AnAdventureintheWoodRalpharrayedhimselffordeparturenextmorningwithoutmorewords；
　　andwhenhewasreadythecarlinesaidtohim：“Whenthouwentestforthbefore，Iwastroubledatthygoingandfearedforthyreturning：
　　butnowIfearnot；forIknowthatthouwiltreturn；thoughitmaybeleadingafairwomanbythehand。Sogo，andallluckgowiththee。”
　　Ralphsmiledatherwordsandwenthisways，andcameintothewoodthatlayduesouthfromtheCastle，andhewentonandonandhadnothoughtofturningback。Herestedtwiceandstillwenton，tillthefashionofthethicketsandthewoodschangedabouthim；
　　andatlastwhenthesunwasgettinglow，hesawlightgleamingthroughagreatwoodofpines，whichhadlongbeendarkbeforehimagainstthetallboles，andsoonhecametotheveryedgeofthewood，andgoingheedfully，sawbetweenthegreatstemsoftheoutermosttrees，agreenstrand，andbeyonditalongsmoothwater，alittlelakebetweengreenbanksoneitherside。Hecameoutofthepinewoodontothegrass；
　　buttherewerethornbushesafewabout，sothatmovingwarilyfromonetotheother，hemightperchanceseewithoutbeingseen。
　　Warilyhewentforsooth，goingalongthegreenstrandtotheeastandtheheadofthatwater，andsawhowthebankslopedupgentlyfromitsendingtowardthepine-wood，infrontofwhoseclose-settreesstoodthreegreat-boledtalloak-treesonasmoothpieceofgreensward。
　　Andnowhesawthattherewerefolkcomebeforehimonthisgreenplace，andkeen-sightedashewas，couldmakeoutthatthreemenwereonthehithersideoftheoak-trees，andonthefurthersideofthemwasawhitehorse。Thitherwardthenhemade，stealingfrombushtobush，sincehedeemedthatheneedednotbeseenofmenwhomightbefoes，foratthefirstsighthehadnotedthegleamofweaponsthere。
　　Andnowhehadgonenolongwaybeforehesawthewesteringsunshinebrightlyfromanakedsword，andthenanotherspranguptomeetit，andheheardfaintlytheclashofsteel，andsawwithalthatthethirdofthefolkhadlongandlightraimentandwasawomanbelike。
　　Thenhebetteredhispace，andinaminuteortwocamesonearthathecouldseethemenclearly，thattheywerecladinknightlywar-gear，andwerelayingongreatstrokessothatthestillplacerangwiththeclatter。
　　Asforthewoman，hecouldseebutlittleofher，becauseofthefightingmenbeforeher；andtheshadowoftheoakboughsfellonherwithal。
　　Nowashewent，hiddenbythebushes，theyhidthemenalsofromhim，andwhenhewascometothelastbush，somefiftypacesfromthem，andpeeredoutfromit，inthatverynickoftimethetwoknightswerebreathingthemsomewhat，andRalphsawthatoneofthem，thefurthestfromhim，wasaverybigmanwithabluesurcoatwhereonwasbeatenagreatgoldensun，andtheother，whosebackwastowardsRalph，wascladinblackoverhisarmour。
　　Evenashelookedanddoubtedwhethertoshowhimselfornot，heofthesunraisedhisswordaloft，andgivingforthagreatroarasofwrathandgriefmingledtogether，rushedonhisfoeandsmotesofiercelythathefelltotheearthbeforehim，andthebigmanfelluponhimashefell，andletkneeandsword-pommelandfistfollowthestroke，andtheretheywallowedontheearthtogether。
　　StraightwayRalphcameforthfromthebusheswithhisdrawnswordinhishand，andeventherewithwhatwiththetwoknightsbeingbothlowupontheearth，whatwiththewomanherselfcomingfromouttheshadowoftheoakboughs，andturninghertowardRalph，hesawherclearly，andstoodstaringandamazed——forlo！itwastheLadywhomhehaddeliveredatthewant-ways。Hisheartwellnighstoodstillwithjoy，yetwasheshamefacedalso：
　　forthoughnowshewasnolongercladinthatscantyraiment，yetdidheseemtoseeherbodythroughthatwhichcoveredit。
　　Butnowherattirewasbutsimple；agreengown，thinandshort，andthereoveracote-hardyofblackclothwithorphreysofgoldandcolours：butonherneckwasacollarthatseemedtohimliketothatwhichDameKatherinehadgivenhim；
