``Why，’’saidWamba，``anyourvalourbesodull，youwillpleasetolearnthatthosehonestfellowsbalanceagooddeedwithonenotquitesolaudable；asacrowngiventoabeggingfriarwithanhundredbyzantstakenfromafatabbot，orawenchkissedinthegreenwoodwiththereliefofapoorwidow。’’
　　``Whichofthesewasthegooddeed，whichwasthefelony?’’interruptedtheKnight。
　　``Agoodgibe！agoodgibe！’’saidWamba；
　　``keepingwittycompanysharpeneththeapprehension。
　　Yousaidnothingsowell，SirKnight，Iwillbesworn，whenyouhelddrunkenvesperswiththebluffHermit——Buttogoon。Themerry-menoftheforestsetoffthebuildingofacottagewiththeburningofacastle，——thethatchingofachoiragainsttherobbingofachurch，——thesettingfreeapoorprisoneragainstthemurderofaproudsheriff；or，tocomenearertoourpoint，thedeliveranceofaSaxonfranklinagainsttheburningaliveofaNormanbaron。Gentlethievestheyare，inshort，andcourteousrobbers；butitisevertheluckiesttomeetwiththemwhentheyareattheworst。’’
　　``Howso，Wamba?’’saidtheKnight。
　　``Why，thentheyhavesomecompunction，andareformakingupmatterswithHeaven。Butwhentheyhavestruckanevenbalance，Heavenhelpthemwithwhomtheynextopentheaccount！ThetravellerswhofirstmetthemaftertheirgoodserviceatTorquilstonewouldhaveawofulflaying——
　　Andyet，’’saidWamba，comingcloseuptotheKnight’sside，``therebecompanionswhoarefarmoredangerousfortravellerstomeetthanyonderoutlaws。’’
　　``Andwhomaytheybe，foryouhaveneitherbearsnorwolves，Itrow?’’saidtheKnight。
　　``Marry，sir，butwehaveMalvoisin’smen-at-arms，’’
　　saidWamba；``andletmetellyou，that，intimeofcivilwar，ahalfscoreoftheseisworthabandofwolvesatanytime。Theyarenowexpectingtheirharvest，andarereinforcedwiththesoldiersthatescapedfromTorquilstone。Sothat，shouldwemeetwithabandofthem，weareliketopayforourfeatsofarms——Now，Iprayyou，SirKnight，whatwouldyoudoifwemettwoofthem?’’
　　``Pinthevillainstotheearthwithmylance，Wamba，iftheyofferedusanyimpediment。’’
　　``Butwhatiftherewerefourofthem?’’
　　``Theyshoulddrinkofthesamecup，’’answeredtheKnight。
　　``Whatifsix，’’continuedWamba，``andweaswenoware，barelytwo——wouldyounotrememberLocksley’shorn?’’
　　``What！soundforaid，’’exclaimedtheKnight，``againstascoreofsuchrascailleasthese，whomonegoodknightcoulddrivebeforehim，asthewinddrivesthewitheredleaves?’’
　　``Nay，then，’’saidWamba，``Iwillprayyouforaclosesightofthatsamehornthathathsopowerfulabreath。’’
　　TheKnightundidtheclaspofthebaldric，andindulgedhisfellow-traveller，whoimmediatelyhungthebugleroundhisownneck。
　　``Tra-lira-la，’’saidhe，whistlingthenotes；``nay，Iknowmygamutaswellasanother。’’
　　``Howmeanyou，knave?’’saidtheKnight；
　　``restoremethebugle。’’
　　``Contentyou，SirKnight，itisinsafekeeping。
　　WhenValourandFollytravel，Follyshouldbearthehorn，becauseshecanblowthebest。’’
　　``Naybut，rogue，’’saidtheBlackKnight，``thisexceedeththylicense——Bewareyetampernotwithmypatience。’’
　　``Urgemenotwithviolence，SirKnight，’’saidtheJester，keepingatadistancefromtheimpatientchampion，``orFollywillshowacleanpairofheels，andleaveValourtofindouthiswaythroughthewoodasbesthemay。’’
