" She smiled on him and said:
"Let me light down then, that I may kiss the earth of that kind field,
where thou wert not stayed over long, but even long enough that we might
meet in the dark wood thereafter."
"Sweetling," said Ralph, "this mayst thou do and grieve no man,
not even for a little. For lo you! the captain is staying
the sumpter-beasts, and it is his mind, belike, that we shall sleep
in yonder wood to-night." Therewith he lighted down and she in likewise:
then he took her by the hand and led her on a few yards, and said:
"Lo, beloved, this quicken-tree; hereby it was that the tent was
pitched wherein I lay the night when I was taken."
She looked on him shyly and said: "Wilt thou not sleep here
once more to-night?"
"Yea, well-beloved," said he, "I will bid them pitch thy tent
on this same place, that I may smell the wild thyme again,
as I did that other while."
So there on the field of his ancient grief they rested that night
in all love and content.
CHAPTER 8
Of Goldburg Again, and the Queen Thereof
Next day they went forth through the country wherethrough
Morfinn had led Ralph into captivity; and Redhead rode warily;
for there were many passes which looked doubtful: but whether
the ill men feared to meddle with them, or however it were,
none waylaid them, and they all came safely to the gate of Goldburg,
the towers whereof were full of folk looking forth on them.
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