　　andthelongtressesofherhair，whichhehaderstseenfloatinglooseabouther，werewoundasagarlandaroundherhead。
　　ShelookedwithaflushedandjoyousfaceonRalph，andseemedasifsheheedednoughtthebattleoftheknights，butsawhimonly：
　　buthefearedher，andhisloveforherandstoodstill，anddurstnotmoveforwardtogotoher。
　　Thustheyabodeforaboutthespaceofoneminute：andmeanwhilethebigmanroseupononekneeandsteadiedhimwithhisswordforamomentoftime，andthebladewasbloodyfromthepointhalfwayuptothehilt；buttheblackknightlaystillandmadenosignoflife。
　　ThentheKnightoftheSunroseupslowlyandstoodonhisfeetandfacedtheLadyandseemednottoseeRalph，forhisbackwastowardshim。
　　HecameslowlytowardtheLady，scowling，andhisfacewhiteaschalk；
　　thenhespaketohercoldlyandsternly，stretchingouthisbloodyswordbeforeher。
　　“Ihavedonethybidding，andslainmyveryearthlyfriendoffriendsforthysake。Wherewithwiltthourewardme？”
　　ThenoncemoreRalphheardthevoice，whichherememberedsosweetamidstperilandbattleaforetime，asshesaidascoldlyastheKnight：“Ibadetheenot：thineownheartbadetheetostrivewithhimbecausethoudeemedstthathelovedme。
　　Becontent！thouhastslainhimwhostoodinthyway，asthoudeemedst。ThinkestthouthatIrejoiceathisslaying？
　　Ono！Igrieveatit，forallthatIhadsuchgoodcausetohatehim。”
　　Hesaid：“Myownheart！myownheart！Halfofmyheartbiddethmeslaythee，whohastmademeslayhim。Whatwiltthougiveme？”
　　Sheknitherbrowandspakeangrily：“Leavetodepart。”shesaid。
　　Thenafterawhile，andinakindervoice：“Andthusmuchofmylove，thatIpraytheenottosorrowforme，buttohaveagoodheart，andliveasatrueknightshould。”Hefrowned：
　　“Wiltthounotgowithme？”saidhe。“Notuncompelled。”shesaid：
　　“ifthoubiddestmegowiththreatsofhewingandmanglingthebodywhichthousayestthoulovest，needsmustIgothen。
　　Yetscarcewiltthoudothis。”
　　“Ihaveamindtotryit。”saidhe；“IfIsettheeonthinehorseandboundthinehandsforthee，andlinkedthyfeettogetherunderthebeast’sbelly；belikethouwouldestcome。
　　ShallIhaveslainmybrother-in-armsfornought？”
　　“Thouhastthemind。”saidshe，“hastthouthemight？”
　　“SoIdeem。”saidhe，smilinggrimly。
　　Shelookedathimproudlyandsaid：“Yea，butImisdoubtmethereof。”
　　HestillhadhisbacktoRalphandwasstaringatthelady；sheturnedherheadalittleandmadeasigntoRalph，justastheKnightoftheSunsaid：
　　“Thoumisdoubtestthee？Whoshallhelptheeinthedesert？”
　　“Lookoverthyleftshoulder。”shesaid。Heturned，andsawRalphdrawingnear，swordinhand，smiling，butsomewhatpale。
　　HedrewabackfromtheLadyand，spinningroundonhisheel，facedRalph，andcriedout：“Hah！Hastthouraisedupadevilagainstme，thousorceress，totakefrommemygriefandmylust，andmylife？
　　FairwillthegamebetofightwiththydevilasIhavefoughtwithmyfriend！YetnowIknownotwhetherIshallslayhimorthee。”
　　Shespakenot，butstoodquietlylookingonhim，notunkindly，whileawindcameupfromthewaterandplayedwithafewlightlocksofhairthathungdownfromthatruddycrown，andblewherraimentfromherfeetandwrappeditcloseroundherlimbs；
　　andRalphbeheldher，andcloseaswastheverydeathtohimforhugeandmostwarrior-likewashisfoemanyetlongingforhermeltedtheheartwithinhim，andhefeltthesweetnessoflifeinhisinmostsoulashehadneverfeltitbefore。
　　SuddenlytheKnightoftheSunturnedabouttotheLadyagain，andfelldownonhiskneesbeforeher，andclaspedhishandsasonepraying，andsaid：“Nowpardonmeallmywords，Ipraythee；
　　andletthisyoungmandepartunhurt，whetherthoumadesthim，orhastbutledhimawayfromcountryandfriendsandall。
　　Thendothoucomewithme，andmakesomesemblanceoflovingme，andsuffermetolovethee。Andthenshallallbewell，forinafewdayswewillgobacktothypeople，andtherewillIbetheirlordorthyservant，ormybrother’sman，orwhatthouwilt。
　　Owiltthounotletthesummerdaysbesweet？”
