Rewards and Fairies - Penn State University

Rewards and Fairies
cup of wine. The old man drank, and beckoned behind him, Brother, unless”—he pointed at De Aquila, whom he had
and, before all the Normans, my Hugh bore away the empty only met that day—“yonder tough Norman crab kept me
cup, Saxon-fashion, upon the knee.
company. But, Sir Hugh, I did not mean to shame him. He
“It is Harold!” said De Aquila. “His own stiff-necked blood hath been somewhat punished through, maybe, little fault of
kneels to serve him.
his own.”
“Be it so,” said Henry. “Sit, then, thou that hast been Harold “Yet he lied to my Father, the Conqueror,” said the King,
of England.”
and the old man flinched in his sleep.
‘The madman sat, and hard, dark Henry looked at him ‘“Maybe,” said Rahere, “but thy Brother Robert, whose
between half-shut eyes. We others stared like oxen, all but De throat we purpose soon to slit with our own hands—”
Aquila, who watched Rahere as I have seen him watch a far ‘“Hutt!” said the King, laughing. “I’ll keep Robert at my
sail on the sea.
table for a life’s guest when I catch him. Robert means no
‘The wine and the warmth cast the old man into a dream. harm. It is all his cursed barons.”
His white head bowed; his hands hung. His eye indeed was ‘“None the less,” said Rahere, “Robert may say that thou hast
opened, but the mind was shut. When he stretched his feet, not always spoken the stark truth to him about England. I
they were scurfed and road-cut like a slave’s.
should not hang too many men on that bough, Brother.” ‘“And
‘“Ah, Rahere,” cried Hugh, “why hast thou shown him thus? it is certain,” said Hugh, “that”—he pointed to the old man—
Better have let him die than shame him—and me!” “Harold was forced to make his promise to the Great Duke.”
‘“Shame thee?” said the King. “Would any baron of mine ‘“Very strongly, forced,” said De Aquila. He had never any
kneel to me if I were witless, discrowned, and alone, and pride in the Duke William’s dealings with Harold before
Harold had my throne?”
Hastings. Yet, as he said, one cannot build a house all of straight
‘“No,” said Rahere. “I am the sole fool that might do it, sticks.
192