The Well at the World’s End · Chapter
V: Yet More of the Lady’s Story explained
The Lady continues her tale, recounting how after her mistress's death she lived alone in the Dale, sustained by goats and berries, awaiting the return of the wise carline who never came.
What happens
The Lady continues her tale, recounting how after her mistress's death she lived alone in the Dale, sustained by goats and berries, awaiting the return of the wise carline who never came. After many days, the fair man from the previous encounter returns, pale and hungry, having failed in his quest. She confesses she slew her mistress in self-defense, and he asks her to flee with him, though he is now a beaten man. They embrace and find joy together in the Dale of Lore.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Desire
The Lady and the fair man reunite in the Dale, embracing and finding joy despite his failed quest and her violent past.
Sacrifice and Loss
The Lady endures loss of her mistress and abandonment by the carline, while the fair man returns beaten and shamed from his failed endeavors.
Nature and the Supernatural
The Lady survives in the wildwood using her knowledge of goats, berries, and woodland roots, and the carline's teachings linger as a supernatural influence.
Characters to notice
- The Lady of Abundance
Narrates her story of living alone in the Dale after her mistress's death, awaiting the carline and the fair man.
- Ralph of Upmeads
Present as the listener, smiling and reassuring the Lady as she tells her tale.
- The Sage of Swevenham
Referred to as the wise carline who taught the Lady but never returned after seven days.
Key passages
“Lo thou, beloved, thou hast seen me in the wildwood with little good quickened in me: doth not thine heart sink at the thought of thy love and thy life given over to the keeping of such an one?”
Look, my love, you have seen me in the wildwood with hardly any goodness awakened in me—doesn't your heart fail at the idea of entrusting your love and life to someone like me?
The Lady expresses self-doubt about her worthiness of Ralph's love.
“I sat in the Dale that next day and was happy, though I longed to see that fair man again: sooth to say, since my mistress was dead, everything seemed fairer to me, yea even mine own face, as I saw it in the pools of the stream”
I sat in the Dale the next day and was happy, though I yearned to see that handsome man again; truly, since my mistress died, everything seemed more beautiful to me, even my own face reflected in the stream's pools.
The Lady describes her newfound sense of freedom and beauty after her mistress's death.
“I have abided here many days for a wise woman who hath taught me many things; but withal I hoped that thou wouldst come also.”
I have waited here many days for a wise woman who taught me many things; but I also hoped that you would come too.
The Lady confesses her hope for the fair man's return while waiting for the carline.
“Yet is it now another thing than that which I looked for, when I talked of setting thee by me on the golden throne. For now am I a beaten man; I have failed of that I sought, and suffered shame and hunger and many ills.”
But now things are different from what I intended when I spoke of placing you beside me on the golden throne. For now I am a defeated man; I have failed in what I sought, and endured shame, hunger, and many hardships.
The fair man reveals his fallen state and failed ambitions.