Then presently the Lady's women came out of their tents, and,
being marshalled by Agatha, went into the Queen's pavilion,
whence they came forth again presently like a bed of garden
flowers moving, having in the midst of them a woman so fair,
and clad so gloriously, that Ralph must needs look on her,
though he were some way off, and take note of her beauty.
She went and sat her down beside the Lord, and Ralph
doubted not that it was the Queen, whom he had but glanced
at when they first made stay before the pavilion.
Sooth to say, Joyce being well nigh as tall as the Queen,
and as white of skin, was otherwise a far fairer woman.
Now spake Otter to Ralph: "I must leave thee here, lad, and go
to the other side, as I am to run against thee." Said Ralph:
"Art thou to run first?" "Nay, but rather last," said Otter;
"they will try thee first with one of the sergeants, and if he
overcome thee, then all is done, and thou art in an evil plight.
Otherwise will they find another and another, and at last it
will be my turn. So keep thee well, lad."
Therewith he rode away, and there came to Ralph one of
the sergeants, who brought him a spear, and bade him to horse.
So Ralph mounted and took the spear in hand; and the sergeant said:
"Thou art to run at whatsoever meeteth thee when thou hast heard
the third blast of the horn. Art thou ready?" "Yea, yea,"
said Ralph; "but I see that the spear-head is not rebated,
so that we are to play at sharps.
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