CHAPTER 24
Ralph Heareth More Tidings of the Damsel
The second day, while the merchants saw to their chaffer,
most of the men-at-arms, and Ralph with them, spent their time
again in those goodly gardens; where, indeed, some of them made
friends of fair women of the place; in which there was less risk
than had been for aliens in some towns, whereas at Cheaping
Knowe such women as were wedded according to law, or damsels
in the care of their kindred, or slaves who were concubines,
had not dared so much as to look on a man.
The third day time hung somewhat heavy on Ralph's hands,
not but that the Companions were well at ease, but rather
because himseemed that he was not stirring in the quest.
But the next day Clement bade him come see that thrall-merchant aforesaid,
and brought him to a corner of the market-place, where was a throng looking
on at the cheaping. They went through the throng, and beside a stone
like a leaping-on stone saw a tall man, goodly of presence, black bearded,
clad in scarlet; and this was the merchant; and by him were two of his knaves
and certain weaponed men who had brought their wares to the cheaping.
And some of these were arrayed like those foemen of the mountains.
There was a half score and three of these chattels to be sold, who stood up
one after other on the stone, that folk might cheapen them. The cheaping was
long about, because they that had a mind to buy were careful to know what they
were buying, like as if they had been cheapening a horse, and most of them
before they bid their highest had the chattels away into the merchant's booth
to strip them, lest they should buy damaged or unhandsome bodies; and this
more especially if it were a woman, for the men were already well nigh naked.
Pages:
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335