``Why，’’saidWamba，``anyourvalourbesodull，youwillpleasetolearnthatthosehonestfellowsbalanceagooddeedwithonenotquitesolaudable；asacrowngiventoabeggingfriarwithanhundredbyzantstakenfromafatabbot，orawenchkissedinthegreenwoodwiththereliefofapoorwidow。’’
``Whichofthesewasthegooddeed，whichwasthefelony?’’interruptedtheKnight。
``Agoodgibe！agoodgibe！’’saidWamba；
``keepingwittycompanysharpeneththeapprehension。
Yousaidnothingsowell，SirKnight，Iwillbesworn，whenyouhelddrunkenvesperswiththebluffHermit——Buttogoon。Themerry-menoftheforestsetoffthebuildingofacottagewiththeburningofacastle，——thethatchingofachoiragainsttherobbingofachurch，——thesettingfreeapoorprisoneragainstthemurderofaproudsheriff；or，tocomenearertoourpoint，thedeliveranceofaSaxonfranklinagainsttheburningaliveofaNormanbaron。Gentlethievestheyare，inshort，andcourteousrobbers；butitisevertheluckiesttomeetwiththemwhentheyareattheworst。’’
``Howso，Wamba?’’saidtheKnight。
``Why，thentheyhavesomecompunction，andareformakingupmatterswithHeaven。Butwhentheyhavestruckanevenbalance，Heavenhelpthemwithwhomtheynextopentheaccount！ThetravellerswhofirstmetthemaftertheirgoodserviceatTorquilstonewouldhaveawofulflaying——
Andyet，’’saidWamba，comingcloseuptotheKnight’sside，``therebecompanionswhoarefarmoredangerousfortravellerstomeetthanyonderoutlaws。’’
``Andwhomaytheybe，foryouhaveneitherbearsnorwolves，Itrow?’’saidtheKnight。
``Marry，sir，butwehaveMalvoisin’smen-at-arms，’’
saidWamba；``andletmetellyou，that，intimeofcivilwar，ahalfscoreoftheseisworthabandofwolvesatanytime。Theyarenowexpectingtheirharvest，andarereinforcedwiththesoldiersthatescapedfromTorquilstone。Sothat，shouldwemeetwithabandofthem，weareliketopayforourfeatsofarms——Now，Iprayyou，SirKnight，whatwouldyoudoifwemettwoofthem?’’
``Pinthevillainstotheearthwithmylance，Wamba，iftheyofferedusanyimpediment。’’
``Butwhatiftherewerefourofthem?’’
``Theyshoulddrinkofthesamecup，’’answeredtheKnight。
``Whatifsix，’’continuedWamba，``andweaswenoware，barelytwo——wouldyounotrememberLocksley’shorn?’’
``What！soundforaid，’’exclaimedtheKnight，``againstascoreofsuchrascailleasthese，whomonegoodknightcoulddrivebeforehim，asthewinddrivesthewitheredleaves?’’
``Nay，then，’’saidWamba，``Iwillprayyouforaclosesightofthatsamehornthathathsopowerfulabreath。’’
TheKnightundidtheclaspofthebaldric，andindulgedhisfellow-traveller，whoimmediatelyhungthebugleroundhisownneck。
``Tra-lira-la，’’saidhe，whistlingthenotes；``nay，Iknowmygamutaswellasanother。’’
``Howmeanyou，knave?’’saidtheKnight；
``restoremethebugle。’’
``Contentyou，SirKnight，itisinsafekeeping。
WhenValourandFollytravel，Follyshouldbearthehorn，becauseshecanblowthebest。’’
``Naybut，rogue，’’saidtheBlackKnight，``thisexceedeththylicense——Bewareyetampernotwithmypatience。’’
``Urgemenotwithviolence，SirKnight，’’saidtheJester，keepingatadistancefromtheimpatientchampion，``orFollywillshowacleanpairofheels，andleaveValourtofindouthiswaythroughthewoodasbesthemay。’’
