Also
there came little horses and asses from the Shepherd country with one
or two or three damsels or children sitting on each, and by wain-side
or by beast strode the men of the house, merry and fair in their war-
gear. The Woodlanders, moreover, man and woman, elder and swain and
young damsel, streamed out of the wood from Carlstead, eager to make
the day begin before the sunrise, and end before his setting.
Then all men fell to pitching of tents and tilting over of wains; for
the April sun was hot in the Dale, and when he arose the meads were
gay with more than the spring flowers; for the tents and the tilts
were stained and broidered with many colours, and there was none who
had not furbished up his war-gear so that all shone and glittered.
And many wore gay surcoats over their armour, and the women were clad
in all their bravery, and the Houses mostly of a suit; for one bore
blue and another corn-colour, and another green, and another brazil,
and so forth, and all gleaming and glowing with broidery of gold and
bright hues. But the women of the Shepherds were all clad in white,
embroidered with green boughs and red blossoms, and the Woodland
women wore dark red kirtles.
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