I had little to do with Goldburg till our lord conquered Utterbol.
Lo here the host! he may tell thee the tale thereof."
Therewith he departed, and left Ralph with the host, whom Ralph
questioned of the story, for his heart was wrung lest such a fair
woman and so friendly should have come to harm.
So the host sat down by Ralph and said: "My master, this is a tale
which is grievous to us: for though the saints forbid I should say a word
against my lord that is now, nor is there any need to, yet we deemed
us happy to be under so dear a lady and so good and fair as she was.
Well, she is gone so that we wot not whether she be living or dead.
For so it is that in the early spring, somewhat more than a year ago
that is, one morning when folk arose, the Queen's place was empty.
Riding and running there was about and about, but none the more was
she found. Forsooth as time wore, tales were told of what wise she
left us, and why: but she was gone. Well, fair sir, many deemed
that though her lineage was known by seeming, yet she was of the fairy,
and needed neither steed nor chariot to go where she would.
But her women and those that knew her best, deemed that whatso she were,
she had slain herself, as they thought, for some unhappiness of love.
For indeed she had long gone about sad and distraught, though she
neither wept, nor would say one word of her sorrow, whatsoever it might be.
"But, fair sir, since thou art a stranger, and art presently
departing from our city, I will tell thee a thing.
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