Did you not spy a crooked man upon the
beach?"
"Nay, I spied nothing," grumbled Sir Oliver, "for I was hurried
down with a clam stuck in my gizzard and an untasted goblet of
Cyprus on the board behind me."
"I saw him, my fair lord," said Terlake, "an old man with one
shoulder higher than the other."
"'Tis a sign of good fortune," quoth Sir Nigel. "Our path was
also crossed by a woman and by a priest, so all should be well
with us. What say you, Edricson?"
"I cannot tell, my fair lord. The Romans of old were a very wise
people, yet, certes, they placed their faith in such matters.
So, too, did the Greeks, and divers other ancient peoples who
were famed for their learning. Yet of the moderns there are many
who scoff at all omens."
"There can be no manner of doubt about it," said Sir Oliver
Buttesthorn, "I can well remember that in Navarre one day it
thundered on the left out of a cloudless sky. We knew that ill
would come of it, nor had we long to wait. Only thirteen days
after, a haunch of prime venison was carried from my very tent
door by the wolves, and on the same day two flasks of old vernage
turned sour and muddy.
Pages:
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313