three hours before noon
But my lord came to me in all loving-kindness and brought me into the house of one of the Lineage , and into a fair chamber there , and kissed me , and made much of me ; and brought me fair raiment and did it on me with his own hands , even as his wont was to be for my tire-maiden . `` Then in a little while came those chiefs of ours and said that truce had been hanselled them for this time , but on these terms , that my lord and I and all those who had been in arms , and whosoever would , that feared the king 's wrath , should have leave to depart from his city so that they went and abode no nearer than fifty miles thereof till they should know his further pleasure . Albeit that whosoever would go home peaceably might abide in the city still and need not fear the king 's wrath if he stirred no further : but that in any case the Sorceress should get her gone from those walls . `` So we rode out of the gates that very day before sunset ; for it was now midsummer again , and it was three hours before noon that I was to have been burned ; and we were a gallant company of men-at-arms and knights ; yet did I be-think me of those who were slain on that other day when we were taken , and fain had I been that they were riding with us ; but at least that fair young man was in our company , though still weak with his hurts : for the prison and the process had worn away wellnigh two months . True it is that I rejoiced to see him , for I had deemed him dead . `` Dear friend , I pray thy pardon if I weary thee with making so long a tale of my friends of the past days ; but needs must I tell thee somewhat of them , lest thou love that which is not . Since truly it is myself that I would have thee to love , and none other .