William Morris

“ My friend, quoth Hardcastle, by the title that lieth yonder I have gotten thy wealth, and every jot of it might I keep if I would. But see how kind I am to thee and thine. For have I not told you that ye shall live in this house, and eat the sweet and drink the strong and lie warm a-nights, so long as ye do my will. Yea, said the goodman, but we must needs toil as thralls. Great fool, said Hardcastle, what matters that to thee? It is like thou shalt work no harder than erst, or no harder than may be enough to keep me as thy guest. ”

“ Awhile agone thou didst threaten to slay me with the help of yonder squinting loon, but now thou standest unarmed before me, and I have thy sword under my hand. Hast thou no fear of what I may do to thee, since so it is that forebodings weigh on mine heart? Nay, I am not afraid, said Osberne; thou mayest be a bad man, yet not so bad as that. ”

“ Quoth Hardcastle: I begin to see how it will go with thee, great lout, that in the first days of my mastership thine hide shall pay for thy folly. Stephen squinted none the less, but his whittle was yet in his belt. Now Hardcastle went on speaking to Osberne, and said: Well now, I will tell thee the way out of this thraldom, as thou wilt call it; and the more to thee, bairn, because thou wilt become my man and wilt be bold and deft, I doubt not; therefore thou shouldst learn early the fashions of great and bold men. ”