--- title: How Ralph Went to Court — Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of F… · full text with trees description: How Ralph Went to Court, «Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France» by Alfred John Church: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: The next day, Ralph, having thought much on what he had undertaken, loaded his mare, as he was wont to do, wit --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/15/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/) / How Ralph Went to Court # How Ralph Went to Court How Ralph Went to Court of «Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France» by Alfred John Church: the whole text, 86 sentences and 1497 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. The next day, Ralph, having thought much on what he had undertaken, loaded his mare, as he was wont to do, with two panniers full of coals, and made ready to start on his journey to the court. "[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") This is not of my counsel," said Gillian his wife; "this journey will not be to your profit.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Remember the shrewd blow that you dealt him.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") Keep from the Court, say I." "Nay, Gill," said the Charcoal-burner, "I must have my way.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") I promised that I would go, and go I will, whether my going be for profit or for harm."[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") So he loaded the panniers and went his way to the Court.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Meanwhile King Charles had not forgotten the matter.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") He called Roland to him, for, indeed, there was no man whom he trusted more, and said to him, "To-morrow morning take your horse and your harness, and watch well the road by which we went on the day that I was lost, and if you see anyone coming this way, whatever his errand may be, bring him with you to this place, and take care that he sees no one before he sees me."[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") Roland wondered much what the King might mean, for it seemed a strange thing that on the very day of Yuletide, when a man should rest, he should be sent on such an errand.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") Nevertheless he took his horse and his harness and rode forth early in the morning, and watched the roads as he had been commanded.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") For a long time he saw nothing either far or near; but a little past midday he saw the Charcoal-burner come driving his mare before him with two panniers filled with coals.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") The sight pleased him well; so he rode up to him with all the speed that he could.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") The man saluted him courteously, and Roland, in his turn, also saluted him.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Their greetings ended, he said to the man, "Come now to the King; let nothing hinder you." "[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Nay," said Ralph, "I am not so foolish.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") This is a jest, Sir Knight, and it is ill courtesy for a knight to jest with a common man.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") There be many men better than I that come and go to Paris, and the King has no thought of them, whether it be morning or night.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") If you are in mind to trick me, I can hold my own, for all that I am ill-clad." "[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") This is but foolishness," said Roland, "the King has straightly commanded that you should be brought to him." "[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") Nay," answered Ralph, "I am on my way, according to promise made to one Wymond, and to him I will go and to none other." "[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") Have done with your Wymond," cried Roland, "I must take you to the King as the King has commanded."[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") So they wrangled a long time, and still the churl was firmly set that he would go to Wymond and to none other. "[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") And where dwells this Wymond of yours?" said Roland. "[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") He dwells with the Queen at Paris, if his tale be true." "[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") If that be so," answered Roland, "seeing that I know well the Queen and her ladies, and you are on your way to them, I will trust to your going.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Only you must give me a pledge that this is truly your purpose." "[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Nay," said the Charcoal-burner, "I will pledge you no pledge.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") And as for you, get you out of my way, or it will be the worse for you."[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Roland said to himself, "Now this is but folly to continue any longer with this fellow."[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") And he took his leave of the man full pleasantly.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") But Ralph liked not such ways; for he thought that this knight that was so gaily clad had him in scorn. "[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") Come hither, Sir Knight, to-morrow when we can be alone together, you and I; surely you shall see how I will deal with you."[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Roland rode back to the King.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") By this time Mass was ended, and the King had put on his robes. "[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") You are well come, Sir Roland," said he, "have you done my errand?" "[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") Sire," answered Sir Roland, "I went as you gave me commandment, and watched the ways, but saw no man, but one only." "[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") And who was this one?" asked the King. "[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") He," said Roland, "was but a churl that had with him two panniers of coal." "[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Why did you not bring this said churl to me, as I bid you?[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") It may be you durst not."[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Roland saw that the King was wroth, and was not a little glad to go forth from his presence.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Going forth he met a porter, "Whither go you, lazy loon?" said he.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") Said the porter, "There is one at the gate, a churl that has a mare and two panniers of coals, and he clamours to be let in at the gate." "[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") Whom does he want?" said Roland.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") The porter answered, "He asks for one Wymond."[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Roland said, "Go back to your place, porter, and open the gate and bid him enter.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") But say that it does not lie within your office to go to this Wymond, but that he must himself seek him."[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") So the porter went back to the gate and opened it, saying to the Charcoal-burner, "Enter, man; but I have no leisure to seek for this Wymond for whom you ask.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") You must seek him yourself."[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Said Ralph, "If you will not seek the man, I must needs do it myself; see you then that no harm come to the mare and the coals, and I will look for Wymond, for certainly it was he that bade me come hither."[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") So the Charcoal-burner went his way through the palace asking for Wymond.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") There was not one that knew the man, or had so much as heard the name.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") They seemed to Ralph to lack courtesy; nevertheless he would not cease from his quest, nor was there any one of whom he failed to inquire.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") After he had passed through many chambers he came to one that was more splendid than all that he had seen before.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") It was a great hall finely painted and hung about with tapestries, and there the King sate at dinner in great state.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") On the table were many dainties, and there was a store of dishes, both silver and gold, and many other adornments. "[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Here is royalty enough," cried Ralph. "[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") If I could only have speech with Wymond, I would away, for this methinks is no place for a simple man."[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") And still he went on.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Many sought to put him back, for he seemed to press on in an unmannerly fashion; but he was a stalwart man that gave as much as he took.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") At last, after not a little trouble, he got sight of the King, where he sat in state at the table. "[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") See," he cried, "that is Wymond, yonder, the man whom I seek.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") Well do I know him, though, indeed, he is otherwise clad than when I last saw him.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") Now he is in cloth of gold.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") Truly he must be some greater man than he said.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") Alas, that I have been wiled hither.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Truly this man has beguiled me."[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") When the King heard this he laughed.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") Ralph looked about on the company that sat with the King, for many worshipful men were there.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") But when he saw the Queen, then he was greatly troubled. "[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") Lady," he said, "I am sorely troubled to see your fine attire, so splendid is it.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") Now if I can but escape hence this day, nothing in the whole world shall bring me hither again."[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") And now, dinner being over, the King rose from the table; and he told before the whole company how he had fared with the Charcoal-burner.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") The churl quaked as he heard the tale.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") And he said, "Would I were on the moor again this very hour, and the King alone, or any one of his knights, be he the bravest and strongest of them all."[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the lords laughed aloud.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") Some, however, were angry, and would have had the man hanged. "[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") What is this churl," said they, "that he should so misuse the King?"[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") But Charles would have none of such doings. "[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") He is a stalwart man, and can strike a hard blow.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") Heaven forbid that I should harm him.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") Rather will I make him a knight."[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") So he dubbed Ralph the Charcoal-burner a knight, and gave him a revenue of £300 by the year, and "the next fee in France that shall come into my hands, that," said he, "will I give you.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") But now you must win your spurs."[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") So the King gave him his armour and arms, and sixty squires of good degree to be his company.[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") And Ralph was in after time a very perfect, noble knight, and did good service to the King.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [How Ralph Entertained the King](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/14/) - next →: [How Fierabras Defied King Charles](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/16/) - ↑ back to [Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/)