The moon's o'erhead
And we need the clear
Our spoil to share.
Shake the lots in the helm then for brethren are we,
And the goods of my missing are gainful to thee.
Lo! thine are the wethers, and his are the kine;
And the colts of the marshland unbroken are thine,
With the dapple-grey stallion that trampled his groom;
And Giles hath the gold-blossomed rose of the loom.
Lo! leaps out the last lot and nought have I won,
But the maiden unmerry, by battle undone.


Even as her song ended came one of those fair yellow-gowned damsels round
the corner of the street, bearing in her hand a light basket full of flowers:
and she lifted up her head and beheld Ralph there; then she went slowly
and dropped her eyelids, and it was pleasant to Ralph to behold her;
for she was as fair as need be. Her corn-coloured gown was dainty and thin,
and but for its silver embroidery had hidden her limbs but little;
the rosiness of her ancles showed amidst her white sandal-thongs, and there
were silver rings and gold on her arms along with the iron ring.

Now she lifted up her eyes and looked shyly at Ralph, and he smiled
at her well-pleased, and deemed it would be good to hear her voice;
so he went up to her and greeted her, and she seemed to take
his greeting well, though she glanced swiftly at the carline
in the doorway.

Said Ralph: "Fair maiden, I am a stranger in this town, and have seen
things I do not wholly understand; now wilt thou tell me before l