The Well at the World’s End · Chapter
XIV: Ralph Falleth in with Another Old Friend explained
Ralph and Richard visit Blaise's booth in the marketplace, where they encounter Clement Chapman.
What happens
Ralph and Richard visit Blaise's booth in the marketplace, where they encounter Clement Chapman. Clement delivers a kiss from Dame Katherine and shares news of home. He discusses the Dry Tree champions and the rumored loss of their young Queen, and invites Ralph to join him on an eastward journey toward the Wall of the World, cautioning him against pursuing the Well at the World's End. Ralph agrees to wait eight days and consider the offer.
Themes in this chapter
Quest and Adventure
Ralph's quest for the Well at the World's End is discussed, with Clement offering a safer eastward journey and warning of the perils ahead.
Home and Wandering
Clement brings news of Upmeads and Ralph's family, stirring feelings of home while Ralph contemplates further wandering.
Characters to notice
- Ralph of Upmeads
Ralph visits Blaise's booth, meets Clement Chapman, and agrees to wait eight days before deciding on a journey eastward.
- Richard the Red
Richard accompanies Ralph to Blaise's booth and engages in conversation with Clement about the Dry Tree champions.
- Blaise
Blaise is seen in his booth, talking with three honorable men of the Port, and nods to Ralph and Richard as men beneath him in dignity.
- Clement Chapman
Clement meets Ralph in Blaise's booth, delivers a kiss from Dame Katherine, shares news of home, and invites Ralph to join him on a journey eastward.
- Dame Katherine
Clement delivers a kiss from Dame Katherine and reports that she visited Upmeads and comforted Ralph's mother.
Key passages
“Ralph went with Richard now without more words, and they came into the marketplace and unto Blaise’s booth and house, which was no worse than the best in the place; and the painters and stainers were at work on the upper part of it to make it as bright and goodly as might be with red and blue and green and gold, and all fair colours, and already was there a sign hung out of the fruitful tree by the waterside.”
Ralph and Richard silently walked to the marketplace and entered Blaise's booth, which was as fine as any in town, with painters decorating its upper part in bright colors and a sign depicting a fruitful tree by the water.
Describes the opulence and decoration of Blaise's booth.
“But Clement came to him and cast his arms about him, and kissed him, and said: 'Thou shalt pardon me for this, lord, for it is the kiss of the gossip which she bade me give thee, if I fell in with thee, as now I have, praised be the Saints!'”
Clement embraced and kissed Ralph, explaining that it was a kiss from Dame Katherine, as she had asked him to deliver it if they met.
Clement delivers a kiss from Dame Katherine.
“Said Clement, 'Great tidings maybe, how that there was a rumour that they had lost their young Queen and Lady; and if that be true, it will go nigh to break their hearts, so sore as they loved her.'”
Clement reported a rumor that the Dry Tree champions had lost their young Queen, which would devastate them due to their deep love for her.
Rumor of the young Queen's loss among the Dry Tree champions.