off his harness and leaped into the water and did marvellously
to rescue the little hound。 But the fierce river dragged his
legs； and buffeted him； and hurtled at him； and drew him down；
as it were an enemy wrestling with him； so that he had much
ado to come where the brachet was； and more to win back again；
with the brachet in his arm； to the dry land。
Which when he had done he was clean for…spent and fell
upon the ground as a dead man。 At this the young maid wept
yet more bitterly than she had wept for her hound； and cried
aloud； 〃Alas； if so goodly a man should spend his life for my
little brachet！〃 So she took his head upon her knee and
cherished him and beat the palms of his hands； and the hound
licked his face。 And when Martimor opened his eyes he saw the
face of the maid that it was fair as any flower。
Then was she shamed； and put him gently from her knee； and
began to thank him and to ask with what she might reward him
for the saving of the brachet。
〃A night's lodging and a day's cheer；〃 quoth Martimor。
〃As long as thee liketh；〃 said she； 〃for my father； the
miller； will return ere sundown； and right gladly will he have
a guest so brave。〃
〃Longer might I like；〃 said he； 〃but longer may I not
stay； for I ride in a quest and seek great adventures to
become a knight。〃
So they bestowed the horse in the stable； and went into
the Mill； and when the miller was come home they had such good
cheer with eating of venison and pan…cakes； and drinking of
hydromel； and singing of pleasant ballads； that Martimor clean
forgot he was in a delay。 And going to his bed in a fair
garret he dreamed of the Maid of the Mill； whose name was
Lirette。
IV
How the Mill was in Danger and the Delay Endured
In the morning Martimor lay late and thought large thoughts of
his quest； and whither it might lead him； and to what honour
it should bring him。 As he dreamed thus； suddenly he heard in
the hall below a trampling of feet and a shouting； with the
voice of Lirette crying and shrieking。 With that he sprang
out of his bed； and caught up his sword and dagger； leaping
lightly and fiercely down the stair。
There he saw three foul churls； whereof two strove with
the miller； beating him with great clubs； while the third
would master the Maid and drag her away to do her shame； but
she fought shrewdly。 Then Martimor rushed upon the churls；
shouting for joy； and there was a great medley of breaking
chairs and tables and cursing and smiting； and with his sword he
gave horrible strokes。
One of the knaves that fought with the miller； he smote
upon the shoulder and clave him to the navel。 And at the
other he foined fiercely so that the point of the sword went
through his back and stuck fast in the wall。 But the third
knave； that was the biggest and the blackest； and strove to
bear away the Maid； left bold of her； and leaped upon Martimor
and caught him by the middle and crushed him so that his ribs
cracked。
Thus they weltered and wrung together； and now one of them
was above and now the other； and ever as they wallowed
Martimor smote him with his dagger； but there came forth no
blood； only water。
Then the black churl broke away from him and ran out at
the door of the mill； and Martimor after。 So they ran through
the garden to the river； and there the churl sprang into the
water； and swept away raging and foaming。 And as he went he
shouted； 〃Yet will I put thee to the worse； and mar the Mill；
and have the Maid！〃'
Then Martimor cried； 〃Never while I live shalt
thou mar the Mill or have the Maid； thou foul； black；
misbegotten churl！〃 So he returned to the Mill； and there the
damsel Lirette made him to understand that these three churls
were long time enemies of the Mill； and sought ever to destroy
it and to do despite to her and her father。 One of them was
Ignis； and another was Ventus； and these were the twain that
he had smitten。 But the third； that fled down the river （and
he was ever the fiercest and the most outrageous）； his name
was Flumen； for he dwelt in the caves of the stream； and was
the master of it before the Mill was built。
〃And now；〃 wept the Maid； 〃he must have had his will with
me and with the Mill； but for God's mercy； thanked be our Lord
Jesus！〃
〃Thank me too；〃 said Mlartimor。
〃So I do；〃 said Lirette； and she kissed him。 〃Yet am I
heavy at heart and fearful； for my father is sorely mishandled
and his arm is broken； so that he cannot tend the Mill nor
guard it。 And Flumen is escaped； surely he will harm us
again。 Now I know not； where I shall look for help。〃
〃Why not here？〃 said Martimor。
Then Lirette looked him in the face； smiling a little
sorrily。 〃But thou ridest in a quest；〃 quoth she； 〃thou mayst
not stay from thy adventures〃
〃A month；〃 said he。
〃Till my father be well？〃 said she。
〃A month；〃 said he。
〃Till thou hast put Flumen to the worse？〃 said she。
〃Right willingly would I have to do with that base；
slippery knave again〃 said he； 〃but more than a month I may
not stay； for my quest calls me and I must win worship of men
