human
Thy fairy elves who thee mislead with stories Into the mire, then at thy folly smile, Yea, clap their hands for joy. Were I used so; I should shake hands with them, and turn their foe. Old country folks, who pixie leading fear, Bear bread about them to prevent that harm!
gpt
Come, tell us, grandsire, said Anne,
human
Gad-a-mercy, lass, I had almost forgotten all about it, said the old host, who indeed had most likely dreamt the adventure one night in his cups, and then related it till he himself believed it was a fact.
gpt
Why, you see, when I was a yonker, there were terrible deeds done in England. We didn't live then so peaceable-like, as we do now, under our blessed Queen Elizabeth. A man's life in those days warn't thought o' so much value as in ourn; by the same token, stabbing, smashing, hanging, and heading, and all sorts of wild work, were the order of the day,--more the pity. We hadn't then either such goodly dwellings, at least so many on 'em. Men were men then, and hadn't such luxuries as now. Ugh-ugh, Gad-a-mercy! I have seen the time when we used to sleep o' nights in the open fields as comfortably as under a roof. Nay, we hadn't such beds either then. A shake-down of the fern, or a clean bed of straw, with a log of wood for the head, was enow for most folks. I struck a good strike for Harry at Bosworth Field what time old Shakespeare----
human
Well, well, interrupted John Hathaway,
gpt
Bosworth bye and bye. The fairy story now, father.
human
Nay, I war only going to say that yonder lad's grandfather (old Shakespeare of Stratford) could have borne me out, had he been alive, since he war at the battle of Bosworth too. Both he and I were together, jammed in amongst the spearmen, when King Richard pressed up on his white horse, and nearly struck young Richmond down. Mass, he were a fierce devil that day, and raged like a fiend. Richmond, I remember, bore back, as well as he might, an Richard had not been beaten off by the good knights around, the hot king had fairly brained him. Two I saw him fell with my own eyes ere he was forced away. Ah, he were a goodly sight to look on that day; and if deeds of daring and good soldiership could ha gotten the day, Richard had had it. He wore his crown upon his helmet, I remember, and (albins men liked him not) by my fay, he looked a king. No man that lived and beheld him but saw that.
gpt
But the fairies, grandsire, the fairies?
human
Well, well; bide a bit. Where war I? Ah, I see. I had a mad horse in Shottery--what time I came back from Leicestershire--and I would fain have sold him; so I e'en rode him along with some other youngsters to Kenilworth Green, where there war a wake holden underneath the abbey walls. Folks spoke darkly of old Kenilworth then. Now I'm told there be rare new buildings reared up there.
gpt
There are, said Ralph Coulter.
human
A fine new castle hath been built by the Earl, glorious to look on, and called Leicester's Buildings, and ornamented, that it would do you good to look on 'em.
gpt
Ah, said the elder Hathaway,
human
Strange, said several of the listeners.
gpt
Was it not?
human
As soon as I had a little recovered myself, continued the quaint old man,
gpt
I hastened on to Monkspath, and sought my relation. He took me to an old monk belonging to the abbey beside the castle, to whom I told the story, and asked his advice about the money, and whether I might use it. The monk gave me leave to use one-half the money, provided I gave him t' other half; 'for,' said he, 'as you in no way circumvented or endeavoured to cheat the buyer, be he witch, devil, or fairy, you are fully entitled to what you asked. The other fifteen pieces,' said he, 'I will lay up in store for the use of our abbey.' On this assurance I was well satisfied, so I hastened to get out the purse the little gentleman had given me; but the worst of it all was that no purse could I find; my pocket was empty, my purse gone, and the monk rated at me for a knave, whilst my relation laughed at me for a fool.
human
He, he, he--ugh--O dear--O dear!
gpt
And the horse, said Anne--
human
The horse--oh, ah, true enough--the horse. Why I found him, on my return home here, grazing quietly in the orchard, with his saddle turned under his belly, and covered with mud and mire, as if he had been drawn through all the mosses and sloughs between this and Coventry.
gpt
And you was not at all flustered that night? said Shakespeare.
human
Pardon the question, But I thought the little man in green might have treated you to an extra cup.
gpt
Body o' me,--what I drunk! Not a whit. I had had just enough to make me all right. I'd a drunk about as much that night as I have to-night, or perhaps a quart more.
human
And who do you then suppose the buyer was?
gpt
Who? said the old host,
human
True, said Shakespeare, laughing;
gpt
A song, a song, said Dick, the shepherd.
human
Let fair Mistress Anne sing the song about Robin.