CHAPTER V. HOW A STRANGE COMPANY GATHERED AT THE “PIED MERLIN.”

ethelightofoneofthetorcheswouldstrikefulluponit,andworkedawaywithallthepleasureofthetrainedcraftsman,listeningthewhiletothetalkwhichwentonroundthefire.Thepeasantinthesheepskins,whohadsatglumandsilentallevening,hadbeensoheatedbyhisflagonofalethathewastalkingloudlyandangrilywithclenchedhandsandflashingeyes. “SirHumphreyTennantofAshbymaytillhisownfieldsforme,”hecried.“Thecastlehasthrownitsshadowuponthecottageoverlong.Forthreehundredyearsmyfolkhaveswinkedandsweated,dayinanddayout,tokeepthewineonthelord'stableandtheharnessonthelord'sback.Lethimtakeoffhisplatesanddelvehimself,ifdelvingmustbedone.” “Aproperspirit,myfairson!”saidoneofthefreelaborers.“Iwouldthatallmenwereofthywayofthinking.” “Hewouldhavesoldmewithhisacres,”theothercried,inavoicewhichwashoarsewithpassion.“'Theman,thewomanandtheirlitter'—soranthewordsofthedotardbailiff.Neverabullockonthefarmwassoldmorelightly.Ha!hemaywakesomeblacknighttofindtheflameslickingabouthisears—forfireisagoodfriendtothepoorman,andIhaveseenasmokingheapofasheswhereovernighttherestoodjustsuchanothercastlewickasAshby.” “Thisisaladofmettle!”shoutedanotherofthelaborers.“Hedarestogivetonguetowhatallmenthink.ArewenotallfromAdam'sloins,allwithfleshandblood,andwiththesamemouththatmustneedshavefoodanddrink?Whereallthisdifferencethenbetweentheerminecloakandtheleatherntunic,ifwhattheycoveristhesame?” “Aye,Jenkin,”saidanother,“ourfoemanisunderthestoleandthevestmentasmuchasunderthehelmetandplateofproof.Wehaveasmuchtofearfromthetonsureasfromthehauberk.Strikeatthenobleandthepriestshrieks,strikeatpriestandthenoblelayshishanduponglaive.Theyaretwinthieveswholiveuponourlabor.” “Itwouldtakeaclevermantoliveuponthylabor,Hugh,”remarkedoneoftheforesters,“seeingthatthehalfofthytimeisspentinswillingmeadatthe'PiedMerlin.'” “Betterthatthanstealingthedeerthatthouartplacedtoguard,likesomefolkIknow.” “Ifyoudareopenthatswine'smouthagainstme,”shoutedthewoodman,“I'llcropyourearsforyoubeforethehangmanhasthedoingofit,thoulong-jawedlackbrain.” “Nay,gentles,gentles!”criedDameEliza,inasingsongheedlessvoice,whichshowedthatsuchbickeringswerenightlythingsamongherguests.“Nobrawlingorbrabbling,gentles!Takeheedtothegoodnameofthehouse.” “Besides,ifitcomestothecroppingofears,thereareotherfolkwhomaysaytheirsay,”quoththethirdlaborer.“Weareallfreemen,andItrowthatayeoman'scudgelisasgoodasaforester'sknife.BySt.Anselm!itwouldbeanevildayifwehadtobendtoourmaster'sservantsaswellastoourmasters.” “NomanismymastersavetheKing,”thewoodmananswered.“Whoisthere,saveafalsetraitor,whowouldrefusetoservetheEnglishking?” “IknownotabouttheEnglishking,”saidthemanJenkin.“WhatsortofEnglishkingisitwhocannotlayhistonguetoawordofEnglish?YoumindlastyearwhenhecamedowntoMalwood,withhisinnermarshalandhisoutermarshal,hisjusticiar,hisseneschal,andhisfourandtwentyguardsmen.OnenoontideIwasbyFranklinSwinton'sgate,whenupherideswithayeomanprickerathisheels.'Ouvre,'hecried,'ouvre,'orsomesuchword,makingsignsformetoopenthegateandthen'Merci,'asthoughhewereadradofme.AndyoutalkofanEnglishking?” “Idonotmarvelatit,”criedtheCambrigscholar,speakinginthehighdrawlingvoicewhichwascommonamonghisclass.“Itisnotatongueformenofsweetbirthanddelicateupbringing.Itisafoul,snorting,snarlingmannerofspeech.Formyself,IswearbythelearnedPolycarpthatIhavemosteasewithHebrew,andafterthatperchancewithArabian.” “IwillnothearawordsaidagainstoldKingNed,”criedHordleJohninavoicelikeabull.“Whatifheisfondofabrighteyeandasaucyface.Iknowoneofhissubjectswhocouldmatchhimatthat.IfhecannotspeaklikeanEnglishmanItrowthathecanfightlikeanEnglishman,andhewashammeringatthegatesofPariswhileale-housetopersweregrutchingandgrumblingathome.” Thisloudspeech,comingfromamanofsoformidableanappearance,somewhatdauntedthedisloyalparty,andtheyfellintoasullensilence,whichenabledAlleynetohearsomethingofthetalkwhichwasgoingoninthefurthercornerbetweenthephysician,thetooth-drawerandthegleeman. “Arawrat,”themanofdrugswassaying,“thatiswhatitisevermyusetoorderfortheplague—arawratwithitspaunchcutopen.” “Mightitnotbebroiled,mostlearnedsir?”askedthetooth-drawer.“Arawratsoundsamostsorryandcheerlessdish.” “Nottobeeaten,”criedthephysician,inhighdisdain.“Whyshouldanymaneatsuchathin