Birdalone's heart yearned toward them, and she stepped straightway
from out of the cover of the coppice, and the sun flamed from her
sallet and glittered in the rings of her hauberk, so that the folk
might not fail to see her; the sheep fled bundling from her past
their keepers, who stood firm, but seemed somewhat scared, and moved
not toward Birdalone. She gave them the sele of the day and stood
still herself; but the man with the ash-wand said: Hail, thou man;
but we would have thee come no nearer a while, though thy voice be
sweet: for we know what things they be which thou bearest, and that
thou art a warrior. Wilt thou hurt us?
Birdalone laughed as sweetly as the blackbird sings, and she did off
her sallet and shook the plenteous hair down over her, and then drew
forth her sword and dagger and cast them to earth, and laid her bow
and quiver of arrows upon them, and said: Now will I come to you, or
ye shall come to me, whereas I am unweaponed, and no warrior, but a
woman, and ye are four to one, and two of you carles; wherefore now
ye may bind me or slay me if you will; but in any case I pray you
first to give me a mouthful of meat.
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