Nowhiseyescleared，andhesawthatthosemenwereingoodlywar-gear，andborecoatsofplate，andcuir-bouilly，orofbrightsteel；theyheldlongspearsandweregirtwithgoodswords；therewasapennonwiththem，green，whereonwasdoneagoldentower，embattled，amidstoffourwhiteways；
　　andthesametokenboremanyofthemenontheircoatsandsleeves。
　　Untothissamepennonhewasbroughtbythetwomenwhohadtakenhim，andunderit，onawhitehorse，sataKnightbravelyarmedatallpointswiththeTowerandFourWaysonhisgreensurcoat；andbesidehimwasanancientman-at-arms，withnoughtbutanoakwreathonhisbarehead，andhiswhitebeardfallinglowoverhiscoat：butbehindthesetwainatallyoungman，alsoonawhitehorseandverygailyclad，upheldthepennon。
　　Ononesideofthesethreewerefivemen，unarmed，cladingreencoats，withaleaflesstreedoneonthemingold：theywerestoutcarles，beardedandfierce-faced：theirhandswereboundbehindtheirbacksandtheirfeettiedtogetherundertheirhorses’bellies。ThecompanyofthoseabouttheKnight，Ralphdeemed，wouldnumbertenscoremen。
　　SowhenthosetwainstayedRalphbeforetheKnight，heturnedtotheoldmanandsaid：
　　“Itisofnoavailaskingthislitherladifhebeofthemorno：
　　fornowillbehisanswer。Butwhatsayestthou，Oliver？”
　　TheancientmandrewclosertoRalphandlookedathimupanddownandallabout；forthosetwoturnedhimaboutasifhehadbeenajointoffleshontheroasting-jack；
　　andatlasthesaid：
　　“Hisbeardissprouting，elsemightyehavetakenhimforamaidoftheirs，oneofthoseofwhomwewot。ButtosaysoothIseemtoknowthefashionofhisgear，evenasDukeJacobknewJoseph’stabard。
　　Soaskhimwhenceheis，lord，andifhelie，thenIbidbindhimandleadhimaway，thatwemayhaveatruetaleoutofhim；
　　otherwiselethimgoandtakehischance；forwewillnotwastethebreadoftheGoodTownonhim。”
　　TheKnightlookedhardonRalph，andspaketohimsomewhatcourteously：
　　“Whenceartthou，fairSir，andwhatisthyname？forwehavemanyfoesinthewildwood。”
　　Ralphreddenedasheanswered：“IamofUpmeadsbeyondthedowncountry；andIpraytheeletmebegoneonmineerrands。
　　Itismeetthatthoudealwiththineownrobbersandreivers，butnotwithme。”
　　Thencriedoutoneoftheboundenmen：“Thouliest，lad，webenorobbers。”
　　ButheoftheKnight’scompanywhostoodbyhimsmotethemanonthemouthandsaid：“Holdthypeace，runagate！Thoushaltgivetongueto-morrowwhenthehangmanhaththeeunderhishands。”
　　TheKnighttooknoheedofthis；butturnedtotheancientwarriorandsaid：
　　“Hathhespokentruthsofar？”
　　“Yea，SirAymer。”quothOliver；“AndnowmeseemsIknowhimbetterthanheknowethme。”
　　TherewithheturnedtoRalphandsaid：“HowfarethLongNicholas，mylord？”
　　Ralphreddenedagain：“Heiswell。”saidhe。
　　ThensaidtheKnight：“Istheyoungmanofaworthyhouse，Oliver？”
　　Buteretheeldercouldspeak，Ralphbrakeinandsaid：
　　“Oldwarrior，Ibidtheenottotelloutmyname，asthoulovestNicholas。”
　　OldOliverlaughedandsaid：“Well，NicholasandIhavebeenfriendsinaway，aswellasfoes；andforthesakeoftheolddayshisnameshallhelpthee，younglord。”
　　ThenhesaidtohisKnight：“Yea，SirAymer，heisofagoodlyhouseandanancient；butthouhearesthowheadjurethme。
　　Yeshalllethisnamealone。”
　　TheKnightlookedsilentlyonRalphforawhile；thenhesaid：
　　“WiltthouwendwithustotheBurgoftheFourFriths，fairSir？
　　Wertthounotfaringthither？OrwhatelsedostthouintheWoodPerilous？”
　　Ralphturneditoverinhismind；andthoughhesawnocausewhyheshouldnotjoinhimselftotheircompany，yetsomethinginhisheartforbadehimtorisetotheflytooeagerly；sohedidbutsay：
　　“Iamseekingadventures，fairlord。”
　　TheKnightsmiled：“Thenmaystthoufillthybudgetwiththemifthougoestwithus。”quothhe。NowRalphdidnotknowhowhemightgainsaysomanymenatarmsinthelongrun，thoughhewerescarcewillingtogo；
　　sohemadenohastetoanswer；andeventherewithcameamanrunning，throughthewoodupfromthedale；along，leancarle，meetforrunning，withbroguesonhisfeet，andnoughtelsebutashirt；thecompanypartedbeforehimtorightandlefttolethimcometotheKnight，asthoughhehadbeenlookedfor；andwhenhewasbesidehim，theKnightleaneddownwhilethecarlespakesoftlytohimandallmendrewoutofear-shot。
