Yea,
and into his mind came certain tales of how there were
heathen men yet in the world, who beguiled men and women,
and offered them up to their devils, whom they called gods:
but all this ran off him soon, when he bethought him how little
wisdom there was in running to meet the evil, which might
be on the way, and that way a rough and perilous one.
So he plucked up heart, and spake freely and gaily with David
and one or two others who rode anigh.
They were amidst of the company: the Lord went first after
his fore-runners in a litter done about with precious cloths;
and two score horsemen came next, fully armed after their manner.
Then rode Ralph with David and a half dozen of the magnates:
then came a sort of cooks and other serving men, but none without
a weapon, and last another score of men-at-arms: so that he saw
that fleeing was not to be thought of though he was not bound,
and save for lack of weapons rode like a free man.
The day was clear as yesterday had been, wherefore again
Ralph saw the distant mountain-top like a cloud; and he gazed
at it long till David said: "I see that thou art gazing hard
at the mountains, and perchance art longing to be beyond them,
were it but to see what like the land is on the further side.
If all tales be true thou art best this side thereof,
whatever thy lot may be."
"Lieth death on the other side then?" quoth Ralph. "Yea," said David,
"but that is not all, since he is not asleep elsewhere in the world:
but men say that over there are things to be seen which might slay
a strong man for pure fear, without stroke of sword or dint of axe.
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