The Well at the World's End: A Tale

  CHAPTER 15

  They Come to the Land of the Innocent Folk

  When it was morning they speedily gat them ready for the road, whereasthey had little to take with them; so they departed joyously, howbeitboth Ralph and Ursula felt rather love than loathing for their winterabode. The day was yet young when they went their ways. Their horsesand all their gear were a great wonder to the young men, for they hadseen no such beasts before: but the elder said that once in his youngdays he had led a man to the Well who was riding a horse and was cladin knightly array.

  So they went by ways which were nowise dreadful, though they were voidof men-folk, and in three days' time they were come out of themountains, and in three more the said mountains were to behold but acloud behind them, and the land was grown goodly, with fair valleys andlittle hills, though still they saw no men, and forsooth they wentleisurely, for oxen are but slow-going nags. But when they were goneeight days from the Valley of Sweet-chestnuts, they came across a flockof uncouth-looking sheep on a green hill-side, and four folkshepherding them, two carles to wit, and two queans, like to theirway-leaders, but scarce so goodly, and ruder of raiment. These mengreeted them kindly, and yet with more worship than fellowship, andthey marvelled exceedingly at their horses and weapons. Thence theypassed on, and the next day came into a wide valley, well-grassed andwatered, and wooded here and there; moreover there were cots scatteredabout it. There and thenceforth they met men a many, both carles andqueans, and sheep and neat in plenty, and they passed by garths whereinthe young corn was waxing, and vineyards on the hillsides, where thevines were beginning to grow green. The land seemed as goodly as mightbe, and all the folk they met were kind, if somewhat over reverent.

  On the evening of that day they came into the town of that folk, whichwas but simple, wholly unfenced for war, and the houses but low, andnot great. Yet was there naught of filth or famine, nor any poverty ormisery; and the people were merry-faced and well-liking, and cladgoodly after their fashion in white woollen cloth or frieze. All thepeople of the town were come forth to meet them, for runners had gonebefore them, and they stood on either side of the way murmuringgreetings, and with their heads bent low in reverence.

  Thus rode Ralph and Ursula up to the door of the Temple, or Mote-house,or Guest-house, for it was all these, a house great, and as fair asthey knew how to make it. Before the door thereof were standing theelders of the Folk; and when they drew rein, the eldest and mostreverend of these came forth and spake in a cheerful voice, yetsolemnly: "Welcome and thrice welcome to the Seekers after length ofdays and happy times, and the loving-kindness of the Folks of theEarth!"

  Then all the elders gathered about them, and bade them light down andbe at rest amongst them, and they made much of them and brought theminto the Mote-house, where-in were both women and men fair and stately,and the men took Ralph by the hand and the women Ursula, and broughtthem into chambers where they bathed them and did off their wayfaringraiment, and clad them in white woollen gowns of web exceeding fine,and fragrant withal. Then they crowned them with flowers, and led themback into the hall, whereas now was much folk gathered, and they setthem down on a dais as though they had been kings, or rather gods; andwhen they beheld them there so fair and lovely, they cried out for joyof them, and bade them hail oft and oft.

  There then were they feasted by that kind folk, and when meat was donecertain youths and maidens fell to singing songs very sweetly; and thewords of the songs were simple and harmless, and concerning thefairness of the earth and the happy loves of the creatures that dwelltherein.

  Thereafter as the night aged, they were shown to a sleeping chamber,which albeit not richly decked, or plenished with precious things, wasmost dainty clean, and sweet smelling, and strewn with flowers, so thatthe night was sweet to them in a chamber of love.