　　AndwhenthecarlehadgivenhismessagetheKnightdrewhimselfstraightupinhissaddleagainandlifteduphishandandcriedout：
　　“Oliver！Oliver！leadonthewaythouwottest！Spur！spur，allmen！”
　　Therewithheblewoneblastfromahornwhichhungathissaddle-bow；
　　therunnerleaptupbehindoldOliver，andthewholecompanywentoffatasmarttrotsomewhatsouth-east，slantwiseofthecross-roads，wherethewoodwasnoughtcumberedwithundergrowth；andpresentlytheywereallgonetothelasthorse-tail，andnomantookanymorenoteofRalph。
　　AnotherAdventureintheWoodPerilousRalphleftaloneponderedalittle；andthoughtthathewouldbynomeansgohastilytotheBurgoftheFourFriths。
　　Saidhetohimself；Thiswant-wayisallunliketotheonenearourhouseathome：forbelikeadventuresshallbefallhere：
　　Iwillevenabidehereforanhourortwo；butwillhavemyhorsebymeandkeepawake，lestsomethinghaptomeunawares。
　　TherewithhewhistledforFalconhishorse，andthebeastcametohim，andwhinniedforloveofhim，andRalphsmiledandtiedhimtoasaplinganigh，andhimselfsatdownonthegrass，andponderedmanythings；
　　astowhatfolkwereaboutatUpmeads，andhowhisbrethrenwerefaring；
　　anditwasnowaboutfivehoursafternoon，andthesun’sraysfellaslantthroughtheboughsofthenobleoaks，andthescentofthegrassandbrackentroddenbythehorse-hoofsofthatcompanywentupintothewarmsummerair。
　　Awhilehesatmusingbutawake，thoughthefaintsoundofalittlestreaminthedalebelowmingledwithallthelessernoisesoftheforestdiditsbesttosoothehimtosleepagain：andpresentlyhaditswaywithhim；
　　forheleanedhisheadbackonthebracken，andinaminuteortwowassleepingoncemoreanddreamingsomedreammadeupofmasterlessmemoriesofpastdays。
　　Whenheawokeagainhelaystillalittlewhile，wonderingwhereintheworldhewas，butasthedrowsinesslefthim，hearoseandlookedabout，andsawthatthesunwassinkinglowandgildingtheoakbolesred。
　　Hestoodawhileandwatchedthegambolsofthreehares，whohaddrawnnighhimwhileheslept，andnownotedhimnot；andalittlewayhesawthroughthetreesahartandtwohindsgoingslowlyfromgrasstograss，feedinginthecooleventide；butpresentlyhesawthemraisetheirheadsandambleoffdowntheslopeofthelittledale，andtherewithhehimselfturnedhisfacesharplytowardthenorth-west，forhewasfine-earedaswellassharp-eyed，andonalittlewindwhichhadjustarisencamedowntohimthesoundofhorse-hoofsoncemore。
　　SohewentuptoFalconandloosedhim，andstoodbyhimbridleinhand，andlookedtoitthathisswordwashandytohim：
　　andhehearkened，andthesounddrewnigherandnighertohim。
　　Thenlightlyhegotintothesaddleandgatheredthereinsintohislefthand，andsatpeeringupthetroddenwood-glades，lestheshouldhavetorideforhislifesuddenly。Therewithheheardvoicestalkingroughlyandamanwhistling，andathwartthegladeofthewoodfromthenorthwest，orthereabout，camenewfolk；
　　andhesawatoncethattherewenttwomena-horsebackandarmed；
　　sohedrewhisswordandabodethemclosetothewant-ways。Presentlytheysawtheshineofhiswar-gear，andthentheycamebutalittlenighereretheydrewrein，andsatontheirhorseslookingtowardhim。
　　ThenRalphsawthattheywerearmedandcladasthoseofthecompanywhichhadgonebefore。Oneofthearmedmenrodeahorse-lengthafterhisfellow，andborealongspearoverhisshoulder。
　　Buttheotherwhorodefirstwasgirtwithasword，andhadalittleaxehangingabouthisneck，andwithhisrighthandheseemedtobeleadingsomething，Ralphcouldnotseewhatatfirst，ashisleftsidewasturnedtowardRalphandthewant-way。
　　Now，asRalphlooked，hesawthatatthespearman’ssaddle-bowwashungaman’shead，red-hairedandred-bearded；forthismannowdrewalittlenigher，andcriedouttoRalphinaloudandmerryvoice：
　　“Hail，knight！whitherawaynow，thatthouridestthegreen-woodswordinhand？”
