Forsooth I lied not, for thy brother is happy here, whereas he is piling up
the coins one upon the other. Forsooth thou shouldest go into his booth,
fair lord; it is a goodly sight."

But Ralph was walking to and fro hastily, and he turned to Richard and said:
"Well, well! but why dost thou not tell me more of the Well at
the World's End?"

Said Richard: "I was going to tell thee somewhat which might be
worth thy noting; or might not be worth it: hearken! When I
dwelt at Swevenham over yonder, and was but of eighteen winters,
who am now of three score and eight, three folk of our township,
two young men and one young woman, set out thence to seek the said Well:
and much lore they had concerning it, which they had learned of an old man,
a nigh kinsman of one of them. This ancient carle I had never seen,
for he dwelt in the mountains a way off, and these men were some five
years older than I, so that I was a boy when they were men grown;
and such things I heeded not, but rather sport and play; and above all,
I longed for the play of war and battle. God wot I have had my bellyful
of it since those days! Howbeit I mind me the setting forth of these three.
They had a sumpter-ass with them for their livelihood on the waste;
but they went afoot crowned with flowers, and the pipe and tabour
playing before them, and much people brought them on the way.
By St. Christopher! I can see it all as if it were yesterday.
I was sorry of the departure of the damsel; for though I was a boy I
had loved her, and she had suffered me to kiss her and toy with her;
but it was soon over. Now I call to mind that they had prayed our priest,
Sir Cyprian, to bless them on their departure, but he naysaid them;
for he held that such a quest came of the inspiration of the devils,
and was but a memory of the customs of the ancient gentiles and heathen.