Is it not so?"
"Maybe," said Ralph, "for thou seemest to be a true man."
No more he spake though he had half a mind to tell the carle
all the tale of that adventure; but something held him back when
he thought of that lady and her fairness. Yet again his heart
misgave him of what might betide that other maiden at Hampton,
and he was unquiet, deeming that he must needs follow her thither.
The carle looked on him curiously and somewhat anxiously,
but Ralph's eyes were set on something that was not there;
or else maybe had he looked closely on the carle he might have
deemed that longing to avenge him whereof he spoke did not change
his face much; for in truth there was little wrath in it.
Now the carle said: "Thou hast a tale which thou deemest unmeet
for my ears, as it well may be. Well, thou must speak, or refrain
from speaking, what thou wilt; but thou art so fair a young knight,
and so blithe with a poor man, and withal I deem that thou mayest
help me to some gain and good, that I will tell thee a true tale:
and first that the Burg is a good town under a good lord,
who is no tyrant nor oppressor of peaceful men; and that thou mayest
dwell there in peace as to the folk thereof, who be good folk,
albeit they be no dastards to let themselves be cowed by murder-carles.
And next I will tell thee that the folk of the town of Hampton
be verily as harmless and innocent as sheep; but that they be under
evil lords who are not their true lords, who lay heavy burdens
on them and torment them even to the destroying of their lives:
and lastly I will tell thee that I was one of those poor people,
though not so much a sheep as the more part of them, therefore have
these tyrants robbed me of my croft, and set another man in my house;
and me they would have slain had I not fled to the wood that it
might cover me.
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