TalkBetweenThoseTwoBrethrenRalphaskedHughfirstifhewottedaughtofGregorytheirbrother。
　　HughlaughedandpointedtoHigham，andsaid：“Heisyonder。”
　　“What。”saidRalph，“intheAbbot’shost？”“Yea。”saidHugh，laughingagain，“butinhisspiritual，nothisworldlyhost：
　　heisturnedmonk，brother；thatis，heisalreadyanovice，andwillbeabrotheroftheAbbeyinsixmonths’space。”SaidRalph：
　　“AndLauncelotLong-tongue，thysquire，howhathhesped？”SaidHugh：
　　“Heisyonderalso，butintheworldlyhost，notthespiritual：
　　heisasergeantoftheirs，andsomewhatofacatchforthem，forheisnoillman-at-arms，asthouwottest，andbesidesheadornetheverythingwithwords，sothatmenhearkentohimgladly。”
　　“Buttellme。”saidRalph，“howitbefalleththattheAbbot’smenofwarbesochurlish，andcharyoftheinsideoftheirtown；
　　whathavetheytofear？IsnottheLordAbbotstillamightyman？”
　　Hughshookhishead：“TherehathbeenachangeofdaysatHigham；
　　thoughIsaynotbutthattheknightsareovercareful，andmuchoverfearful。”“Whathasthechangebeen？”saidRalph。
　　Hughsaid：“IntimepastmyLordAbbotwasindeedamightyman，andboththistownofHighamwaswellgarnishedofmen-at-arms，andalsomanyofhismanorshadcastlesandstrong-housesonthem，andtheyeomenwerereadytoruntotheirweaponswhensothegatheringwasblown。Inshort，Highamwasasmightyasitwaswealthy；
　　andtheAbbot’smenhadnaughttodowithany，savewiththyfriendsherewhobeartheTreeLeafless；allelsefearedthoseholywallsandthewell-blessedmenwhowardedthem。ButtheDryTreefeared，asmensaid，neithermannordevilandIhopeitmaybesostillsincetheyarebecomethyfriends，andtheywouldwhilesliftintheAbbot’slandswhentheyhadnomerrierbusinessonhand，andnotseldomcametotheiraboveintheirdealingswithhismen。
　　Butallthingscometoanend；for，asIamtold，someyearandahalfago，theAbbothaddebatewiththeWestlandBarons，whobothwereandareillmentodealwith，beingbothhungryanddoughty。
　　ThequarrelgrewtillmyLordmustneedsdefythem，andtomakealongtaleshort，hehimselfinworldlyarmourledhishostagainstthem，andtheymetsometwentymilestothewestinthefieldoftheWryBridge，andtherewasHolyChurchoverthrown；andtheAbbot，whoisasvaliantamanaseversangmass，thoughnotover-wiseinwar，wouldnotflee，andasnonewouldslayhim，mighttheyhelpit，theyhadtoleadhimaway，andhesitstothisdayintheirstrongestcastle，theRedMountwest-away。Well，hebeinggone，andmanyofhiswisestwarriorsslain，therestranintogatesagain；
　　butwhentheWestlandersbesetHighamandthoughttohaveitgoodcheap，themonksandtheirmenwardeditnotsoillbutthattheWestlandersbroketheirteethoverit。Forsooth，theyturnedawaythenceandtookmostofthecastlesandstrong-housesoftheAbbot’slands；
　　burnedsomeandputgarrisonsintoothers，anddraveawayamightyspoilofchattelsandmenandwomen，sothatthelandsofHighamarehalfruined；andtherebythemonks，thoughtheybestoutenoughwithintheirwalls，willnotsuffertheirmentorideabroad。
　　Whereby，beingcoopedupinanarrowplace，andwithnodeedstohandtocheertheirheartswithal，theyaregrownsourandchurlish。”
　　“But，brother。”saidRalph，“howsoeverchurlishtheymaybe，andhowsotimorous，Icannotseewhytheyshouldshuttheirgatesinourfaces，alittleband，whenthereisnofoeanearthem。”
　　“Ralph。”saidHugh，“thoumustthinkofthisoncemore，thattheDryTreeisnogoodlet-passtoflourishinhonestmen’sfaces；
　　specialiteriftheybemonks。AmongstthebrothersofHighamthetalegoesthatthoseChampionshavemadecovenantwiththedeviltocometotheirabovewhensoevertheybenotmorethanonetofive。
　　Nay，moreover，itissaidthattherebeverydevilsamongstthem；
　　someinthelikenessofcarles，andsomeGodhelpus
