But this time at least it is not so ill-marshalled of thee:
I myself would have shown folk to chamber here in likewise."
Therewith he rose up, and walked to and fro for a little,
and then went, and sat down on a root of the oak-tree,
clasping his knees with his hands, but lay not down awhile.
But the Lady made herself a bed of the bracken which was over from
those that Ralph had gathered for the bed of the wounded Knight;
and the Friar lay down on the grass nigh to her, and both
were presently asleep.
Then Ralph got up quietly; and, shamefacedly for very love,
passed close beside the sleeping woman as he went to his place
by the horses, taking his weapons and wargear with him:
and he said to himself as he laid him down, that it was good
for him to be quite alone, that he might lie awake and think
at his ease of all the loveliness and kindness of his Lady.
Howbeit, he was a young man, and a sturdy, used to lying abroad
in the fields or the woods, and it was his custom to sleep
at once and sweetly when he lay down after the day's work
had wearied him, and even so he did now, and was troubled
by no dreams of what was past or to come.
BOOK TWO
The Road Unto Trouble
CHAPTER 1
Ralph Meets With Love in the Wilderness
He woke up while it was yet night, and knew that he had been
awakened by a touch; but, like a good hunter and warrior,
he forebore to start up or cry out till sleep had so much
run off him that he could tell somewhat of what was toward.
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