And while the younger brother was howling by reason of the pain from the embers, which blinded him, his mother took the knife from him, and while he was twisting this way and that, swinging up his arms to strike whomever he could, she threw him down, shut him up in the room, and went out dragging her first-born after her. Then, although she was feeble with age, she carried Halewyn up into the tower on her back, as a shepherd carries a lamb (for he had quite lost his senses), and there tended him and bathed his face and breast, which were torn and bleeding, and there at nightfall left him and went away.
XIV. Of the great weakness of Sir Halewyn and of the days and nights which he spent in the forest.
The Miserable, alone and somewhat comforted, rose to his feet, and was right glad to feel the sickle still at his belt; opened the door, listened to make sure that he could hear nothing, and that his brother was not there.
And when the night was fully dark, went down the stair slowly, sitting-wise.
For he was so weakened by the blows and wounds he had received that he could not hold himself upright by any means; and in this fashion he went on until he reached the bridge, and, finding that still down, crossed over it.
And very wearily he made his way to the forest.
But he could not, on account of his weakness, go so far as the cottages, which were a good two leagues distant to the northward.
So, lying down among the leaves, he sang.
But no maid came, for the song could not be heard from so far away.