William Morris

“ Fare up to the top on thy side, and so will I. And therewith she turned about and fell to climbing up the side of the cliff by the broken black staves and the shaly slips. And though Osberne were a boy, yea and a tough one in some ways, he trembled and his heart beat quick to see the little creature wending that perilous upright road, and he might not take his eyes off her till she had landed safely on the greensward; then he turned and went swiftly up the eastern knoll, and reached the edge of the sheer rock just as the maiden came running up the ness on her side. ”

“ And as he stood gazing there, on a sudden there came out of the cave a shape as of man, and stood upon the ledge above the water, and the lad saw at once that it was a little maiden of about his own age, with ruddy golden hair streaming down from her head, and she was clad in a short coat of dark blue stuff and no more raiment, as far as he could see. Now, as aforesaid. Osberne was in his holiday raiment of red scarlet by the bidding of Stephen. Now the maiden looks up and sees the lad standing on the eastern shore, and starts back astonished. ”

“ What is in thy mind, maiden? This, she said, that I am thinking how fair a chance it was that I should have seen thee, for thou hast made me so glad. Said he: We can see each other again belike and make it less of a chance. O yea, she said, and was silent awhile. Said he: I wot not why it was that thou wert in the cave: and tell me, is it not exceeding perilous, the climbing up and down? why wilt thou do that? Also I must tell thee, that this was another cause why I thought thou wert of Faery, that thou camest out of the cave. ”