“Who is to choose,” said his antagonist, “between the folly that is seen on the face and the folly which is spoken from the tongue?”
“Thirdly, thou art foolish in thy designs.”
“By Saint Swithin,” cried the respondent, “thou hast the better of me there, for designs formest thou none.”
“Fourthly, thou art a fool by thine occupation!”
“There thou hast spoken well,” said the page; “I am serving-man to Sir Reginald d’Arennes.”
“Finally, Robin,” said Reginald, relapsing into taciturnity, “thou knowest that thou art a fool positive![Pg 107]”
“Thou hast the better of me again, Reginald,” said the complaisant lackey, “for thou art greatly a fool, and surpassingly a fool—but never a positive one.”
Reginald did not hear the import of his follower’s reply; or at least made no answer to it. They proceeded for some minutes in silence, at a brisk pace, when Reginald suddenly stopped, and exclaimed, “We have wandered from our track!”
“Not a whit, not a whit,” replied his companion, “do not I know the turnings and the windings of the way? Is it not the fourth time that I have journeyed with thee on this path? Firstly, when thou didst do penance at the Abbey of Brixhelm; secondly, when thou didst pillage the fat friar of Torney Low; thirdly, when thou wert, at thine own pleasure, a suitor to the miller’s daughter of Nesselray; fourthly, when thou art, at thy father’s pleasure, a suitor to the thane’s daughter of Kennet Hold. Truly the fool’s counsel is nought; but I hold the pillage more profitable than the penance, and the miller a cheaper bargain than the thane. Trust me, if there be in the hall of the Saxon another giant such as he that escaped from us even now, there will be stronger trust in the speed of black Launcelot than in the plating of thy Milan corselet.”
“He was, indeed.” said Reginald, “firm of sinew and large of bone; he was, withal, free in his deportment, and ruled that sorrel courser full knightly; and, as thou sayest, Robin, he bore in his hand a battle-axe, against which ribs of steel were but weak protection.”