the tale to the
Western one:

To run and to fight
Are deeds free to the wight,
And John tried in battle
Had heard the boards rattle,
But needed to prove
The race back to the stove;
So his wightness he showed
In way-wearing the road.
While Osberne, who knew
How the foot-race to do,
Must try the new game
Where the battle-beasts came.
Bairn for fight, but for running the strong man and tall,
And all folk for the laughter when both are in hall.

When Surly John heard this stave he cursed between his teeth, but said
nought.

But now on either side, the churches fell to ringing to mass, and all
folk fared to service. And Osberne sat in a good place amongst the
carles, and forsooth he had both ears and eyes open, both then and all
day. Mass over, the cooking-fires were lighted and tents were pitched
on either side the water, and in a while they went to dinner; and
thereafter, when they had sung a while, came the time of drinking, and
folk were paired, men and women so far as might be, for more men there
were than women. But whereas all men save Surly John were well with
Osberne, there was gotten for his mate a fair young damsel of but
seventeen winters, and Osberne, who had looked hard on all the women
who were well-liking (for he had seen but very seldom any women save
those two of his kinfolk), was amazed with joy when the dear maid
pulled down her hood and pulled off her gloves. And whereas she was
shy of him because of his doughtiness, for all that he was but a
child, it was not until they had drunk a cup or two that he took heart
to set his hand to her neck and kiss her cheeks and her mouth, whereat
she blushed rosy red, and all they that were in the tent laughed and
cheered. But thereafter they fell to sweet speech and talked much, and
he held her hand when the end of the feast was done; which was after
this wise, that folk stood on the the very lip of the river in one
long row, hand in hand, and the loving-cup went down each row, and
they cried healths to each other, and then lifted up their voices and
shouted all together, and so undid the Mote and parted. And this time
(and it was dark save for the fires flaring behind them) it was the
maid that kissed Osberne; neither needed she, a tall damsel though she
was, to stoop much thereto, for right big and tall he was of his
years.

So then all went back each to his own home. And the winter wore away
at Wethe