　　Ralphwasjustabouttoanswersomewhat，whenthefirstmanmovedalittlenigher，andashedidsoheturnedsothatRalphcouldseewhatbetidonhisrighthand；andlo！hewasleadingawomanbyaropetiedaboutherneckthoughherhandswereloose，asthoughhewerebringingacowtomarket。
　　Whenthemanstayedhishorseshecameforwardandstoodwithintheslackoftheropebythehorse’shead，andRalphcouldseeherwell，thatthoughshewasnottosaynaked，herraimentwasbutscanty，forshehadnoughttocoverhersaveoneshortandstraitlittlecoatoflinen，andshoesonherfeet。
　　YetRalphdeemedhertobeofsomedegree，whereashecaughtthegleamofgoldandgemsonherhands，andtherewasagoldenchapletonherhead。
　　Shestoodnowbythehorse’sheadwithherhandsfolded，lookingon，asifwhatwastidingandtobetide，werebutaplaydoneforherpleasure。
　　SowhenRalphlookedonher，hewassilentawhile；andthespearmancriedoutagain：“’Ho，youngman，wiltthouspeak，orartthoudumb-founderedforfearofus？”
　　ButRalphknithisbrows，andwasfirstredandthenpale；
　　forhewasbothwroth，anddoubtfulhowtogotowork；
　　buthesaid：
　　“Iridetoseekadventures；andheremeseemethisonecometohand。
　　Orwhatwillyewiththewoman？”
　　Saidthemanwhohadthewomanintow：“Troublenotthineheadtherewith；
　　weleadhertoherduedoom。Asforthee，begladthatthouartnotherfellow；sinceforsooththouseemestnottobeoneofthem；
　　sogothywaysinpeace。”
　　“NofootfurtherwillIgo。”saidRalph，“tillyeloosethewomanandlethergo；orelsetellmewhatherworstdeedis。”
　　Themanlaughed，andsaid：“Thatwerealongtaletotell；anditislittlelikethatthoushaltlivetoheartheendingthereof。”
　　Therewithhewaggedhisheadatthespearman，whosuddenlylethisspearfallintotherest，andspurred，anddraveonatRalphallhemight。
　　Thereandthenhadthetaleended，butRalph，whowaswary，thoughhewereyoung，andhadFalconwellinhand，turnedhiswristandmadethehorseswerve，sothattheman-at-armsmissedhisattaint，butcouldnotdrawreinspeedilyenoughtostayhishorse；
　　andashepassedbyallbowedoverhishorse’sneck，Ralphgathisswordtwo-handedandroseinhisstirrupsandsmotehismightiest；
　　andtheswordcaughtthefoemanontheneckbetwixtsalletandjack，andnoughtheldbeforeit，neitherleathernorring-mail，sothattheman’sheadwasnighsmittenoff，andhefellclatteringfromhissaddle：
　　yethisstirrupsheldhim，sothathishorsewentdragginghimonearthashegalloppedoverroughandsmoothbetwixtthetreesoftheforest。
　　ThenRalphturnedabouttodealwithhisfellow，andeventhroughthewrathandfuryoftheslayingsawhimclearandbrightagainstthetreesashesathandlinghisaxedoubtfully，butthewomanwasfallenbackagainsomewhat。
　　ButevenasRalphraisedhisswordandprickedforward，thewomansprangaslightasaleopardontothesaddlebehindthefoeman，andwoundherarmsabouthimanddraggedhimbackjustashewasraisinghisaxetosmiteher，andasRalphrodeforwardshecriedouttohim，“Smitehim，smite！
　　OlovelycreatureofGod！”
　　TherewithwasRalphbesidethem，andthoughhewerelothtoslayamanheldinthearmsofawoman，yethefearedlestthemanshouldslayherwithsomeknife-strokeunlesshemadehaste；
　　sohethrusthisswordthroughhim，andthemandiedatonce，andfellheadlongoffhishorse，draggingdownthewomanwithhim。
　　ThenRalphlighteddownfromhishorse，andthewomanroseuptohim，herwhitesmockallbloodywiththeslainman。
　　Neverthelesswassheascalmandstatelybeforehim，asifsheweresittingonthedaisofafairhall；soshesaidtohim：
　　“Youngwarrior，thouhastdonewellandknightly，andIshalllooktoitthatthouhavethyreward。AndnowIredetheegonottotheBurgoftheFourFriths；forthistaleoftheeshallgetaboutandtheyshalltakethee，ifitwereoutoftheveryFrith-stool，andtherefortheeshouldbethescourgeandthegibbet；
　　fortheyofthatBurgberobbersandmurderersmerciless。
　　Yetwellitwerethatthouridehencepresently；forthosebebehindmytormentorswhomthouhastslain，whowillbeasanhosttothee，andthoumaystnotdealwiththem。
　　Ifthoufollowmyrede，thouwilttakethewaythatgoethhenceeastaway，andthenshaltthoucometoHamptonunderScaur，wherethefolkarepeaceableandfriendly。”