"
John Ball laughed aloud, and said: "Well, I perceive we are not yet
out of the land of riddles. The man may well do what thou sayest and
live, but he may not do it and live a free man."
"Thou sayest sooth," said I.
CHAPTER XI
HARD IT IS FOR THE OLD WORLD TO
SEE THE NEW
He held his peace awhile, and then he said: "But no man selleth
himself and his children into thraldom uncompelled; nor is any fool so
great a fool as willingly to take the name of freeman and the life of
a thrall as payment for the very life of a freeman. Now would I ask
thee somewhat else; and I am the readier to do so since I perceive
that thou art a wondrous seer; for surely no man could of his own wit
have imagined a tale of such follies as thou hast told me. Now well I
wot that men having once shaken themselves clear of the burden of
villeinage, as thou sayest we shall do (and I bless thee for the
word), shall never bow down to this worser tyranny without sore strife
in the world; and surely so sore shall it be, before our valiant sons
give way, that maids and little lads shall take the sword and the
spear, and in many a field men's blood and not water shall turn the
gristmills of England.
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