' Thou saidst: 'Perchance then thou wilt let me
go free, since this man was ill-beloved: yea, and he owed me a life.'
'Nay, nay,' said I, 'not so fast, good beast-lord.' 'Why not?'
saidst thou, 'I can see of thee that thou art a valiant man, and whereas
thou hast been captain of the host, and the men-at-arms will lightly
do thy bidding, why shouldest thou not sit in the place of this man,
and be Lord of Utterbol?'
"'Nay nay,' said I, 'it will not do, hearken thou rather:
For here I give thee the choice of two things, either that thou
be Lord of Utterbol, or that we slay thee here and now.
For we be two men all-armed.'
"Thou didst seem to ponder it a while, and then saidst at last:
'Well, I set not out on this journey with any such-like intent;
yet will I not wrestle with weird. Only I forewarn thee that I
shall change the days of Utterbol.'
"'It will not be for the worst then,' quoth I. 'So now go
wake up thy lion, and lead him away to his den: and we will
presently send him this carrion for a reward of his jonglery.'
'Gramercy, butcher,' saidst thou, 'I am not for thy flesh-meat
to-day. I was forewarned that the poor beast should be poisoned
at this man's home-coming, and so will he be if he eat
of this dastard; he will not outlive such a dinner.'
Thereat we all laughed heartily."
"Yea," said Bull, "So I went to lead away the lion when thou hadst bidden
me return in an hours' wearing, when all should be ready for my Lordship.
Pages:
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578