　　dressedupinwomen’sflesh；andfairfleshalso，meseemeth。
　　Alsoto-daytheysayinHighamthatnootherwisemighttheyeverhaveovercomethestarkandcruelcarlesoftheBurgoftheFourFrithsandchasedthemoutoftheirtown，asweknowtheyhavedone。
　　Hah！whatsayestthou？”
　　“Isay，Hugh。”quothRalphangrily，“thatthouartafooltogoaboutwithabudgetofslanderousoldwives’tales。”Hughlaughed。“Benotsowroth，littlelord，orIshallbeaskingtheetalesofmarvelsalso。Buthearken。
　　Ishallsmoothoutthyfrownswithasmilewhenthouhastheardthis：
　　thisfolkarenotonlyafeardoftheiroldenemies，thedevil-ledmen，butalsotheyfearthosewhomthedevil-ledmenhavedrivenoutofhouseandhome，towit，theBurgers。YetagaintheyfeartheBurgersyetmore，becausetheyhavebeatensomeoftheveryfoesofHigham，towit，theWestlandBarons；fortheyhavetakenfromthemsomeoftheirstrong-holds，andaredeemedtobegatheringforce。”
　　Ralphponderedawhile，andthenhesaid：“Brother，hastthouanytidingsofUpmeads，orthattheseBurgershavegonedownthither？”
　　“Godforbid！”saidHugh。“Nay，IhavehadnotidingsofUpmeadssinceIwasfoolenoughtoleaveit。”
　　“What！brother。”saidRalph，“thouhastnotthriventhen？”
　　“Ihavehadupsanddowns。”saidHugh，“buttheupshavebeenonerungoftheladder，andthedownsthree——ormore。
　　ThreemonthsIsatinprisonforgettingmeabrokenheadinaquarrelthatconcernedmenot。SixmonthswasIbesiegedinatownwhithernaughtledmebutill-luck。TwodaysIworeinrunningthence，havingscaledthewallandswamtheditchinthenight。
　　ThreemonthsIservedsquiretoaknightwhogavemethebusinessofwatchinghiswifeofwhomhewasjealous；andtohelpmeoutofthewearinessofhishouseImustneedsmakelovemyselftothesaidwife，whosoothtosaywasperchanceworthit。
　　ThenceagainIwentbynightandcloud。TenmonthsIworeawayattheedgeofthewildwood，andsometimesinit，withasortoffellowswhotaughtmemanythings，butnothowtokeepmyhandsfromothermen’sgoodswhenIwashungry。
　　TherewasItakenwithsomefiveothersbycertainsergeantsofHigham，whomthewarriorsofthetownhadsentoutcautiouslytoseeiftheymightcatchafewmenfortheirranks。
　　Well，theygavemethechoiceofthegallows-treeorservicefortheChurch，andso，mychoicemade，therehaveIbeeneversince，tillIsawthyfacethisevening，fairsir。”
　　“Well，brother。”saidRalph，“allthatshallbeamended，andthoushaltbacktoUpmeadswithme。Yetwertthoutoamendthyselfsomewhat，itmightnotbeill。”
　　QuothHugh：“Itshallbetried，brother。ButmayIasktheesomewhat？”
　　SaidRalph：“Askon。”“FairSir。”saidHugh，“thouseemedstgrownintoaprettymanwhenIsawtheee’en-nowbeforethistwilightmadeusallalike；butthemenatthybackarenotwonttobeledbymenwhohavenotearnedawarrior’sname，yettheyfollowthee：
　　howcomeththatabout？Again，beforethetwilightgatheredIsawthewomanthatridethanighuswhoisnowbutashadowhowfairandgentlesheis：
　　indeedthereisnomarvelinherfollowingtheethoughifshebeanearl’sdaughtersheisafairgettingforanimpofUpmeads，forthouartawellshapenlad，littlelord，andcarriestasweettongueinthymouth。
　　Buttellme，whatisshe？”
　　“Brother。”saidRalphkindly，“sheismywife。”
　　“Ikissherhands。”saidHugh；“butofwhatlineageisshe？”
　　“Sheismywife。”saidRalph。SaidHugh：“Thatis，forsooth，ahighdignity。”SaidRalph：“Thousayestsooth，thoughinmockerythouspeakest，whichisscarcekindtothineownmother’sson：
　　butlearn，brother，thatIambecomeaFriendoftheWell，andweremeettowedwiththedaughtersofthebestoftheKings：
　　yetisthisonemeetertowedwithmethanthehighestoftheQueens；
　　forshealsoisaFriendoftheWell。Moreover，thousayestitthatthechampionsoftheDryTree，whowouldthinkbutlittleofanearlforaleader，areeagertofollowme：
