human
Good people, the letter began,
gpt
That's God's truth, God's truth!
human
May the fires of hell burn me if they'll not be saying next that they did come from Adam and Eve, but that we came from some baser stock,
gpt
I tell you, added another,
human
Dost hanker after hay?
gpt
Well, answered the other, abashed at the laugh that followed,
human
Ay! the cattle must have the fat of the land, but the men may go hungry,
gpt
We'll show them, we'll show them, cried an evil-looking fellow with a leer of hatred.
human
Their cattle cannot burn their palaces over their heads.
gpt
There'll be no liberty in this land until every palace lies smoking on the ground,
human
They won't be so glad of their fine wines when they see us pouring them down our throats,
gpt
Nor of their jewelled goblets when they see them at our lips,
human
Look, Adam Clymme, the man who speaks like that is a traitor to the Cause, and a worse traitor than any abbot or clerk.
gpt
What d'ye mean?
human
Just what I said. Our cause is just, we want to be free men, we want to live as decent men should; but that does not mean that we covet the rich man's jewels and wines. We will be looked upon as thieves and murderers, not honest men asking for our rights.
gpt
He's right, Ralph Rugge's right! Annys looked gratefully at Rugge, who continued warmly:
human
They'll be glad enough to call us thieves. We'll take their gold and jewels and fine linens and burn them in great bonfires all throughout the land to show we don't approve of such gewgaws. No one must say we are rising because we are greedy for these things for ourselves. I warn ye, wherever I am in command, I shall strike dead the first man that steals, if it be only so much as a bit of silver.
gpt
Good! Good! spoke up young Meryl with ringing voice.
human
For no cause was ever won by thieves and robbers; we be honest men who seek what is ours by right.
gpt
Ay! but it is by the sweat of our brows and the stoop of our backs that the rich have these things,
human
My friends, he said,
gpt
Ay, marry! we all know Will Langland.