Which, as we said before, was spoken by all common people, except the Norman soldiers. Gurth, with the help of his dog, was trying to gather his swine together, but could not

•Stand up, Wamba, if you are a man*, he said, • and help me, or wolves on two legs will catch some of them before night*.

•Really*, said Wamba without standing up, «I have asked my legs, and they think that it is not good for me to run about and cover my wonderful clothes with dust. That's why, Gurth, I advise you to leave the herd alone: because if they meet a group of travelling soldiers, or of outlaws, the only thing that can happen to them is that they will be turned into Normans before morning*.

•The swine will be turned into Normans!* repeated Gurth..Explain that to me, Wamba, I don't understand you*.

•Why, what do you call these animals which are run­ ning about on-their four legs?* asked Wamba.

•Swine, fool, swine*, said the herd,.every fool knows that*..And swine is a good Anglo-Saxon word*, said the jester; •but what do you call the swine when it is, killed and washed and cut into pieces and cooked?*.Pork*, answered the swineherd.

*I am very glad every fool knows that too*, said Wamba,.and pork, I think, is a Norman-French word. And so, when this animal lives, and a Saxon slave takes care of it, it goes by its Anglo-Saxon name; but when it is carried to the dinner-table in the castle, it becomes a Norman and is called pork, what do you think of this, friend Gurth, ha?».It is true, friend Wamba. How did it get into your fool's head?* Л can tell you more*, said Wamba in the same tone; •the old Ox goes by its Anglo-

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Английский язык

Saxon name while serfs like you take care of it; but becomes a Norman and is called Beef when it arrives at table*.

.You speak sad truths*, answered Gurth..Little is left to us, except the air which we breathe. All that is best goes to the Normans* our bravest men become their soldiers and go to die in distant lands; very few remain here who have either the will or the power to protect the poor Saxons. God bless our Master Cedric; he always stands by us. Here, here! Well done!* he exclaimed, as his dog appeared driving the swine before it..You have gathered all of them now! Now, quick, Wamba, because a terrible storm of thunder and lightning is coming. Let's hurry home before the storm begins, because the night will be terrible*.

And they walked quickly down the, forest path, driv­ ing the swine before them.

II

Gurth and Wamba were soon overtaken by a group of ten horsemen, two of which seemed to be important per­ sons, and the others their servants,

One of the important persons was a monk of high rank dressed in rich clothes. His companion was a man over forty, thin, strong and tall, with a very suhburnt face. He had a long red cloak over his shoulders, with a white cross on it. Under it he was wearing a chain.

In the first of the two horsemen Gurth and Wamba recognized Prior Ayrner, of the nearest Abbey, a rich Norman, well-known in the neighborhood. But they did not know his companion and were'surprised that he looked half a monk, half a soldier.

.My children*, said the Prior to Gurth and Wamba,

We are looking for a place where we and our servants 310

Приложение 2

could spend the night. Can you show us the way to the house of Cedric the Saxon?*

«It will be difficult to find the road*, said Gurth,

.and the family of Cedric go to bed early*.

.You must tell us the way*, said the Prior..This reverend brother is of the order of Knights Templars; he is half a monk, half a soldier. He has been all his life fighting with the Saracens. It will soon be night, and we are tired and hungry*.

.Well, then*, said Wamba,.you must ride along this path till you come to a cross; four paths, meet at that cross; you take the path to the left, and I think you will reach the house of Cedric of Rotherwood before the storm begins*.

The Prior thanked him, and the group rode quickly on. When they disappeared, Gurth said to Wamba,.If they go as you have told them, I think they will not reach Rotherwood this night*. «I think not*, said Wamba smiling,.and it will be good*..You are right*, said Gurth. *It will be bad enough if Prior Ayrner sees the Lady Ro-wena, and it will be worse if Cedric quarrels with this military monk*.

Ill

As the horsemen were moving on, they talked in Nor­ man-French, the language used by the upper classes.

.What do you call the man to whose house we are riding?* said the Templar to his companion.

.Cedric of Rotherwood*, answered the Prior,.and remember: he is very proud. He stands up for his Sax­ ons' so sternly, that he is called by everybody Cedric the Saxon*.

•This Lady Rowena, his daughter, is very beautiful, I think?* said the Templar.

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