ForallthingshavechangedsincemyLadypassedaway。”
　　Helookedabout，andsawUrsulajustrisingupfromthegroundandtheSagestirring，whileRichardyethuggedhisbrackenbed，snoring。
　　Sohesaid：“Andwhobethese，andwhyhastthoutakentothewildwood？
　　Yealad，Iseeofthee，thatthouhastgottenanotherLady；andifmineeyesdonotfailmesheisfairenough。Buttherebeothersasfair；
　　whiletheliketoourLadythatwas，thereisnonesuch。”
　　Hefellsilentawhile，andRalphturnedabouttotheothers，forbythistimeRichardalsowasawake，andsaid：
　　“Thismanisthehermitofwhomweweretold。”
　　Rogersaid：“Yea，Iamthehermitandtheholyman；
　　andwithalIhaveathingtohearandathingtotell。
　　Yewerebesttocomewithme，allofyou，tomyhouseinthewoods；
　　apoorone，forsooth，butthereissomewhatofvictualhere，andwecantellandhearkenthereinwellshelteredandatpeace。
　　Sotohorse，fairfolk。”
　　Theywouldnotbebiddentwice，butmountedandwentalongwithhim，wholedthembyathicketpathaboutamile，tilltheycametoalawnwhere-throughranastream；andtherewasalittlehouseinit，simpleenough，ofonehall，builtwithroughtree-limbsandreedthatch。
　　Hebroughtthemin，andbadethemsitonsuchstoolsorbundlesofstuffaswerethere。Butwithalhebroughtoutvictualnowiseill，thoughitwerebutsimplealso，ofvenisonofthewildwood，withsomelittledealofcakesbakedonthehearth，andhepouredforthemalsobothmilkandwine。
　　Theywerewellcontentwiththebanquet，andwhentheywerefull，Rogersaid：
　　“Now，myLord，likeasoftbefallethminstrels，yehavehadyourwagesbeforeyourwork。Fallto，then，andpaymethescotbytellingmeallthathathbefallenyousincewoeworththewhile！myLadydied，——Imustneedssay，forthysake。”
　　“’All’isabigword。”saidRalph，“butIwilltelltheesomewhat。
　　YetIbidtheetakenotethatIandthisancientwiseone，andmyLadywithal，deemthatIamdrawnbymykindredtocometotheirhelp，andthattimepresses。”
　　RogerscowledsomewhatonUrsula；buthesaid：“Lordandmaster，letnotthatflytroublethylip。ForsoIdeemofit，thatwhatsoevertimeyemaylosebyfallinginwithme，yemaygaintwiceasmuchagainbyhearkeningmytaleandtheredethatshallgowithit。
　　AndIdotheetowitthatthetellingofthytaleshallunfreezemine；
　　sotarrynot，ifyebeinhastetobegone，butletthytonguewag。”
　　Ralphsmiled，andwithoutmoreadotoldhimallthathadbefallenhim；
　　andofSwevenhamandUtterbol，andofhiscaptivityandflight；
　　andofthemeetinginthewood，andoftheSagewhotherewas，andofthejourneytotheWell，andwhatbetidthereandsince，andofthedeathoftheChampionoftheDryTree。
　　Butwhenhehadmadeanend，Rogersaid：“Thereitis，then，asI
　　saidwhenshefirstspaketomeoftheeandbademebringaboutthatmeetingwithher，drawingtheefirsttotheBurgandaftertotheCastleofAbundance，Ihaveforgottenmostlybywhatlies；
　　butIsaidtoherthatshehadsetherheartonamanoverlucky，andthatthouwouldsttakeherluckfromherandmakeitthine。
　　ButnowIwillletallthatpass，andwillbidtheeaskwhatthouwilt；
　　andIpromisetheethatIwillhelptheetocomethywaystothykindred，thatthoumaystputforththyluckintheirbehalf。”
　　SaidRalph：“Firstofall，tellmewhatshallIdotopassunhinderedthroughtheBurgoftheFourFriths？”SaidRoger：
　　“Thoushaltgoinatonegateandoutattheother，andnoneshallhinderthee。”
　　SaidRalph：“AndshallIhaveanyhindrancefromthemoftheDryTree？”
　　Rogermadeasifhewereswallowingdownsomething，andanswered：
　　“Nay，none。”
　　“AndthefolkofHighambytheWay，andtheBrethrenandtheirAbbot？”saidRalph。
　　“Iknowbutlittleofthem。”quothRoger，“butIdeemthattheywillmakeapushtohavetheeforcaptain；
　　becausetheyhavehadwarontheirhandsoflate。
　　Butthisshallbeatthineownwilltosayyeaornaytothem。
