ere
many fields of growing corn, and these fields and meadows rose ever
upward until they cut against the sky, as smooth with fertility as
though carved out with the edge of a sharp keen knife. And beside the
river were banks of reeds and rushes and pollard willows and thickets of
alder and aspen. And the broad highroad followed the course of the
stream and there were several mills in the valley and broad ponds of
water with bosky trees and with houses clustered upon the banks thereof.
And ever the breeze blew mild and steady, and very balmy and warm, and
great round white clouds moved slowly across the high arch of the bright
blue sky.

All this Sir Percival and Sir Sagramore beheld and they took such joy in
it that so I cannot forbear to tell you of it as I have done because of
the joy that I also take in what they beheld. Wherefore I pray you to
forgive me if I have recounted more of those things than need be, who am
writing a history of chivalry and of knightly daring.

So those two worthies sat there where were the highlands at the edge of
the forest, and gazed their fill down upon that valley, all spread out,
as it were, upon a table beneath them, and when they had thus gazed
their fill they aroused themselves from their pleasant contemplations
and descended down into that valley, riding along beside the shining
river.

So they followed the highway, and by and by came to where the road
crossed the river by a high-arched bridge of stone. At that place were
several houses of stone with white walls that stood sheltered with
great, umbrageous trees and the walls of the houses touched the edge of
the smooth and gently flowing river. Coadjacent to this place was a mill
and a sheet of wide-spreading bright water where were so many swifts,
flitting hither and thither above the smooth surface, that they
resembled bees flying about a hive upon a warm day in June.

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival and Sir Sagramore meet a knight at the
bridge._]

Now as Sir Sagramore and Sir Percival approached that bridge aforesaid
with intent to cross it, they were presently aware of another knight who
came toward them from the other end thereof. And as they went forward he
also came forward so that it was likely that they three would meet in
the midst of the bridge. And they beheld that the knight rode upon a
great Flemish charger as black as a coal, and that he was of a very
noble, haughty appearance, showing no fear at their advance, thou