IX: They Go on Their Way Once More explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Love and Desire

  Ralph and the Lady's deep emotional and physical bond is central, as they confess their love and fears of losing each other.

• Sacrifice and Loss

  The Lady recounts her painful past of betrayal, shaming, and loss, as well as her vow to free captives in honor of her joy.

• Nature and the Supernatural

  The wilderness setting, the Wood Perilous, and the Lady's wisdom and foresight blur the line between natural and magical elements.

Characters to notice

• Ralph of Upmeads

  Ralph listens to the Lady's story, reassures her of his love, and recognizes the woman she freed as the one he met in the Wood Perilous.

• The Lady of Abundance

  She recounts her past with the Knight of the Sun, the betrayal of Walter the Black, her rescue of captives, and her fear that the beautiful woman she freed might take Ralph from her.

• Ursula

  Referenced as the beautiful captive woman freed by the Lady, who sought the Well at the World's End and whom Ralph later met in the Wood Perilous.

• Walter the Black

  Mentioned as the man who betrayed the Lady by falsely accusing her of witchcraft and seeking his love, leading to her shaming and casting out.

• The Knight of the Sun

  Referenced as the Lady's former husband who believed Walter's lies and cast her out, though he still burns with love for her.

Key passages

• “She stayed, and turned and faced him at that word; and love so consumed her, that all sportive words failed her; yea and it was as if mirth and lightheartedness were swallowed up in the fire of her love; and all thought of other folk departed from him as he felt her tears of love and joy upon his face, and she kissed and embraced him there in the wilderness.”

  Overwhelmed by love, she stopped and faced him, unable to speak playfully; her joy and affection consumed them both as they embraced and wept in the wild.

  This moment captures the intensity of their love, transcending words and surroundings.

• “I will tell thee no more than this, unless thou compel me: that he would have me wed him, as it were against my will, till I ceased striving against him, and I went with him to Sunway, which is no great way from the Castle of Abundance, and there befell that treason of Walter the Black, who loved me and prayed for my love, and when I gainsaid him, swore by all that was holy, before my lord, that it was I who sought his love, and how I had told and taught him ways of witchcraft, whereby we might fulfill our love, so that the Baron should keep a wife for another man.”

  She reluctantly explains that the Knight of the Sun pressured her into marriage, and then Walter the Black falsely accused her of witchcraft and infidelity, leading to her disgrace.

  This reveals the treachery that led to her being cast out and sets the stage for her later life.

• “So I gave her the chaplet which my witch-mistress took from the dead woman’s neck; and went with her into the wildwood, and taught her wisdom of the way and what she was to do. And again I say to thee that she was so sweet and yet with a kind of pity in her both of soul and body, and wise withal and quiet, that I feared her, though I loved her; yea and still do: for I deem her better than me, and meeter for thee and thy love than I be.”

  She gave the captive woman a magical chaplet and guided her into the forest, admitting she feared the woman's beauty and goodness might make her more worthy of Ralph's love.

  This shows the Lady's vulnerability and self-doubt despite her power and wisdom.