``Nay，thouhasthitmethere，’’saidtheKnight；
``and，soothtosay，Ihavelittletimetojanglewiththee。Keepthehornanthouwilt，butletusproceedonourjourney。’’
``Youwillnotharmme，then?’’saidWamba。
``Itelltheeno，thouknave！’’
``Ay，butpledgemeyourknightlywordforit，’’
continuedWamba，asheapproachedwithgreatcaution。
``MyknightlywordIpledge；onlycomeonwiththyfoolishself。’’
``Nay，then，ValourandFollyareoncemorebooncompanions，’’saidtheJester，comingupfranklytotheKnight’sside；``but，intruth，IlovenotsuchbuffetsasthatyoubestowedontheburlyFriar，whenhisholinessrolledonthegreenlikeakingofthenine-pins。AndnowthatFollywearsthehorn，letValourrousehimself，andshakehismane；for，ifImistakenot，therearecompanyinyonderbrakethatareonthelook-outforus。’’
``Whatmakestheejudgeso?’’saidtheKnight。
``BecauseIhavetwiceorthricenoticedtheglanceofamotionfromamongstthegreenleaves。
Hadtheybeenhonestmen，theyhadkeptthepath。
ButyonderthicketisachoicechapelfortheClerksofSaintNicholas。’’
``Bymyfaith，’’saidtheKnight，closinghisvisor，``Ithinkthoubestintherighton’t。’’
Andingoodtimedidhecloseit，forthreearrows，flewatthesameinstantfromthesuspectedspotagainsthisheadandbreast，oneofwhichwouldhavepenetratedtothebrain，haditnotbeenturnedasidebythesteelvisor。Theothertwowereavertedbythegorget，andbytheshieldwhichhungaroundhisneck。
``Thanks，trustyarmourers，’’saidtheKnight——
``Wamba，letusclosewiththem，’’——andherodestraighttothethicket。Hewasmetbysixorsevenmen-at-arms，whoranagainsthimwiththeirlancesatfullcareer。Threeoftheweaponsstruckagainsthim，andsplinteredwithaslittleeffectasiftheyhadbeendrivenagainstatowerofsteel。
TheBlackKnight’seyesseemedtoflashfireeventhroughtheapertureofhisvisor。Heraisedhimselfinhisstirrupswithanairofinexpressibledignity，andexclaimed，``Whatmeansthis，mymasters！’’——
Themenmadenootherreplythanbydrawingtheirswordsandattackinghimoneveryside，crying，``Die，tyrant！’’
``Ha！SaintEdward！Ha！SaintGeorge！’’
saidtheBlackKnight，strikingdownamanateveryinvocation；``havewetraitorshere?’’
Hisopponents，desperateastheywere，borebackfromanarmwhichcarrieddeathineveryblow，anditseemedasiftheterrorofhissinglestrengthwasabouttogainthebattleagainstsuchodds，whenaknight，inbluearmour，whohadhithertokepthimselfbehindtheotherassailants，spurredforwardwithhislance，andtakingaim，notattheriderbutatthesteed，woundedthenobleanimalmortally。
``Thatwasafelonstroke！’’exclaimedtheBlackKnight，asthesteedfelltotheearth，bearinghisrideralongwithhim。
Andatthismoment，Wambawindedthebugle，forthewholehadpassedsospeedily，thathehadnottimetodososooner。Thesuddensoundmadethemurderersbearbackoncemore，andWamba，thoughsoimperfectlyweaponed，didnothesitatetorushinandassisttheBlackKnighttorise。
``Shameonye，falsecowards！’’exclaimedheintheblueharness，whoseemedtoleadtheassailants，``doyeflyfromtheemptyblastofahornblownbyaJester?’’