　　``Nay，thouhasthitmethere，’’saidtheKnight；
　　``and，soothtosay，Ihavelittletimetojanglewiththee。Keepthehornanthouwilt，butletusproceedonourjourney。’’
　　``Youwillnotharmme，then?’’saidWamba。
　　``Itelltheeno，thouknave！’’
　　``Ay，butpledgemeyourknightlywordforit，’’
　　continuedWamba，asheapproachedwithgreatcaution。
　　``MyknightlywordIpledge；onlycomeonwiththyfoolishself。’’
　　``Nay，then，ValourandFollyareoncemorebooncompanions，’’saidtheJester，comingupfranklytotheKnight’sside；``but，intruth，IlovenotsuchbuffetsasthatyoubestowedontheburlyFriar，whenhisholinessrolledonthegreenlikeakingofthenine-pins。AndnowthatFollywearsthehorn，letValourrousehimself，andshakehismane；for，ifImistakenot，therearecompanyinyonderbrakethatareonthelook-outforus。’’
　　``Whatmakestheejudgeso?’’saidtheKnight。
　　``BecauseIhavetwiceorthricenoticedtheglanceofamotionfromamongstthegreenleaves。
　　Hadtheybeenhonestmen，theyhadkeptthepath。
　　ButyonderthicketisachoicechapelfortheClerksofSaintNicholas。’’
　　``Bymyfaith，’’saidtheKnight，closinghisvisor，``Ithinkthoubestintherighton’t。’’
　　Andingoodtimedidhecloseit，forthreearrows，flewatthesameinstantfromthesuspectedspotagainsthisheadandbreast，oneofwhichwouldhavepenetratedtothebrain，haditnotbeenturnedasidebythesteelvisor。Theothertwowereavertedbythegorget，andbytheshieldwhichhungaroundhisneck。
　　``Thanks，trustyarmourers，’’saidtheKnight——
　　``Wamba，letusclosewiththem，’’——andherodestraighttothethicket。Hewasmetbysixorsevenmen-at-arms，whoranagainsthimwiththeirlancesatfullcareer。Threeoftheweaponsstruckagainsthim，andsplinteredwithaslittleeffectasiftheyhadbeendrivenagainstatowerofsteel。
　　TheBlackKnight’seyesseemedtoflashfireeventhroughtheapertureofhisvisor。Heraisedhimselfinhisstirrupswithanairofinexpressibledignity，andexclaimed，``Whatmeansthis，mymasters！’’——
　　Themenmadenootherreplythanbydrawingtheirswordsandattackinghimoneveryside，crying，``Die，tyrant！’’
　　``Ha！SaintEdward！Ha！SaintGeorge！’’
　　saidtheBlackKnight，strikingdownamanateveryinvocation；``havewetraitorshere?’’
　　Hisopponents，desperateastheywere，borebackfromanarmwhichcarrieddeathineveryblow，anditseemedasiftheterrorofhissinglestrengthwasabouttogainthebattleagainstsuchodds，whenaknight，inbluearmour，whohadhithertokepthimselfbehindtheotherassailants，spurredforwardwithhislance，andtakingaim，notattheriderbutatthesteed，woundedthenobleanimalmortally。
　　``Thatwasafelonstroke！’’exclaimedtheBlackKnight，asthesteedfelltotheearth，bearinghisrideralongwithhim。
　　Andatthismoment，Wambawindedthebugle，forthewholehadpassedsospeedily，thathehadnottimetodososooner。Thesuddensoundmadethemurderersbearbackoncemore，andWamba，thoughsoimperfectlyweaponed，didnothesitatetorushinandassisttheBlackKnighttorise。
　　``Shameonye，falsecowards！’’exclaimedheintheblueharness，whoseemedtoleadtheassailants，``doyeflyfromtheemptyblastofahornblownbyaJester?’’
