So he sat to table, and the meat and drink was of the best, and the carline served him, praising him ever with fulsome words as he ate, till he wished her away.
After dinner he rested awhile, and called to the carline and bade her bring him his sword and his basnet.

"Wherefore ?" said she.

"Whither wilt thou ?" Said he, "I would walk abroad to drink the air." "Wilt thou into the wildwood ?" said she.
"Nay, mother," he said, "I will but walk about the meadow and look on the hay-making folk." "For that," said the carline, "thou needest neither sword nor helm.

I was afeard that thou wert about departing, and thy departure would be a grief to my heart: in the deep wood thou mightest be so bestead as to need a sword in thy fist; but what shouldst thou do with it in this Plain of Abundance, where are nought but peaceful husbandmen and frank and kind maidens?
and all these are as if they had drunk a draught of the WELL AT THE WORLD'S END." Ralph started as she said the word, but held his peace awhile.

Then he said: "And who is lord of this fair land ?" "There is no lord, but a lady," said the carline.