CHAPTER 14
Ralph Falleth in With Another Old Friend
Ralph went with Richard now without more words, and they came into themarket-place and unto Blaise's booth and house, which was no worse thanthe best in the place; and the painters and stainers were at work onthe upper part of it to make it as bright and goodly as might be withred and blue and green and gold, and all fair colours, and already wasthere a sign hung out of the fruitful tree by the water-side. As forthe booth, it was full within of many wares and far-fetched anddear-bought things; as pieces of good and fine cloth plumbed with theseal of the greatest of the cities; and silk of Babylon, and spices ofthe hot burning islands, and wonders of the silversmith's and thegoldsmith's fashioning, and fair-wrought weapons and armour of thebest, and every thing that a rich chapman may deal in. And amidst ofit all stood Blaise clad in fine black cloth welted with needle work,and a gold chain about his neck. He was talking with three honourablemen of the Port, and they were doing him honour with kind words and thebidding of help. When he saw Ralph and Richard come in, he nodded tothem, as to men whom he loved, but were beneath him in dignity, andleft not talking with the great men. Richard grinned a little thereat,as also did Ralph in his heart; for he thought: "Here then is one ofthe Upmeads kin provided for, so that soon he may buy with his moneytwo domains as big as Upmeads and call them his manors."
Now Ralph looks about him, and presently he sees a man come forward tomeet him from the innermost of the booth, and lo! there was comeClement Chapman. His heart rose at the sight of him, and he thought ofhis kind gossip till he could scarce withhold his tears. But Clementcame to him and cast his arms about him, and kissed him, and said:"Thou shalt pardon me for this, lord, for it is the kiss of the gossipwhich she bade me give thee, if I fell in with thee, as now I have,praised be the Saints! Yet it irks me that I shall see little more ofthee at this time, for to-morrow early I must needs join myself to mycompany; for we are going south awhile to a good town some fifty mileshence. Nevertheless, if thou dwellest here some eight days I shall seethee again belike, since thereafter I get me eastward on a hard andlong journey not without peril. How sayest thou?"
"I wot not," quoth Ralph looking at Richard. Said Richard: "Thou maystwot well, master Clement, that my lord is anhungered of the praise ofthe folks, and is not like to abide in a mere merchant-town till themould grow on his back." "Well, well," said Clement, "however that maybe, I have now done my matters with this cloth-lord, Blaise, and he hasmy florins in his pouch: so will not ye twain come with me and drink acup till he hath done his talk with these magnates?"
Ralph was nothing loth, for besides that he loved master Clement, andthat his being in company was like having a piece of his home anighhim, he hoped to hear some tidings concerning the Well at the World'sEnd.
So he and Richard went with master Clement to the Christopher, a fairale-house over against the Great Church, and sat down to good wine; andRalph asked of Clement many things concerning dame Katherine hisgossip, and Clement told him all, and that she was well, and had beento Upmeads, and had seen King Peter and the mother of Ralph; and howshe had assuaged his mother's grief at his departure by forecastingfair days for her son. All this Ralph heard gladly, though he wassomewhat shamefaced withal, and sat silent and thinking of manymatters. But Richard took up the word and said: "Which way camest thoufrom Wulstead, master Clement?" "The nighest way I came," saidClement, "through the Woods Perilous." Said Richard: "And they of theDry Tree, heardest thou aught of them?" "Yea, certes," quoth Clement,"for I fell in with their Bailiff, and paid him due scot for thepassage of the Wood; he knoweth me withal, and we talked together.""And had he any tidings to tell thee of the champions?" said Richard.Said Clement, "Great tidings maybe, how that there was a rumour thatthey had lost their young Queen and Lady; and if that be true, it willgo nigh to break their hearts, so sore as they loved her. And thatwill make them bitter and fierce, till their grief has been slaked bythe blood of men. And that the more as their old Queen abideth still,and she herself is ever of that mind."
Ralph hearkened, and his heart was wounded that other men should speakof his beloved: but he heard how Richard said: "Hast thou ever knownwhy that company of champions took the name of the Dry Tree?" "Why,who should know that, if thou knowest it not, Richard of Swevenham?"said Clement: "Is it not by the token of the Dry Tree that standeth inthe lands on the hither side of the Wall of the World?" Richard noddedhis head; but Ralph cried out: "O Master Clement, and hast thou seenit, the Wall of the World?" "Yea, afar off, my son," said he; "or whatthe folk with me called so; as to the Dry Tree, I have told thee atWulstead that I have seen it not, though I have known men who have toldme that they have seen it." "And must they who find the Well at theWorld's End come by the Dry Tree?" "Yea, surely," said Clement. QuothRichard: "And thus have some heard, who have gone on that quest, andthey have heard of the Champions of Hampton, and have gone thither,being deceived by that name of the Dry Tree, and whiles have been slainby the champions, whiles have entered their company." "Yea," saidClement, "so it is that their first error hath ended their quest. Butnow, lord Ralph, I will tell thee one thing; to wit, that when I returnhither after eight days wearing, I shall be wending east, as I saide'en now, and what will that mean save going somewhat nigher to theWall of the World; for my way lieth beyond the mountains that ye seefrom hence, and beyond the mountains that lie the other side of those;and I bid thee come with us, and I will be thy warrant that so far thoushalt have no harm: but when thou hast come so far, and hast seen threevery fair cities, besides towns and castles and thorps and strange men,and fair merchandize, God forbid that thou shouldest wend further, andso cast away thy young life for a gay-coloured cloud. Then will be thetime to come back with me, that I may bring thee through the perils ofthe way to Wulstead, and Upmeads at the last, and the folk that lovethee."
Richard held his peace at this word, but Ralph said: "I thank thee,Master Clement, for thy love and thy helping hand; and will promisethee to abide thee here eight days at the least; and meanwhile I willponder the matter well."