthehurley。
　　TheLordlookedonhimandsaid：“Well，itmaybetried。
　　Buthereisacoldandproudanswerer，David。Imisdoubtmewhetheritbeworthwhilebringinghimhome。”
　　DavidlookedtimidlyonRalphandsaid：“Thouhastpaidthepriceforhim，lord。”
　　“Yea，thatistrue。”saidtheLord。“Thou！can’stthouplayatthechess？”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph。“Can’stthoumusic？”saidtheother。“Yea。”saidRalph，“whenIammerry，orwhilesindeedwhenIamsad。”
　　Thelordsaid：“Makethyselfmerryorsad，whichthouwilt；
　　butsing，orthoushaltbebeaten。Ho！Bringyetheharp。”
　　Thentheybroughtitashebade。
　　ButRalphlookedtorightandleftandsawnodeliverance，andknewthisforthefirsthourofhisthralldom。
　　Yet，ashethoughtofitall，herememberedthatifhewoulddo，hemustneedsbearandforbear；andhisfacecleared，andhelookedroundaboutagainandlethiseyesrestcalmlyonalleyesthathemettilltheycameontheLord’sfaceagain。
　　Thenhelethishandfallintothestringsandtheyfella-tinklingsweetly，likeuntothesongofthewinterrobin，andatlastheliftedhisvoiceandsang：
　　Stillnowisthestithythismorningunclouded，Noughtstirsinthethorpsavetheyellow-hairedmaidA-peelingthewithylastCandlemasshroudedFromthemerewherethemoorhennowswimsunafraid。
　　ForovertheFordnowthegrassandthecloverFlyofffromthetinesasthewinddrivethon；AndsoonroundtheSword-howetheswatheshalllieover，Andto-morrowateventhemeadshallbewon。
　　ButtheHalloftheGardenamidstthehotmorning，Itdrewmyfeetthither；
　　Istoodatthedoor，Andfeltmyheartharden’gainstwisdomandwarningAsthesunandmyfootstepscameontothefloor。
　　Whenthesunlaybehindme，therescarceinthedimnessIsaywhatI
　　soughtfor，yettrembledtofind；Butitcameforthtofindme，untilthesleekslimnessOfthesummer-cladwomanmadesummero’erkind。
　　Therewetheonce-sunderedtogetherwereblended，Westrangers，unknownonce，werehiddenbynaught。IkissedandIwonderedhowdoubtwasallended，Howfriendlyherexcellentfairnesswaswrought。
　　RoundthehalloftheGardenthehotsunisburning，Butnomasternorminstrelgoesthereintheshade，Ithathneverawardentillcomesthereturning，Whenthemoonshallhanghighandallwindsshallbelaid。
　　WanedthedayandIhiedmeafield，andthereafterIsatwiththemightywhendaylightwasdone，Butwithgreatmenbesideme，midsthigh-heartedlaughter，Ideemedmeofallmenthegainfullestone。
　　TowisdomIhearkened；fortherethewisefatherCasttheseedofhislearningabroado’erthehall，Tillmen’sfacesdarkened，butminegladdenedratherWiththethoughtoftheknowledgeIknewoverall。
　　Sangminstrelsthestory，andwiththesong’swellingMenlookedoneachotherandgladweretheygrown，ButminewasthegloryofthetaleanditstellingHowthelovedandtheloverwerenaughtbutmineown。
　　Whenhewasdoneallkeptsilencetilltheyshouldknowwhetherthelordshouldpraisethesongorblame；andhesaidnaughtforagoodwhile，butsatasifpondering：butatlasthespake：
　　“Thouartyoung，andwouldthatwewereyoungalso！
　　Thysongissweet，anditpleasethme，whoamamanofwar，andhaveseenenoughandtospareofroughwork，andwouldanydayratherseeafairwomanthanabandofspears。
　　Butitshallpleasemyladywifeless：foroflove，andfairwomen，andtheirloversshehathseenenough；butofwarnothingsaveitsshowsandpomps；whereforeshedesirethtohearthereof。
