rings, a tidings befel.
For the Carline, having well considered the looks of the Knight and
having hearkened heedfully his speech, deemed that deliverance might
come of him from the sordid wretch who had stolen the Maiden. So while
the two were yet at table she roused her fosterling, and dight her
attire as seemly as she might, and tired her hair and made it smooth
and sleek; and just as the Blue Knight was about doing his marketings
together, she brought the Maiden to the entry between the two tents
and bade her stand there, and then drew the hangings apart to right
and left and let the Maiden stand there as in a picture. The Knight
looked up and saw it, and stared astonished, and was wordless a while;
the chapman scowled, but durst not say aught, for he knew not how the
Knight would take it; and as for the Knight, he leaned across to the
chapman and spake to him softly, not taking his eyes off the Maiden
the while: "Chapman, wilt thou tell me what this is, this wonder of
women? Whether it is a queen of some far country, or an image made by
wizardry?" The chapman, taken at unawares, had no lie handy, so he
said: "This is my war-taken thrall, and she hath been with me some
three hours." Said the Knight, still speaking softly: "Thy thrall!
Then mayst do with her what thou wilt. Tell me wilt thou not sell her,
and to me?"

The chapman was somewhat slow to answer, for he feared the Knight, and
durst not buy the slaking of his lust with the peril of death. And
moreover he deemed it a thing to be looked for that, if he sold her
not, the bold Knight would take her from him perforce, so that he
should lose both wealth and woman. Again, it came into his mind that
if he sold her he might yet take an occasion to steal her again; so he
said in a surly voice: "I took her not to sell her again, but to keep
her and make her one of my household."

"Yea," said the Knight, "and wilt thou bring her to the church and wed
her before the priest with ring and book?"

The chapman answered nought, and the Knight held his peace a while;
but presently he spoke to the Maiden kindly, and said: "Sweet maiden,
wouldst thou draw nigher to me, for I would speak with thee?" Then she
left the fold of the tent and came and stood before him with no fear
in her eyes.

Said the Blue Knight: "Tell me, fair damsel, is it true what this man
says, that thou art his war-taken thrall?" Said she: "Three days ago I
was stolen from mine own home by this man's s