"
But the King cried out in a loud harsh voice.
"Thou, young man, beware thou! and try not thy luck overmuch.
We are as many as these trees, and thou canst not prevail over us.
Go thy ways free, and leave me what thou canst not help leaving."
"Yea, fool," cried Ralph, "and what wilt thou do with these two?"
Said the King: "The traitor I will flay, and the woman I will bed."
Scarce were the words out of his mouth ere Ralph gave forth a great cry
and drew his sword, set spurs to his horse, and gallopped on up the road
with all his band at his back for they had drawn anigh amidst this talk.
But or ever they came on the foemen, they heard a great confused cry
of onset mingled with affright, and lo! the King threw up his arms,
and fell forward on his horse's neck with a great arrow through his throat.
Ralph drave on sword in hand, crying out, "Home, home to Upmeads!"
and anon was amidst of the foe smiting on either hand.
His men followed, shouting: "Ho, for the Friend of the Well!"
And amongst the foemen, who were indeed very many, was huge dismay,
so that they made but a sorry defence before the band of
the wayfarers, who knew not what to make of it, till they noted
that arrows and casting-spears were coming out of the wood on
either side, which smote none of them, but many of the foemen.
Short was the tale, for in a few minutes there were no men
of the foe together save those that were fleeing down the road
to Cheaping Knowe.
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