Animatedbyhiswords，theyattackedtheBlackKnightanew，whosebestrefugewasnowtoplacehisbackagainstanoak，anddefendhimselfwithhissword。Thefelonknight，whohadtakenanotherspear，watchingthemomentwhenhisformidableantagonistwasmostcloselypressed，gallopedagainsthiminhopestonailhimwithhislanceagainstthetree，whenhispurposewasagaininterceptedbyWamba。TheJester，makingupbyagilitythewantofstrength，andlittlenoticedbythemen-at-arms，whowerebusiedintheirmoreimportantobject，hoveredontheskirtsofthefight，andeffectuallycheckedthefatalcareeroftheBlueKnight，byhamstringinghishorsewithastrokeofhissword。Horseandmanwenttotheground；
yetthesituationoftheKnightoftheFetterlockcontinuedveryprecarious，ashewaspressedclosebyseveralmencompletelyarmed，andbegantobefatiguedbytheviolentexertionsnecessarytodefendhimselfonsomanypointsatnearlythesamemoment，whenagrey-gooseshaftsuddenlystretchedontheearthoneofthemostformidableofhisassailants，andabandofyeomenbrokeforthfromtheglade，headedbyLocksleyandthejovialFriar，who，takingreadyandeffectualpartinthefray，soondisposedoftheruffians，allofwhomlayonthespotdeadormortallywounded。TheBlackKnightthankedhisdelivererswithadignitytheyhadnotobservedinhisformerbearing，whichhithertohadseemedratherthatofabluntboldsoldier，thanofapersonofexaltedrank。
``Itconcernsmemuch，’’hesaid，``evenbeforeIexpressmyfullgratitudetomyreadyfriends，todiscover，ifImay，whohavebeenmyunprovokedenemies——OpenthevisorofthatBlueKnight，Wamba，whoseemsthechiefofthesevillains。’’
TheJesterinstantlymadeuptotheleaderoftheassassins，who，bruisedbyhisfall，andentangledunderthewoundedsteed，layincapableeitherofflightorresistance。
``Come，valiantsir，’’saidWamba，``Imustbeyourarmoureraswellasyourequerry——Ihavedismountedyou，andnowIwillunhelmyou。’’
Sosaying，withnoverygentlehandheundidthehelmetoftheBlueKnight，which，rollingtoadistanceonthegrass，displayedtotheKnightoftheFetterlockgrizzledlocks，andacountenancehedidnotexpecttohaveseenundersuchcircumstances。
``WaldemarFitzurse！’’hesaidinastonishment；
``whatcouldurgeoneofthyrankandseemingworthtosofoulanundertaking?’’
``Richard，’’saidthecaptiveKnight，lookinguptohim，``thouknowestlittleofmankind，ifthouknowestnottowhatambitionandrevengecanleadeverychildofAdam。’’
``Revenge?’’answeredtheBlackKnight；``I
neverwrongedthee——Onmethouhastnoughttorevenge。’’
``Mydaughter，Richard，whosealliancethoudidstscorn——wasthatnoinjurytoaNorman，whosebloodisnobleasthineown?’’
``Thydaughter?’’repliedtheBlackKnight；
``apropercauseofenmity，andfolloweduptoabloodyissue！——Standback，mymasters，Iwouldspeaktohimalone——Andnow，WaldemarFitzurse，saymethetruth——confesswhosettheeonthistraitorousdeed。’’
``Thyfather’sson，’’answeredWaldemar，``who，insodoing，didbutavengeontheethydisobediencetothyfather。’’
Richard’seyessparkledwithindignation，buthisbetternatureovercameit。Hepressedhishandagainsthisbrow，andremainedaninstantgazingonthefaceofthehumbledbaron，inwhosefeaturespridewascontendingwithshame。
``Thoudostnotaskthylife，Waldemar，’’saidtheKing。
``Hethatisinthelion’sclutch，’’answeredFitzurse，``knowsitwereneedless。’’
``Takeit，then，unasked，’’saidRichard；``thelionpreysnotonprostratecarcasses——Takethylife，butwiththiscondition，thatinthreedaysthoushaltleaveEngland，andgotohidethineinfamyinthyNormancastle，andthatthouwiltnevermentionthenameofJohnofAnjouasconnectedwiththyfelony。IfthouartfoundonEnglishgroundafterthespaceIhaveallottedthee，thoudiest——orifthoubreathestaughtthatcanattaintthehonourofmyhouse，bySaintGeorge！notthealtaritselfshallbeasanctuary。Iwillhangtheeouttofeedtheravens，fromtheverypinnacleofthineowncastle——Letthisknighthaveasteed，Locksley，forIseeyouryeomenhavecaughtthosewhichwererunningloose，andlethimdepartunharmed。’’
``ButthatIjudgeIlistentoavoicewhosebehestsmustnotbedisputed，’’answeredtheyeoman，``Iwouldsendashaftaftertheskulkingvillainthatshouldsparehimthelabourofalongjourney。’’
``ThoubearestanEnglishheart，Locksley，’’
saidtheBlackKnight，``andwelldostjudgethouartthemoreboundtoobeymybehest——IamRichardofEngland！’’