“ThouseestIambecomegreat？”saidhe。“Yea。”saidRalph，“Igivetheejoythereof！”SaidthenewLord：
　　“PerchancethouwiltbedeemingthatsinceIwasoncethywar-takenthrallIshouldgivemyselfuptothee：
　　butItelltheeIwillnot：forIhavemuchtodohere。
　　MoreoverIdidnotrunawayfromthee，butthourannestfromme，lad。”
　　ThereatinhisturnRalphfellalaughing，andwhenhemightspeakhesaid：
　　“Whatneedeththelordofallthesespearstobegoffhisservicetothepoorwanderingknight？”
　　ThenBullputhisarmsabouthim，andsaid：
　　“Iamfainatthesightofthee，timewasthouwertakindladandagoodmaster；yetnaughtsomerryasthoushouldesthavebeen；butnowIseethatgladnessplaysallaboutthyface，andsparklesinthineeyes；andthatisgood。
　　Butthesethyfellows？Ihaveseentheoldcarlebefore：
　　hewasdwellinginthewildwoodbecausehewasoverwisetolivewithotherfolk。Butthisyoungman，whomayhebe？
　　Orelse——yea，verily，itisayoungwoman。Yea，andnowIdeemthatitisthethrallofmybrotherBullNosy。
　　Thereforebyheritagesheisnowmine。”
　　Ralphheardthewordsbutsawnotthesmilingface，sowrothhewas；
　　thereforethebareswordwasinhisfistinatwinkling。
　　ButerehecouldsmiteBullcaughtholdofhiswrist，andsaid：
　　“Master，master，thouartbutasorrylawyer，orthouwouldsthavesaid：
　　’Thouartmythrall，andhowshallathrallhaveheritage？’
　　DostthounotseethatIcannotownhertillIbefree，andthatthouwiltnotgivememyfreedomsaveforhers？There，nowisallthematteroftheservicedulysettled，andIamfreeandaLord。
　　Andthisdamselisfreealso，and——yea，isshenotthywell-beloved，King’sSon？”
　　Ralphwassomewhatabashed，andsaid：“Icravethypardon，Lord，formisdoubtingthee：butthinkhowfeeblearewetwoloversamongstthehostsofthealiens。”
　　“Itiswell，itiswell。”saidBull，“andinverysoothIdeemtheemyfriend；andthisdamselwasmybrother’sfriend。
　　Sitdown，dearmaiden，Ibidthee；andthoualso，Omanoverwise；
　　andletusdrinkacup，andthenwewilltalkaboutwhatwemaydoforeachother。”
　　Sotheysatdownallonthegrass，andtheLordofUtterbolcalledforwine，andtheydranktogetherinthemerryseasonofMay；
　　andthenewLordsaid：“Herebewefriendscometogether，anditwerepityofourlivesifwemustneedssunderspeedily：
　　howbeit，itisthoumustruleherein，King’sSon；
　　forinmyeyesthouartstillgreaterthanI，Omymaster。
　　ForIcanseeinthineeyesandthygait，andinthinealso，maiden，thatyehavedrunkoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
　　ThereforeIprayyougentlyandheartilythatyecomehomewithmetoUtterbol。”
　　Ralphshookhishead，andanswered：“LordofUtterbol，Ibidtheeallthanksforthyfriendliness，butitmaynotbe。”
　　“Buttakenote。”saidBull，“thatallischangedthere，andithathbecomeamerrydwellingofmen。WehavecastdowntheRedPillar，andtheWhiteandtheBlackalso；anditisnolongeraplaceoftormentandfear，andcozeningandmurder；buttheverythrallsarehappyandfree-spoken。Nowcomeye，ifitwerebutforamoon’swearing：
　　Ishallbethereineightdays’time。Yea，LordRalph，thouwould’stseeoldacquaintancetherewithal：forwhenIslewthetyrant，whoforsoothowedmenolessthanhislifeforthemurderofmybrother，Imadeatonementtohiswidow，andweddedher：
　　afairwomanasthouwottest，lord，andofgoodkindred，andofnoillconditions，asiswellseennowthatsheliveshappydays。
　　ThoughIhaveheardsaythatwhileshewasunderthetyrantshewassomewhatroughwithherwomenwhenshewassad。Eh，fairsir！
　　butisitnotsothatshecastsheep’seyesonthee，timewas，inthissamedale？”
　　Ralphreddenedandanswerednaught；andBullspakeagain，laughing：
