“Well，withinawhiletheWheat-wearersweregrownsofullofhopethattheybadethemenoftheDryTreeleadthemagainsttheBurgoftheFourFriths，andtheChampionswerereadythereto；becausetheywottedwell，that，Hamptonbeingdisgarnishedofmen，themenoftheBurgmightfallonit；
　　andeveniftheytookitnot，theywouldbesetallwaysandmakeridingahardmatterfortheirfellowship。
　　Sotheyfellto，wiselyanddeliberately，andledanhostofthebestofthecarleswiththem，andbadethewomenkeeptheirlandsurely，sothattheirhostwasnotagreatmany。
　　ButsowiselytheyledthemthattheycamebeforetheBurgwell-nighunawares；andthoughitseemedlittlelikelythattheyshouldtakesostrongaplace，yetnoughtlessbefell。
　　FortheBurg-dwellersbesetwithcrueltyandbitterangercriedoutthatnowatlasttheywouldmakeanendofthiscursedpeople，andthewhoresonstrong-thievestheirfriends：
　　sotheywentouta-gatesagreatmultitude，butinworserorderthantheirwontwas；andtherebefellthatmarvelwhichsometimesbefalletheventoveryvaliantmen，thatnowatthepinchalltheirvalourflowedfromthem，andtheyfledbeforethespearshadmet，andinsuchevilorderthatthegatescouldnotbeshut，andtheirfoemenenteredwiththemslayingandslayingevenastheywould。
　　Sothatinanhour’sspacetheprideandtheestateoftheBurgoftheFourFrithswasutterlyfallen。Hugewastheslaughter；
　　fortheWheat-wearersdeemedtheyhadmanyagriefwhereoftoavengethem；norwerethemenoftheDryTreeeithersluggardsorsaintstobecarelessoftheirfoemen，ortobemercifulinthebattle：butatlastthemurderwasstayed：
　　andthenthemenoftheWheat-wearerswentfromhousetohouseinthetowntofindthewomenoftheirfolkwhohadbeenmadethrallsbytheBurgers。Therethenwasmanyajoyfulmeetingbetwixtthosepoorwomenandthemenoftheirkindred：
　　allwasforgottennowofthedaysoftheirthralldom，theirtoilandmockingandstripes；andwithincertaindaysallthesortofthemcamebeforethehostcladingreenraiment，andgarlandedwithflowersforthejoyoftheirdeliverance；
　　andgreatfeastwasmadetothem。
　　“AsforthemoftheBurg，thebattleandchaseover，nomorewereslain，savethatcertainofthegreatonesweremadeshorterbythehead。
　　ButtheChampionsandtheWheat-wearersboth，saidthatnoneofthatbitterandcruelfolkshouldabideanylongerinthetown；
　　sothatafteradelaylongenoughforthemtoprovidestufffortheirwayfaring，theywereallthrustouta-gates，richandpoor，oldandyoung，man，womanandchild。Proudlyandwithastoutcountenancetheywent，fornowwastheirvalourcomeagaintothem。
　　Anditislikethatweshallhearofthemoftagain；forthoughtheyhadbutafewweaponsamongstthemwhentheyweredrivenoutoftheiroldhome，andneitherhauberknorshieldnorhelm，yetsolearnedinwarbetheyandsomarvellousgreatofpride，thattheywillsomehowgetthemweapons；andevenarmedbutwithheadlessstaves，andcudgelsofthethicket，woebetidethepeacefulfolkwhomtheyshallfirstfallon。Yea，fairsir，thedayshallcomemeseemethwhenfolkshallcallontheetoleadthehuntafterthesefamishedwolves，andwhenthoudostso，callonmetotelltheetalesoftheirdoingswhichshallmakethinehearthard，andthinehandheavyagainstthem。”
　　“Meantime。”saidRalph，“whathasbetidtotheFellowshipoftheDryTree？
　　forIseethatthouhastsomegriefonthymindbecauseofthem。”
　　Rogerkeptsilencealittleandthenhesaid：“IgrievebecauseHamptonisnomoreastrongplaceofwarriors；
　　twoorthreecarlesandadozenofwomendwellnowinthehallsandchambersoftheScaur。Hereonearth，allendeth。
　　Godsendustofindtheworldwithoutend！”
　　“Whatthen。”saidRalph，“havetheythenhadanothergreatoverthrow，worsethanthatother？”“Nay。”saidRogerdoggedly，“itisnotso。”
　　“ButwhereistheFellowship？”saidRalph。“Itisscatteredabroad。”
　　quothRoger。“ForsomeoftheDryTreehadnohearttoleavethewomenwhomtheyhadwooedintheWheat-wearer’sland：
