AnAdventureintheWoodRalpharrayedhimselffordeparturenextmorningwithoutmorewords；
andwhenhewasreadythecarlinesaidtohim：“Whenthouwentestforthbefore，Iwastroubledatthygoingandfearedforthyreturning：
butnowIfearnot；forIknowthatthouwiltreturn；thoughitmaybeleadingafairwomanbythehand。Sogo，andallluckgowiththee。”
Ralphsmiledatherwordsandwenthisways，andcameintothewoodthatlayduesouthfromtheCastle，andhewentonandonandhadnothoughtofturningback。Herestedtwiceandstillwenton，tillthefashionofthethicketsandthewoodschangedabouthim；
andatlastwhenthesunwasgettinglow，hesawlightgleamingthroughagreatwoodofpines，whichhadlongbeendarkbeforehimagainstthetallboles，andsoonhecametotheveryedgeofthewood，andgoingheedfully，sawbetweenthegreatstemsoftheoutermosttrees，agreenstrand，andbeyonditalongsmoothwater，alittlelakebetweengreenbanksoneitherside。Hecameoutofthepinewoodontothegrass；
buttherewerethornbushesafewabout，sothatmovingwarilyfromonetotheother，hemightperchanceseewithoutbeingseen。
Warilyhewentforsooth，goingalongthegreenstrandtotheeastandtheheadofthatwater，andsawhowthebankslopedupgentlyfromitsendingtowardthepine-wood，infrontofwhoseclose-settreesstoodthreegreat-boledtalloak-treesonasmoothpieceofgreensward。
Andnowhesawthattherewerefolkcomebeforehimonthisgreenplace，andkeen-sightedashewas，couldmakeoutthatthreemenwereonthehithersideoftheoak-trees，andonthefurthersideofthemwasawhitehorse。Thitherwardthenhemade，stealingfrombushtobush，sincehedeemedthatheneedednotbeseenofmenwhomightbefoes，foratthefirstsighthehadnotedthegleamofweaponsthere。
Andnowhehadgonenolongwaybeforehesawthewesteringsunshinebrightlyfromanakedsword，andthenanotherspranguptomeetit，andheheardfaintlytheclashofsteel，andsawwithalthatthethirdofthefolkhadlongandlightraimentandwasawomanbelike。
Thenhebetteredhispace，andinaminuteortwocamesonearthathecouldseethemenclearly，thattheywerecladinknightlywar-gear，andwerelayingongreatstrokessothatthestillplacerangwiththeclatter。
Asforthewoman，hecouldseebutlittleofher，becauseofthefightingmenbeforeher；andtheshadowoftheoakboughsfellonherwithal。
Nowashewent，hiddenbythebushes，theyhidthemenalsofromhim，andwhenhewascometothelastbush，somefiftypacesfromthem，andpeeredoutfromit，inthatverynickoftimethetwoknightswerebreathingthemsomewhat，andRalphsawthatoneofthem，thefurthestfromhim，wasaverybigmanwithabluesurcoatwhereonwasbeatenagreatgoldensun，andtheother，whosebackwastowardsRalph，wascladinblackoverhisarmour。
Evenashelookedanddoubtedwhethertoshowhimselfornot，heofthesunraisedhisswordaloft，andgivingforthagreatroarasofwrathandgriefmingledtogether，rushedonhisfoeandsmotesofiercelythathefelltotheearthbeforehim，andthebigmanfelluponhimashefell，andletkneeandsword-pommelandfistfollowthestroke，andtheretheywallowedontheearthtogether。
StraightwayRalphcameforthfromthebusheswithhisdrawnswordinhishand，andeventherewithwhatwiththetwoknightsbeingbothlowupontheearth，whatwiththewomanherselfcomingfromouttheshadowoftheoakboughs，andturninghertowardRalph，hesawherclearly，andstoodstaringandamazed——forlo！itwastheLadywhomhehaddeliveredatthewant-ways。Hisheartwellnighstoodstillwithjoy，yetwasheshamefacedalso：
forthoughnowshewasnolongercladinthatscantyraiment，yetdidheseemtoseeherbodythroughthatwhichcoveredit。
Butnowherattirewasbutsimple；agreengown，thinandshort，andthereoveracote-hardyofblackclothwithorphreysofgoldandcolours：butonherneckwasacollarthatseemedtohimliketothatwhichDameKatherinehadgivenhim；
