BullTellethofHisWinningoftheLordshipofUtterbol“Whenthourannestawayfromme，andleftmealoneatGoldburg，Iwasgrieved；thenClementChapmanofferedtotakemebackwithhimtohisowncountry，which，hedidmetowit，liethhardbythine：
butIwouldnotgowithhim，sinceIhadaninklingthatI
shouldfindtheslayerofmybrotherandbeavengedonhim。
SotheChapmendepartedfromGoldbergafterthatClementhaddealtgenerouslybymeforthysake；andwhentheyweregoneIbethoughtmewhattodo，andthouknowestIcansomeskillwiththefiddleandsong，soIbetookmyselftothatcraft，bothtoearnsomewhatandthatImightgathertidingsandbelittleheeded，tillwithinawhilefolkgottoknowmewell，andwouldoftensendformetotheirmerry-makings，wheretheygavemefiddler’swages，towit，meat，drink，andmoney。
SowhatwithonethingwhatwithanotherIwasrichenoughtoleaveGoldburgandfalltomyjourneyuntoUtterbol；
sinceImisdoubtedmefromthefirstthatthecaytiffwhohadslainmybrotherwastheLordthereof。
“ButonedaywhenIwentintothemarket-placeIfoundagreatstirandclutterthere；somefolk，bothmenandwomenscreechingandfleeing，andsomerunningtobowsandotherweapons。
SoIcaughtholdofoneofthefleers，andaskedhimwhatwastoward；
andhecriedout，’Looseme！letmego！heisloose，heisloose！’
“’Whoisloose，fool？’quothI。’Thelion，’saidhe，andtherewithintheextremityofhisterrortorehimselfawayfrommeandfled。
Bythistimetheothersalsohadgotsomedistanceawayfromme，andIwasleftprettymuchalone。SoIwentforthonalittle，lookingaboutme，andsureenoughunderoneofthepillarsofthecloisterbeneaththemarket-housethegreatgreenpillar，ifthoumindestit，laycrouchedahugeyellowlion，onthecarcaseofagoat，whichhehadknockeddown，butwouldnotfalltoeatingofamidstallthatcryandhubbub。
“Nowbelikeonethingofmethouwottestnot，towit，thatI
haveagiftthatwildthingsloveandwilldomybidding。
Thehouse-micewillrunovermeasIlieawakelookingonthem；
thesmallbirdswillperchonmyshoulderswithoutfear；
thesquirrelsandhareswillgambolaboutquiteclosetomeasifIwerebutatree；and，withal，thefiercesthoundormastiffistamebeforeme。ThereforeIfearednotthislion，and，moreover，IlookedtoitthatifImighttamehimthoroughly，hewouldbothhelpmetoliveasajongleur，andwouldbeasurewardtome。
“SoIwalkeduptowardshimquietly，tillhesawmeandhalfroseupgrowling；butIwentonstill，andsaidtohiminapeaceablevoice：
’Hownow，yellowmane！whataileththee？downwiththee，andeatthymeat。’
Sohesatdowntohisquarryagain，butgrowledstill，andIwentupclosetohim，andsaidtohim：’Eatinpeaceandsafety，amInothere？’
AndtherewithIheldoutmybarehandunclenchedtohim，andhesmelttoit，andstraightwaybegantobepeaceable，andfelltotearingthegoat，anddevouringit，whileIstoodbyspeakingtohimfriendly。
“ButpresentlyIsawweaponsglitterontheothersideofthesquareplace，andmenwithbendedbows。Theyellowkingsawthemalso，androseupagainandstoodgrowling；thenIstrovetoquiethim，andsaid，’Theseshallnotharmthee。’
“Therewiththemencriedouttometocomeaway，fortheywouldshoot：
ButIcalledout；’Shootnotyet！buttellme，doesanymanownthisbeast？’
’Yea，’saidone，’Iownhim，andhappyamIthathedothnotownme。’
SaidI，’Wiltthousellhim？’’Yea’saidhe，’ifthoulivestanotherhourtotelldownthemoney。’SaidI，’Iamatamerofwildbeasts，andifthouwiltsellthisoneatsuchaprice，Iwillridtheeofhim。’
Themanyeasaidthis，butkeptwellaloofwithhisfellows，wholookedon，handlingtheirweapons。
“ThenIturnedtomynew-boughtthrallandbadehimcomewithme，andhefollowedmelikeadogtohiscage，whichwashardby；
andIshuthiminthere，andlaiddownthemoneytohisowner；
andfolkcameroundabout，andwondered，andpraisedme。
ButIsaid：’Mymasters，haveyenaughtofgiftsforthetamerofbeasts，andthedelivererofmen？’Thereattheylaughed：
