"Lancelot Longtongue shall be squire to Hugh; for he is good
of seeming and can compass all courtesy, and knoweth logic
(though it be of the law and not of the schools), yet is he a
proper man of his hands; as needs must he be who followeth Hugh;
for where is Hugh, there is trouble and debate.
"Clement the Black shall serve Gregory: for he is a careful carle,
and speaketh one word to every ten deeds that he doeth;
whether they be done with point and edge, or with the hammer
in the smithy.
"Lastly, I have none left to follow thee, Ralph, save Nicholas Longshanks;
but though he hath more words than I have, yet hath he more wisdom,
and is a man lettered and far-travelled, and loveth our house right well.
"How say ye, sons, is this to your liking?"
They all said "yea." Then quoth the king; "Nicholas, bring hither
the straws ready dight, and I will give them my sons to draw."
So each young man came up in turn and drew; and King Peter laid
the straws together and looked at them, and said:
"Thus it is, Hugh goeth north with Lancelot, Gregory westward with Clement."
He stayed a moment and then said: "Blaise fareth eastward and Richard
with him. As for thee, Ralph my dear son, thou shalt back with me and
abide in my house and I shall see thee day by day; and thou shalt help me
to live my last years happily in all honour; and thy love shall be my hope,
and thy valiancy my stay."
Therewith he arose and threw his arm about the young man's neck;
but he shrank away a little from his father, and his face grew troubled;
and King Peter noted that, and his countenance fell, and he said:
"Nay nay, my son; grudge not thy brethren the chances
of the road, and the ill-hap of the battle.
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