CHAPTER XXII. HOW THE BOWMEN HELD WASSAIL AT THE “ROSE DE GUIENNE.”

d,amidageneralshoutoflaughter.“Butitistimeyoungchickenswenttoroostwhentheydarecackleagainsttheirelders.Itislate,Simon.” “Nay,letushaveanothersong.” “HereisArnoldofSowleywilltrollasgoodastaveasanymanintheCompany.” “Nay,wehaveoneherewhoissecondtonone,”saidHawtayne,layinghishanduponbigJohn'sshoulder.“Ihaveheardhimonthecogwithavoicelikethewaveupontheshore.Iprayyou,friend,togiveus'TheBellsofMilton,'or,ifyouwill,'TheFranklin'sMaid.'” HordleJohndrewthebackofhishandacrosshismouth,fixedhiseyesuponthecorneroftheceiling,andbellowedforth,inavoicewhichmadethetorchesflicker,thesouthlandballadforwhichhehadbeenasked:— Thefranklinhehathgonetoroam, Thefranklin'smaidshebidesathome, Butsheiscoldandcoyandstaid, Andwhomaywinthefranklin'smaid? Therecameaknightofhighrenown Inbassinetandciclatoun Onbendedkneefulllongheprayed, Hemightnotwinthefranklin'smaid. Therecameasquiresodebonair Hisdresswasrich,hiswordswerefair, Hesweetlysang,hedeftlyplayed: Hecouldnotwinthefranklin'smaid. Therecameamercerwonder-fine Withvelvetcapandgaberdine Forallhisships,forallhistrade Hecouldnotbuythefranklin'smaid. Therecameanarcherboldandtrue, Withbracerguardandstaveofyew Hispursewaslight,hisjerkinfrayed Haro,alas!thefranklin'smaid! Oh,somehavelaughedandsomehavecried Andsomehavescouredthecountry-side! Butofftheyridethroughwoodandglade, Thebowmanandthefranklin'smaid. Aroarofdelightfromhisaudience,withstampingoffeetandbeatingofblackjacksagainsttheground,showedhowthoroughlythesongwastotheirtaste,whileJohnmodestlyretiredintoaquartpot,whichhedrainedinfourgiantgulps.“IsangthatdittyinHordleale-houseereIeverthoughttobeanarchermyself,”quothhe. “Fillupyourstoups!”criedBlackSimon,thrustinghisowngobletintotheopenhogsheadinfrontofhim.“HereisalastcuptotheWhiteCompany,andeverybraveboywhowalksbehindtherosesofLoring!” “Tothewood,theflax,andthegander'swing!”saidanoldgray-headedarcherontheright. “Toagentleloose,andtheKingofSpainforamarkatfourteenscore!”criedanother. “Toabloodywar!”shoutedafourth.“Manytogoandfewtocome!” “Withthemostgoldtothebeststeel!”addedafifth. “Andalastcuptothemaidsofourheart!”criedAylward.“Asteadyhandandatrueeye,boyssolettwoquartsbeabowman'sportion.”Withshoutandjestandsnatchofsongtheystreamedfromtheroom,andallwaspeacefuloncemoreinthe“RosedeGuienne.”