Then met they with a knight, from the king he came
forth-right; he was Uther's relation, and dearest of men to him. These
deceivers, where they sate along the street, called to the knight with
familiar words: "Lord, we are wretched men in this world's realm;
whilom we were in land accounted for good men, until Saxish men set us
adown, and bereaved us of all, and our possessions took from us. Now
we sing beads (prayers) for Uther the king; each day in a meal our
meat faileth; cometh never in our dish neither flesh nor any fish, nor
any kind of drink but a draught of water, but water clean--therefore
we are thus lean."
The knight heard this; back he went forth-right, and came to the king,
where he lay in chamber, and said to the king: "Lord, be thou in
health! Here out sit six men, alike in hue, all they are companions,
and clothed with hard hair-cloth. Whilom they were in this world's
realm goodly thanes, and filled with goods; now have Saxish men set
them to ground, so that they are in the world accounted for wretches,
they have not at board but bread alone, nor for their drink but water
draughts.
Pages:
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148