ugh he was nought willing to fight with me, and only for
this, that I saw thee toying with him; though forsooth thou hast said
truly that thou hadst more reason to hate him than love him. Well,
since thou wilt not have this youngling slain, I may deem at least that
he is no devil of thy making, else wouldst thou be glad of his slaying,
so that he might be out of the path of thee; so a man he is, and a
well-favoured one, and young; and valiant, as it seemeth: so I suppose
that he is thy lover, or will be one day--well then--"

And he lifted his hand again, but again she stayed him, and said: "Look
thou, I will buy him of thee: and, indeed, I owe him a life." "How is
that?" said he. "Why wouldst thou know?" she said; "thou who, if thou
hadst me in thine hands again, wouldst keep me away from all men. Yea,
I know what thou wouldst say, thou wouldst keep me from sinning again."
And she smiled, but bitterly. "Well, the tale is no long one: five
days ago I was taken by them of the Burg: and thou wottest what they
would do with me; yea, even if they deemed me less than they do deem
me: well, as two of their men-at-arms were leading me along by a
halter, as a calf is led to the butcher, we fell in with this goodly
lad, who slew them both in manly fashion, and I escaped for that time:
though, forsooth, I must needs put my neck in the noose again in
delivering four of our people, who would else have been tormented to
death by the Burgers."

"Well," said the knight, "perchance thou hast more mercy than I looked
for of thee; though I misdoubt thee that thou mayst yet pray me or some
other to slay him for thee. Thou art merciful, my Queen, though not to
me, and a churl were I if I were less merciful than thou. Therefore
will I give his life to him, yet not to thee will I give him if I may
help it--Lo you, Sweet! he is just opening his eyes."

Therewith he rose up from Ralph, who raised himself a little, and sat
up dazed and feeble. The Knight of the Sun stood up over him beside
the lady with his hands clasped on his sword-hilt, and said to Ralph:
"Young man, canst thou hear my words?" Ralph smiled feebly and nodded
a yea-say. "Dost thou love thy life then?" said the Knight. Ralph
found speech and said faintly, "Yea." Said the Knight: "Where dost
thou come from, where is thine home?" Said Ralph, "Upmeads." "Well
then," quoth the big knight, "go back to Upmeads, and live." Ralph
shook his head and knit his brows and said