of the herse, and shook and swayed them, but it was all to no
purpose.

Moreover, while we were at this work the sun seemed to go out, and
there came a heavy black mist rolling into the dale, and wrapped us
about so that we saw not each other's faces, and the bars of the
herse were gone from our hands as we stood there. Then came rain and
thunder and lightning on to the black night, and by the glare of the
lightning we could see the leaves and grass of the dale, but neither
herse nor house nor woman. So we abode there in the dark night, and
the storm all bewildered us, till the rain and clouds drew off and it
was calm fair starlight again, but clean gone was the golden cage and
they that stood therein; and we turned sadly, and went our ways
toward the witch-house.

On the way said Arthur: Brethren, this meseemeth is but a-going on
with the shows which were played us on the water as we came hither;
but whether she doth this but for to mock and torment us, or that she
would beguile us into deeming that our friends are verily here, I wot
not; but to-morrow, meseemeth, I shall can to tell you.

Now came we to the perron of the house, and there stood the witch-
wife under the stars to meet us. And when she saw us, she took hold
of Arthur by the hand and the arm to caress him, and found that he
and we were drenched with the rain and the storm, as might well be
deemed; then she bade us up to our chambers to do on raiment which
she had dight for us, and we went thither, and found our garments
rich and dainty indeed; but when we came down into the hall where the
witch abode us, we saw that Arthur's raiment was far the richest and
daintiest. But the witch ran to him and cast her arms about him, and