　　Butshespake，holdingupherheadproudlyandspeakinginaclearringingvoice：“Ihavesaidit，thatuncompelledIwillnotgowiththeeatall。”AndtherewithalsheturnedherfacetowardRalph，asshemightdoonanychance-metcourteousman，andhesawhersmiling，butshesaidnoughttohim，andgavenotokenofknowinghim。ThentheKnightoftheSunsprangtohisfeet，andshookhisswordabovehisheadandranfuriouslyonRalph，wholeaptnimblyononesideelsehadhebeenslainatonce
　　andfetchedablowattheSun-Knight，andsmotehim，andbrakethemailsonhisleftshoulder，sothatthebloodsprang，andfellonfiercelyenough，smitingtorightandleftastheothergavebackathisfirstonset。
　　Butallwasfornought，fortheKnightoftheSun，afterhisgivingabackunderthatfirststrokedrewhimselfupstarkandstiff，andpressingonthroughallRalph’sstrokes，thoughtheyrenthismailhereandthere，ranwithinhissword，andsmotehimfuriouslywiththesword-pommelonthesideofthehead，sothattheyoungmanofUpmeadscouldnotstandupundertheweightoftheblow，butfelltotheearthswooning，andtheKnightoftheSunkneltonhim，anddrewoutananlace，short，thickandsharp，andcriedout：“Now，Devil，letseewhetherthouwiltbleedblack。”
　　Therewithheraiseduphishand：buttheweaponwasstayedoreveritfell，fortheLadyhadglideduptothemwhenshesawthatRalphwasovercome，andnowshestretchedoutherarmandcaughtholdoftheKnight’shandandtheanlacewithal，andhegroanedandcriedout：“Whatnow！thouartstrong-armedaswellaswhite-armed；forshehadrentthesleevebackfromherrightarmandhelaughedintheextremityofhiswrath。
　　Butshewaspaleandherlipsquiveredasshesaidsoftlyandsweetly：
　　“Wiltthouverilyslaythisyoungman？”
　　“Andwhynot？”saidhe，“sinceIhavejustslainthebestfriendthatIeverhad，thoughhewasnoughtwillingtofightwithme，andonlyforthis，thatIsawtheetoyingwithhim；
　　thoughforsooththouhastsaidtrulythatthouhadstmorereasontohatehimthanlovehim。Well，sincethouwiltnothavethisyounglingslain，Imaydeematleastthatheisnodevilofthymaking，elsewouldstthoubegladofhisslaying，sothathemightbeoutofthepathofthee；soamanheis，andawell-favouredone，andyoung；andvaliant，asitseemeth：
　　soIsupposethatheisthylover，orwillbeoneday——wellthen——“
　　Andheliftedhishandagain，butagainshestayedhim，andsaid：
　　“Lookthou，Iwillbuyhimofthee：and，indeed，Iowehimalife。”
　　“Howisthat？”saidhe。“Whywouldstthouknow？”shesaid；“thouwho，ifthouhadstmeinthinehandsagain，wouldstkeepmeawayfromallmen。
　　Yea，Iknowwhatthouwouldstsay，thouwouldstkeepmefromsinningagain。”
　　Andshesmiled，butbitterly。“Well，thetaleisnolongone：
　　“fivedaysagoIwastakenbythemoftheBurg：andthouwottestwhattheywoulddowithme；yea，eveniftheydeemedmelessthantheydodeemme：
　　well，astwooftheirmen-at-armswereleadingmealongbyahalter，asacalfisledtothebutcher，wefellinwiththisgoodlylad，whoslewthembothinmanlyfashion，andIescapedforthattime：
　　though，forsooth，Imustneedsputmyneckinthenooseagainindeliveringfourofourpeople，whowouldelsehavebeentormentedtodeathbytheBurgers。”
　　“Well。”saidtheknight，“perchancethouhastmoremercythanI
　　lookedforofthee；thoughImisdoubttheethatthoumaystyetpraymeorsomeothertoslayhimforthee。Thouartmerciful，myQueen，thoughnottome，andachurlwereIifIwerelessmercifulthanthou。
　　ThereforewillIgivehislifetohim，yetnottotheewillIgivehimifImayhelpit——Loyou，Sweet！heisjustopeninghiseyes。”
　　TherewithheroseupfromRalph，whoraisedhimselfalittle，andsatupdazedandfeeble。TheKnightoftheSunstoodupoverhimbesidetheladywithhishandsclaspedonhissword-hilt，andsaidtoRalph：
　　“Youngman，canstthouhearmywords？”Ralphsmiledfeeblyandnoddedayea-say。“Dostthoulovethylifethen？”saidtheKnight。
　　Ralphfoundspeechandsaidfaintly，“Yea。”SaidtheKnight：