H. C. Bailey

“ The fool is the older friend."
"And the old friend is jealous of the new?" Henry flung an arm about him. "Bran, Bran, you are a child."
"Nenny, brother. Bran fears naught nor needs aught." He touched the King's hand.
"What then? The man is a true man."
"Yea, yea. The man is true and the man is wise. But the violent man shall not live out half his days."
"Violent? God's body, he is the courtliest of us all. What, man, has he been harsh with my fool?"
"Na, na. He is blithe to Bran, he is good. But he is a hard man, Henry."
The King laughed loud. "Fear not, brother. I am hard enough." ”

“ There is the King's part, Solomon: give the folk peace to suck their bones." He started up. "Yet there is some sooth in you. The land must have a master. Go, find him, Solomon." He flung out his hand to the Queen. "Come with us, my fool," he called over his shoulder.
"Oh Henry, my brother," Bran groaned at them, "is this your peace?"
When they came to his room of audience the King thrust a kiss on her and cried: "Good dreams, Eleanor," and fell into a chair and drew parchments to him.
She stood over him. "Let the fool be gone, Henry." ”

“ Three things, yea, and four, Solomon, he had found that his wisdom might not know, and a fifth there is which is darker yet: the way of an eagle in the air, the way of a ship in the sea, the way of a serpent on the ground, and the way of a man with a maid. ”