　　Butfortherestonthissideoftheshepherds’countryyewillpassbypeacefulfolk。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“whatthenhathbecomeoftheprideandcrueltyoftheBurgoftheFourFriths，andtheeagernessandfiercenessoftheDryTree？”
　　QuothRoger：“Thisisthetaleofit：AfterthechampionsoftheDryTreehadlosttheirqueenandbeloved，theLadyofAbundance，theywerebothrestlessandfierce，forthedaysofsorrowhungheavyontheirhands。SoonatimeagreatcompanyofthemhadadowiththeBurgerssomewhatrecklesslyandcametotheworse；
　　whereforesomedrewbackintotheirfastnessoftheScaurandtheothersstillrodeon，andfurtherwestthantheirwonthadbeen；
　　butwarilywhentheyhadtheWoodPerilousbehindthem，fortheyhadlearnedwisdomagain。ThusridingtheyhadtidingsofanhostoftheBurgoftheFourFrithswhowererestinginavalleyhardbywithagreattrainofcaptivesandbeastsandotherspoil：
　　fortheyhadbeenraisingthefrayagainsttheWheat-wearers，andhadslainmanycarlesthere，andwerebringinghometotheBurgmanyyoungwomenandwomen-children，aftertheircustom。
　　SotheyoftheDryTreeadvisedthemofthesetidings，anddeemedthatitwouldeasethesorrowoftheirheartsfortheirLadyiftheycoulddealwiththesesonsofwhoresandmakeamarkupontheBurg：
　　sotheylayhidwhilethedaylightlasted，andbynightandcloudfelluponthesefaineantsoftheBurg，andwonthemgoodcheap，aswasliketobe，thoughtheBurg-dwellersweremanythemore。
　　Whereofamanywereslain，butmanyescapedandgathometotheBurg，evenaswilllightlyhappenevenintheworstofoverthrows，thatnotall，oreventhemorepartbeslain。
　　“Well，therewerethechampionsandtheirprey，whichwasverygreat，andespeciallyofwomen，ofwhomthemorepartwereyoungandfair：
　　forthewomenoftheWheat-wearersbegoodly，andthesehadbeenpickedoutbytheruttersoftheBurgfortheiryouthandstrengthandbeauty。
　　AndwhereasthemenoftheDryTreewerescantofwomenathome，andsore-heartedbecauseofourLady，theyforborenotthesewomen，butfelltotalkingwiththemandlovingthem；howbeitincourteousandmanlyfashion，sothatthewomendeemedthemselvesinheavenandwerereadytodoanythingtopleasetheirlovers。
　　SotheendofitwasthattheChampionssentmessengerstoHamptonandtheCastleoftheScaurtotellwhathadbetid，andtheythemselvestooktheroadtothelandoftheWheat-wearers，havingthosewomenwiththemnotascaptivesbutasfreedamsels。
　　“NowtheroadtotheWheat-wearingcountrywaslong，andonthewaythedamselstoldtheirnewmenmanythingsoftheirlandandtheirunhappywarswiththemoftheBurgandthegriefsandtormentswhichtheyenduredofthem。
　　Andthisamongstotherthings，thatwherevertheycame，theyslewallthemaleseventothesuckingbabe，butsparedthewomen，evenwhentheyborethemnotintocaptivity。
　　“’Whereof，’saidthesepoordamsels，’itcomeththatourlandisill-furnishedofcarles，sothatwewomen，highandlow，goafieldanddomanythings，ascraftsandthelike，whichinotherlandsaredonebycarles。’
　　Insoothitseemedofthemthattheywerebothofstouterfashion，anddefterthanwomenarewonttobe。Sothechampions，partinjest，partinearnest，badethemdoonthearmouroftheslainBurgers，andtaketheirweapons，andfelltoteachingthemhowtohandlestaffandswordandbow；andthewomentookheartfromthevaliantcountenanceoftheirnewlovers，anddeemeditallbitterearnestenough，andlearnedtheirpartspeedily；andyetnonetoosoon。
　　ForwhenthefleersoftheBurgcamehomethePortelostnotime，butsentoutanotherhosttofollowaftertheChampionsandtheirspoil；
　　fortheyhadlearnedthatthosemenhadnotturnedabouttoHamptonaftertheirvictory，buthadgoneontotheWheat-wearers。
　　“SoitbefellthatthehostoftheBurgcameupwiththeChampionsontheeveofasummerdaywhentherewereyetthreehoursofdaylight。
　　Butwhereastheyhadlookedtohaveaneasybargainoftheirfoemen，sincetheyknewtheChampionstobebutafew，lo！therewasthehillsidecoveredwithagoodlyarrayofspearsandglaivesandshininghelms。
