Then he spake, 'I must mourn, O cousin, thy grief, and my bitter wrong, Of a truth till I may avenge them the time seemeth over-long!' Then straight would he ride to battle, but the way did she falsely show, For she feared were he slain then henceforward yet sorer should wax her woe. 490 But a road he found that led him straightway to the Breton's land, And smooth and wide was that highway--An there met him on either hand Afoot or ahorse a merchant or knight, he would greet them still, For so was his mother's counsel; and she spake with no thought of ill. But great weariness o'ertook him, as darkened the eventide, 495 And a house that was none too stately the youth in his folly spied. 'Twas a churl he who sat within it, discourteous by birth and low, (A fisherman he, little kindness might one at his hand e'er know) Then the lad drew rein for he hungered, and craved of him drink and meat. But the host quoth, 'Nay, not a half-loaf shalt thou have at mine hand to eat 500 In thirty years; he who waiteth, in the gifts of mine hand to share, O'er-long shall delay his journey--For none but myself I care, Thereafter perchance for my children--Thou comest not here to-day, Hadst thou money or pledge 'twere other, then thine host would I be straightway!' 505 Then Jeschuté's clasp all golden the lad he would bid him take, And soon as the peasant saw it, with smiling mouth he spake, 'Wilt thou stay here, sweet lad? then due honour be thy portion from all within--' 'Wilt thou feed me to-night and to-morrow wilt help me the way to win To King Arthur (for well I love him) then thyself mayst keep the gold!' 510 'Yea, that will I do,' quoth the peasant, 'for ne'er might mine eyes behold A face and form so comely--I will thee, as a marvel, bring To the court, and the good Round Table, and the face of the noble king!' So the lad thro' the night abode there, and ere ever the dawn of day He roused himself full eager to get on his onward way, 515 And the fisher, he made him ready, and before the lad he ran, And the boy he rode behind him, and swift were both steed and man.