“Yet there be them that say the hour is not far distant when the people shall rise and rule,” she persisted. “Wat Tyler ever threateneth the wrath of the people. He saith the land is full of villeins that have run from the manors, for that the Statute maketh them to labour for slave wage. He saith the people will make themselves free. John Ball goeth about to hearten men to rise against oppression.”
“In my vision I saw neither war nor the shedding of blood,” Langland answered.
“Oh, father!” she cried, and cast her arms about his neck, “art thou content to wait,—so idly?”
“Nay, I am not content,” he said; “I am not content.”
He kissed her and they were silent, thinking their several thoughts, until Calote said:—
“If the knight wed the peasant, and there come a child,—is that a knight or a peasant?”
“Most like the next of kin doth make a suitable complaining to the Pope, and so the child is a bastard.”
“Thou mockest me, father; I see thee smile,” she protested.
“Nay, 't is not thee I mock, my sweet,—not thee. But hark, Calote: this love of knights and damosels is not the one only love. Read thy Reason in the Romaunt,—and she shall tell thee of a love 'twixt man and man, woman and woman, that purifieth the soul and exalteth desire; nay, more: Reason shall tell thee of a love for all thy fellows that haply passeth in joy the love for one. The King's Son of Heaven,—He knew this love.”
“And thou,” whispered Calote.