　　andsome，andagreatmany，havetakentheirdearstodwellintheBurgoftheFourFriths，whereasamanyoftheWheat-wearershavegonetobegetchildrenontheoldbondwomenoftheBurgers；
　　ofwhomthereweresometwothousandaliveaftertheBurgwastaken；
　　besidesthatmanywomenalsocamewiththecarlesfromtheirownland。
　　“SothatnowamixedfolkaredwellingintheBurg，partlyofthosewomen-thralls，partlyofcarlesandqueanscomenewlyfromtheWheat-wearers，partlyofmenofourFellowshipthemorepartofwhomareweddedtoqueansoftheWheat-wearers，andpartlyofmen，chapmenandcraftsmenandotherswhohavedriftedintothetown，havingheardthatthereisnolackofwealththere，andmanyfairwomenunmated。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“andisallthissoill？”SaidRoger，“Meseemsitisillenoughthatthereisnolonger，rightlysaid，aFellowshipoftheDryTree，thoughthemenbealivewhowereonceofthatfellowship。”
　　“Nay。”saidRalph，“andwhyshouldtheynotmakeanewfellowshipintheBurg，whereastheymaywellbepeaceful，sincetheyhavecometotheiraboveoftheirfoemen？”
　　“Yea。”saidRogerslowly，“thatissooth；andsoisthis，thatthereintheBurgtheyareastrongband，withacaptainoftheirown，andmuchworshippedofthepeacefulfolk；
　　andmoreover，thoughtheybenotcrueltotormenthelplessfolk，orhardtomakeanendofalljoyto-day，lesttheylosetheirjoyto-morrow，theynowarrayallmeningoodorderwithintheBurg，sothatitshallbenoeasierforafoemantowinthaterstitwas。”
　　“What，man！”saidRalph，“thenbeofbettercheer，andcomethouwithus，andmaybetheoldsteelofthechampionsmaylookonthesundowninUpmeads。
　　Comethouwithme，Isay，andshowmeandmylucktosomeofthyfellowswhoaredwellingintheBurg，anditmaybewhenthouhasttoldmytaletothem，thatsomeofthemshallbecontenttoleavetheirbedscoldforawhile，thattheymaycomehelpaFriendoftheWellinhisneed。”
　　Rogersatsilentasifhewereponderingthematter，whileRichardandtheSage，bothofthem，tookupthewordoneaftertheother，andurgedhimtoit。
　　Atlasthesaid：“Well，sobeitforthisadventure。OnlyIsaynotthatIshallgiveupthishermitageandmyholinessforever。
　　Comethouaside，wisemanofSwevenham，andIshalltelltheewherefore。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，laughing，“andwhenhehathtoldthee，tellmenotagain；
　　forsureIamthatheisrighttogowithus，andbelikeshallbewronginhisreasontherefore。”
　　Rogerlookedalittleaskanceathim，andhewentwithoutdoorswiththeSage，andwhentheywereoutofearshot，hesaidtohim：
　　“Hearken，Iwouldhavegonewithmylordatthefirstword，andhavebeenfainthereof；butthereisthiswomanthatfollowethhim。
　　AteveryturnsheshallmindmeofourLadythatwas；andIshallloathher，andherfairnessandtheallurementsofherbody，becauseIseeofher，thatsheitisthathathgottenmyLady’sluck，andthatbutforhermyLadymightyethavebeenalive。”
　　SaidtheSage：“Wellquothmylordthatthouwouldstgivemeafool’sreason！What！dostnotthouknow，thouthatknowestsomuchoftheLadyofAbundance，thatsheitwaswhoordainedthisUrsulatobeRalph’sbedmate，whensheherselfshouldbegonefromhim，wereshedeadoralive，andthatshealsoshouldbeaFriendoftheWell，sothathemightnotlackafellowhislifelong？
　　Butthisthousayest，notknowingthemindofourLady，andhowshelovedhiminherinmostheart。”
　　Rogerhunghisheadandspakenotforawhile，andthenhesaid：
　　“Well，wiseman，IhavesaidthatIwillgoonthisadventure，andIwillsmoothmytongueforthiswhileatleast，andforwhatmaycomehereafter，letitbe。Andnowwewerebestgettohorse；
　　forwhatwithmeatandminstrelsy，wehavewornawaythedaytillitwantsbutalittleofnoon。GotellthylordthatIamready。
　　Farewellpeace，andwelcomewarandgrudging！”
　　SotheSagewentwithin，andcameoutwiththeothers，andtheymountedtheirhorsesanon，andRogerwentaheadonfoot，andledthemthroughthethicket-wayswithoutfumbling；andtheylaydownthatnightonthefarthersideoftheSwellingFlood。
