William Morris

“ Then the Carline opened her budget, and told how they two had suffered from war and rapine, and when they had been delivered from a foul caitiff by a good Knight who had cherished them with all honour in his house, and all went well awhile, it endured not long, for needs must he go to the wars, and there was he slain: how they, to escape the malice of the mother of the said Knight, who was a proud and hard woman, and now that her son was dead neither loved nor feared aught, must needs flee away. ”

“ Father, she said, thou and thy house, are ye foes or friends to the Knight of Longshaw? The Sub-prior smiled: Friends forsooth, said he, so far as we may do him any good; but ye wot that we give him no carnal help with sword and spear, yea and little indeed might we give were we temporal lords, so far off as we be from Longshaw, and the river and the Wood Masterless lying all between us. And now indeed we begin to deem that the good Knight may yet come to his above, though ere he had given the Barons' League that great overthrow things seemed going much awry with him. ”

“ And we both know that it is only amongst the Lord of Longshaw and his men that he is to be found. Quoth the Sub-prior: And when he is found, and ye let him know where ye are, will he come to you, think ye? Even so we believe, said the Maiden. Well, said the Sub-prior, tell me what ye would have, and it shall be done for you. Said the Carline: We would come across the water and have guide and guards through Wood Masterless to some place where we may dwell alone. Can ye do this much for us? ”

“ Now this is my tale, and belike it has been somewhat over-long, and therefore it scarce needs that ye bid this damsel tell a tale for her part, which were indeed better told by her casting to earth her grey cloak and showing her body fairly dight. For, indeed, this damsel belongeth to one who is your kinsman and dear friend, and seemly will she think it that she show her body so dight that it shall lack no fairness before you. ”