Ralph Talks With Bull Shockhead
When they rode on again, Ralph rode beside Bull, who was merry and
blithe now he was full of meat and drink; and he spake anon: "So thou
art a king's son, master? I deemed from the first that thou wert of
lineage. For as for these churls of chapmen, and the sworders whom
they wage, they know not the name of their mother's mother, nor have
heard one word of the beginner of their kindred; and their deeds are
like unto their kinlessness."
"And are thy deeds so good?" said Ralph. "Are they ill," said Bull,
"when they are done against the foemen?" Said Ralph: "And are all men
your foemen who pass through these mountains?" "All," said Bull, "but
they be of the kindred or their known friends."
"Well, Bull," said Ralph, "I like thy deeds little, that thou shouldest
ravish men and women from their good life, and sell them for a price
into toil and weariness and stripes."
Said Bull: "How much worse do we than the chapmen by his debtor, and
the lord of the manor by his villein?" Said Ralph: "Far worse, if ye
did but know it, poor men!" Quoth Bull: "But I neither know it, nor
can know it, nay, not when thou sayest it; for it is not so. And look
you, master, this life of a bought thrall is not such an exceeding evil
life; for oft they be dealt with softly and friendly, and have other
thralls to work for them under their whips."
Ralph laughed: "Which shall I make thee, friend Bull, the upper or the
under?" Bull reddened, but said naught. Said Ralph: "Or where shall I
sell thee, that I may make the best penny out of my good luck and
valiancy?" Bull looked chopfallen: "Nay," said he in a wheedling
voice, "thou wilt not sell me, thou? For I deem that thou wilt be a
good master to me: and," he broke into sudden heat hereat, "if I have
another master I shall surely slay him whate'er betide."
Ralph laughed again, and said: "Seest thou what an evil craft ye
follow, when thou deemest it better to be slain with bitter torments
(as thou shouldest be if thou slewest thy master) than to be sold to
any master save one exceeding good?"
Bull held his peace hereat, but presently he said: "Well, be our craft
good or evil, it is gainful; and whiles there is prey taken right good,
which, for my part, I would not sell, once I had my hand thereon."
"Yea, women?" said Ralph. "Even so," said Bull, "such an one was taken
by my kinsman Bull Nosy but a little while agone, whom he took down to
the market at Cheaping Knowe, as I had not done if I had once my arms
about her. For she was as fair as a flower; and yet so well built,
that she could bear as much as a strong man in some ways; and, saith
Nosy, when she was taken, there was no weeping or screeching in her,
but patience rather and quietness, and intent to bear all and
live....Master, may I ask thee a question?" "Ask on," said Ralph.
Said Bull: "The pair of beads about thy neck, whence came they?" "They
were the gift of a dear friend," said Ralph. "A woman?" quoth Bull.
"Yea," said Ralph.
"Now is this strange," said Bull, "and I wot not what it may betoken,
but this same woman had about her neck a pair of beads as like to thine
as if they had been the very same: did this woman give thee the beads?
For I will say this of thee, master, that thou art well nigh as likely
a man as she is a woman."
Ralph sighed, for this talk of the woman and the beads brought all the
story into his mind, so that it was as if he saw it adoing again: the
Lady of the Wildwood led along to death before he delivered her, and
their flight together from the Water of the Oak, and that murder of her
in the desert. And betwixt the diverse deeds of the day this had of
late become somewhat dim to him. Yet after his grief came joy that
this man also had seen the damsel, whom his dream of the night had
called Dorothea, and that he knew of her captors; wherefore by his
means he might come on her and deliver her.
Now he spake aloud: "Nay, it was not she that gave them to me, but yet
were I fain to find this woman that thou sawest; for I look to meet a
friend whenas I meet her. So tell me, dost thou think that I may
cheapen her of thy kinsman?"
Bull shook his head, and said: "It may be: or it may be that he hath
already sold her to one who heedeth not treasure so much as fair flesh;
and fair is hers beyond most. But, lord, I will do my best to find her
for thee; as thou art a king's son and no ill master, I deem."
"Do that," quoth Ralph, "and I in turn will do what more I may for thee
besides making thee free." And therewith he rode forward that he might
get out of earshot, for Bull's tongue seemed like to be long. And
presently he heard laughter behind him, as the carle began jesting and
talking with the chapman lads.