Thereinhefoundaladoffifteenwinters，andamaidenspinning，theytwoalone，whohailedhimandaskedhispleasure，andhebadethembringhimmeatanddrink，andlooktohishorse，forthathehadamindtorestawhile。Sotheybroughthimbreadandflesh，andgoodwineofthehill-side，inalittlehallwellarrayedasofitskind；
　　andhesatdownandthedamselservedhimattable，butthelad，whohadgonetoseetohishorse，didnotcomeback。
　　Sowhenhehadeatenanddrunk，andthedamselwasstillthere，helookedonherandsawthatshewassadanddroopingofaspect；
　　andwhereasshewasafairmaiden，Ralph，nowthathewasfull，felltopityingher，andaskedherwhatwasamiss。“For。”saidhe，“thouartfairandailestnought；thatiscleartosee；
　　neitherdwellestthouinpenury，butbyseeminghastenoughandtospare。
　　Orartthouaservantinthishouse，andhathanyonemisusedthee？”
　　Sheweptathiswords，forindeedhespokesoftlytoher；
　　thenshesaid：“Younglord，thouartkind，anditisthykindnessthatdraweththetearsfromme；elseitwerenotwelltoweepbeforeayoungman：thereforeIpraytheepardonme。
　　Asforme，Iamnoservant，norhasanyonemisusedme：
　　thefolkroundaboutaregoodandneighbourly；andthishouseandthecroft，andavineyardhardby，allthatismineownandmybrother’s；thatistheladwhohathgonetotendthinehorse。Yea，andweliveinpeacehereforthemostpart；
　　forthisthorp，whichiscalledBourtonAbbas，isalandoftheAbbeyofHigham；thoughitbetheoutermostofitslandsandtheAbbotisagoodlordandadefenceagainsttyrants。
　　Alliswellwithmeifonethingwerenot。”
　　“Whatisthyneedthen？”saidRalph，“ifperchanceImightamendit。”
　　Andashelookedonherhedeemedheryetfairerthanhehaddoneatfirst。
　　Butshestayedherweepingandsobbingandsaid：“Sir，IfearmethatI
　　havelostadearfriend。”“Howthen。”saidhe，“whyfearestthou，andknowestnot？doththyfriendliesickbetweenlifeanddeath？”
　　“OSir。”shesaid，“itistheWoodwhichistheevilanddisease。”
　　“Whatwoodisthat？”saidhe。
　　Shesaid：“TheWoodPerilous，thatliethbetwixtusandtheBurgoftheFourFriths，andallabouttheBurg。And，Sir，ifyebemindedtoridetotheBurgto-day，doitnot，forthroughthewoodmustthouwendthereto；andyeareyoungandlovely。
　　Thereforetakemyrede，andabidetilltheChapmenwendthitherfromHigham，whoridemanyincompany。For，lookyou，fairlord，yehaveaskedofmygrief，andthisitisandnoughtelse；
　　thatmyveryearthlyloveandspeech-friendrodefivedaysagotowardtheBurgoftheFourFrithsallalonethroughtheWoodPerilous，andhehasnotcomeback，thoughwelookedtoseehiminthreedays’wearing：buthishorsehascomeback，andthereinsandthesaddleallbloody。”
　　Andshefella-weepingwiththetellingofthetale。ButRalphsaidforheknewnotwhattosay：“Keepagoodheart，maiden；maybeheissafeandsound；oftareyoungmenfondtowanderwide，evenasImyself。”
　　Shelookedathimhardandsaid：“Ifthouhaststolenthyselfawayfromthemthatlovethee，thouhastdoneamiss。
　　Thoughthouartalord，andsofairasIseethee，yetwillI
　　telltheesomuch。”
　　Ralphreddenedandanswerednought；butdeemedthemaidenbothfairandsweet。Butshesaid：“Whetherthouhastdonewellorill，donoworse；
　　butabidetilltheChapmencomefromHigham，ontheirwaytotheBurgoftheFourFriths。Heremaystthoulodgewellandsafelyifthouwilt。
　　Orifourhallbenotdaintyenoughforthee，thengobacktoHigham：
　　Iwarrantmethemonkswillgivetheegoodguestingaslongasthouwilt。”
　　“Thouartkind，maiden。”saidRalph，“butwhyshouldItarryforanhost？andwhatshouldIfearintheWood，asevilasitmaybe？
