ThecurseofStWitholdupontheseinfernalporkers！’’saidtheswine-herd，afterblowinghishornobstreperously，tocollecttogetherthescatteredherdofswine，which，answeringhiscallwithnotesequallymelodious，made，however，nohastetoremovethemselvesfromtheluxuriousbanquetofbeech-mastandacornsonwhichtheyhadfattened，ortoforsakethemarshybanksoftherivulet，whereseveralofthem，halfplungedinmud，laystretchedattheirease，altogetherregardlessofthevoiceoftheirkeeper。``ThecurseofStWitholduponthemanduponme！’’saidGurth；``ifthetwo-leggedwolfsnapnotupsomeofthemerenightfall，Iamnotrueman。Here，Fangs！Fangs！’’heejaculatedatthetopofhisvoicetoaraggedwolfish-lookingdog，asortoflurcher，halfmastiff，halfgreyhound，whichranlimpingaboutasifwiththepurposeofsecondinghismasterincollectingtherefractorygrunters；butwhich，infact，frommisapprehensionoftheswine-herd’ssignals，ignoranceofhisownduty，ormaliceprepense，onlydrovethemhitherandthither，andincreasedtheevilwhichheseemedtodesigntoremedy。``Adevildrawtheteethofhim，’’saidGurth，``andthemotherofmischiefconfoundtheRangeroftheforest，thatcutstheforeclawsoffourdogs，andmakesthemunfitfortheirtrade！*Wamba，upandhelpmeanthou*NoteA。TheRangeroftheForest，thatcutsthefore-claws*offourdogs。
beestaman；takeaturnroundthebacko’thehilltogainthewindonthem；andwhenthous’tgottheweather-gage，thoumaystdrivethembeforetheeasgentlyassomanyinnocentlambs。’’
``Truly，’’saidWamba，withoutstirringfromthespot，``Ihaveconsultedmylegsuponthismatter，andtheyarealtogetherofopinion，thattocarrymygaygarmentsthroughthesesloughs，wouldbeanactofunfriendshiptomysovereignpersonandroyalwardrobe；wherefore，Gurth，IadvisetheetocalloffFangs，andleavetheherdtotheirdestiny，which，whethertheymeetwithbandsoftravellingsoldiers，orofoutlaws，orofwanderingpilgrims，canbelittleelsethantobeconvertedintoNormansbeforemorning，tothynosmalleaseandcomfort。’’
``TheswineturnedNormanstomycomfort！’’
quothGurth；``expoundthattome，Wamba，formybrainistoodull，andmymindtoovexed，toreadriddles。’’
``Why，howcallyouthosegruntingbrutesrunningaboutontheirfourlegs?’’demandedWamba。
``Swine，fool，swine，’’saidtheherd，``everyfoolknowsthat。’’
``AndswineisgoodSaxon，’’saidtheJester；
``buthowcallyouthesowwhensheisflayed，anddrawn，andquartered，andhungupbytheheels，likeatraitor?’’
``Pork，’’answeredtheswine-herd。
``Iamverygladeveryfoolknowsthattoo，’’saidWamba，``andpork，Ithink，isgoodNorman-French；
andsowhenthebrutelives，andisinthechargeofaSaxonslave，shegoesbyherSaxonname；
butbecomesaNorman，andiscalledpork，whensheiscarriedtotheCastle-halltofeastamongthenobleswhatdostthouthinkofthis，friendGurth，ha?’’
``Itisbuttootruedoctrine，friendWamba，howeveritgotintothyfool’spate。’’
``Nay，Icantellyoumore，’’saidWamba，inthesametone；``thereisoldAldermanOxcontinuestoholdhisSaxonepithet，whileheisunderthechargeofserfsandbondsmensuchasthou，butbecomesBeef，afieryFrenchgallant，whenhearrivesbeforetheworshipfuljawsthataredestinedtoconsumehim。MynheerCalf，too，becomesMonsieurdeVeauinthelikemanner；heisSaxonwhenherequirestendance，andtakesaNormannamewhenhebecomesmatterofenjoyment。’’
``ByStDunstan，’’answeredGurth，``thouspeakestbutsadtruths；littleislefttousbuttheairwebreathe，andthatappearstohavebeenreservedwithmuchhesitation，solelyforthepurposeofenablingustoendurethetaskstheylayuponourshoulders。Thefinestandthefattestisfortheirboard；theloveliestisfortheircouch；thebestandbravestsupplytheirforeignmasterswithsoldiers，andwhitendistantlandswiththeirbones，leavingfewherewhohaveeitherwillorthepowertoprotecttheunfortunateSaxon。God’sblessingonourmasterCedric，hehathdonetheworkofamaninstandinginthegap；butReginaldFront-de-Bufiscomingdowntothiscountryinperson，andweshallsoonseehowlittleCedric’stroublewillavailhim——Here，here，’’heexclaimedagain，raisinghisvoice，``Soho！soho！welldone，Fangs！
thouhastthemallbeforetheenow，andbring’stthemonbravely，lad。’’
``Gurth，’’saidtheJester，``Iknowthouthinkestmeafool，orthouwouldstnotbesorashinputtingthyheadintomymouth。OnewordtoReginaldFront-de-Buf，orPhilipdeMalvoisin，thatthouhastspokentreasonagainsttheNorman，——andthouartbutacast-awayswineherd，——thouwouldstwaverononeofthesetreesasaterrortoallevilspeakersagainstdignities。’’
``Dog，thouwouldstnotbetrayme，’’saidGurth，``afterhavingledmeontospeaksomuchatdisadvantage?’’
