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knights have come to see what work a man may do without dying： if we
are to have yet more days added to our year's tale of lords' labour； then are
we lost without remedy。〃 And their hearts sank within them。
So sped the work； and the sun rose yet higher in the heavens； and it
was noon and more。 And now there was no more laughter among those
toiling lords； and the strokes of the hoe and mattock came far slower；
while the dung…bearer sat down at the bottom of the hill and looked out on
the river； but the King yet worked on doggedly； so for shame the other
lords yet kept at it。 Till at last the next man to the King let his hoe drop
with a clatter； and swore a great oath。 Now he was a strong black…
bearded man in the prime of life； a valiant captain of that famous Black
Band that had so often rent the Turkish array； and the King loved him for
his sturdy valour； so he says to him； 〃Is aught wrong； Captain？〃
〃Nay； lord；〃 says he； 〃ask the headman carle yonder what ails us。〃
〃Headman；〃 says the King； 〃what ails these strong knights？ Have I
ordered them wrongly？〃
〃Nay； but shirking ails them； lord；〃 says he； 〃for they are weary； and
no wonder； for they have been playing hard； and are of gentle blood。〃
〃Is that so； lord；〃 says the King； 〃that ye are weary already？〃
Then the rest hung their heads and said nought； all save that captain of
war； and he said； being a bold man and no liar： 〃King； I see what thou
wouldst be at； thou hast brought us here to preach us a sermon from that
Plato of thine； and to say sooth； so that I may swink no more； and go eat
my dinner； now preach thy worst！ Nay； if thou wilt be priest I will be thy
deacon。 Wilt thou that I ask this labouring carle a thing or two？〃
〃Yea；〃 said the King。 And there came； as it were； a cloud of thought
over his face。
Then the captain straddled his legs and looked big； and said to the
carle： 〃Good fellow； how long have we been working here？〃
〃Two hours or thereabout； judging by the sun above us；〃 says he。
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〃And how much of thy work have we done in that while？〃 says the
captain； and winks his eye at him withal。
〃Lord；〃 says the carle； grinning a little despite himself； 〃be not wroth
with my word。 In the first half…hour ye did five…and… forty minutes' work
of ours； and in the next half…hour scant a thirty minutes' work； and the
third half…hour a fifteen minutes' work； and in the fourth half…hour two
minutes' work。〃 The grin now had faded from his face； but a gleam came
into his eyes as he said： 〃And now； as I suppose； your day's work is done；
and ye will go to your dinner； and eat the sweet and drink the strong； and
we shall eat a little rye…bread； and then be working here till after the sun
has set and the moon has begun to cast shadows。 Now for you； I wot not
how ye shall sleep nor where； nor what white body ye shall hold in your
arms while the night flits and the stars shine； but for us； while the stars yet
shine； shall we be at it again； and bethink ye for what！ I know not what
game and play ye shall be devising for to…morrow as ye ride back home；
but for us when we come back here to…morrow； it shall be as if there had
been no yesterday and nothing done therein； and that work of that to…day
shall be nought to us also； for we shall win no respite from our toil thereby；
and the morrow of to…morrow will all be to begin again once more； and so
on and on till no to…morrow abideth us。 Therefore； if ye are thinking to
lay some new tax or tale upon us； think twice of it； for we may not bear it。
And all this I say with the less fear； because I perceive this man here
beside me； in the black velvet jerkin and the gold chain on his neck； is the
King； nor do I think he will slay me for my word since he hath so many a
Turk before him and his mighty sword！〃
Then said the captain： 〃Shall I smite the man； O King？ or hath he
preached thy sermon for thee？〃
〃Smite not； for he hath preached it；〃 said the King。 〃Hearken to the
carle's sermon； lords and councillors of mine！ Yet when another hath
spoken our thought； other thoughts are born therefrom； and now have I
another sermon to preach； but I will refrain me as now。 Let us down and
to our dinner。〃
So they went； the King and his gentles； and sat down by the river
under the rustle of the poplars； and they ate and drank and were merry。
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And the King bade bear up the broken meats to the vine… dressers； and a
good draught of the archer's wine； and to the headman he gave a broad
gold piece； and to each man three silver pennies。 But when the poor folk
had all that under their hands； it was to them as though the kingdom of
heaven had come down to earth。
In the cool of the evening home rode the King and his lords。 The
King was distraught and silent； but at last the captain； who rode beside
him； said to him： 〃Preach me now thine after…sermon； O King！〃
〃I think thou knowest it already；〃 said the King； 〃else hadst thou not
spoken in such wise to the carle； but tell me what is thy craft and the craft
of all these； whereby ye live； as the potter by making pots； and so forth？〃
Said the captain： 〃As the potter lives by making pots； so we live by
robbing the poor。〃
Again said the King： 〃And my trade？〃
Said he； 〃Thy trade is to be a king of such thieves； yet no worser than
the rest。〃
The King laughed。
〃Bear that in mind；〃 said he； 〃and then shall I tell thee my thought
while yonder carle spake。 ‘Carle；' I thought； ‘were I thou or such as thou；
then would I take in my hand a sword or a spear； or were it only a hedge…
stake； and bid others do the like； and forth would we go； and since we
would be so many； and with nought to lose save a miserable life； we would
do battle and prevail； and make an end of the craft of kings and of lords
and of usurers； and there should be but one craft in the world； to wit； to
work merrily for ourselves and to live merrily thereby。'〃
Said the captain： 〃This then is thy sermon。 Who will heed it if thou
preach it？〃
Said the King： 〃They who will take the mad king and put him in a
king's madhouse； therefore do I forbear to preach it。 Yet it SHALL be
preached。〃
〃And not heeded；〃 said the captain； 〃save by those who head and hang
the setters forth of new things that are good for the world。
Our trade is safe for many an many a generation。〃
And therewith they came to the King's palace； and they ate and drank
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and slept and the world went on its ways。
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