' I said:
'Thou art young, and I am young; mayhappen we shall meet again:
but thou shalt know that I am but a thrall, a goatherd.'
For I knew by what the old woman told me of somewhat of
the mightiness of the kings of the world. 'Yea,' he said,
and smiled most sweetly, 'that is easy to be seen:
yet if I live, as I think not to do, thou shalt sit where
great men shall kneel to thee; not as I kneel now for love,
and that I may kiss thy knees and thy feet, but because they
needs must worship thee.'
"Therewith he arose to his feet and leapt on his horse, and rode
his ways speedily: and I went upon my way with my goats, and came
down into the Dale of Lore, and found the old woman abiding me;
and she came to me, and took me by the hands, and touched the collar
(for I had done it about my neck), and said:
"'Dear child, thou needest not to tell me thy tale, for I have seen him.
But if thou must needs wear this necklace, I must give thee a gift to go
with it. But first sit down by the old carline awhile and talk with her;
for meseemeth it will be but a few days ere thou shalt depart from this
uttermost wilderness, and the woods before the mountains.'
"So I sat down by her, and in spite of her word I told her all that had
befallen betwixt me and the king's son: for my heart was too full that I
might refrain me. She nodded her head from time to time, but said naught,
till I had made an end: and then fell to telling me of many matters
for my avail; but yet arose earlier than her wont was; and when we were
about sundering on the path which I had trodden above the Dale, she said:
'Now must I give thee that gift to go along with the gift of the lover,
the King's son; and I think thou wilt find it of avail before many days
are gone by.
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