RalphGoethHisWaysFromtheAbbeyofSt。MaryatHighamItwasthemonkwhohadbeenhisguidethedaybeforewhohadnowwakedhim，andhestoodbythebedsideholdingagreatbowlofmilkinhishand，andasRalphsatup，andrubbedhiseyes，withallhisyouthfulslothuponhim，themonklaughedandsaid：
　　“Thatiswell，lord，thatiswell！Ilovetoseeayoungmansosleepyinthemorning；itisasignofthriving；
　　andIseethouartthrivingheartilyforthetimewhenthoushaltcomebacktoustoleadmylord’shostinbattle。”
　　“Wherebethebale-fires？”saidRalph，notyetfullyawake。
　　“Wherebethey！”saidthebrother，“wherebethey！Theybesunkentocoldcoalslongago，likemanyaman’sdesiresandhopes，whohathnotyetlaidhisheadonthebosomofthemother，thatisHolyChurch。Come，mylord，arise，anddrinkthemonk’swineofmorning，andthenifyemustneedride，ridebetimes，andridehard；fortheWoodPerilousbeginnethpresentlyasyewendyourways；anditwerewellfortheetoreachtheBurgoftheFourFrithserethoubebenighted。
　　For，son，therebeuntowardthingsinthewood；andthoughsomeofthembeofthoseforwhomChrist’sCrosswasshapen，yethavetheyforgottenhell，andhopenotforheaven，andtheirby-wordis，’ThoushaltlackereIlack。’
　　Furthermorethereareworsewightsinthewoodthantheybe——
　　Godsaveus！——butagainstthemhaveIagoodhauberk，aneck-guardwhichIwillgivethee，son，intokenthatIlooktoseetheeagainatthelovelyhouseofMaryourMother。”
　　Ralphhadtakenthebowlandwasdrinking，buthelookedoverthebrim，andsawhowthemonkdrewfromhisfrockapairofbeads，asliketoDameKatherine’sgiftasonepeatoanother，savethatattheendthereofwasalittleboxshapencrosswise。
　　Ralphemptiedthebowlhastily，gotoutofbed，andsatonthebednaked，savethatonhisneckwasDameKatherine’sgift。
　　Hereachedouthishandandtookthebeadsfromthemonkandreddenedtherewith，aswashiswontwhenhehadtobeginacontestinwords：
　　buthesaid：
　　“Ithankthee，father；yetGodwotifthesebeadswillliesweetlyalongsidethecollarwhichIbearonmyneckasnow，whichisthegiftofadearfriend。”
　　Themonkmadeupasolemncountenanceandsaid：
　　“Thousayestsooth，myson；itismostlikethatmychaplet，whichhathbeenblessedtimewasbytheholyRichard，isnomeetfellowforthegiftofsomelightloveofthine：
　　oreven。”quothhe，notingRalph’sflushdeepen，andhisbrowknit，“orevenifitwerethegiftofawell-willer，yetbelikeitisaworldlygift；therefore，sincethyjourneyiswithperil，thouwertbestdoitoffandletmekeepitfortheetillthoucomestagain。”
　　Nowashespakehelookedanxiously，nay，itmaybesaidgreedily，attheyoungman。ButRalphsaidnought；forinhishearthewasdeterminednottochafferawayhisgossip’sgiftforanyshaveling’stoken。
　　Yetheknewnothowtosethisyouthfulwordsagainstthefather’swisdom；
　　sohestoodup，andgothisshirtintohishand，andashediditoverhisheadhefelltosingingtohimselfasongofeventideoftheHighHouseofUpmeads，thewordswhereofweresomewhatliketothese：
　　Artthouman，artthoumaid，throughthelonggrassa-going？
　　Forshortshirtthoubearest，andnobeardIsee，Andthelastwinderemoonriseabouttheeisblowing。
　　Would’stthoumeetwiththymaidenorlook’stthouforme？
　　Brightshineththemoonnow，Iseethygownlonger；
　　AnddownbythehazelsJoanmeetethherlad：
　　Buthardisthypalm，lass，andscarcelywerestrongerWat’sgripthanthinehand-kissthatmakethmeglad。
　　Andnowasthecandlesshineonusandover，Fullshapelythyfeetare，butbrownonthefloor，Asthebare-footedmowersamidstofthecloverWhenthegowk’snoteisbrokenandmid-Juneiso’er。
　　Ohardareminehand-palmsbecauseontheridgesIcarriedthereap-hookandsmoteforthysake；
　　Andinthehotnoon-tideIbeatoffthemidgesAsthouslep’st’neaththelindeno’er-loathetoawake。
　　AndbrownaremyfeetnowbecausethesunburnethHighuponthedown-sideamidstofthesheep，Andthereinthehollowwherefromthewindturneth，Thoulay’stinmylapwhileIsungtheetosleep。
　　Ofriendoftheearth，Ocomenigherandnigher，Thouartsweetwiththesun’skissasmeadsoftheMay，O’ertherocksofthewaste，o’erthewaterandfire，WillIfollowthee，love，tillearthwanethaway。
　　Themonkhearkenedtohimwithknittedbrow，andasonethatlikethnotthespeechofhisfellow，thoughitbenotwisetoquestionit：
　　thenhewentoutofthechamber，butleftthepairofbeadslyinginthewindow。ButRalphcladhimselfinhaste，andwhenhewasfullyclad，wentuptothewindowandtookthebeadsinhishand，andlookedintothemcuriouslyandturnedthemover，butleftthemlyingthere。
　　Thenhewentforthalso，andcameintotheforecourtofthehouse，andfoundthereasquireofthemen-at-armswithhisweaponsandhorse，whohelpedhimtodoonhiswar-gear。
