“Nay, sir knight,” said she, “but to get thee a name and great glory, thou ridest about the world. Verily thou art a man who loveth not the truth.” At these words of the woman the knight clapped spurs to his horse, and would have ridden from her, for he loved not to be reviled, and so he told her. But she followed him, and kept by his stirrup, and said to him as she ran, “Yea, thine own heart whispereth unto thee that I speak but the truth. It is from thyself thou wouldst flee.” Then did the knight listen, and, lo! his own heart was telling him that what the woman said was indeed so. Then drew he the reins of his bridle, and looked down upon the woman and said to her, “Verily thou hast well spoken, but if I be not true, yet would I be true. Come with me. I will take thee upon my horse behind me, and together we will ride through the world; thou shalt speak to me the truth, and I will hear thee, and with my sword will plead what cause thou hast against any; so shall it go well with thee and me, for fain would I not only love what is truly spoken, but be in myself the true thing.” Then reached he down his hand, and she put her hand in his hand, and her foot upon his foot, and so sprang lightly up behind him, and they rode on together. And as they rode, he said unto her, “Verily thou art the first woman I have found who hath to me spoken the truth, as I to others. Only thy truth is better than mine. Truly thou must love the truth better than I!” But she returned him no answer. Then said he to her again, “Dost thou not love the truth?” And again she gave him no answer, whereat he marvelled greatly. Then said he unto her yet again, “Surely it may not be thou art one of those who speak the truth out of envy and ill-will, and on their own part love not to hear it spoken, but are as the rest of the children of vanity! Woman, lovest thou the truth, nor only to speak it when it is sharp?” “If I love not the truth,” she answered, “yet love I them that love it. But tell me now, sir knight, what thinkest thou of me?” “Nay,” answered the knight, “that is what even now I would fain have known from thyself, namely what to think of thee.” “Then will I now try thee,” said she, “whether indeed thou speakest the truth or no.--Tell me to my face, for I am a woman, what thou thinkest of that face.” Then said the knight to himself, “Never surely would I, for the love of pity, of my own will say to a woman she was evil-favoured. But if she will have it, then must she hear the truth.” “Nay, nay!” said the woman, “but thou wilt not speak the truth.” “Yea, but I will,” answered he. “Then I ask thee again,” she said, “what thinkest thou of me?” And the knight replied, “Truly I think not of thee as of one of the well-favoured among women.”