　　Nowsingofbattle！”
　　Ralphthoughtawhileandbegantosmitetheharpwhileheconnedoverasongwhichhehadlearnedoneyule-tidefromachieftainwhohadcometoUpmeadsfromthefar-awayNorthland，andhadabidedtheretillspringwaswaningintosummer，andmeanwhilehetaughtRalphthissongandmanythingselse，andhisnamewasSirKarrWood-neb。ThissongnowRalphsangloudandsweet，thoughhewerenowathrallinanalienland：
　　Leavewethecup！Forthemoonisup，AndbrightisthegleamOftheripplingstream，ThatrunnethhisroadTotheoldabode，WherethewallsarewhiteInthemoonandthenight；
　　ThehouseoftheneighbourthatdraveusawayWhenstrifeendedlabouramidstofthehay，AndnoroadforourridingwasleftusbutoneWherethehill’sbrowishidingthatearth’swaysaredone，AndthesoundofthebillowscomesupatthelastLikethewindinthewillowsereautumnispast。
　　ButoftandagainComestheshipfromthemain，AndwecameoncemoreAndnoladingweboreButthepointandtheedge，Andtheironedledge，Andtheboltandthebow，Andthebaneofthefoe。TotheHouse’neaththemountainwecameinthemorn，Wherewelleththefountainupoverthecorn，Andthestreamisa-runningfastontotheHouseOftheneighboursuncunningwhoquakeatthemouse，Astheirslumberisbroken；
　　theyknownotforwhy；Sinceyestreenwasnottokenonearthorinsky。
　　Come，up，thenup！Leaveboardandcup，AndfollowthegleamOftheglitteringstreamThatleadeththeroadTotheoldabode，High-walledandwhiteInthemoonandthenight；WherelowliestheneighbourthatdraveusawaySleep-sunkfromhislabouramidstofthehay。Noroadforourridingisleftussaveone，Wherethehills’browishidingthecityundone，Andthewindinthewillowsiswithusatlast，Andthehouseofthebillowsisdoneando’er-past。
　　Haste！mountandhasteEretheshortnightwaste，Fornightandday，Lateturnedaway，DrawnighagainAllkissing-fain；
　　AndthemornandthemoonShallbemarriedfullsoon。
　　Soridewetogetherwithwealth-winningwand，Thesteelo’ertheleather，theashinthehand。Lo！whitewallsbeforeus，andhigharetheybuilt；Buttheluckthatoutworeusnowliesontheirguilt；Lo！theopengatebidingthefirstofthesun，Andtopeaceareweridingwhenslaughterisdone。
　　WhenRalphhaddonesinging，allfolkfelltopraisinghissong，whereastheLordhadpraisedtheotherone；buttheLordsaid，lookingatRalphaskancemeanwhile：“Yea，ifthatpleasethmenot，andItakebutlittlekeepofit，itshallpleasemywifetoherheart’sroot；andthatisthefirstthing。
　　Hastthouothersgoodstore，new-comer？”“Yea，lord。”
　　saidRalph。“Andcanstthoutelltalesofyoreagone，andofthefaysandsuch-like？Allthatshemusthave。”
　　“SomedealIcanofthatlore。”saidRalph。
　　ThentheLordsatsilent，andseemedtobepondering：
　　atlasthesaid，asiftohimself：“Yetthereisonething：
　　manyablenchercansingofbattle；andithathbeenseen，thatafairbodyofamaniswhilessoftamidstthehardhand-play。Thou！
　　Morfinn’sluck！artthouofanyuseinthetilt-yard？”
　　“Wiltthoutryme，lord？”saidRalph，lookingsomewhatbrisker。
　　SaidtheLord：“IdeemthatImayfindamanortwoforthee，thoughitisnotmuchourmannerhere；butnowgothou！
　　David，taketheladawaytohistent，andgethimaflaskofwineofthebesttohelpoutthymaunderingwithhim。”