andthelongtressesofherhair，whichhehaderstseenfloatinglooseabouther，werewoundasagarlandaroundherhead。
ShelookedwithaflushedandjoyousfaceonRalph，andseemedasifsheheedednoughtthebattleoftheknights，butsawhimonly：
buthefearedher，andhisloveforherandstoodstill，anddurstnotmoveforwardtogotoher。
Thustheyabodeforaboutthespaceofoneminute：andmeanwhilethebigmanroseupononekneeandsteadiedhimwithhisswordforamomentoftime，andthebladewasbloodyfromthepointhalfwayuptothehilt；buttheblackknightlaystillandmadenosignoflife。
ThentheKnightoftheSunroseupslowlyandstoodonhisfeetandfacedtheLadyandseemednottoseeRalph，forhisbackwastowardshim。
HecameslowlytowardtheLady，scowling，andhisfacewhiteaschalk；
thenhespaketohercoldlyandsternly，stretchingouthisbloodyswordbeforeher。
“Ihavedonethybidding，andslainmyveryearthlyfriendoffriendsforthysake。Wherewithwiltthourewardme？”
ThenoncemoreRalphheardthevoice，whichherememberedsosweetamidstperilandbattleaforetime，asshesaidascoldlyastheKnight：“Ibadetheenot：thineownheartbadetheetostrivewithhimbecausethoudeemedstthathelovedme。
Becontent！thouhastslainhimwhostoodinthyway，asthoudeemedst。ThinkestthouthatIrejoiceathisslaying？
Ono！Igrieveatit，forallthatIhadsuchgoodcausetohatehim。”
Hesaid：“Myownheart！myownheart！Halfofmyheartbiddethmeslaythee，whohastmademeslayhim。Whatwiltthougiveme？”
Sheknitherbrowandspakeangrily：“Leavetodepart。”shesaid。
Thenafterawhile，andinakindervoice：“Andthusmuchofmylove，thatIpraytheenottosorrowforme，buttohaveagoodheart，andliveasatrueknightshould。”Hefrowned：
“Wiltthounotgowithme？”saidhe。“Notuncompelled。”shesaid：
“ifthoubiddestmegowiththreatsofhewingandmanglingthebodywhichthousayestthoulovest，needsmustIgothen。
Yetscarcewiltthoudothis。”
“Ihaveamindtotryit。”saidhe；“IfIsettheeonthinehorseandboundthinehandsforthee，andlinkedthyfeettogetherunderthebeast’sbelly；belikethouwouldestcome。
ShallIhaveslainmybrother-in-armsfornought？”
“Thouhastthemind。”saidshe，“hastthouthemight？”
“SoIdeem。”saidhe，smilinggrimly。
Shelookedathimproudlyandsaid：“Yea，butImisdoubtmethereof。”
HestillhadhisbacktoRalphandwasstaringatthelady；sheturnedherheadalittleandmadeasigntoRalph，justastheKnightoftheSunsaid：
“Thoumisdoubtestthee？Whoshallhelptheeinthedesert？”
“Lookoverthyleftshoulder。”shesaid。Heturned，andsawRalphdrawingnear，swordinhand，smiling，butsomewhatpale。
HedrewabackfromtheLadyand，spinningroundonhisheel，facedRalph，andcriedout：“Hah！Hastthouraisedupadevilagainstme，thousorceress，totakefrommemygriefandmylust，andmylife？
FairwillthegamebetofightwiththydevilasIhavefoughtwithmyfriend！YetnowIknownotwhetherIshallslayhimorthee。”
Shespakenot，butstoodquietlylookingonhim，notunkindly，whileawindcameupfromthewaterandplayedwithafewlightlocksofhairthathungdownfromthatruddycrown，andblewherraimentfromherfeetandwrappeditcloseroundherlimbs；
andRalphbeheldher，andcloseaswastheverydeathtohimforhugeandmostwarrior-likewashisfoemanyetlongingforhermeltedtheheartwithinhim，andhefeltthesweetnessoflifeinhisinmostsoulashehadneverfeltitbefore。
SuddenlytheKnightoftheSunturnedabouttotheLadyagain，andfelldownonhiskneesbeforeher，andclaspedhishandsasonepraying，andsaid：“Nowpardonmeallmywords，Ipraythee；
andletthisyoungmandepartunhurt，whetherthoumadesthim，orhastbutledhimawayfromcountryandfriendsandall。
Thendothoucomewithme，andmakesomesemblanceoflovingme，andsuffermetolovethee。Andthenshallallbewell，forinafewdayswewillgobacktothypeople，andtherewillIbetheirlordorthyservant，ormybrother’sman，orwhatthouwilt。
Owiltthounotletthesummerdaysbesweet？”
