foryonderoldwisemanIhaveseenhereerstwithourheavenlyLady。
　　Butthoughthisfairwomanmaybehersister，itisnotshe。
　　Sotellmewhatisbecomeofher，foritislongsincewehaveseenher；
　　andwhatthoutellestus，thatsameshallwetrow，evenasifthouwertherangel。ForIspakewiththee，itisnightwoyearsagone，whenthouwertabidingthecomingofourLadyinthecastleyonderButnowIseeoftheethatthouartbrighter-faced，andmightierofaspectthanaforetime，anditisinmymindthattheLadyofAbundancemusthavelovedtheeandholpenthee，andblessedtheewithsomegreatblessing。”
　　SaidRalph：“Oldman，canstthoufeelsorrow，andcanstthoubearit？”
　　Thecarleshookhishead。“Iwotnot。”saidhe，“Ifearthywords。”
　　SaidRalph：“Itwerenaughttosaylessthanthetruth；andthisistheverytruth，thatthoushaltneverseethyLadyanymore。
　　Iwasthelastlivingmanthateversawheralive。”
　　Thenhespakeinaloudvoiceandsaid：“Lament，yepeople！fortheLadyofAbundanceisdead；yetsureIamthatshesendeththismessagetoyou，Liveinpeace，andloveyetheworksoftheearth。”
　　Butwhentheyheardhim，theoldmancovereduphisfacewiththefoldsofhisgown，andallthatfolkbrakeforthintoweeping，andcryingout：
　　“Woeforus！theLadyofAbundanceisdead！”andsomeoftheyoungermencastthemselvesdownontotheearth，andwallowed，weepingandwailing：
　　andtherewasnomantherethatseemedasifheknewwhichwaytoturn，orwhattodo；andtheirfaceswerefoolishwithsorrow。Yetforsoothitwasratherthecarlesthanthequeanswhomadeallthislamentation。
　　Atlasttheoldmanspake：“Fairsir，yehavebroughtusheavytidings，andweknownothowtoaskyoutotellusmoreofthetale。
　　Yetifthoumight’stbuttellushowtheLadydied？
　　Woe’smefortheword！”
　　SaidRalph：“Shewasslainwiththesword。”
　　Theoldmandrewhimselfupstiffandstark，theeyesofhimglitteredunderhiswhitehair，andwrathchangedhisface，andtheothermen-folkthrongedthemtohearkenwhatmoreshouldbesaid。
　　Buttheelderspakeagain：“Tellmewhoitwasthatslewher，forsurelyshallIslayhim，ordieinthepainelse。”
　　SaidRalph：“Becontent，thoumaystnotslayhim；hewasagreatandmightyman，abaronwhoboreagoldensunonabluefield。
　　Thoumaystnotslayhim。”“Yea。”saidtheoldman，“butIwill，orheme。”
　　“Liveinpeace。”saidRalph，“forIslewhimthenandthere。”
　　Theoldmanheldhispeaceawhile，andthenhesaid：
　　“Iknowtheman，forhehathbeenhereaforetime，andnotsolongago。
　　Butifhebedead，hehathabrotheryet，anexceedingmightyman：
　　hewillbecomingheretovexusandminishus。”
　　SaidRalph：“HewillnotstirfromwhereheliestillEarth’sbonesbebroken，formyswordlayinhisbodyyesterday。”
　　Theoldmanstoodsilentagain，andtheothercarlesthrongedhim；butthewomanstoodaloofstaringonRalph。
　　ThentheeldercameuptoRalphandkneltbeforehimandkissedhisfeet；thenheturnedandcalledtohimthreeoftheotherswhowereofthestoutestandmoststalwarth，andhespakewiththemawhile，andthenhecametoRalphagain，andagainkneltbeforehimandsaid：“Lord，yehavecometous，andfoundusvoidofcomfort，sincewehavelostourLady。
　　Butweseeinthee，thatshehathlovedtheeandblessedthee，andthouhastslainherslayerandhiskindred。
　　Andweseeoftheealsothatthouartagoodlord。
　　Othecomforttous，therefore，ifthouwouldestbeourLord！
　　Wewillservetheetrulysofaraswemay：yea，evenifthoubebesetbyfoes，wewilltakebowandbillfromthewall，andstandroundabouttheeandfightforthee。
　　Onlythoumustnotaskustogohencefromthisplace：
　　forweknownaughtbutthePlainofAbundance，andtheedgesofthewood，andtheBrethrenoftheHouseoftheThorn，whoarenotfarhence。Nowwepraytheebythyfathersnottonaysayus，sosoreasthouhastmadeourhearts。
　　Alsoweseeaboutthyneckthesame-likepairofbeadswhichourLadywaswonttobear，andwedeemthatyewereinonetaletogether。”
　　ThenwasRalphsilentawhile，buttheSagespaketotheelder：
