Every one who heard this plan thought it a good one; and all the peasants with daughters who were virgins took them off to Ghent, and there told the story to the commune, and the good men gave them protection.
Then with lighter hearts the peasants returned to the domain of Halewyn.
XVII. Of what Sir Halewyn did on the borders of his domain.
Not long afterwards a hard winter set in, with bitter cold and furious storm.
And the heart of the fifteenth virgin no longer beat strong against Sir Halewyn’s breast.
And he sang, but none came. Wherefore he was disappointed and angry.
But calling to mind that there were, in the castle of Sir Roel de Heurne, two girls supposed by common report to be virgins,
And that this castle was no more than the fifth part of a league from the borders of his land,
And that therefore the two maids would be able to hear and come to the call of his song,