Michael in the Choir of Our Lady of the Thorn:
there is none so lovely as thou. I would my Lady could see
thee thus; surely the sight of thee should gladden her heart.
And withal thou art not ill clad otherwise."
Indeed his raiment was goodly, for his surcoat was new,
and it was of fine green cloth, and the coat-armour of Upmead
was beaten on it, to wit, on a gold ground an apple-tree fruited,
standing by a river-side.
Now he laughed somewhat uneasily at her words, and so went forth
from the castle again, and made straight for the hay-making folk
on the other side of the water; for all this side was being
fed by beasts and sheep; but at the point where he crossed,
the winding of the stream brought it near to the castle gate.
So he came up with the country folk and greeted them,
and they did as much by him in courteous words:
they were goodly and well-shapen, both men and women, gay and
joyous of demeanour and well clad as for folk who work afield.
So Ralph went from one to another and gave them a word or two,
and was well pleased to watch them at their work awhile; but yet
he would fain speak somewhat more with one or other of them.
At last under the shade of a tall elm-tree he saw an old man
sitting heeding the outer raiment of the haymakers and their
victual and bottles of drink; and he came up to him and gave
him the sele of the day; and the old man blessed him and said:
"Art thou dwelling in my lady's castle, fair lord?"
"A while at least," said Ralph.
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