　　Theymarvelled；butnowforveryshame，andbecausetheyscarcecouldhelpit，theyfellon，andbeforesunsetwerescatteredtothewindsagain，andthefleershadtobearbackthetalethatthemorepartoftheirfoeswerewomenoftheWheat-wearers；butthistimefewwerethosethatcamebackalivetotheBurgoftheFourFriths；forthefreedcaptiveswerehotandeagerinthechase，castingasidetheirshieldsandhauberksthattheymightspeedthebetter，andvaluingtheirlivesatnaughtiftheymightbutslayamanortwoofthetyrantsbeforetheydied。
　　“ThuswastheBurgwoundedwithitsownsword：butthematterstoppednotthere：forwhenthatvictorioushostofmenandwomencameintothelandoftheWheat-wearers，allmenfledawayinterroratfirst，thinkingthatitwasanewonsetofthemenoftheBurg；
　　andthatallthemore，assomanyofthemboretheirweaponsandarmour。
　　Butwhentheyfoundouthowmattershadgone，then，asyemaydeem，wasthegreatestjoyandexultation，andcarlesandqueansbothrantoarmsandbadetheirdelivererslearnthemallthatbelongedtowar，andsaidthatonethingshouldnotbelacking，towit，thegiftoftheirbodies，thatshouldeitherliedeadinthefields，orbearabouthenceforththesoulsoffreemen。
　　Nothinglothe，theChampionsbecametheirdoctorsandteachersofbattle，andagreathostwasdrawntogether；andmeanwhiletheChampionshadsentmessengersagaintoHamptontellingthemwhatwasbefallen，andaskingformoremeniftheymightbehad。
　　ButtheBurg-abiderswerenotliketositdownundertheirfoil。
　　AnotherhosttheysentagainsttheWheat-wearers，notsohuge，aswellarrayedandwiseinwar。TheChampionsespieditsgoings，andknewwellthattheyhadtodealwiththebestmenoftheBurg，andtheymettheminlikewise；fortheychosetheverybestofthemenandthewomen，andpitchedonaplacewhencetheymightwardthemwell，andabodethefoementhere；whofailednottocomeuponthem，stoutandsternandcold，andwell-learnedinallfeatsofwar。
　　“Longandbitterwasthebattle，andtheBurgerswerefiercewithouthead-strongfolly，andtheWheat-wearersdeemedthatiftheyblenchednow，theyhadsomethingworsethandeathtolookto。
　　Butintheendwhenbothsidesweregrownwearyandwornout，andyetneitherwouldflee，onasuddencameintothefieldthehelpfromtheDryTree，avaliantcompanyofriderstowhombattlewasbutgameandplay。ThenindeedthemenoftheBurggavebackanddrewoutofthebattleasbesttheymight：
　　yetweretheylittlechased，savebythenew-comersoftheDryTree，fortheotherswereoverweary，andmoreovertheleadershadnomindtoletthenew-madewarriorsleavetheirvantage-groundlesttheoldandtriedmen-at-armsoftheBurgshouldturnuponthemandputthemtotheworse。
　　“Menlookedforbattleagainthenextday；butitfellnotoutso；
　　forthehostoftheBurgsawthattherewasmoretolosethantogain，sotheydrewbacktowardstheirownplace。
　　Neitherdidtheywastethelandmuch；fortheridersoftheDryTreefollowedhardatheel，andcutoffallwhotarried，orstrayedfromthemainbattle。
　　“Whentheyweregone，thenatlastdidtheWheat-wearersgivethemselvesuptothejoyoftheirdeliveranceandthepleasureoftheirnewlives：
　　andoneoftheiroldmenthatIhavespokenwithtoldmethis；
　　thatbeforewhentheywerelittlebetterthanthethrallsoftheBurg，anddurstscarceraiseahandagainstthefoemen，thecarleswerebutslowtolove，andthequeans，foralltheirfairness，coldandbutlittlekind。
　　However，nowinthefieldsofthewheat-wearersthemselvesallthiswaschanged，andmenandmaidstooktoarrayingthemselvesgailyasoccasionserved，andtherewassinginganddancingoneverygreen，andstrayingofcouplesamongstthegreeneryofthesummernight；
　　andinshortthegodoflovewasbusyintheland，andmadetheeyesseembright，andthelipssweet，andthebosomfair，andthearmssleekandthefeettrim：sothateveryhourwasfullofallurement；
　　andeverthenigherthatwarandperilwas，themoredelighthadmanandmaidofeachother’sbodies。