　　Onemanjourneyingwithlittlewealth，andunknown，andhenoweakling，butbearinggoodweapons，hathnoughttodreadofstrong-thieves，whoeverrobwhereitiseasiestandgainfullest。AndwhatworsemayImeetthanstrong-thieves？”
　　“Butthoumayestmeetworse。”shesaid；andtherewithfella-weepingagain，andsaidamidsthertears：“Owearyonmylife！AndwhyshouldIheedtheewhennoughtheedethme，neithertheSaintsofGod’sHouse，northeMasterofit；northefatherandthemotherthatwereoncesopiteouskindtome？
　　OifImightbutdrinkadraughtfromtheWELLATTHEWORLD’SEND！”
　　Heturnedaboutonherhastilyatthatword；forhehadrisentodepart；
　　beinggrievedathergriefandwishfultobeawayfromit，sincehemightnotamendit。Butnowhesaideagerly：
　　“WherethenisthatWell？Knowyeofitinthisland？”
　　“AtleastIknowthehearsaythereof。”shesaid；“butasnowthoushaltknownomorefrommethereof；lestthouwanderthewiderinseekingit。
　　Iwouldnothavethylifespilt。”
　　Everashelookedonherhethoughtherstillfairer；
　　andnowhelookedlongonher，sayingnought，andsheonhiminlikewise，andthebloodrosetohercheeksandherbrow，butshewouldnotturnherfromhisgaze。Atlasthesaid：
　　“Wellthen，Imustdepart，nomorelearnedthanIcame：
　　butyetamIlesshungryandthirstythanIcame；andhavethouthankstherefor。”
　　TherewithhetookfromhispouchagoldpieceofUpmeads，whichwasgood，andofthetouchoftheEasterlings，andhelditouttoher。
　　Andsheputoutheropenhandandheputthemoneyinit；butthoughtitgoodtoholdherhandawhile，andshegainsayedhimnot。
　　Thenhesaid：“Wellthen，Imustneedsdepartwiththingsleftastheyare：
　　wiltthoubidthybrotherbringhithermyhorse，fortimepresses。”
　　“Yea。”shesaidandherhandwasstillinhis，“Yetdothineutmost，yetshaltthounotgettotheBurgbeforenightfall。
　　Owiltthounottarry？”
　　“Nay。”hesaid，“myheartwillnotsufferit；lestIdeemmyselfadastard。”
　　Thenshereddenedagain，butasifshewerewroth；andshedrewherhandawayfromhisandsmoteherpalmstogetherthriceandcriedout：
　　“HoHugh！bringhithertheKnight’shorseandbespeedy！”
　　Andshewenthitherandthitheraboutthehallandintothebutteryandback，puttingawaythevictualandvesselsfromtheboardandmakingasifsheheededhimnot：andRalphlookedonher，anddeemedthateachwayshemovedwasbetterthanthelast，soshapelyoffashionshewas；
　　andagainhebethoughthimoftheEven-songoftheHighHouseatUpmeads，andhowitbefittedher；forshewentbarefootafterthemannerofmaidenswhoworkafield，andherfeetweretannedwiththesunofhayharvest，butasshapelyasmightbe；butshewascladgoodlywithal，inagreengownwroughtwithflowers。
　　Sohewatchedhergoingtoandfro；andatlasthesaid：
　　“Maiden，wiltthoucomehitheralittle，beforeIdepart？”
　　“Yea。”shesaid；andcameandstoodbeforehim：
　　andhedeemedthatshewasscarcesosadasshehadbeen；
　　andshestoodwithherhandsjoinedandhereyesdowncast。
　　Thenhesaid：
　　“NowIdepart。YetIwouldsaythis，thatIamsorryofthysorrow：
　　andnowsinceIshallneverseetheemore，smallwouldbetheharmifI
　　weretokissthylipsandthyface。”
　　Andtherewithhetookherhandsinhisanddrewhertohim，andputhisarmsaboutherandkissedhermanytimes，andshenothinglothebyseeming；
　　andhefoundherassweetasMayblossom。
　　Thereaftershesmiledonhim，yetscarceforgladness，andsaid：
　　“ItisnotallsosurethatIshallnotseetheeagain；
　　yetshallIdototheeasthouhastdonetome。”
　　Therewithshetookhisfacebetweenherhands，andkissedhimwell-favouredly；
　　sothatthehourseemedgoodtohim。
　　Thenshetookhimbythehandandledhimout-a-doorstohishorse，wherebytheladhadbeenstandingagoodwhile；andhewhenhesawhissistercomeoutwiththefairknighthescowledonthem，andhandledaknifewhichhungathisgirdle；butRalphheededhimnought。
