Of the Tales of Swevenham


Old Richard was no worse than his word, and failed not to find
old acquaintance of Swevenham in the Saturday's market:
and Ralph saw naught of him till midweek afterwards. And he was
sitting in the chamber of the hostel when Richard came in to him.
Forsooth Blaise had bidden him come dwell in his fair house,
but Ralph would not, deeming that he might be hindered in his quest
and be less free to go whereso he would, if he were dwelling
with one who was so great with the magnates as was Blaise.

Now Ralph was reading in a book when Richard came in,
but he stood up and greeted him; and Richard said smiling:
"What have ye found in the book, lord?" Said Ralph:
"It telleth of the deeds of Alexander." "Is there aught
concerning the Well at the World's End therein?" said Richard.
"I have not found aught thereof as yet," said Ralph;
"but the book tells concerning the Dry Tree, and of kings
sitting in their chairs in the mountains nearby."

"Well then," said Richard, "maybe thou wilt think me the better tale-teller."
"Tell on then," quoth Richard. So they went and sat them down in a window,
and Richard said:

"When I came to Swevenham with two old men that I had known young, the folk
made much of me, and made me good cheer, whereof were over long to tell thee;
but to speak shortly, I drew the talk round to the matter that we would
wot of: for we spake of the Men of the Dry Tree, and an old man began to say,