``Betraythee！’’answeredtheJester；``no，thatwerethetrickofawiseman；afoolcannothalfsowellhelphimself——butsoft，whomhavewehere?’’
hesaid，listeningtothetramplingofseveralhorseswhichbecamethenaudible。
``Nevermindwhom，’’answeredGurth，whohadnowgothisherdbeforehim，and，withtheaidofFangs，wasdrivingthemdownoneofthelongdimvistaswhichwehaveendeavouredtodescribe。
``Nay，butImustseetheriders，’’answeredWamba；``perhapstheyarecomefromFairy-landwithamessagefromKingOberon。’’
``Amurraintakethee，’’rejoinedtheswine-herd；
``wiltthoutalkofsuchthings，whileaterriblestormofthunderandlightningisragingwithinafewmilesofus?Hark，howthethunderrumbles！
andforsummerrain，Ineversawsuchbroaddownrightflatdropsfalloutoftheclouds；theoaks，too，notwithstandingthecalmweather，sobandcreakwiththeirgreatboughsasifannouncingatempest。
Thoucanstplaytherationalifthouwilt；creditmeforonce，andletushomeerethestormbeginstorage，forthenightwillbefearful。’’
Wambaseemedtofeeltheforceofthisappeal，andaccompaniedhiscompanion，whobeganhisjourneyaftercatchingupalongquarter-staffwhichlayuponthegrassbesidehim。ThissecondEumusstrodehastilydowntheforestglade，drivingbeforehim，withtheassistanceofFangs，thewholeherdofhisinharmoniouscharge。
CHAPTERII
AMonktherewas，afayreforthemaistrie，Anoutriderthatlovedvenerie；
Amanlyman，tobeanAbbotable，Fullmanyadaintiehorsehadheinstable：
Andwhanherode，menmighthisbridlehearGingelinginawhistlingwindasclear，Andekeasloud，asdoththechapellbell，Thereasthislordwaskeeperofthecell。
Chaucer。
Notwithstandingtheoccasionalexhortationandchidingofhiscompanion，thenoiseofthehorsemen’sfeetcontinuingtoapproach，Wambacouldnotbepreventedfromlingeringoccasionallyontheroad，uponeverypretencewhichoccurred；
nowcatchingfromthehazelaclusterofhalf-ripenuts，andnowturninghisheadtoleerafteracottagemaidenwhocrossedtheirpath。Thehorsemen，therefore，soonovertookthemontheroad。
Theirnumbersamountedtotenmen，ofwhomthetwowhorodeforemostseemedtobepersonsofconsiderableimportance，andtheotherstheirattendants。Itwasnotdifficulttoascertaintheconditionandcharacterofoneofthesepersonages。
Hewasobviouslyanecclesiasticofhighrank；hisdresswasthatofaCistercianMonk，butcomposedofmaterialsmuchfinerthanthosewhichtheruleofthatorderadmitted。HismantleandhoodwereofthebestFlanderscloth，andfellinample，andnotungracefulfolds，aroundahandsome，thoughsomewhatcorpulentperson。Hiscountenanceboreaslittlethemarksofself-denial，ashishabitindicatedcontemptofworldlysplendour。Hisfeaturesmighthavebeencalledgood，hadtherenotlurkedunderthepent-houseofhiseye，thatslyepicureantwinklewhichindicatesthecautiousvoluptuary。
Inotherrespects，hisprofessionandsituationhadtaughthimareadycommandoverhiscountenance，whichhecouldcontractatpleasureintosolemnity，althoughitsnaturalexpressionwasthatofgood-humouredsocialindulgence。Indefianceofconventualrules，andtheedictsofpopesandcouncils，thesleevesofthisdignitarywerelinedandturnedupwithrichfurs，hismantlesecuredatthethroatwithagoldenclasp，andthewholedresspropertohisorderasmuchrefineduponandornamented，asthatofaquakerbeautyofthepresentday，who，whilesheretainsthegarbandcostumeofhersectcontinuestogivetoitssimplicity，bythechoiceofmaterialsandthemodeofdisposingthem，acertainairofcoquettishattraction，savouringbuttoomuchofthevanitiesoftheworld。
Thisworthychurchmanrodeuponawell-fedamblingmule，whosefurniturewashighlydecorated，andwhosebridle，accordingtothefashionoftheday，wasornamentedwithsilverbells。Inhisseathehadnothingoftheawkwardnessoftheconvent，butdisplayedtheeasyandhabitualgraceofawell-trainedhorseman。Indeed，itseemedthatsohumbleaconveyanceasamule，inhowevergoodcase，andhoweverwellbrokentoapleasantandaccommodatingamble，wasonlyusedbythegallantmonkfortravellingontheroad。Alaybrother，oneofthosewhofollowedinthetrain，had，forhisuseonotheroccasions，oneofthemosthandsomeSpanishjennetseverbredatAndalusia，whichmerchantsusedatthattimetoimport，withgreattroubleandrisk，fortheuseofpersonsofwealthanddistinction。Thesaddleandhousingsofthissuperbpalfreywerecoveredbyalongfoot-cloth，whichreachednearlytotheground，andonwhichwererichlyembroidered，mitres，crosses，andotherecclesiasticalemblems。Anotherlaybrotherledasumptermule，loadedprobablywithhissuperior’sbaggage；andtwomonksofhisownorder，ofinferiorstation，rodetogetherintherear，laughingandconversingwitheachother，withouttakingmuchnoticeoftheothermembersofthecavalcade。