　　andifthoustilldoubtwhatthismaymean，abide，tillintwodaysorthreethouseemebeforethefoeman。ThenshaltthoutellmehowmuchchangedIamfromthestriplingwhomthouknewestinUpmeadsalittlewhileago。”
　　ThenwasHughsomewhatabashed，andhesaid：“Icravethypardon，brother，butneverhadIawellfiledtongue，andbelikeithathgrownnosmootheramidthehardhapswhichhavebefallenmeoflate。
　　Besidesitwasdullinthere，andImustneedstrytowinalittlemirthoutofkithandkin。”
　　“Sobeit，lad。”quothRalphkindly，“thoudidstaskandItold，andallissaid。”
　　“Yetforsooth。”saidHugh，“thouhastgivenmemarvelformarvel，brother。”
　　“Evenso。”saidRalph，“andhereafterIwilltelltheemorewhenwesitsafebythewineatUpmeads。”
　　Nowcomethbackoneofthefore-ridersanddrawethreinbyRalphandsaiththattheyarehardonalittlethorpunderthehangingofthehillthatwasthebeginningoftheDowncountryonthatroad。
　　SoRalphbademakestaythereandrestthenightover，andseeknewtidingsonthemorrow；andthemantoldRalphthatthefolkofthethorpwerefleeingfastatthetidingsoftheircompany，andthatitwerebestthatheandsomehalfscoreshouldridesharplyintothethorp，sothatitmightnotbequitebareofvictualswhentheycametotheirnight’slodging。
　　Ralphbidshimsodo，buttoheedwellthathehurtnoman，orletfiregetintoanyhouseorroof；sohetakeshisknotofmenandridesoffonthespur，andRalphandthemainofthemcomeonquietly；
　　andwhentheycameintothestreetofthethorp，lotherebythecrossabigfirelighted，andtheeldersstandingtherebycapinhand，andascoreofstoutcarleswithweaponsintheirhands。
　　ThenthechiefmancameuptoRalphandgreetedhimandsaid：
　　“Lord，whenweheardthatanarmedcompanywasathandwedeemednolessthanthattheridersoftheBurgwereuponus，anddeemedthattherewasnoughtforitbuttofleeeachasfarandasfastashemight。Butnowwehaveheardthatthouartagoodlordseekinghisownwiththehelpofworthychampions，andafoemantothosedevilsoftheBurg，webidtheelookuponusandallwehaveasthine，lord，andtakekindlysuchguestingaswemaygivethee。”
　　Theoldman’svoicequaveredalittleashelookedonthestarkshapesoftheDryTree；butRalphlookedkindlyonhim，andsaid：
　　“Yea，mymaster，wewillbutaskforacoveringforourheads，andwhatvictualthoumaysteasilyspareusinreturnforgoodsilver，andthoushalthaveourthankswithal。
　　Butwhobethesestoutladswithstavesandbucklers，orwhitherwilltheyto-night？”
　　Thereatatallyoungmanwithaspearinhishandandgirtwithashortswordcameforthandsaidboldly：“Lord，webeafewwhothoughtwhenweheardthattheBurg-devilswereathandthatwemightaswelldieinthefieldgivingstrokeforstroke，asbehauledoffanddroptopiecesunderthehandsoftheirtormentors；
　　andnowthouhastcome，wehavelittlewilltoabidebehind，butwerefaintofollowthee，anddotheewhatgoodwecan：
　　andafterthouhastcometothineabove，whenwegobacktoourkinthoumaystgiveusagiftifitpleasethee：
　　butwedeemthatnogreatmatterifthoubutgiveusleavetohavethecomfortoftheeandthyChampionsforawhileintheseharddays。”
　　WhenhehaddonespeakingthereroseupfromtheChampionsahumasofpraise，andRalphwaswell-pleasedwithal，deemingitagoodomen；
　　sohesaid：“Fearnot，goodfellows，thatIshallforgetyouwhenwehaveovercomethefoemen，andmeanwhilewewillliveanddietogether。
　　Butthou，ancientman，showoursergeantswhereourridersshalllieto-night，andwhattheyshalldowiththeirhorses。”
　　Sotheeldersmarshalledthelittlehosttotheirabodesforthatnight，lodgingthemorepartoftheminabigbarnonthewesternoutskirtofthethorp。Theelderwholedthemthither，broughtthemvictualandgooddrink，andsaidtothem：