So they went but a little way on the green road ere
they came to Sir Hugh bound hard and fast to a tree-bole,
and he naked in his shirt, and hard by lay the bodies
of two stout carles with their throats cut; for these
honest men and the two felons who had betrayed them
were all the following wherewith the Green Knight had
entered Evilshaw. And as it fell, the traitors
had been set to watch while the others slept; and
sleeping the caitiffs found them, and slew the said
men-at-arms at once, but bound Hugh to a tree that
he might be the longer a-dying; since none looked
for any but their own folk to pass by that way.
All this they heard afterwards of Hugh.
But now the said Hugh heard men going, and he opened
his eyes, and saw Atra and a man-at-arms with her;
and he cried out: Hah, what is this now, sister?
a rescue? Yea, she said, and look thou on the
face of the rescuer; and there is another hard by,
and she is a woman.
Therewith was Arthur on him and cutting his bonds,
and when he was loose they fell into each other’s
arms, and Hugh spake: Now then at last doth
life begin for me as I willed it! And hast thou
my sweet she-fellow, Birdalone, with thee? Yea,
said Arthur. How good is that! said Hugh.
And yet, if it might but be that Baudoin were yet
alive for us to seek! Then he laughed and said:
These be but sorry garments wherewith to wend along
with dear and fair ladies, brother! Nay, said
Arthur, that may soon be amended, for yonder, where
sword met sword, lieth raiment abundantly on the grass.
Fie on it! said Hugh, laughing; shall I do on me
the raiment of those lousy traitors? Not I, by
the rood! Thou must seek further for my array,
dear lad! So they all laughed, and were glad
to laugh together. But Atra said: It is
easier even than that, for thine own fair garments
and weapons shall we find if we seek them. Sooth
to say there was none left to bear them off, save
it were this man, or Birdalone his mate.
With that word she looked kindly on Arthur, and again
they laughed all three; though forsooth they were
well-nigh weeping-ripe; one for joy, and that was
Hugh; one for memory of the days gone by; and one
for the bitterness of love that should never be rewarded;
albeit dear even unto her was the meeting of friends
and the glory of forgiveness and the end of enmity.
Now came they back to where were the three others,
and Viridis was quite come to herself and ran to meet
her man, and he took her in his arms and caressed
her sweetly; and then he turned to Birdalone, and
spared no sign of friendly love to her; and Arthur,
for his part, did so much for Aurea and Viridis.
No long tale there was between them for that while,
for they would busk them to be gone. But first
they dug a grave for those two poor men who had been
slain by the felons, and prayed for them. As
for the caitiffs who lay slain there, one score and
two of them, they left them for the wolves to devour,
and the tearing of the kites and crows; nor meddled
they with any of their gear or weapons. But
they speedily found Hugh’s raiment, and his
pouch, wherein was money good store; and they found
also rings and ouches and girdles, which had been
torn from the damsels in the first rage of their taking.
