BIRDALONE COMETH TO GREENFORD, AND HEARS OF THE WASTING OF THE CASTLE
OF THE QUEST.
Now came Birdalone riding into Greenford an hour before sunset on a day
of the latter end of May; and she had no doubt but to go straight to
the hostelry, and that the less as she had not abided there before, as
hath been told. To them that served her she told the tale of her vow,
that she might not do off her sallet that seven days; and some trowed
her, and some deemed her a woman, but whereas she seemed by her raiment
to be of condition none meddled with her. Moreover, as she told her
intent to ride on betimes in the morning, it mattered the less unto
them: withal she gave out that she came from foreign parts, as sooth it
was.
In the evening she sat in the hall, and with her were three chapmen
travelling with their wares, and two good men of the town sitting; and
they were talking together, and were courteous and blithe, and amidst
their talk they threw many a glance at the slim and fair young squire,
as Birdalone seemed, and were fain to speak unto him, but refrained
them for courtesy’s sake. For her part, Birdalone longed sore to ask
them somewhat of the Castle of the Quest, but the words clave to her
throat for very fear; and she sat restless and ill at ease. However at
last said a townsman to a chapman: Art thou for the Red Hold, Master
Peter, when thou art done here? Birdalone turned very pale at that
word; and Master Peter spake: Yea, surely, neighbour, if the folk leave
aught in my packs for others to buy. He spake in a jovial voice, as if
he were merry, and the others all laughed together, as though they were
well pleased and in good contentment. And now, deemed Birdalone, would
be her time to speak if she would learn aught; so she constrained
herself at last, and spake, though in a quavering voice: Meseems then,
masters, this good town is thriving as now? This I ask because I am a
stranger in these parts this long while, and now I am come back hither
fain were I to find the land in good peace; for I may chance to take up
my abode hereby.
The goodmen turned to her and smiled kindly when they heard the
sweetness of her voice; and one of them said: Sir of the sallet, ye
shall be content with the peace in this land, and the thriving of its
folk; the very villeins hereabout live as well as franklins in most
lands, and the yeomen and vavassours are clad as if they were knights
of a good lord’s household. Forsooth their houses are both goodly and
easy to enter; and well is that, whereas there lacks never good meat
and drink on the board therein. And moreover their women are for ever
seeking whatso is fair and goodly, whatso is far-fetched and
dear-bought, whereof we chapmen also thrive, as thou mayst well deem.
Ah! it is a goodly land now!
The others nodded and smiled. But Birdalone spake, hardening her heart
thereto for very need: Belike then there is a change of days here, for
when I last knew of the land there was little peace therein. And that
will not be so long agone, said a townsman, smiling, for I doubt we
should see no grey hair in thine head if thy sallet were off it.
Birdalone reddened: It will be some five years agone, said she. Yea,
yea, said the townsman, we were beginning to end the unpeace then, and
it was the darkest hour before the dawn; for five years agone we and
the good knights of the Castle of the Quest were lying before the walls
of the Red Hold. Forsooth we cleared out that den of devils then and
there. What betid unto it after ye won it? said Birdalone, and she
trembled withal. Said the townsman: Heard ye never of the Black Squire,
a very valiant knight, since thou sayest that thou hast known this
country-side? She bowed a yeasay, for this time she found it hard to
speak.
Well, said the townsman, we held garrison in the Red Hold for some
three months, and thereafter we craved of him to come and be our
captain therein; for, even after the Hold was won, there was yet a sort
of runagates that haunted the country-side, men who had no craft save
lifting and slaying. And forsooth we knew this Lord Arthur for the
keenest and deftest of men-at-arms; so he yeasaid our asking, and did
all he might herein, and forsooth that was all there was to do; for he
was ever in the saddle, and at the work. Forsooth he was not a merry
man, save when he was at his busiest; and little he spake in hall or
chamber, else had he been better beloved. But at least by no man better
might the land have been served.
There was silence a little, and Birdalone waxed deadly pale; then she
strove with herself and said: Thou sayest he was and he was; is he dead
then? Said the townsman: Not to our knowledge. When he had brought the
land into good peace, which is some three years and a half agone, he
went his ways from the Red Hold all alone, and we saw him no more. But
some folk deem that he hath entered into religion.
Birdalone’s heart sickened, and she thought to herself that now all was
to begin again; yet she felt that the worst was over since he was not
dead, and she was able to think what she should do. So she said:
Mayhappen he hath gone back to the Castle of the Quest? Nay, nay, said
the townsman, that may not be; for waste is that house now; there is
none dwelleth there, save, it may be, now and again a wandering carle
or carline abideth there a day or two. Said Birdalone: How hath that
befallen? or where is gone Sir Hugh, the Green Knight? Said the
townsman: We knew the Green Knight well; frank and free and joyous was
he; all men loved him; and his lady and speech-friend, none ever saw a
lovelier, and as kind as was he. But we might not keep them with us;
they are gone into their own country. Sir Hugh left the Castle of the
Quest some three months after the Black Squire came to us for captain,
and he gave over the castle to Sir Geoffrey of Lea, an old and wise man
of war. But not many months thereafter we heard that he also had
departed, leaving it ungarnished of men; and we deem that the cause
thereof is that something uncouth is seen and heard therein, which folk
may not endure. Is it not so, my masters?
They all yeasaid that, and the talk went on to other matters. As for
Birdalone, though her hope to come amongst friends was so utterly
overthrown, yet she saw not what to do save to go her ways to the
Castle of the Quest, and see if perchance she might find any tidings
there. And she said to herself, that if the worst came to the worst,
she would herself dwell there as an hermit of love; or, maybe, to face
those uncouth things and see if any tidings might be compelled out of
them.