　　Therewiththeyleftthetent，andRalphwalkedbyDavidsadlyandwithhangingheadatfirst；butinawhilehecalledtomindthat，whateverbetid，hislifewassafeasyet；
　　thateverydayhewasdrawingnighertotheWellattheWorld’sEnd；
　　andthatitwasmostlikethatheshallfallinwiththatDorotheaofhisdreamsomewhereonthewaythereto。
　　Sohelifteduphisheadagain，andwassingingtohimselfashestoopeddowntoenterintohistent。
　　Nextdaynaughthappedtotellofsavethattheyjourneyedon；
　　thedaywascloudy，sothatRalphsawnosignofthedistantmountains；
　　everthelandwasthesame，butbelikesomewhatmorebesetwithpinewoods；
　　theysawnofolkatallontheroad。SoatevenRalphsleptinhistent，andnonemeddledwithhim，savethatDavidcametotalkwithhimorheslept，andwasmerryandblithewithhim，andhebroughtwithhimOtter，thecaptainoftheguard，whowasgoodcompany。
　　Thusworethreedaysthatwerehazyandcloudy，andtheLordsentnomoreforRalph，whoontheroadspakeforthemorepartwithOtter，andlikedhimnotill；howbeititseemedofhimthathewouldmakenomoreofaman’slifethanofarabbit’saccordingashislordmightbidslayorletlive。
　　Thethreehazydayspast，itfelltorainforfourdays，sothatRalphcouldseelittleofthefaceoftheland；
　　buthenotedthattheywentupatwhiles，andneversomuchdownasup，sothattheywerewendinguphillonthewhole。
　　Ontheninthdayofhiscaptivitytherainceasedanditwassunnyandwarmbutsomewhathazy，sothatnaughtcouldbeseenafar，butthelandnear-handroseinlong，lowdownsnow，andwasquitetreeless，savewherewasahollowhereandthereandastreamrunningthroughit，wheregrewafewwillows，butaldersmoreabundantly。
　　ThisdayherodebyOtter，whosaidpresently：
　　“Well，younglingoftheNorth，to-morrowweshallseeanewgame，thouandI，iftheweatherbefair。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“andwhatlikeshallitbe？”SaidOtter，“Atmid-mornweshallcomeintoafairdaleamidstthedowns，wherebesomehousesandatoweroftheLord’s，sothatthatplaceiscalledtheDaleoftheTower：thereshallweabideawhiletogathervictual，adayortwo，orthreemaybe：
　　somyLordwillholdatourneythere：thatistosaythatI
　　myselfandsomefewothersshalltrythymanhoodsomewhat。”
　　“What？”saidRalph，“arethenewcolt’spacestobeproven？
　　Andhowifhefail？”
　　QuothOtter，laughing：“Failnot，Iredethee，ormylord’slovefortheeshallbesomethinglessthannothing。”
　　“Andthenwillheslayme？”saidRalph。SaidOtter：
　　“NayIdeemnot，atleastnotatfirst：hewillhavetheehometoUtterbol，tomakethemostofhisbadbargain，andthereshaltthoubeamereserving-thrall，eitherinthehouseorthefield：
　　wherethoushaltbewell-fedsaveintimesofscarcity，andbelikewellbeatenwithal。”SaidRalph，somewhatdowncast：
　　“Yea，Iamathrall，whowasonceaknight。Buthowifthoufailbeforeme？”Otterlaughedagain：“Thatisanothermatter；
　　whateverIdomyLordwillnotlosemeifhecanhelpit；
　　butasfortheotherswhoshallstandbeforethyvaliancy，therewillbesomewhowillcursethedaywhereonmylordboughtthee，ifthouturnestoutagoodspear，asyecallitinyourlands。
　　Howsoever，thatisnotthybusiness；andIbidtheefearnaught；
　　forthouseemesttobeamettlelad。”
　　Sotheytalked，andthatdayworeliketheothers，butthehazedidnotclearoff，andthesunwentdownred。