"My grandfather, I fought against it as long as I could, as thou knowest; I would have died, and did brave the torture, rather than consent to become a page of the Lord of Wallingford; and when I did so become to save thy life, I felt bound in honour to be faithful, and so to the best of my power I have been."
"And now thou lovest the yoke, and wouldst not return?"
Again the youth coloured.
"Grandfather, I cannot help it—excitement, adventure, the glory of victory, the joy even of combat, has that attraction for me of which our bards have sung, in the old songs of the English Chronicles which you taught me around the hearth."
"The lion's cub is a lion still; let him but taste blood, and the true nature comes out."
"Better be a lion than a deer—better eat than be eaten, grandfather."
"I know not," said the old man pensively, "but, my child, never draw thy sword to oppress thy poor countrymen, unless thou wouldst have thy father curse thee."
"He is not dead then?"
"I said not so."
"Why not tell me whether my father lives?"