Thereafter they went afoot into the wood behind the green bower, and
when they had gone some way therein for their pleasure, they fell to
seeking venison for their dinner; and the knight took Birdalone's bow
and shafts to strike the quarry withal, but he would have her gird
his sword to her, that she might not be weaponless. So they gat them
a roe and came back therewith to the bower, and the knight dight it
and cooked it, and again they ate in fellowship and kindness; and
Birdalone had been to the river and fetched thence store of blue-
flowered mouse-ear, and of meadow-sweet, whereof was still some left
from the early days of summer, and had made her garlands for her head
and her loins; and the knight sat and worshipped her, yet he would
not so much as touch her hand, sorely as he hungered for the beauty
of her body.
Next, when dinner was done, and they lay in the shadow of the trees,
and hearkened the moor-hen crying from the water, and the moaning of
the wood-doves in the high trees, she turned to him and bade him tell
her somewhat of the tale of his life and deeds; but he said: Nay,
lady, I pray thee pardon me, for little have I to tell thee that is
good, and I would not have thee know of me aught worse than thou
knowest of me already.
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