Thus they passed the bridge, and turning to the left at its ending,
came into the Water-Street of Goldburg, where the river,
with wide quays on either side thereof, ran betwixt the houses.
As for these, beneath the dwellings went a fair arched passage
like to the ambulatory of an abbey; and every house all along this
street was a palace for its goodliness. The houses were built of
white stones and red and grey; with shapely pillars to the cloister,
and all about carvings of imagery and knots of flowers;
goodly were the windows and all glazed, as fair as might be.
On the river were great barges, and other craft such as were not
sea-goers, river-ships that might get them through the bridges
and furnished with masts that might be lowered and shipped.
Much people was gathered to see the chapmen enter,
yet scarce so many as might be looked for in so goodly
a town; yea, and many of the folk were clad foully, and were
haggard of countenance, and cried on the chapmen for alms.
Howbeit some were clad gaily and richly enough, and were fair
of favour as any that Ralph had seen since he left Upmeads:
and amongst these goodly folk were women not a few, whose gear
and bearing called to Ralph's mind the women of the Wheatwearers
whom he had seen erst in the Burg of the Four Friths, whereas they
were somewhat wantonly clad in scanty and thin raiment.
And of these, though they were not all thralls, were many
who were in servitude: for, as Clement did Ralph to wit,
though the tillers of the soil, and the herdsmen, in short
the hewers of wood and drawers of water, were men masterless,
yet rich men might and did buy both men and women for servants
in their houses, and for their pleasure and profit in divers wise.
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