buttheybroughtmemoneyandothergoods，tillIhadgottenfarmorethanIhadgivenforthelion。
“HowbeitthenextdaytheofficersofthePortecameandbademeavoidthetownofGoldburg，butgavememoremoneywithal。
Iwasnotloththereto，butdeparted，ridingalittlehorsethatIhad，andleadingmylionbyachain，thoughwhenI
wasbyheneededlittlechaining。
“SothatwithoutmoreadoItooktheroadtoUtterbol，andwheresoeverIcame，IhadwhatwastobehadthatIwould；
neitherdidanymanfallonme，oronmylion。Forthoughtheymighthaveshothimorslainhimwithmanyspear-thrusts，yetbesidesthattheyfearedhimsorely，theyfearedmestillmore；
deemingmesomemightysendingfromtheirGods。
“ThuscameItoUtterness，andfounditpoorandwretched，asforsooth，ityetis，butshallnotbesoforlong。ButtheHouseofUtterbolisexceedingfairandstatelyasthoumightesthavelearnedfromothers，mymaster，anditsgardens，andorchards，andacres，andmeadowsasgoodlyasmaybe。
Yea，averyparadise；yetthedwellersthereinasifitwerehell，asIsawopenlywithmineowneyes。
“Tobeshort，thefameofmeandmybeasthadsomehowgonebeforeme，andwhenIcametotheHouse，Iwasdealtwithfairly，andhadgoodentertainment：
andthisallthemore，astheLordwasawayforawhile，andthelifeoffolknotsohardbyagreatwayasithadbeenifhehadbeenthere：
buttheLadywasthereinthehouse，andonthemorrowofmycomingbyhercommand，Ibroughtmylionbeforeherwindowandmadehimcomeandgo，andfetchandcarryatmybidding，andwhenIhaddonemyplayshebademeupintoherbower，andbademesitandhadmeservedwithwine，whilesheaskedmemanyquestionsastomycountryandfriends，andwhenceandwhitherIwas；
andIansweredherwiththeverysooth，sofarasthesoothwashandy；
andtherewaswithherbutoneofherwomen，eventhyfriendAgatha，fairsir。
“MethoughtboththatthisQueenwasafairwoman，andthatshelookedkindlyuponme，andatlastshesaid，sighing，thatshewerewellateaseifherbaronwereevensuchamanasI，whereasthesaidLordwasfierceandcruel，andyetadastardwithal。ButthesaidAgathaturnedonher，andchidedher，asonemightwithachild，andsaid：
’Holdthypeaceofthylovesandthyhatesbeforeaverystranger！
OrmustIleaveyetmoreofmybloodonthepavementoftheWhitePillar，forthepleasureofthyloosetongue？Comeoutnow，mountain-carle！’
“Andshetookmebythehandandledmeout，andwhenwehadpassedthedooranditwasshut，sheturnedtomeandsaid：
’Thou，ifIhearanywordabroadofwhatmyLadyhasjustspoken，Ishallknowthatthouhasttoldit，andthoughIbebutathrall，yea，andoflateamishandledone，yetamIofmightenoughinUtterboltocompassthydestruction。’
“Ilaughedinherfaceandwentmyways：andthereafterIsawmanyfolkandshowedthemmybeast，andsoonlearnedtwothingsclearly。
“AndfirstthattheLordandtheLadywerenowutterlyatvariance。
Foralittlebeforehehadcomehome，andfoundalackinhishousehold——
towit，howacertainfairwomanwhomhehadbutjustgotholdof，andwhomhelustedaftersorely，wasfledaway。AndhelaidthewytethereofonhisLady，andthreatenedherwithdeath：
andwhenheconsideredthathedurstnotslayher，ortormentherforhewasverilybutadastard，hemadethyfriendAgathapayforherunderpretenceofwringingatruetaleoutofher。
“NowwhenIheardthisstoryIsaidtomyselfthatIshouldhearthatotheroneoftheslayingofmybrother，andevensoitbefell。
ForIcameacrossamanwhotoldmewhenandhowtheLordcamebythesaiddamselwhomIknewatoncecouldbenoneotherthanthou，Lady，andhowhehadslainmybrothertogether，evenasdoubtlessthouknowest，LordRalph。
“ButthesecondthingwhichIlearnedwasthatallfolkatUtterbol，menandwomen，dreadedthehome-comingofthistyrant；
andthattherewasnomanbutwouldhavedeemeditagooddeedtoslayhim。But，dastardashewas，useandwont，andthefearthatwithholdethrebels，andthedoubtthatdrawethbackslaves，savedhim；andtheydreadedhimmoreoverasadevilratherthanaman。
