Then the Lord cried out: "Now make we an end of it!
We have no might against this youngling, man to man:
or else would Otter have done it. This comes of learning
a craft diligently."
So Ralph got off his horse, and did off his helm and awaited tidings;
and anon comes to him the surly sergeant, and brought him a cup of wine,
and said: "Youngling, thou art to drink this, and then go to my Lord;
and I deem that thou art in favour with him. So if thou art not
too great a man, thou mightest put in a word for poor Redhead,
that first man that did so ill. For my Lord would have him set up,
and head down and buttocks aloft, as a target for our bowmen.
And it will be his luck if he be sped with the third shot, and last
not out to the twentieth."
"Yea, certes," said Ralph, "I will do no less, even if it
anger the Lord." "O thou wilt not anger him," said the man,
"for I tell thee, thou art in favour. Yea, and for me also thou
mightest say a word also, when thou becomest right great;
for have I not brought thee a good bowl of wine?"
"Doubt it not, man," said Ralph, "if I once get safe to Utterbol:
weary on it and all its ways!" Said the sergeant:
"That is an evil wish for one who shall do well at Utterbol.
But come, tarry not."
So he brought Ralph to the Lord, who still sat in his chair
beside that fair woman, and Ralph did obeysance to him;
yet he had a sidelong glance also for that fair seeming-queen,
and deemed her both proud-looking, and so white-skinned,
that she was a wonder, like the queen of the fays:
and it was just this that he had noted of the Queen as he stood
before her earlier in the day when they first came into the vale;
therefore he had no doubt of this damsel's queenship.
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