Well, belike they knew not the King; but amidst those rich lords they
saw and knew their own lord, and of him they were sore afraid. But
nought it availed them to flee away from those strong men and strong
horses--they who had been toiling from before the rising of the sun,
and now it wanted little more than an hour of noon: besides, with the
King and lords was a guard of crossbowmen, who were left the other
side of the vineyard wall,--keen-eyed Italians of the mountains,
straight shooters of the bolt. So the poor folk fled not; nay they
made as if all this were none of their business, and went on with
their work. For indeed each man said to himself, "If I be the one
that is not slain, to-morrow I shall lack bread if I do not work my
hardest to-day; and maybe I shall be headman if some of these be slain
and I live."
Now comes the King amongst them and says: "Good fellows, which of you
is the headman?"
Spake a man, sturdy and sunburnt, well on in years and grizzled: "I am
the headman, lord."
"Give me thy hoe, then," says the King; "for now shall I order this
matter myself, since these lords desire a new game, and are fain to
work under me at vine-dressing.
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