Forsoothoneofthementhere，wholookeduponmefriendly，whohadhadtidingsofthisevilbeastdrawingnear，spaketomeawordofwarning，andsaid：’Friendlion-master，takeheedtothyself！
ForIfearfortheewhentheLordcomethhomeandfindeththeehere；
lestheletpoisonthylionandslaytheemiserablyafterward。’
“Well，inthreedaysfromthatwordhomecomeththeLordwitharoutofhisspearmen，andsomedozenofcaptives，whomhehadtaken。
Andthemorrowofhiscoming，he，havingheardofme，sentandbademeshowingthewonderoftheManandtheLion；thereforeinthebrightmorningIplayedwiththelionunderhiswindowasIhaddonebytheQueen。
AndafterIhadplayedsomewhile，andhelookingoutofthewindow，hecalledtomeandsaid：’Canstthoulullthyliontosleep，sothatthoumaystleavehimforalittle？ForIwouldfainhavetheeuphere。’
“Iyeasaidthat，andchidthebeast，andthensangtohimtillhelaydownandsleptlikeahoundwearywithhunting。
AndthenIwentupintotheLord’schamber；andasithapped，allthewhileofmyplayingIhadhadmyshort-swordnakedinmyhand，andthus，Ideemwithoutnotingit，yetasweirdwould，Icamebeforethetyrant，wherehesatwithnoneanighhimsavethisOtterandanotherman-at-arms。ButwhenIsawhim，allthebloodwithinmethatwascomeofonemotherwithmybrother’sbloodstirredwithinme，andIsetmyfootonthefoot-paceofthismurderer’schair，andhoveupmyshort-sword，andclavehisskull，infrontandwithmineownhand：
notashewrought，notashewroughtwithmybrother。
“ThenIturnedabouttoOtterwhohadhisswordinhisfistwhenitwastoolatetillheshouldspeak。HahOtter，whatdidstthousay？”
Otterlaughed：Quothhe，“Isaid：thusendeththeworstmanintheworld。
Welldone，lion-tamer！thouartnoillguest，andhastpaidonthenailformeat，drinkandlodging。Butwhatshallwedonow？
Thenthousaidst；’Well，Isupposethouwiltbeforslayingme。’
’Nay，’saidI，’Wewillnotslaythee；atleastnotforthis，nornow，norwithoutterms。’Thousaidst：’Perchancethenthouwiltletmegofree，sincethismanwasill-beloved：yea，andheowedmealife。’
’Nay，nay，’saidI，’notsofast，goodbeast-lord。’’Whynot？’
saidstthou，’Icanseeoftheethatthouartavaliantman，andwhereasthouhastbeencaptainofthehost，andthemen-at-armswilllightlydothybidding，whyshouldestthounotsitintheplaceofthisman，andbeLordofUtterbol？’
“’Naynay，’saidI，’itwillnotdo，hearkenthourather：
ForhereIgivetheethechoiceoftwothings，eitherthatthoubeLordofUtterbol，orthatweslaytheehereandnow。
Forwebetwomenall-armed。’
“Thoudidstseemtoponderitawhile，andthensaidstatlast：
’Well，Isetnotoutonthisjourneywithanysuch-likeintent；
yetwillInotwrestlewithweird。OnlyIforewarntheethatI
shallchangethedaysofUtterbol。’
“’Itwillnotbefortheworstthen，’quothI。’Sonowgowakeupthylion，andleadhimawaytohisden：andwewillpresentlysendhimthiscarrionforarewardofhisjonglery。’
’Gramercy，butcher，’saidstthou，’Iamnotforthyflesh-meatto-day。Iwasforewarnedthatthepoorbeastshouldbepoisonedatthisman’shome-coming，andsowillhebeifheeatofthisdastard；hewillnotoutlivesuchadinner。’
Thereatwealllaughedheartily。”
“Yea。”saidBull，“SoIwenttoleadawaythelionwhenthouhadstbiddenmereturninanhours’wearing，whenallshouldbereadyformyLordship。
Andthouwertnotworsethanthyword，forwhenIcameintothatcourtagain，therewereallthemen-at-armsassembled，andthefreecarles，andthethralls；andthemen-at-armsraisedmeonashield，setacrownedhelmonmyhead，andthrustagreatswordintomyhand，andhailedmebythenameoftheBullofUtterbol，LordoftheWasteandtheWildwood，andtheMountain-side：andthenthou，Otter，wertsosimpleastokneelbeforemeandnamethyselfmyman，andtakethegirdingonofswordatmyhand。