　　“Yea，soitis：shetoldmethatmuchherself，andafterwardsIheardmorefromherdamselAgatha，whotoldmethemerrytaleofthatdevicetheymadetocatchthee，andhowthoubrakestthroughthenet。Forsooth，thoughthisshetoldmenot，Ideemthatshewouldhavehadthesamegiftoftheeashermistresswould。Well，lad，luckyaretheywithwhomallwomenareinlove。
　　SonowIpritheetrustsomuchinthyluckastocomewithmetoUtterbol。”
　　QuothRalph：“Onceagain，LordofUtterbol，wethankthee；
　　butwhereasthouhastsaidthatthouhastmuchtodointhisland；evensoIhavealandwheredeedsawaitme。
　　ForIstolemyselfawayfrommyfatherandmother，andwhoknowswhathelptheyneedofmeagainstfoemen，andevildays；
　　andnowImightgivehelptothemwereIonceathome，andtothepeopleofthelandalso，whoareastout-heartedandvaliantandkindlyfolk。”
　　ThenewLord’sfacecloudedsomewhat，ashesaid：“Ifthineheartdraweththeetothykindred，thereisnomoretosay。
　　Asforme，whatIdidwasforkindred’ssake，andthenwhatfollowedafterwastheworkofneed。Well，letitbe！
　　Butsincewemustneedsparthastily，thisatleastIbidyou，thatyeabidewithmeforto-night，andthebanquetinthegreatpavilion。Howsoeveryemaybebusied，gainsaymenotthis；andto-morrowIshallfurtheryouonyourway，andgiveyouascoreofspearstofollowtheetoGoldburg。
　　ThenasforGoldburgandCheapingKnowe，seeyetoityourselves：
　　butbeyondCheapingKnoweandtheplaincountry，thynameisknown，andthelikenessoftheetoldinwords；andnomaninthosemountainsshallhurtorhinderthee，butallthoumeetestshallaidandfurtherthee。Moreover，atthefeastto-nightthoushaltseethyfriendOtter，andheandIbetwixtusshalltelltheehowI
　　cametoUtterbol，andofthechangeofdays，andhowitbetid。
　　Forheisnowmyright-handman，ashewasofthedeadman。
　　Forsooth，aftertheslayingIwouldhavehadhimtakethelordshipofUtterbol，buthewouldnot，soImusttakeitperforceorbeslain，andletanewmasterreigntherelittlebetterthantheold。
　　Wellthen，howsayestthou？Orwiltthourunfrommewithoutleave-taking，asthoudidstere-whileatGoldburg？”
　　Ralphlaughedathisword，andsaidthathewouldnotbesochurlishthistime，butwouldtakehisbiddingwithagoodheart；
　　andthereaftertheyfelltotalkingofmanythings。
　　ButRalphtooknoteofBull，thatnowhishairandbeardweretrimandhisraimentgoodly，forallhisroughspeechandhislaughterandheart-wholegibesandmocking，hisaspectandbearingwasnobleandknightly。
　　CHAPTER4
　　AFeastintheRedPavilionSoinawhiletheywentwithhimtotheTower，andtherewaswoman’sraimentofthebestgottenforUrsula，andafterwardsatnightfalltheywenttothefeastintheRedPavillionofUtterbol，whichawhileagothenow-slainLordofUtterbolhadletmake；
　　anditwasexceedingrichwithbroideryofpearlandgems：
　　sinceforsoothgemsandfairwomenwerewhatthelatelordhadlustedforthemost，andhavethemhewouldatthepriceofhowsoevermanytearsandgroans。Butthatpavilionwasyetinallwiseasitwaswonttobe，savingthattheBullhadsupplantedtheBearupontheCastle-wall。
　　Nowthewayfarersweretreatedwithallhonourandweresetuponthehigh-seat，Ralphupontheright-handoftheLord，andUrsulauponhisleft，andtheSageofSwevenhamoutfromher。
　　ButonRalph’srighthandwasatfirstavoidplace，wheretoafterawhilecameOtter，theoldCaptainoftheGuard。
　　Hecameinhastily，andasthoughhehadbutjusttakenhisarmouroff：
　　forhisraimentwasbutsuchasthemen-at-armofthatcountrywerewonttowearundertheirwar-gear，andwassomewhatstainedandworn；
　　whereastheotherknightsandlordswerearrayedgrandlyinsilksandfineclothembroideredandbegemmed。
　　OtterwasfainwhenhesawRalph，andkissedandembracedhim，andsaid：
