say that such an one the Fathers of old time have not sent us。 But
again； when we have seen to the new…comer that he is well…fashioned
of his body； all is not done； for we deem that never would the
Fathers send us a dolt or a craven to be our king。 Therefore we bid
the naked one take to him which he will of these raiments； either
the ancient armour； which now thou bearest； lord； or this golden
raiment here； and if he take the war…gear； as thou takedst it； King；
it is well； but if he take the raiment of peace； then hath he the
choice either to be thrall of some goodman of the city； or to be
proven how wise he may be； and so fare the narrow edge betwixt death
and kingship； for if he fall short of his wisdom； then shall he die
the death。 Thus is thy question answered； King； and praise be to
the Fathers that they have sent us one whom none may doubt； either
for wisdom or valiancy。〃
CHAPTER XXXIV： NOW COMETH THE MAID TO THE KING
Then all they bowed before the King； and he spake again： 〃What is
that noise that I hear without； as if it were the rising of the sea
on a sandy shore； when the south…west wind is blowing。〃
Then the elder opened his mouth to answer； but before he might get
out the word； there was a stir without the chamber door； and the
throng parted； and lo！ amidst of them came the Maid； and she yet
clad in nought save the white coat wherewith she had won through the
wilderness； save that on her head was a garland of red roses； and
her middle was wreathed with the same。 Fresh and fair she was as
the dawn of June； her face bright； red…lipped； and clear…eyed； and
her cheeks flushed with hope and love。 She went straight to Walter
where he sat； and lightly put away with her hand the elder who would
lead her to the ivory throne beside the King； but she knelt down
before him； and laid her hand on his steel…clad knee； and said： 〃O
my lord； now I see that thou hast beguiled me； and that thou wert
all along a king…born man coming home to thy realm。 But so dear
thou hast been to me； and so fair and clear； and so kind withal do
thine eyes shine on me from under the grey war…helm； that I will
beseech thee not to cast me out utterly； but suffer me to be thy
servant and handmaid for a while。 Wilt thou not？〃
But the King stooped down to her and raised her up； and stood on his
feet； and took her hands and kissed them； and set her down beside
him； and said to her： 〃Sweetheart； this is now thy place till the
night cometh； even by my side。〃
So she sat down there meek and valiant； her hands laid in her lap；
and her feet one over the other； while the King said： 〃Lords； this
is my beloved； and my spouse。 Now； therefore； if ye will have me
for King； ye must worship this one for Queen and Lady； or else
suffer us both to go our ways in peace。〃
Then all they that were in the chamber cried out aloud： 〃The Queen；
the Lady！ The beloved of our lord！〃
And this cry came from their hearts； and not their lips only； for as
they looked on her； and the brightness of her beauty； they saw also
the meekness of her demeanour； and the high heart of her； and they
all fell to loving her。 But the young men of them； their cheeks
flushed as they beheld her； and their hearts went out to her； and
they drew their swords and brandished them aloft； and cried out for
her as men made suddenly drunk with love： 〃The Queen； the Lady； the
lovely one！〃
CHAPTER XXXV： OF THE KING OF STARK…WALL AND HIS QUEEN
But while this betid； that murmur without； which is aforesaid； grew
louder； and it smote on the King's ear； and he said again to the
elder： 〃Tell us now of that noise withoutward； what is it？〃
Said the elder： 〃If thou； King； and the Queen； wilt but arise and
stand in the window； and go forth into the hanging gallery thereof；
then shall ye know at once what is this rumour； and therewithal
shall ye see a sight meet to rejoice the heart of a king new come
into kingship。〃
So the King arose and took the Maid by the hand； and went to the
window and looked forth； and lo！ the great square of the place all
thronged with folk as thick as they could stand； and the more part
of the carles with a weapon in hand； and many armed right gallantly。
Then he went out into the gallery with his Queen； still holding her
hand； and his lords and wise men stood behind him。 Straightway then
arose a cry； and a shout of joy and welcome that rent the very
heavens； and the great place was all glittering and strange with the
tossing up of spears and the brandishing of swords； and the
stretching forth of hands。
But the Maid spake softly to King Walter and said： 〃Here then is
the wilderness left behind a long way； and here is warding and
protection against the foes of our life and soul。 O blessed be thou
and thy valiant heart！〃
But Walter spake nothing； but stood as one in a dream； and yet； if
that might be； his longing toward her increased manifold。
But down below； amidst of the throng； stood two neighbours somewhat
anigh to the window； and quoth one to the other： 〃See thou！ the new
man in the ancient armour of the Battle of the Waters； bearing the