Butshespake，holdingupherheadproudlyandspeakinginaclearringingvoice：“Ihavesaidit，thatuncompelledIwillnotgowiththeeatall。”AndtherewithalsheturnedherfacetowardRalph，asshemightdoonanychance-metcourteousman，andhesawhersmiling，butshesaidnoughttohim，andgavenotokenofknowinghim。ThentheKnightoftheSunsprangtohisfeet，andshookhisswordabovehisheadandranfuriouslyonRalph，wholeaptnimblyononesideelsehadhebeenslainatonce
andfetchedablowattheSun-Knight，andsmotehim，andbrakethemailsonhisleftshoulder，sothatthebloodsprang，andfellonfiercelyenough，smitingtorightandleftastheothergavebackathisfirstonset。
Butallwasfornought，fortheKnightoftheSun，afterhisgivingabackunderthatfirststrokedrewhimselfupstarkandstiff，andpressingonthroughallRalph’sstrokes，thoughtheyrenthismailhereandthere，ranwithinhissword，andsmotehimfuriouslywiththesword-pommelonthesideofthehead，sothattheyoungmanofUpmeadscouldnotstandupundertheweightoftheblow，butfelltotheearthswooning，andtheKnightoftheSunkneltonhim，anddrewoutananlace，short，thickandsharp，andcriedout：“Now，Devil，letseewhetherthouwiltbleedblack。”
Therewithheraiseduphishand：buttheweaponwasstayedoreveritfell，fortheLadyhadglideduptothemwhenshesawthatRalphwasovercome，andnowshestretchedoutherarmandcaughtholdoftheKnight’shandandtheanlacewithal，andhegroanedandcriedout：“Whatnow！thouartstrong-armedaswellaswhite-armed；forshehadrentthesleevebackfromherrightarmandhelaughedintheextremityofhiswrath。
Butshewaspaleandherlipsquiveredasshesaidsoftlyandsweetly：
“Wiltthouverilyslaythisyoungman？”
“Andwhynot？”saidhe，“sinceIhavejustslainthebestfriendthatIeverhad，thoughhewasnoughtwillingtofightwithme，andonlyforthis，thatIsawtheetoyingwithhim；
thoughforsooththouhastsaidtrulythatthouhadstmorereasontohatehimthanlovehim。Well，sincethouwiltnothavethisyounglingslain，Imaydeematleastthatheisnodevilofthymaking，elsewouldstthoubegladofhisslaying，sothathemightbeoutofthepathofthee；soamanheis，andawell-favouredone，andyoung；andvaliant，asitseemeth：
soIsupposethatheisthylover，orwillbeoneday——wellthen——“
Andheliftedhishandagain，butagainshestayedhim，andsaid：
“Lookthou，Iwillbuyhimofthee：and，indeed，Iowehimalife。”
“Howisthat？”saidhe。“Whywouldstthouknow？”shesaid；“thouwho，ifthouhadstmeinthinehandsagain，wouldstkeepmeawayfromallmen。
Yea，Iknowwhatthouwouldstsay，thouwouldstkeepmefromsinningagain。”
Andshesmiled，butbitterly。“Well，thetaleisnolongone：
“fivedaysagoIwastakenbythemoftheBurg：andthouwottestwhattheywoulddowithme；yea，eveniftheydeemedmelessthantheydodeemme：
well，astwooftheirmen-at-armswereleadingmealongbyahalter，asacalfisledtothebutcher，wefellinwiththisgoodlylad，whoslewthembothinmanlyfashion，andIescapedforthattime：
though，forsooth，Imustneedsputmyneckinthenooseagainindeliveringfourofourpeople，whowouldelsehavebeentormentedtodeathbytheBurgers。”
“Well。”saidtheknight，“perchancethouhastmoremercythanI
lookedforofthee；thoughImisdoubttheethatthoumaystyetpraymeorsomeothertoslayhimforthee。Thouartmerciful，myQueen，thoughnottome，andachurlwereIifIwerelessmercifulthanthou。
ThereforewillIgivehislifetohim，yetnottotheewillIgivehimifImayhelpit——Loyou，Sweet！heisjustopeninghiseyes。”
TherewithheroseupfromRalph，whoraisedhimselfalittle，andsatupdazedandfeeble。TheKnightoftheSunstoodupoverhimbesidetheladywithhishandsclaspedonhissword-hilt，andsaidtoRalph：
“Youngman，canstthouhearmywords？”Ralphsmiledfeeblyandnoddedayea-say。“Dostthoulovethylifethen？”saidtheKnight。
Ralphfoundspeechandsaidfaintly，“Yea。”SaidtheKnight：