　　“Forsooth，Isawbythyface，lad，thattheworldwouldbesoftbeforethee；
　　andnowthatIbeholdtheeIknowalreadythatthouhastwonthyquest；
　　andtheGodsonlyknowtowhathonourthoushaltattain。”
　　Ralphlaughedforjoyofhim，andyetsaidsoberly：“Astohonour，meseemsI
　　covetlittleworld’sgoods，savethatitmaybewellwithmyfolkathome。”
　　NeverthelessasthewordswereoutofhismouthhisthoughtwentbacktothetallmanwhomhehadfirstmetatthechurchyardgateofNetherton，anditseemedtohimthathewishedhisthriving，yea，andinalesserway，hewishedthesametoRogeroftheRope-walk，whereashedeemedthatbothofthese，eachinhisownway，hadbeentruetotheladywhomhehadlost。
　　ThenOtterfella-talkingtohimofthechangeofdaysatUtterbol，andhowthatitwastheLord’sintentthatacheapingtownshouldgrowupintheDaleoftheTower，andthatthewildernessbeyonditshouldbetilledandbuilded。
　　“And。”saidhe，“ifthisbedone，andthenewlordlivetoseeit，ashemay，beingbutyoungofyears，hemaybecomeexceedinglymighty，andifheholdoninthewaywhereashenowis，heshallbewell-belovedalso。”
　　Sotheyspakeofmanythings，andtherewasminstrelsyanddiversejoyance，tillatlasttheLordofUtterbolstoodupandsaid：“NowbringintheBull，thatwemayspeaksomewordsoverhim；forthisisagreatfeast。”
　　Ralphwonderedwhatbullthismightbewhereofhespake；buttheharpsandfiddlers，andallinstrumentsofmusicstruckupagayandgallanttune，andpresentlytherecameintothehallfourmenrichlyattired，whohelduponspearsacanopyofbawdekin，underwhichwentaman-at-armshelmed，andcladinbrightarmour，whoheldinhishandsagreatgoldencupfashionedliketoabull，andheboreitforthuntothedais，andgaveitintothehandsoftheLord。Thenstraightwayallthenoiseceased，andthegleeandclatterofthehall，andtherewasdeadsilence。
　　ThentheLordheldthecupaloftandsaidinaloudvoice：
　　“Hail，allyefolk！IswearbytheBull，andtheythatmadehim，thatinthreeyears’timeorlessIwillhavepurgedallthelandsofUtterbolofallstrong-thievesandcrueltyrants，betheybigorlittle，tillallbepeacebetwixtthemountainsandthemarkofGoldburg；andthewildernessshallblossomliketherose。
　　OrelseshallIdieinthepain。”
　　Therewithhedrankofthecup，andallmenshouted。ThenhesathimdownandbadehandthecuptoOtter；andOttertookthecupandlookedintothebowlandsawthewaveofwine，andlaughedandcriedout：
　　“Asforme，whatshallIswearbutthatIwillfollowtheBullthroughthickandthin，throughpeaceandunpeace，throughgriefandjoy。
　　Thisismyoath-swearing。”
　　Andhedrankmightilyandsatdown。
　　ThenturnedtheLordtoRalphandsaid：“Andthouwhoartmymaster，wiltthounottellthyfriendsandtheGodswhatthouwiltdo？”
　　“Nogreatmatter，belike。”saidRalph；“butifyewillit，Iwillspeakoutmymindthereon。”
　　“Wewillit。”saidtheLord。
　　ThenRalpharoseandtookthecupandlifteditandspake：
　　“ThisIswear，thatIwillgohometomykindred，yetontheroadwillInotgainsayhelptoanythatcravethit。
　　SomayallHallowshelpme！”
　　Therewithhedrank：andBullsaid：“Thisiswellsaid，Ohappyman！
　　Butnowthatmenhavedrunkwell，doyethreeandOttercomewithmeintotheTower，whereasthechambersaredightforyou，thatImaymakethemostofthisgooddaywhereinIhavemettheeagain。”
　　Sotheywentwithhim，andwhentheyhadsatdowninthegoodliestchamberoftheTower，andtheyhadbeenservedwithwineandspices，thenewLordsaidtoRalph：“Andnow，mymaster，wiltthounotasksomewhatconcerningme？”“Yea。”saidRalph，“IwillasktheetotellthetaleofhowthoucamestintothyLordship。”
　　SaidtheLord，“ThisshallyehearofmewithOttertohelpmeout。Hearken！”