Come, champion!"
Therewith she led north through a thicket of mingled trees
till Ralph heard water running, and anon they came to a little
space about a brook, grassy and clear of trees save a few big
thorn-bushes, with a green ridge or bank on the other side.
There she stayed him and said: "Do off thy war-gear, knight.
There is naught to fear here, less than there was amidst the hazels."
So did he, and she kneeled down and drank of the clear water,
and washed her face and hands therein, and then came and kissed
him and said: "Lovely imp of Upmeads, I have some bread
of last night's meal in my scrip here, and under the bank
I shall find some woodland meat withal; abide a little
and the tale and the food shall come back to thee together."
Therewith she stepped lightly into the stream, and stood
therein a minute to let her naked feet feel the cold ripple
(for she had stripped off her foot-gear as she first came
to the water), and then went hither and thither gathering
strawberries about the bank, while he watched her, blessing her,
till he well nigh wept at the thought of his happiness.
Back she came in a little while with good store of strawberries in
the lap of her gown, and they sat down on the green lip of the brook,
and she drew the bread from her scrip and they ate together,
and she made him drink from the hollow of her hands, and kissed
him and wept over him for joy, and the eagerness of her love.
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