William Morris

“ Wert thou thrall or free before that day, damsel? said the Knight. She flushed red, and said: Never has there been an unfree man of our blood for generation after generation. Said the Knight: Now thou art here in this man's tent, wilt thou go with him freely and of thine own will, if he swear to thee to take thee into his household and deal honestly by thee? She reddened again: But he will not deal honestly by me, lord, she said, and never will I go with him uncompelled. How knowest thou that he is not a true man? said the Knight. Fair sir, she said, hast thou looked in the face of him? ”

“ Seest thou, the old woman is still good for something, and always to serve thee and help thee, my dear. Then the Maiden kissed the Carline and caressed her, not without tears, and presently, being very weary with the way and the sorrow, laid her down on the bed and fell asleep. But the Carline sat watching heedfully all that went on, setting her eye to the defaults between the cloths of the tent, so that she could see all that was toward in the big tent, and somewhat the goings-on without. ”

“ 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 servants while the stout men of my folk were in battle with a sort of reivers who had fallen on our land. How might we defend us, two weak women against three weaponed men? ”