A little farther on they came to a long stretch where the road was very straight, and by the side a man walked up and down twisting a rope, to whom the knight cried out,—
“Halloa! fellow, what do you there? and who are you?”
And the man made answer, “I am Ropo, son of Ropon, the cunning rope-maker, and I make ropes which none can break.”
Then the knight said, “Will you come out with me to seek fortune?”
And the man made answer, “Your worship is not more ready to ask than I to accept, for I am weary of twisting this rope.” So he left there his rope by the road-side, and walked along behind the knight.
A little farther on they came upon a man crouched down by the way-side.
To whom the knight called out, “Halloa! fellow, what do you there? and who are you?”
And the man made answer, “I am Listeno, son of Listenon, the ready listener.”
So the knight said, “What are you listening for?”
And the man made answer, “Blowo has left off turning the mills, and I am listening for the wind to come down from the mountains of Burgos.”