　　Sothen，justashewassettinghisfootinthestirrup，cametheBrotheragain，withhisfaceoncemoregrownsmilingandhappy；
　　andinhislefthandheheldthechaplet，butdidnotofferittoRalphagain，butnoddedhisheadtohimkindly，andsaid：
　　“Now，lord，Icanseebythyfacethatthouartsetonbeholdingthefashionofthisworld，andmostlikeitwillgivetheetherue。”
　　ThencameawordintoRalph’smouth，andhesaid：
　　“Wiltthoutellme，father，whoseworkwastheworld’sfashion？”
　　Themonkreddened，butanswerednought，andRalphspakeagain：
　　“Forsooth，didthecraftsmanofitfumbleoverhiswork？”
　　Thenthemonkscowled，butpresentlyheenforcedhimselftospeakblithely，andsaid：“Suchmattersareoverhighformyspeechorthine，lord；butI
　　tellthee，whoknoweth，thattherearemeninthisHousewhohavetriedtheworldandfounditwanting。”
　　Ralphsmiled，andsaidstammering：
　　“Father，didtheworldtrythem，andfindthemwantingperchance？”
　　Thenhereddened，andsaid：“AreyeverilyallsuchasthisinthisHouse？
　　Whothenisitwhohathmadesofairalordship，andsogoodlyagovernanceforsomanypeople？Knowyenotatalloftheworld’sways！”
　　“Fairsir。”saidthemonksternly，“theythatworkforusworkfortheLordandallhisservants。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“soitis；andwilltheLordbecontentwiththeserviceofhimwhomthedevilhathcastoutbecausehehathfoundhimadastard？”
　　Themonkfrowned，yetsmiledsomewhatwithal，andsaid：
　　“Sir，thouartyoung，butthywitsareoveroldforme；
　　buttherearetheyinthisHousewhomayanswertheefeatly；
　　menwhohavereadthebooksofthewisemenoftheheathen，andthedoctorsofHolyChurch，andareevennowmakingbooksforthescribestocopy。”Thenhisvoicesoftened，andhesaid：
　　“Dearlord，weshouldberightfainoftheehere，butsincethoumustneedsgo，gowithmyblessing，anddoubleblessingshaltthouhavewhenthoucomestbacktous。”ThenRalphrememberedhispromisetotheshepherdsandtookagoldcrownfromhispouch，andsaid：
　　“Father，Ipraytheesayamassfortheshepherddownsmen；
　　andthisisfortheoffering。”
　　Themonkpraisedthegiftandthebidding，andkissedRalph，whoclombintohissaddle；andthebrotherhospitalierbroughthimhiswalletwithgoodmeatanddrinkthereinfortheway。
　　ThenRalphshookhisrein，androdeoutoftheabbey-gate，smilingatthelay-brethrenandthemen-at-armswhohungaboutthere。
　　Buthesighedforpleasurewhenhefoundhimselfinthestreetagain，andlookedontheshopsofthechapmenandtheboothsofthepettycraftsmen，asshoe-smithsandglovers，andtinsmithsandcoppersmiths，andhornersandthelike；andthefolkthathemetasherodetowardthesoutherngateseemedtohimmerryandingoodcase，andgoodlytolookon。
　　Andhethoughtitpleasanttogazeonthedamselsinthestreet，whowerefairandwellclad：andtherewereamanyofthemabouthiswaynow，especiallyashedrewnighthegatebeforethestreetsbranchedoff：
　　forfolkwerecominginfromthecountrysidewithvictualandotherwaresforthetownandtheAbbey；andsurelyashelookedonsomeofthemaidenshedeemedthatHall-songofUpmeadsagoodone。
　　TheMaidenofBourtonAbbasSowenthethroughthegate，andmany，bothofmenandmaidsgazedathim，forhewasfairtolookon，butnonemeddledwithhim。
　　Therewasagoodlyfauburgoutsidethegate，andthereinwerefairhouses，notafew，withgardensandorchardsaboutthem；andwhenthesewerepastherodethroughveryexcellentmeadowslyingalongthewater，whichhecrossedthrice，oncebyagoodlystonebridgeandtwicebyfords；
　　fortheroadwasstraight，andtheriverwoundaboutmuch。
　　Afteralittlewhiletheroadledhimofftheplainmeadsintoacountryoflittlehillsanddales，thehill-sidescoveredwithvineyardsandorchards，andthedalesplenteousofcorn-fields；
　　andnowamongstthesedalesHighamwashiddenfromhim。
　　Throughthistillageandvine-landherodeagoodwhile，andthoughthehadneverseenagoodlierland；andashewenthecameonhusbandmenandwomenofthecountrygoingabouttheirbusiness：
　　yetweretheynottoobusytogazeonhim，andmostgreetedhim；
　　andwithsomehegaveandtookalittlespeech。
　　Thesepeoplealsohedeemedwellbeforetheworld，fortheywerewellcladandbuxom，andmadenogreathasteastheywent，butlookedaboutthemasthoughtheydeemedtheworldworthlookingat，andasiftheyhadnofeareitherofabloworahardwordforloitering。
　　Soherodetillitwasnoon，andhewasamidstalittlethorpofgreystonehouses，trimenough，inavalleywhereintherewasmoreofwild-woodtreesandlessoffruit-bearersthanthosebehindhim。
　　InthethorpwasatavernwiththesignoftheNicholas，soRalphdeemeditbutrighttoenterahousewhichwasundertheguardofhismasterandfriend；thereforehelighteddownandwentin。