feel earth under our feet. We took all our hards out of the boat,
and hid away under the roots of an old thorn a little mail wherein
was your raiment, my ladies, which ye had lent to Birdalone; then we
did on our armour, and advised us of whereabout on the isle we were,
and we saw the orchards and gardens before us, and the great fair
house above all, even as ye told us of them, Birdalone.

Next, then, without more ado, we went our ways up through the orchard
and the gardens, and when we were well-nigh at the end of them, and
in face of those many steps ye spake of, we saw at the foot of them a
tall woman clad in red scarlet, standing as if she abode our coming.
When we drew nigh we saw that she was strong-looking, well-knit,
white-skinned, yellow-haired, and blue-eyed, and might have been
called a fair woman, as to her shaping, save that her face was heavy,
yet hard-looking, with thin lips and somewhat flagging cheeks, a face
stupid, but proud and cruel.

She hailed us as we came up, and said: Men-at-arms, ye be welcome to
our house, and I bid you to eat and drink and abide here.

Then we louted before her, and bade her Hail; and Baudoin said:
Lady, thy bidding will we take; yet have we an errand to declare ere
we break bread with thee, lest when it is told we be not so welcome
as ye tell us now. What is it? said she. Said Baudoin: This man
here is called the Green Knight, and this the Black Squire, and I am
the Golden Knight; and now will we ask thee if this isle be called
the Isle of Increase Unsought? Even so have I called it, quoth she,
wherefore I deem none other will dare call it otherwise. It is well,
quoth Baudoin; but we have heard say that hereto had strayed three
dear friends of ours, three maidens, who hight Viridis, the friend of