Now Ralph draws his sword, and lays it naked on the stone table,
and he stood beside Ursula and said: "Champions of the Dry Tree,
by the blade of Upmeads which lieth here before me, and by the head
which I love best in the world, and is best worthy of love"
(and herewith he laid his hand on Ursula's head), "I swear
that whensoever the Captain of the Dry Tree calleth on me,
whether I be eating or drinking, abed or standing on my feet,
at peace or at war, glad or sorry, I shall do my utmost to come
to his aid straightway with whatso force I may gather.
Is this rightly sworn, Champions?"
Said Stephen a-Hurst: "It is sworn well and knightly,
and now cometh our oath."
"Nay," said Ralph, "I had no mind to drive a bargain with you;
your deeds shall prove you; and I fear not for your doughtiness."
Said Stephen: "Yea, Lord; but he bade us swear to thee.
Reach me thy sword, I pray thee."
Then Ralph reached him his sword across the great stone table,
and Stephen took it, and kissed the blade and the hilts;
and then lifted up his voice and said: "By the hilts and the blade,
by the point and the edge, we swear to follow the Lord Ralph
of Upmeads for a year and a day, and to do his will in all wise.
So help us God and Allhallows!"
And therewith he gave the sword to the others, and each man of them
kissed it as he had.
But Ralph said: "Champions, for this oath I thank you all heartily.
But it is not my meaning that I should hold you by me for a year,
whereas I deem I shall do all that my kindred may need in three days'
space from the first hour wherein we set foot in Upmeads.
Pages:
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673