"
"It is well," said the Friar; "my hermitage is no great way hence,
in the thicket at the end of this water. But now is the fever
on this knight, and we may not move him ere morning at soonest;
but to-morrow we may make a shift to bear him hence by boat:
or, if not, then may I go and fetch from my cell bread and other meat,
and milk of my goats; and thus shall we do well till we may bring
him to my cell, and then shall ye leave him there; and afterwards I
will lead him home to Sunway where thou dwellest, baron, when he is
well enough healed; or, if he will not go thither, let him go his ways,
and I myself will come to Sunway and let thee wot of his welfare."
The knight yeasaid all this, and thereafter the Friar and the Lady together
tended the wounded knight, and gave him water to drink, and wine.
And meanwhile Ralph and the Knight of the Sun lay down on the grass
and watched the eve darkening, and Ralph marvelled at his happiness,
and wondered what the morrow would bring forth.
But amidst his happy thoughts the Knight of the Sun spake to him and said:
"Young knight, I have struck a bargain with her that thou shalt follow
us home, if thou wilt: but to say sooth, I think when the bargain was
struck I was minded when I had thee at Sunway to cast thee into my prison.
But now I will do otherwise, and if thou must needs follow after thine
own perdition, as I have, thou shalt do so freely; therefore take
again thine armour and weapons, and do what thou wilt with them.
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