William Morris

“ Speedily I had my fiddle in my hand, and fell to, and if I played not my best, I played at least something better than my worst. And when I had done, the Baron said: Friend, how many such tunes canst thou play? and canst thou sing aught? It would not be so easy to tell up the tunes I can play, lord, said I; and sing I can withal, after a fashion. Said the Baron to the man-at-arms: Bring thou this man to my lodging to-night some two hours before midnight, and he shall play and sing to us, and if we be not sleep-eager he shall tell us some old tale also; and I will reward him. ”

“ But whereas his dyke and the towers of earth and timber which he let build thereon were scarce manned so well as they should have been, because there was so much of them, the East Cheapers did not leave them wholly in quiet, but fell on oft and hard, and slew the Baron many men and did him much scathe. And men in the town were in good heart, and said one to the other, that if things went no worse than this they might hold out merrily till winter should break upon the leaguer. ”

“ But when I came forth with my friend from the lord's lodging that second night, and I the richer therefor, I did him to wit that the next morning early I should take my soles out of the leaguer and make for my own country, whatever might happen, so that no so many questions might be asked if I were missed on the morrow, as belike I was. Well, the end of this long story is, that a little before midnight I crept away and over the dyke and came to the postern and my friend, who let me into the town, and here I am safe and sound. ”