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blossoming flag or flower…de…luce； of which I had seen plenty in all the
ditches； but in the window near the door was a pot full of those same white
poppies I had seen when I first woke up； and the table was all set forth
with meat and drink； a big salt…cellar of pewter in the middle； covered with
a white cloth。
We sat down； the priest blessed the meat in the name of the Trinity；
and we crossed ourselves and fell to。 The victual was plentiful of broth
and flesh…meat； and bread and cherries； so we ate and drank； and talked
lightly together when we were full。
Yet was not the feast so gay as might have been。 Will Green had me
to sit next to him； and on the other side sat John Ball； but the priest had
grown somewhat distraught； and sat as one thinking of somewhat that was
like to escape his thought。 Will Green looked at his daughter from time
to time； and whiles his eyes glanced round the fair chamber as one who
loved it； and his kind face grew sad； yet never sullen。 When the
herdsmen came into the hall they fell straightway to asking questions
concerning those of the Fellowship who had been slain in the fray； and of
their wives and children； so that for a while thereafter no man cared to jest；
for they were a neighbourly and kind folk； and were sorry both for the
dead； and also for the living that should suffer from that day's work。
So then we sat silent awhile。 The unseen moon was bright over the
roof of the house； so that outside all was gleaming bright save the black
shadows； though the moon came not into the room； and the white wall of
the tower was the whitest and the brightest thing we could see。
Wide open were the windows； and the scents of the fragrant night
floated in upon us； and the sounds of the men at their meat or making
merry about the township； and whiles we heard the gibber of an owl from
the trees westward of the church； and the sharp cry of a blackbird made
fearful by the prowling stoat； or the far…off lowing of a cow from the
upland pastures； or the hoofs of a horse trotting on the pilgrimage road
（and one of our watchers would that be）。
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Thus we sat awhile； and once again came that feeling over me of
wonder and pleasure at the strange and beautiful sights； mingled。
with the sights and sounds and scents beautiful indeed； yet not strange；
but rather long familiar to me。
But now Will Green started in his seat where he sat with his daughter
hanging over his chair； her hand amidst his thick black curls； and she
weeping softly； I thought； and his rough strong voice broke the silence。
〃Why； lads and neighbours； what ails us？ If the knights who fled
from us this eve were to creep back hither and look in at the window； they
would deem that they had slain us after all； and that we were but the
ghosts of the men who fought them。 Yet； forsooth； fair it is at whiles to
sit with friends and let the summer night speak for us and tell us its tales。
But now； sweetling； fetch the mazer and the wine。〃 〃Forsooth；〃 said John
Ball； 〃if ye laugh not over…much now； ye shall laugh the more on the
morrow of to…morrow； as ye draw nearer to the play of point and edge。〃
〃That is sooth；〃 said one of the upland guests。 〃So it was seen in
France when we fought there； and the eve of fight was sober and the morn
was merry。〃
〃Yea；〃 said another； 〃but there； forsooth； it was for nothing ye fought；
and to…morrow it shall be for a fair reward。〃
〃It was for life we fought；〃 said the first。
〃Yea；〃 said the second； 〃for life； and leave to go home and find the
lawyers at their fell game。 Ho； Will Green； call a health over the cup！〃
For now Will Green had a bowl of wine in his hand。 He stood up and
said： 〃Here； now； I call a health to the wrights of Kent who be turning
our plough…shares into swords and our pruning…hooks into spears！ Drink
around； my masters！〃
Then he drank； and his daughter filled the bowl brimming again and he
passed it to me。 As I took it I saw that it was of light polished wood
curiously speckled； with a band of silver round it； on which was cut the
legend； 〃In the name of the Trinity fill the cup and drink to me。〃 And
before I drank； it came upon me to say； 〃To…morrow； and the fair days
afterwards！〃
Then I drank a great draught of the strong red wine； and passed it on；
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and every man said something over it； as 〃The road to London Bridge！〃
〃Hob Carter and his mate！〃 and so on； till last of all John Ball drank；
saying：
〃Ten years hence； and the freedom of the Fellowship！〃 Then he said
to Will Green： 〃Now； Will； must I needs depart to go and wake the dead；
both friend and foe in the church yonder； and whoso of you will be shriven
let him come to me thither in the morn； nor spare for as little after sunrise
as it may be。 And this our friend and brother from over the water of
Thames； he hath will to talk with me and I with him； so now will I take
him by the hand： and so God keep you； fellows！〃
I rose to meet him as he came round the head of the table； and took his
hand。 Will Green turned round to me and said：
〃Thou wilt come back again timely； old lad； for betimes on the morrow
must we rise if we shall dine at Rochester。〃
I stammered as I yea…said him； for John Ball was looking strangely at
me with a half…smile； and my heart beat anxiously and fearfully： but we
went quietly to the door and so out into the bright moonlight。
I lingered a little when we had passed the threshold； and looked back
at the yellow…lighted window and the shapes of the men that I saw therein
with a grief and longing that I could not give myself a reason for； since I
was to come back so soon。 John Ball did not press me to move forward；
but held up his hand as if to bid me hearken。 The folk and guests there
had already shaken themselves down since our departure； and were gotten
to be reasonably merry it seemed； for one of the guests； he who had
spoken of France before； had fallen to singing a ballad of the war to a wild
and melancholy tune。 I remember the first rhymes of it； which I heard as
I turned away my head and we moved on toward the church：
〃On a fair field of France We fought on a
morning So lovely as it lieth Along by the water。
There was many a lord there Mowed men in the medley；
'Midst the banners of the barons And bold men of the
knighthood； And spearmen and sergeants And
shooters of the shaft。〃
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CHAPTER IX
BETWIXT THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
We entered the church through the south porch under a round… arched
door carved very richly； and with a sculpture over the doorway and under
the arch； which； as far as I could see by the moonlight； figured St。 Michael
and the Dragon。 As I came into the rich gloom of the nave I noticed for
the first time that I had one of those white poppies in my hand； I must
have taken it out of the pot by the window as I passed out of Will Green's
house。
The nave was not very large； but it looked spacious too； it was
somewhat old； but well…built and handsome； the roof of curved wooden
rafters with great tie…beams going from wall to wall。 There was no light
in it but that of the moon streaming through the windows； which were by
no means large； and were glazed with white fretwork； with here and there
a little figure in very deep rich colours。 Two larger windows near the
east end of each aisle had just been made so that the ch