But we see in thee, that she hath loved thee and blessed thee,
and thou hast slain her slayer and his kindred.
And we see of thee also that thou art a good lord.
O the comfort to us, therefore, if thou wouldest be our Lord!
We will serve thee truly so far as we may: yea, even if
thou be beset by foes, we will take bow and bill from
the wall, and stand round about thee and fight for thee.
Only thou must not ask us to go hence from this place:
for we know naught but the Plain of Abundance, and the edges
of the wood, and the Brethren of the House of the Thorn,
who are not far hence. Now we pray thee by thy fathers
not to naysay us, so sore as thou hast made our hearts.
Also we see about thy neck the same-like pair of beads
which our Lady was wont to bear, and we deem that ye were
in one tale together."
Then was Ralph silent awhile, but the Sage spake to the elder:
"Old man, how great is the loss of the Lady to you?"
"Heavy loss, wise old man," said the carle, "as thou thyself
mayst know, having known her."
"And what did she for you?" said the Sage. Said the elder:
"We know that she was gracious to us; never did she lay tax
or tale on us, and whiles she would give us of her store,
and that often, and abundantly. We deem also that every
time when she came to us our increase became more plenteous,
which is well seen by this, that since she hath ceased to come,
the seasons have been niggard unto us.
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