　　Animatedbyhiswords，theyattackedtheBlackKnightanew，whosebestrefugewasnowtoplacehisbackagainstanoak，anddefendhimselfwithhissword。Thefelonknight，whohadtakenanotherspear，watchingthemomentwhenhisformidableantagonistwasmostcloselypressed，gallopedagainsthiminhopestonailhimwithhislanceagainstthetree，whenhispurposewasagaininterceptedbyWamba。TheJester，makingupbyagilitythewantofstrength，andlittlenoticedbythemen-at-arms，whowerebusiedintheirmoreimportantobject，hoveredontheskirtsofthefight，andeffectuallycheckedthefatalcareeroftheBlueKnight，byhamstringinghishorsewithastrokeofhissword。Horseandmanwenttotheground；
　　yetthesituationoftheKnightoftheFetterlockcontinuedveryprecarious，ashewaspressedclosebyseveralmencompletelyarmed，andbegantobefatiguedbytheviolentexertionsnecessarytodefendhimselfonsomanypointsatnearlythesamemoment，whenagrey-gooseshaftsuddenlystretchedontheearthoneofthemostformidableofhisassailants，andabandofyeomenbrokeforthfromtheglade，headedbyLocksleyandthejovialFriar，who，takingreadyandeffectualpartinthefray，soondisposedoftheruffians，allofwhomlayonthespotdeadormortallywounded。TheBlackKnightthankedhisdelivererswithadignitytheyhadnotobservedinhisformerbearing，whichhithertohadseemedratherthatofabluntboldsoldier，thanofapersonofexaltedrank。
　　``Itconcernsmemuch，’’hesaid，``evenbeforeIexpressmyfullgratitudetomyreadyfriends，todiscover，ifImay，whohavebeenmyunprovokedenemies——OpenthevisorofthatBlueKnight，Wamba，whoseemsthechiefofthesevillains。’’
　　TheJesterinstantlymadeuptotheleaderoftheassassins，who，bruisedbyhisfall，andentangledunderthewoundedsteed，layincapableeitherofflightorresistance。
　　``Come，valiantsir，’’saidWamba，``Imustbeyourarmoureraswellasyourequerry——Ihavedismountedyou，andnowIwillunhelmyou。’’
　　Sosaying，withnoverygentlehandheundidthehelmetoftheBlueKnight，which，rollingtoadistanceonthegrass，displayedtotheKnightoftheFetterlockgrizzledlocks，andacountenancehedidnotexpecttohaveseenundersuchcircumstances。
　　``WaldemarFitzurse！’’hesaidinastonishment；
　　``whatcouldurgeoneofthyrankandseemingworthtosofoulanundertaking?’’
　　``Richard，’’saidthecaptiveKnight，lookinguptohim，``thouknowestlittleofmankind，ifthouknowestnottowhatambitionandrevengecanleadeverychildofAdam。’’
　　``Revenge?’’answeredtheBlackKnight；``I
　　neverwrongedthee——Onmethouhastnoughttorevenge。’’
　　``Mydaughter，Richard，whosealliancethoudidstscorn——wasthatnoinjurytoaNorman，whosebloodisnobleasthineown?’’
　　``Thydaughter?’’repliedtheBlackKnight；
　　``apropercauseofenmity，andfolloweduptoabloodyissue！——Standback，mymasters，Iwouldspeaktohimalone——Andnow，WaldemarFitzurse，saymethetruth——confesswhosettheeonthistraitorousdeed。’’
　　``Thyfather’sson，’’answeredWaldemar，``who，insodoing，didbutavengeontheethydisobediencetothyfather。’’
　　Richard’seyessparkledwithindignation，buthisbetternatureovercameit。Hepressedhishandagainsthisbrow，andremainedaninstantgazingonthefaceofthehumbledbaron，inwhosefeaturespridewascontendingwithshame。
　　``Thoudostnotaskthylife，Waldemar，’’saidtheKing。
　　``Hethatisinthelion’sclutch，’’answeredFitzurse，``knowsitwereneedless。’’
　　``Takeit，then，unasked，’’saidRichard；``thelionpreysnotonprostratecarcasses——Takethylife，butwiththiscondition，thatinthreedaysthoushaltleaveEngland，andgotohidethineinfamyinthyNormancastle，andthatthouwiltnevermentionthenameofJohnofAnjouasconnectedwiththyfelony。IfthouartfoundonEnglishgroundafterthespaceIhaveallottedthee，thoudiest——orifthoubreathestaughtthatcanattaintthehonourofmyhouse，bySaintGeorge！notthealtaritselfshallbeasanctuary。Iwillhangtheeouttofeedtheravens，fromtheverypinnacleofthineowncastle——Letthisknighthaveasteed，Locksley，forIseeyouryeomenhavecaughtthosewhichwererunningloose，andlethimdepartunharmed。’’
　　``ButthatIjudgeIlistentoavoicewhosebehestsmustnotbedisputed，’’answeredtheyeoman，``Iwouldsendashaftaftertheskulkingvillainthatshouldsparehimthelabourofalongjourney。’’
　　``ThoubearestanEnglishheart，Locksley，’’
　　saidtheBlackKnight，``andwelldostjudgethouartthemoreboundtoobeymybehest——IamRichardofEngland！’’