　　“Oldman，howgreatisthelossoftheLadytoyou？”
　　“Heavyloss，wiseoldman。”saidthecarle，“asthouthyselfmaystknow，havingknownher。”
　　“Andwhatdidsheforyou？”saidtheSage。Saidtheelder：
　　“Weknowthatshewasgracioustous；neverdidshelaytaxortaleonus，andwhilesshewouldgiveusofherstore，andthatoften，andabundantly。Wedeemalsothateverytimewhenshecametousourincreasebecamemoreplenteous，whichiswellseenbythis，thatsinceshehathceasedtocome，theseasonshavebeenniggarduntous。”
　　TheSagesmiledsomewhat，andtheoldmanwenton：
　　“Butchieflytheblessingwastoseeherwhenshecametous：
　　forverilyitseemedthatwhereshesetherfeetthegrassgrewgreener，andthattheflowersblossomedfairerwheretheshadowofherbodyfell。”
　　Andtherewiththeoldmanfella-weepingagain。
　　TheSageheldhispeace，andRalphstillkeptsilence；andnowofthesemenalltheyoungeroneshadtheireyesuponUrsula。
　　AfterawhileRalphspakeandsaid：“Oelder，andyefolkofthePeopleofAbundance，trueitisthatyourLadywhoisdeadlovedme，anditisthroughherthatIambecomeaFriendoftheWell。
　　NowmeseemeththoughyehavelostyourLady，whomyesolovedandworshipped，Godwotnotwithoutcause，yetIwotnotwhyyenowcryoutforamaster，sinceyedwellhereinpeaceandquietandallwealth，andtheFathersoftheThornareheretodogoodtoyou。Yet，ifyewillitinsooth，IwillbecalledyourLord，inmemoryofyourLadywhomyeshallnotseeagain。AndastimewearsIwillcomeandlookonyouandhearkentoyourneeds：
　　andifyecometofearthatanyshouldfalluponyouwiththestronghand，thensendyeamessagetome，RalphofUpmeads，downbythewater，andIwillcometoyouwithsuchfollowingasneedbe。
　　Andasforservice，thisonlyIlayuponyou，thatyelooktotheCastleandkeepitingoodorder，andwarditagainstthievesandrunagates，andgiveguestingthereintoanywanderingknightorpilgrim，orhonestgoodman，whoshallcometoyou。
　　Nowisallsaid，mymasters，andIprayyouletusdepartinpeace；
　　fortimepresses。”
　　Thenalltheyandthistimewomenaswellasmencriedoutjoyfully：
　　“Hailtoourlord！andlonglifetoourhelper。”Andthewomenwithaldrewnearertohim，andsomecamecloseuptohim，asiftheywouldtouchhimorkisshishand，butbyseemingdurstnot，butstoodblushingbeforehim，andhelookedonthem，smilingkindly。
　　Buttheoldmanlaidhishandonhiskneeandsaid：
　　“Lord，wouldstthounotlightdownandenterthyCastle；
　　fornonehathmorerighttherenowthanthou。
　　ThePrioroftheThornhathtoldusthatthereisnolineageoftheLadylefttoclaimit；andnoneothermighteverhaveclaimeditsavetheBaronofSunway，whomthouhastslain。
　　Andelsewouldwehaveslainhim，sinceheslewourLady。”
　　Ralphshookhisheadandsaid：“Nay，oldfriend，andnewvassal，thiswemaynotdo：wemustonspeedily，forbelikethereisworkforustodonearerhome。”
　　“Yea，Lord。”saidthecarle，“butatleastlightdownandsitforawhileunderthisfairoak-treeintheheatoftheday，andeatamorselwithus，anddrinkacup，thatthyluckmayabidewithuswhenthouartgone。”
　　Ralphwouldnotnaysayhim；soheandallofthemgotofftheirhorses，andsatdownonthegreengrassundertheoak：
　　andthatpeoplegatheredaboutandsatdownbythem，savethatamanyofthewomenwenttotheirhousestofetchoutthevictual。
　　Meanwhilethecarlesfelltospeechfreelywiththewayfarers，andtoldthemmuchconcerningtheirlittleland，wereithearsay，orstarksooth：suchastalesofthewightsthatdweltinthewood，wodehouses，andelf-women，anddwarfs，andsuchlike，andhowfearfulitweretodealwithsuchcreatures。
　　Amongstothermatterstheytoldhowahermit，aholyman，hadcometodwellinthewood，inaclearingbutalittlewaythencetowardthenorth-west。ButwhenRalphaskedifhedweltonthewaytothefordoftheSwellingFlood，theyknewnotwhathemeant；
　　forthewoodwastothemasawall。