　　Asforthedamsel，sheputherbrotheraside，andheldthestirrupforRalph；andwhenhewasinthesaddleshesaidtohim：
　　“Allluckgowiththee！ForsoothIdeemtheesaferintheWoodthanmywordssaid。VerilyIdeemthatifthouwerttomeetacompanyoffoemen，thouwouldestcompelthemtodothybidding。”
　　“Farewelltotheemaiden。”saidRalph，“andmaystthoufindthybelovedwholeandwell，andthatspeedily。Fare-well！”
　　Shesaidnomore；soheshookhisreinandrodehisways；butlookedoverhisshoulderpresentlyandsawherstandingyetbarefootonthedustyhighwayshadinghereyesfromtheafternoonsunandlookingafterhim，andhewavedhishandtoherandsowenthiswaysbetweenthehousesoftheThorp。
　　RalphComethtotheWoodPerilous。AnAdventureThereinNowwhenhewasclearoftheThorptheroadtookhimoutofthedale；andwhenhewasonthehill’sbrowhesawthatthelandwasofotherfashionfromthatwhichlaybehindhim。
　　Fortheroadwentstraightthrougharoughwaste，nopasture，saveformountainsheeporgoats，withafewbushesscatteredaboutit；andbeyondthisthelandroseintoalongridge；
　　andontheridgewasawoodthickwithtrees，andnobreakinthem。
　　Soonherode，andsoonpassedthatwaste，whichwasdryandparched，andtheafternoonsunwashotonit；sohedeemeditgoodtocomeundertheshadowofthethicktreeswhichatthefirstwerewhollybeechtrees，foritwasnowthehottestoftheday。
　　Therewasstillabeatenwaybetweenthetree-boles，thoughnotoverwide，albeit，ahighway，sinceitpiercedthewood。
　　Sotherebyhewentatasoftpaceforthesavingofhishorse，andthoughtbutlittleofallhehadbeentoldoftheperilsoftheway，andnotalittleofthefairmaidwhomhehadleftbehindattheThorp。
　　Afterawhilethethickbeech-woodgaveout，andhecameintoaplacewheregreatoaksgrew，fairandstately，asthoughsomelord’swood-reevehadtakencarethattheyshouldnotgrowoverclosetogether，andbetwixtthemthegreenswardwasfine，unbroken，andflowery。
　　Therebyasherodehebehelddeer，bothbuckandhartandroe，andotherwildthings，butforalongwhilenoman。
　　Theafternoonworeandstillherodetheoakwood，anddeemeditagoodlyforestforthegreatestkingonearth。
　　Atlasthecametowhereanotherroadcrossedthewayhefollowed，andaboutthecrosswaywasthegroundcleareroftrees，whilebeyonditthetreesgrewthicker，andtherewassomeunderwoodofhollyandthornasthegroundfelloffastowardsalittledale。
　　ThereRalphdrewrein，becausehedoubtedinhismindwhichwashisrightroadtowardtheBurgoftheFourFriths；sohegotoffhishorseandabodealittle，ifperchanceanymightcomeby；
　　helookedabouthim，andnotedontheroadthatcrossedhis，andtheswardaboutit，thesignofmanyhorseshavinggoneby，anddeemedthattheyhadpassedbutalittlewhile。
　　Sohelayonthegroundtoresthimandlethishorsestrayaboutandbitethegrass；forthebeastlovedhimandwouldcomeathiscallorhiswhistle。
　　Ralphwasdrowsywhenhelaydown，andthoughhesaidtohimselfthathewouldnowisegotosleep，yetasofthappens，hehadnodefencetomakeagainstsleepiness，andpresentlyhishandsrelaxed，hisheadfellaside，andhesleptquietly。
　　Whenhewokeupinalittlespaceoftime，heknewatoncethatsomethinghadawakedhimandthathehadnothadhissleepout；
　　forinhisearswasthetramplingofhorse-hoofsandtheclashingofweaponsandloudspeechofmen。Soheleaptuphastily，andwhilehewasyetscarceawake，tooktowhistlingonhishorse；
　　buteventherewiththosemenwereuponhim，andtwocameuptohimandlaidholdofhim；andwhenheaskedthemwhattheywould，theybadehimholdhispeace。