　　AChangeofDaysintheBurgoftheFourFrithsThereisnaughttotelloftheirwaystilltheycameoutofthethicketintothefieldsabouttheBurgoftheFourFriths；andeventherewasalookofabetteringofmen’slives；thoughforsooththehusbandmenthereweremuchthesameashadabidedinthefieldsaforetime，whereastheywerenotforthemostpartfreemenoftheBurg，butalienswhodidserviceinwarandotherwisethereto。But，itbeingeventide，thereweremenandwomenandchildren，whohadcomeoutofgates，walkingaboutanddisportingthemselvesinthelovelinessofearlysummer，andthatinfarmerrierguisethantheyhaddurstdointhebygonedays。
　　Moreover，therewasscarceaswordorspeartobeseenamongstthem，whereatRogergrudgedsomewhat，andRichardsaid：“MeseemsthisfolktruststhepeaceoftheBurgovermuchsince，whenallistold，unpeaceisnotsofarfromtheirborders。”
　　ButastheydrewalittlenigherRalphpointedouttohisfellowsthegleamofhelmsandweaponsonthewalls，andtheysawawatchmanoneachofthehightowersofthesouthgate；andthenquothRoger：
　　“Nay，theBurgwillnotbewonsoeasily；andifafewfoolsgetthemselvesslainoutsideitisnogreatmatter。”
　　Folknowiseletthemcomeuptothegateunheeded，butgatheredaboutthemtolookatthenewcomers，butnotsoastohinderthem，andtheycouldseethatthesesummerersweregoodlyfolkenough，anddemeanedthemasthoughtheyhadbutfewtroublesweighingonthem。Butthewayfarerswerenotunchallengedatthegate，forastoutman-at-armsstayedthemandsaid：
　　“Yeridesomewhatlate，friends。Whatareye？”QuothRalph：
　　“Webepeacefulwayfarerssavetothemthatwouldfallonus，andweseektowardUpmeads。”“Yea？”saidtheman，“belikeyeshallfindsomethinglessthanpeacebetwixthereandUpmeads，forrumourgoesthattherearealienriderscomeintothelandsofHigham，andforaughtIknowthesaidunpeacemayspreadfurtheron。
　　WellifyewillgototheFlowerdeLuceandabidetherethisnight，yeshallhavealet-passto-mornbetimes。”
　　ThenRalphspakeawordinRoger’sear，andRogernoddedhishead，and，throwinghiscowlaback，wentuptotheman-at-armsandsaid：
　　“Stephena-Hurst，hastthoutimeforawordwithanoldfriend？”
　　“Yea，Roger。”saidtheman“isitverilythou？Ideemedthatthouhadstfledawayfromallofustoliveinthewilds。”
　　“Soitwas，lad。”saidRoger，“buttimeschangefromgoodtobadandbackagain；andnowamIofthisgoodlord’scompany；andIshalltellthee，Stephen，thatthoughheridethbutfewto-day，yetmerryshallhebethatridethwithhimto-morrowifunpeacebeintheland。
　　Loyou，Stephen，thisistheChildofUpmeads，whombelikethouhastheardof；andifthouwilttakemeintothechamberofthytower，Iwilltelltheethingsofhimthatthouwottestnot。”
　　StephenturnedtoRalphandmadeobeisancetohimandsaid：
　　“FairSir，therearetalesgoingaboutconcerningthee，somewhereofarestrangeenow，butnoneofthemill；andIdeembythelookoftheethatthoushaltbebothastarkchampionandagoodlord；
　　andIdeemthatitshallbemygoodluck，ifIseemoreofthee，andmuchmore。Nowifthouwilt，passonwiththineotherfellowstotheFlowerdeLuce，andleavethismyoldfellow-in-armswithme，andheshalltellmeofthymind；forIseethatthouwouldesthavesomewhatofus；andsince，Idoubtnotbythelooksofthee，thatthouwiltnotbidusaughtunknightly，whenweknowthywill，weshalltrytopleasurethee。”
　　“Yea，LordRalph。”saidRoger，“thoumayestleaveallthebusinesswithme，andIwillcometotheenotlaterthanbetimesto-morrow，andlettheewothowmattershavesped。
　　Andmethinksyemayhopetowendout-a-gatesthistimeotherwisethanthoudidestbefore。”
　　SoRalphgavehimyeasayandthankedtheman-at-armsandrodehiswayswiththeotherstowardtheFlowerdeLuce，andwhereasthesunwasbutnewlyset，Ralphnotedthattheboothsweregayerandthehousesbrighterandmorefairlyadornedthanaforetimes。