　　HereontheSageheldoneoftheyoungermenintalk，andtaughthimwhathemightofthewaytotheBurgoftheFourFriths，sothattheymightverilysendamessengertoUpmeadsifneedwere。
　　Butthecountryyouthsaidtherewasnoneedtothinkthereof，asnomanoftheirswoulddarethejourneythroughthewood，andthatiftheyhadneedofamessenger，oneoftheFathersoftheThornwoulddotheirerrand，whereastheywereholymen，andknewthefaceoftheworldfullwell。
　　Nowinthiswhilethefolkseemedtohavegottentheircourageagain，andtobecheery，andtohavelosttheirgrieffortheLady：
　　andofthemaidensleftabouttheoakweremorethantwoorthreeveryfair，whostoodgazingatRalphasiftheywereexceedingfainofhim。
　　Butamidstthesethingscamebackthewomenwiththevictual；
　　towitbreadinbaskets，andcheesesbothfreshandold，andhoney，andwood-strawberries，andeggscookeddiversely，andskewersofwhitewoodwithgobbetsofroastedlamb’sflesh，andsaladgoodplenty。AllthesetheyborefirsttoRalphandUrsula，andtheirtwofellows，andthendealtthemtotheirownfolk：
　　andtheyfeastedandweremerryindespiteofthattaleofeviltidings。
　　Theybroughtalsobowlsandpitchersofwinethatwasgoodandstrong，andcideroftheirorchards，andcalledmanyahealthtothenewLordandhiskindred。
　　Thusthentheyabodea-feastingtillthesunwaswesteringandtheshadowswaxedaboutthem，andthenatlastRalphroseupandcalledtohorse，andtheotherwayfarersarosealso，andthehorseswereleduptothem。Thenthemaidens，madeboldbythejoyofthefeast，andbeingstirredtotheheartbymuchbeholdingofthisbelovedLord，castofftheirshamefacednessandcrowdedabouthim，andkissedhisraimentandhishands：
　　someeven，thoughtrembling，andmoreforlovethanfear，prayedhimforkisses，andhe，nothingloath，laughedmerrilyandlaidhishandsontheirshouldersortookthembythechins，andsethislipstothesweetnessoftheircheeksandtheirlips，ofthosethataskedandthosethatrefrained；sothattheirheartsfailedthemforloveofhim，andwhenhewasgone，theyknewnothowtogobacktotheirhouses，ortheplacesthatwerefamiliartothem。
　　Therewithheandhisgotintotheirsaddlesandrodeawayslowly，becauseofthethrongingaboutthemofthatfolk，whofollowedthemtotheedgeofthewood，andevenenteredalittlethereinto；
　　andthenstoodgazingonRalphandhisfellowsaftertheyhadspurredonandwereridingdownagladeofthewoodland。
　　CHAPTER17
　　TheyFallinWithThatHermitSomuchhadtheytarriedoverthisgreetingandfeasting，thatthoughtheyhadhopedtohavecometothehermit’shousethatnight，heofwhomthatfolkhadtoldthem，itfellnotso，whereasthedayhadagedsomucheretheyleftthePlainofAbundancethatitbegantoduskbeforetheyhadgonefar，andtheymustneedsstayandawaitthedawnthere；sotheydighttheirlodgingaswellastheymight，andlaydownandsleptunderthethickboughs。
　　Ralphwokeaboutsunrise，andlookingupsawamanstandingoverhim，anddeemedatfirstthatitwouldbeRichardortheSage；butashisvisioncleared，hesawthatitwasneitherofthem，butanewcomer；
　　astoutcarlecladinrusset，withagreatstaffinhishandandashort-swordgirttohisside。Ralphsprangup，stillnotutterlyawake，andcriedout，“Whoartthou，carle？”Themanlaughed，andsaid：
　　“Yea，thouartstillthesamebrisklad，onlyfilledouttosomethingmorewarrior-likethanofold。Butitisunmeettoforgetoldfriends。
　　Whydostthounothailme？”
　　“BecauseIknowtheenot，goodfellow。”saidRalph。
　　Butevenashespoke，helookedintotheman’sfaceagain，andcriedout：“BySt。Nicholas！butitisRogeroftheRopewalk。
　　Butlookyou，fellow，ifIhavesomewhatfilledout，thou，whowastalwaysblack-muzzled，artnowbecomeashairyasawodehouse。
　　Whatdostthouinthewilds？”SaidRoger：“Didtheynottelltheeofahermitnewcometotheseshaws？”“Yea。”saidRalph。
　　“Iamthatholyman。”quothRoger，grinning；“notthatIamsomuchofthat，either。Ihavenotcomehithertoprayorfastovermuch，buttorestmysoulandbeoutofthewayofmen。