Then said Ralph: "Here have we ridden a fair land, and seen neither house nor herd, neither sheep-cote nor shepherd.

I wonder thereat." Said Roger: "Thou wouldst wonder the less didst thou know the story of it." "What story ?" said Ralph.

Quoth Roger: "A story of war and wasting." "Yea ?" said Ralph, "yet surely some bold knight or baron hath rights in the land, and might be free to build him a strong house and gather men to him to guard the shepherds and husbandmen from burners and lifters." "Sooth is that," said Roger; "but there are other things in the tale." "What things ?" said Ralph.

Quoth Roger: "Ill hap and sorrow and the Hand of Fate and great Sorcery." "And dastards withal ?" said Ralph.

"Even so," said Roger, "yet mingled with valiant men.
Over long is the tale to tell as now, so low as the sun is; so now ride we on with little fear of foemen.