First, I must leave the tower far behind me, lest, in some evil moment, I might be once more caged within its horrible walls.

But it was ill walking in my heavy armour; and besides I had now no right to the golden spurs and the resplendent mail, fitly dulled with long neglect.

I might do for a squire; but I honoured knighthood too highly, to call myself any longer one of the noble brotherhood.

I stripped off all my armour, piled it under the tree, just where the lady had been seated, and took my unknown way, eastward through the woods.

Of all my weapons, I carried only a short axe in my hand.
Then first I knew the delight of being lowly; of saying to myself, "I am what I am, nothing more." "I have failed," I said, "I have lost myself--would it had been my shadow." I looked round: the shadow was nowhere to be seen.