Of such matters are there tales current amongst us that so it
hath been of yore and in other lands; and ill it were if such
times came back upon us."
Ralph hung his head and was silent; for the joy of the Quest seemed
dying out as the old man's words dropped slowly from his mouth.
But he smiled upon Ralph and went on: "But for you, guests,
it is otherwise, for ye of the World beyond the Mountains
are stronger and more godlike than we, as all tales tell;
and ye wear away your lives desiring that which ye may scarce get;
and ye set your hearts on high things, desiring to be masters
of the very Gods. Therefore ye know sickness and sorrow,
and oft ye die before your time, so that ye must depart
and leave undone things which ye deem ye were born to do;
which to all men is grievous. And because of all this ye
desire healing and thriving, whether good come of it, or ill.
Therefore ye do but right to seek to the Well at the World's End,
that ye may the better accomplish that which behoveth you,
and that ye may serve your fellows and deliver them from
the thralldom of those that be strong and unwise and unkind,
of whom we have heard strange tales."
Ralph reddened as he spake, and Ursula looked on him anxiously,
but that talk dropped for the present, and they fell to talking
of lighter and more familiar matters.
Thereafter they wandered about the woods with the wardens
and the way-leaders, and the elder brought them to the ancient
altar in the wood whereon the Sorceress had offered up the goat;
and the howe of the woman dight with the necklace of the Quest
whom the Lady found dead in the snow; and the place nigh
the house where the Sorceress used to torment her thrall
that was afterwards the Lady of Abundance; yea, and they went
further afield till they came to the Vale of Lore, and the Heath
above it where they met, the King's Son and the Lady.
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