they passed through the wicket of the gate: which gate
itself was verily huge beyond measure, all built of great
ashlar-stones; and when they were within, it was like a hall somewhat
long and exceeding high, most fairly vaulted; midmost of the said hall
they rode through a noble arch on their right hand, and lo another hall
exceeding long, but lower than the first, with many glazen windows set
in its townward wall; and when they looked through these, they saw the
river running underneath; for this was naught but the lower bridge of
the city and they learned afterwards and saw, that above the vault of
this long bridge rose up the castle, chamber on chamber, till its
battlements were level with the highest towers of the wall on the hill
top.

Thus they passed the bridge, and turning to the left at its ending,
came into the Water-Street of Goldburg, where the river, with wide
quays on either side thereof, ran betwixt the houses. As for these,
beneath the dwellings went a fair arched passage like to the ambulatory
of an abbey; and every house all along this street was a palace for its
goodliness. The houses were built of white stones and red and grey;
with shapely pillars to the cloister, and all about carvings of imagery
and knots of flowers; goodly were the windows and all glazed, as fair
as might be. On the river were great barges, and other craft such as
were not sea-goers, river-ships that might get them through the bridges
and furnished with masts that might be lowered and shipped.

Much people was gathered to see the chapmen enter, yet scarce so many
as might be looked for in so goodly a town; yea, and many of the folk
were clad foully, and were haggard of countenance, and cried on the
chapmen for alms. Howbeit some were clad gaily and richly enough, and
were fair of favour as any that Ralph had seen since he left Upmeads:
and amongst these goodly folk were women not a few, whose gear and
bearing called to Ralph's mind the women of the Wheatwearers whom he
had seen erst in the Burg of the Four Friths, whereas they were
somewhat wantonly clad in scanty and thin raiment. And of these,
though they were not all thralls, were many who were in servitude:
for, as Clement did Ralph to wit, though the tillers of the soil, and
the herdsmen, in short the hewers of wood and drawers of water, were
men masterless, yet rich men might and did buy both men and women for
servants in their houses, and for their pleasure and prof