"Ah," muttered Roger, "he grieveth yet for Beda the Jester--and he but a Fool!"
"Yet a man-like fool, methinks!" quoth the archer. "But for our tall brother now, he is changed these latter days: he groweth harsh, methinks, and something ungentle at times." And Giles thoughtfully touched his arm with tentative fingers.
"Why, the torment is apt to change a man," said Walkyn, grim-smiling. "I have tried it and I know."
Now hereupon Giles fell to whistling, Walkyn to silence and Roger to scowling; oft looking back, jealous-eyed, to where Beltane rode a black war-horse, his mail-coif thrown back, his chin upon his breast, his eyes gloomy and wistful; and as often as he looked, Roger sighed amain. Whereat at last the archer cried: "Good lack, Roger, and wherefore puff ye so? Why glower ye, man, and snort?"
"Snort thyself!" growled Roger.
"Nay, I had rather talk."
"I had rather be silent."
"Excellent, Roger; so will I talk for thee and me. First will I show three excellent reasons for happiness--videlicit: the birds sing, I talk, and Garthlaxton burns.--"
"I would thou did'st burn with it," growled Roger. "But here is a deed shall live when thou and I are dust, archer!"
"Verily, good Roger, for here and now will I make a song on't for souls unborn to sing--a good song with a lilt to trip it lightly on the tongue, as thus: "How Beltane burned Garthlaxton low With lusty Giles, whose good yew bow Sped many a caitiff rogue, I trow, Dixit!"
"How!" exclaimed Roger, "here be two whole lines to thy knavish self and but one to our master?"
"Aye," grumbled Walkyn, "and what of Roger?--what of me?--we were there also, methinks?"
"Nay, show patience," said Giles, "we will amend that in the next triplet, thus: "There Roger fought, and Walkyn too, And Giles that bare the bow of yew; O swift and strong his arrows flew, Dixit!"
"How think ye of that, now?"
"I think, here is too much Giles," said Roger.
"Forsooth, and say ye so indeed? Let us then to another verse: "Walkyn a mighty axe did sway, Black Roger's sword some few did slay, Yet Giles slew many more than they, Dixit!"
"Here now, we have each one his line apiece, which is fair--and the lines trip it commendingly, how think ye?"
"I think it a lie!" growled Roger.
"Aye me!" sighed the archer, "thou'rt fasting, Rogerkin, and an empty belly ever giveth thee an ill tongue. Yet for thy behoof my song shall be ended, thus: "They gave Garthlaxton to the flame, Be glory to Duke Beltane's name, And unto lusty Giles the same, Dixit!"