or ever I become a knight。〃
So they bound up the miller's wounds and set the Mill in
order。 But Martimor had much to do to learn the working of
the Mill； and they were busied with the grinding of wheat and
rye and barley and divers kinds of grain； and the millers
hurts were mended every day； and at night there was merry rest
and good cheer； and Martimor talked with the Maid of the great
adventure that he must find； and thus the delay endured in
pleasant wise。
THE MILL
V
Yet More of the Mill； and of the Same Delay； also of the Maid
Now at the end of the third month； which was November；
Martimor made Lirette to understand that it was high time he
should ride farther to follow his quest。 For the miller was
now recovered； and it was long that they had heard and seen
naught of Flumen； and doubtless that black knave was well
routed and dismayed that he would not come again。 Lirette
prayed him and desired him that he would tarry yet one week。
But Martimor said； No！ for his adventures were before him； and
that he could not be happy save in the doing of great deeds
and the winning of knightly fame。 Then he showed her the Blue
Flower in his shield that was nameless； and told her how Sir
Lancelot had said that he must find it； then should he name it
and have both crest and motto。
〃Does it grow in my garden？〃 said Lirette。
〃I have not seen it；〃 said he； 〃and now the flowers are
all faded。〃
〃Perhaps in the month of May？〃 said she。
〃In that month I will come again；〃 said he； 〃for by that
time it may fortune that I shall achieve my quest； but now
forth must I fare。〃
So there was sad cheer in the Mill that day； and at night
there came a fierce storm with howling wind and plumping rain；
and Martimor slept ill。 About the break of day he was wakened
by a great roaring and pounding； then he looked out of window；
and saw the river in flood； with black waves spuming and
raving； like wood beasts； and driving before them great logs
and broken trees。 Thus the river hurled and hammered at the
mill…dam so that it trembled； and the logs leaped as they
would spring over it； and the voice of Flumen shouted hoarsely
and hungrily； 〃Yet will I mar the Mill and have the Maid！〃
Then Martimor ran with the miller out upon the dam； and
they laboured at the gates that held the river back； and
thrust away the logs that were heaped over them； and cut with
axes； and fought with the river。 So at last two of the gates
were lifted and one was broken； and the flood ran down
ramping and roaring in great raundon； and as it ran the black
face of Flumen sprang above it； crying； 〃Yet will I mar both
Mill and Maid。〃
〃That shalt thou never do；〃 cried Martimor； 〃by foul or
fair； while the life beats in my body。〃
So he came back with the miller into the Mill； and there
was meat ready for them and they ate strongly and with good
heart。 〃Now；〃 said the miller； 〃must I mend the gate。 But
how it may be done； I know not； for surely this will be great
travail for a man alone。〃
〃Why alone？〃 said Martimor。
〃Thou wilt stay； then？〃 said Lirette。
〃Yea；〃 said he。
〃For another month？〃 said she。
〃Till the gate be mended；〃 said he。
But when the gate was mended there came another flood and
brake the second gate。 And when that was mended there came
another flood and brake the third gate。 So when all three
were mended firm and fast； being bound with iron； still the
grimly river hurled over the dam； and the voice of Flumen
muttered in the dark of winter nights； 〃Yet will I
marmarmaryet will I mar Mill and Maid。〃
〃Oho！〃 said Martimor； 〃this is a durable and dogged knave。
Art thou feared of him Lirette？〃
〃Not so；〃 said she； 〃for thou art stronger。 But fear have
I of the day when thou ridest forth in thy quest。〃
〃Well； as to that；〃 said he； 〃when I have overcome this
false devil Flumen； then will we consider and appoint that
day。〃
So the delay continued； and Martimor was both busy and
happy at the Mill； for he liked and loved this damsel well；
and was fain of her company。 Moreover the strife with Flumen
was great joy to him。
VI
How the Month of May came to the Mill； and the Delay was Made Longer
Now when the month of May came to the Mill it brought a plenty
of sweet flowers； and Lirette wrought in the garden。 With
her； when the day was spent and the sun rested upon the edge
of the hill； went Martimor； and she showed him all her flowers
that were blue。 But none of them was like the flower on his
shield。
〃Is it this？〃 she cried； giving him a violet。 〃Too dark；〃
said he。
〃Then here it is；〃 she said； plucking a posy of
forget…me…not。
〃Too light；〃 said he。
〃Surely this is it；〃 and she brought him a spray of
blue…bells。
〃Too slender；〃 said he； 〃and well I ween that I may not
find that flower； till I ride farther in my quest and achieve
great adventure。〃
Then was the Maid cast down； and Martimor was fain to
comfort her。
So while they walked thus in the garden； the days were
fair and still； and the river ran lowly and slowly； as it were
full of gentleness； and Flumen had