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to mount； Walter in one； and the Maid in the other； and no otherwise
might they do。 Then presently was a horn blown； and all took to the
road together； and Walter saw betwixt the curtains of the litter
that men…at…arms rode on either side of him； albeit they had left
him his sword by his side。
So they went down the mountain…passes； and before sunset were gotten
into the plain； but they made no stay for nightfall； save to eat a
morsel and drink a draught； going through the night as men who knew
their way well。 As they went； Walter wondered what would betide；
and if peradventure they also would be for offering them up to their
Gods； whereas they were aliens for certain； and belike also
Saracens。 Moreover there was a cold fear at his heart that he
should be sundered from the Maid； whereas their masters now were
mighty men of war； holding in their hands that which all men desire；
to wit； the manifest beauty of a woman。 Yet he strove to think the
best of it that he might。 And so at last； when the night was far
spent； and dawn was at hand； they stayed at a great and mighty gate
in a huge wall。 There they blew loudly on the horn thrice； and
thereafter the gates were opened； and they all passed through into a
street； which seemed to Walter in the glimmer to be both great and
goodly amongst the abodes of men。 Then it was but a little ere they
came into a square； wide…spreading； one side whereof Walter took to
be the front of a most goodly house。 There the doors of the court
opened to them or ever the horn might blow； though； forsooth； blow
it did loudly three times； all they entered therein； and men came to
Walter and signed to him to alight。 So did he； and would have
tarried to look about for the Maid； but they suffered it not； but
led him up a huge stair into a chamber； very great； and but dimly
lighted because of its greatness。 Then they brought him to a bed
dight as fair as might be； and made signs to him to strip and lie
therein。 Perforce he did so； and then they bore away his raiment；
and left him lying there。 So he lay there quietly； deeming it no
avail for him； a mother…naked man； to seek escape thence； but it was
long ere he might sleep； because of his trouble of mind。 At last；
pure weariness got the better of his hopes and fears； and he fell
into slumber just as the dawn was passing into day。
CHAPTER XXXII： OF THE NEW KING OF THE CITY AND LAND OF STARK…WALL
When he awoke again the sun was shining brightly into that chamber；
and he looked； and beheld that it was peerless of beauty and riches；
amongst all that he had ever seen： the ceiling done with gold and
over…sea blue； the walls hung with arras of the fairest； though he
might not tell what was the history done therein。 The chairs and
stools were of carven work well be…painted； and amidmost was a great
ivory chair under a cloth of estate； of bawdekin of gold and green；
much be…pearled； and all the floor was of fine work alexandrine。
He looked on all this； wondering what had befallen him； when lo！
there came folk into the chamber； to wit； two serving…men well…
bedight； and three old men clad in rich gowns of silk。 These came
to him and （still by signs； without speech） bade him arise and come
with them； and when he bade them look to it that he was naked； and
laughed doubtfully； they neither laughed in answer； nor offered him
any raiment； but still would have him arise； and he did so perforce。
They brought him with them out of the chamber； and through certain
passages pillared and goodly； till they came to a bath as fair as
any might be； and there the serving…men washed him carefully and
tenderly； the old men looking on the while。 When it was done； still
they offered not to clothe him； but led him out； and through the
passages again； back to the chamber。 Only this time he must pass
between a double hedge of men； some weaponed； some in peaceful
array； but all clad gloriously； and full chieftain…like of aspect；
either for valiancy or wisdom。
In the chamber itself was now a concourse of men； of great estate by
deeming of their array； but all these were standing orderly in a
ring about the ivory chair aforesaid。 Now said Walter to himself：
Surely all this looks toward the knife and the altar for me； but he
kept a stout countenance despite of all。
So they led him up to the ivory chair； and he beheld on either side
thereof a bench； and on each was laid a set of raiment from the
shirt upwards； but there was much diversity betwixt these arrays。
For one was all of robes of peace； glorious and be…gemmed； unmeet
for any save a great king； while the other was war…weed； seemly；
well…fashioned； but little adorned； nay rather； worn and bestained
with weather； and the pelting of the spear…storm。
Now those old men signed to Walter to take which of those raiments
he would； and do it on。 He looked to the right and the left； and
when he had looked on the war…gear； the heart arose in him； and he
called to mind the array of the Goldings in the forefront of battle；
and he made one step toward the weapons； and laid his hand thereon。
Then ran a glad murmur through that concourse； and the old men drew
up to him smiling and joyous； and helped him to do them on； and as
he took up the helm； he noted that over its broad brown iron sat a
golden crown。
So when he was clad and weaponed； girt with a sword； and a steel axe
in his hand； the elders showed him to the ivory throne； and he laid
the axe on the arm of the chair； and drew forth the sword from the
scabbard； and sat him down； and laid the ancient blade across his
knees； then he looked about on those great men； and spake： 〃How
long shall we speak no word to each other； or is it so that God hath
stricken you dumb？〃
Then all they cried out with one voice： 〃All hail to the King； the
King of Battle！〃
Spake Walter： 〃If I be king； will ye do my will as I bid you？〃
Answered the elder： 〃Nought have we will to do； lord； save as thou
biddest。〃
Said Walter： 〃Thou then； wilt thou answer a question in all truth？〃
〃Yea； lord；〃 said the elder； 〃if I may live afterward。〃
Then said Walter： 〃The woman that came with me into your Camp of
the Mountain； what hath befallen her？〃
The elder answered： 〃Nought hath befallen her； either of good or
evil； save that she hath slept and eaten and bathed her。 What；
then； is the King's pleasure concerning her？〃
〃That ye bring her hither to me straightway；〃 said Walter。
〃Yea；〃 said the elder； 〃and in what guise shall we bring her hither？
shall she be arrayed as a servant； or a great lady？〃
Then Walter pondered a while； and spake at last： 〃Ask her what is
her will herein； and as she will have it； so let it be。 But set ye
another chair beside mine； and lead her thereto。 Thou wise old man；
send one or two to bring her in hither； but abide thou； for I have a
question or two to ask of thee yet。 And ye； lords； abide here the
coming of my she…fellow； if it weary you not。〃
So the elder spake to three of the most honourable of the lords； and
they went their ways to bring in the Maid。
CHAPTER XXXIII： CONCERNING THE FASHION OF KING…MAKING IN STARK…WALL
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