sword that slew the foeman king on the Day of the Doubtful Onset！
Surely this is a sign of good…luck to us all。〃
〃Yea；〃 said the second； 〃he beareth his armour well； and the eyes
are bright in the head of him： but hast thou beheld well his she…
fellow； and what the like of her is？〃
〃I see her；〃 said the other； 〃that she is a fair woman； yet somewhat
worse clad than simply。 She is in her smock； man； and were it not
for the balusters I deem ye should see her barefoot。 What is amiss
with her？〃
〃Dost thou not see her；〃 said the second neighbour； 〃that she is not
only a fair woman； but yet more； one of those lovely ones that draw
the heart out of a man's body； one may scarce say for why？ Surely
Stark…wall hath cast a lucky net this time。 And as to her raiment；
I see of her that she is clad in white and wreathed with roses； but
that the flesh of her is so wholly pure and sweet that it maketh all
her attire but a part of her body； and halloweth it； so that it hath
the semblance of gems。 Alas； my friend！ let us hope that this Queen
will fare abroad unseldom amongst the people。〃
Thus； then； they spake； but after a while the King and his mate went
back into the chamber； and he gave command that the women of the
Queen should come and fetch her away； to attire her in royal array。
And thither came the fairest of the honourable damsels； and were
fain of being her waiting…women。 Therewithal the King was unarmed；
and dight most gloriously； but still he bore the Sword of the King's
Slaying： and sithence were the King and the Queen brought into the
great hall of the palace； and they met on the dais； and kissed
before the lords and other folk that thronged the hall。 There they
ate a morsel and drank a cup together while all beheld them； and
then they were brought forth； and a white horse of the goodliest；
well bedight； brought for each of them； and thereon they mounted and
went their ways together； by the lane which the huge throng made for
them； to the great church； for the hallowing and the crowning； and
they were led by one squire alone； and he unarmed； for such was the
custom of Stark…wall when a new king should be hallowed： so came
they to the great church （for that folk was not miscreant； so to
say）； and they entered it； they two alone； and went into the choir：
and when they had stood there a little while wondering at their lot；
they heard how the bells fell a…ringing tunefully over their heads；
and then drew near the sound of many trumpets blowing together； and
thereafter the voices of many folk singing； and then were the great
doors thrown open； and the bishop and his priests came into the
church with singing and minstrelsy； and thereafter came the whole
throng of the folk； and presently the nave of the church was filled
by it； as when the water follows the cutting of the dam； and fills
up the dyke。 Thereafter came the bishop and his mates into the
choir； and came up to the King； and gave him and the Queen the kiss
of peace。 This was mass sung gloriously； and thereafter was the
King anointed and crowned； and great joy was made throughout the
church。 Afterwards they went back afoot to the palace； they two
alone together； with none but the esquire going before to show them
the way。 And as they went； they passed close beside those two
neighbours； whose talk has been told of afore； and the first one； he
who had praised the King's war…array； spake and said： 〃Truly；
neighbour； thou art in the right of it； and now the Queen has been
dight duly； and hath a crown on her head； and is clad in white
samite done all over with pearls； I see her to be of exceeding
goodliness； as goodly； maybe； as the Lord King。〃
Quoth the other： 〃Unto me she seemeth as she did e'en now； she is
clad in white； as then she was； and it is by reason of the pure and
sweet flesh of her that the pearls shine out and glow； and by the
holiness of her body is her rich attire hallowed； but； forsooth； it
seemed to me as she went past as though paradise had come anigh to
our city； and that all the air breathed of it。 So I say； praise be
to God and His Hallows who hath suffered her to dwell amongst us！〃
Said the first man： 〃Forsooth； it is well； but knowest thou at all
whence she cometh； and of what lineage she may be？〃
〃Nay；〃 said the other； 〃I wot not whence she is； but this I wot full
surely； that when she goeth away； they whom she leadeth with her
shall be well bestead。 Again； of her lineage nought know I； but
this I know； that they that come of her； to the twentieth
generation； shall bless and praise the memory of her； and hallow her
name little less than they hallow the name of the Mother of God。〃
So spake those two； but the King and Queen came back to the palace；
and sat among the lords and at the banquet which was held
thereafter； and long was the time of their glory； till the night was
far spent and all men must seek to their beds。
CHAPTER XXXVI： OF WALTER AND THE MAID IN THE DAYS OF THE KINGSHIP
Long it was； indeed； till the women； by the King's command； had
b