[Original Size] -- [Medium-Size]
Her head was larger than a portal's arch; her eyes were small as deniers, bleared besides and blue, misshapen, and deep-sunk beneath projecting brows. Her lips were black; teeth red as orpiment, which jutted out unseemly from her jaw. Her arms were sinewy, and her hands all knots; her face was colourless and wrinkled o'er; her body puffed; her shoulders round and high; her legs were skinny and of brownish hue; her knees were pointed; her toe-nails so long, no shoe could ever have enclosed her feet. A verdant wreath encircled her white hair, which stiffly stood on end. Her under-garment was of linen fine; her robe of ruddy silk; and over all a scarlet mantle fell, with ermine lined.
Jaufry saluted her; meanwhile with awe he gazed upon her figure strange, and ugly face. She turned her head, and without moving from her darksome seat, exclaimed:
“Retrace thy steps, sir knight, and that at once.”
“Not so, indeed,” quoth Jaufry, “till I learn why thou dost tell me thus to flee away.”
“Thou wilt repent it, then,” the hag replied; “and death or dungeon shalt thou surely find.”
“And wherefore so?”
“Go on, and thou wilt learn.”