Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/320

 thee? Then she left the fold of the tent and came and stood before him with no fear in her eyes. Said the Blue Knight: Tell me, fair damsel, is it true what this man says, that thou art his war-taken thrall? Said she: Three days ago I was stolen from mine own home by this man's servants while the stout men of my folk were in battle with a sort of reivers who had fallen on our land. How might we defend us, two weak women against three weaponed men?

Wert thou thrall or free before that day, damsel? said the Knight. She flushed red, and said: Never has there been an unfree man of our blood for generation after generation. Said the Knight: Now thou art here in this man's tent, wilt thou go with him freely and of thine own will, if he swear to thee to take thee into his household and deal honestly by thee? She reddened again: But he will not deal honestly by me, lord, she said, and never will I go with him uncompelled. How knowest thou that he is not a true man? said the Knight. Fair sir, she said, hast thou looked in the face of him? Look now with what eyes he is beholding me!

The Blue Knight was silent awhile; then he said, but halted in his speech: And with me: wouldst thou go with me of thine own free will, if I swore to deal with thee in all honour? Yea, she said, or without the swearing if thou make me the same offer after I have said a word to thee; to wit, that there is a young and goodly man whom I love, and he me again. And now I have lost