And now we were best get to horse;
for what with meat and minstrelsy, we have worn away the day till
it wants but a little of noon. Go tell thy lord that I am ready.
Farewell peace, and welcome war and grudging!"
So the Sage went within, and came out with the others,
and they mounted their horses anon, and Roger went ahead on foot,
and led them through the thicket-ways without fumbling; and they
lay down that night on the farther side of the Swelling Flood.
CHAPTER 18
A Change of Days in the Burg of the Four Friths
There is naught to tell of their ways till they came out of the thicket
into the fields about the Burg of the Four Friths; and even there was
a look of a bettering of men's lives; though forsooth the husbandmen
there were much the same as had abided in the fields aforetime,
whereas they were not for the most part freemen of the Burg, but aliens
who did service in war and otherwise thereto. But, it being eventide,
there were men and women and children, who had come out of gates,
walking about and disporting themselves in the loveliness of early summer,
and that in far merrier guise than they had durst do in the bygone days.
Moreover, there was scarce a sword or spear to be seen amongst them,
whereat Roger grudged somewhat, and Richard said: "Meseems this
folk trusts the peace of the Burg overmuch since, when all is told,
unpeace is not so far from their borders."
But as they drew a little nigher Ralph pointed out to his fellows
the gleam of helms and weapons on the walls, and they saw a watchman
on each of the high towers of the south gate; and then quoth Roger:
"Nay, the Burg will not be won so easily; and if a few fools get
themselves slain outside it is no great matter.
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