For as for me, I have sworn it that I will not go one step back
till I have seen my father and mother in their house of Upmeads.
Is it well said, Clement?" "Yea, forsooth," said Clement;
but he could not take his eyes off Ursula's loveliness, as she kilted
her skirts and ran her ways like one of Diana's ladies in the wildwood.
At last he said, "Thou shalt wot, fair sir, that ye will have a little
band to go with thee from us of Wulstead; forsooth we had gone
to-morrow morn in any case, but since thou art here, all is well."
Even as he spake a great shout broke out from the company as Ursula had
given her message, and then came the tramp of men and horses and the clash
of weapons as they set forward; and Clement looked and beheld how first
of all the array came Ursula, bearing the hallowed staff in her hand;
for her heart also was set on what was to come. Then cried out Clement:
"Happy art thou, lord, and happy shalt thou be, and who shall withstand thee?
Lo! what a war-duke it is! and what a leader that marches with fate
in her hands before thine host!"
Therewith were they all joined together, and Ursula gave the guisarme into
Ralph's hand, and with his other hand he took hers, and the bar of the barrier
was lifted and the gates thrown open, and they all streamed into the street,
the champions coming last and towering over the footmen as they sat, big men
on their big horses, as if they were very bodyguards of the God of War.
Pages:
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711