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looking like the open country； and dirty as the river was； and harsh as was
the January wind； they seemed to woo me toward the country…side； where
away from the miseries of the 〃Great Wen〃 I might of my own will carry
on a daydream of the friends I had made in the dream of the night and
against my will。
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But as I turned away shivering and downhearted； on a sudden came the
frightful noise of the 〃hooters；〃 one after the other； that call the workmen
to the factories； this one the after…breakfast one； more by token。 So I
grinned surlily； and dressed and got ready for my day's 〃work〃 as I call it；
but which many a man besides John Ruskin （though not many in his
position） would call 〃play。〃
A KING'S LESSON
It is told of Matthias Corvinus； king of Hungarythe Alfred the Great
of his time and peoplethat he once heard （once ONLY？） that some （only
SOME； my lad？） of his peasants were over… worked and under…fed。 So
he sent for his Council； and bade come thereto also some of the mayors of
the good towns； and some of the lords of land and their bailiffs； and asked
them of the truth thereof； and in diverse ways they all told one and the
same tale； how the peasant carles were stout and well able to work and had
enough and to spare of meat and drink； seeing that they were but churls；
and how if they worked not at the least as hard as they did； it would be ill
for them and ill for their lords； for that the more the churl hath the more he
asketh； and that when he knoweth wealth； he knoweth the lack of it also；
as it fared with our first parents in the Garden of God。 The King sat and
said but little while they spake； but he misdoubted them that they were
liars。 So the Council brake up with nothing done； but the King took the
matter to heart； being； as kings go； a just man； besides being more valiant
than they mostly were； even in the old feudal time。 So within two or
three days； says the tale； he called together such lords and councillors as
he deemed fittest； and bade busk them for a ride； and when they were
ready he and they set out； over rough and smooth； decked out in all the
glory of attire which was the wont of those days。 Thus they rode till they
came to some village or thorpe of the peasant folk； and through it to the
vineyards where men were working on the sunny southern slopes that
went up from the river： my tale does not say whether that were Theiss； or
Donau； or what river。 Well； I judge it was late spring or early summer；
and the vines but just beginning to show their grapes； for the vintage is
late in those lands； and some of the grapes are not gathered till the first
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frosts have touched them； whereby the wine made from them is the
stronger and sweeter。 Anyhow there were the peasants； men and women；
boys and young maidens； toiling and swinking； some hoeing between the
vine…rows； some bearing baskets of dung up the steep slopes； some in one
way； some in another； labouring for the fruit they should never eat； and the
wine they should never drink。 Thereto turned the King and got off his
horse and began to climb up the stony ridges of the vineyard； and his lords
in like manner followed him； wondering in their hearts what was toward；
but to the one who was following next after him he turned about and said
with a smile； 〃Yea； lords； this is a new game we are playing to… day； and a
new knowledge will come from it。〃 And the lord smiled； but somewhat
sourly。
As for the peasants； great was their fear of those gay and golden lords。
I judge that they did not know the King； since it was little likely that any
one of them had seen his face； and they knew of him but as the Great
Father； the mighty warrior who kept the Turk from harrying their thorpe。
Though； forsooth； little matter was it to any man there whether Turk or
Magyar was their over…lord； since to one master or another they had to pay
the due tale of labouring days in the year； and hard was the livelihood that
they earned for themselves on the days when they worked for themselves
and their wives and children。
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
horsesthey 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
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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。 But do thou stand by me and set me right if I
order them wrong： but the rest of you go play！〃
The carle knew not what to think； and let the King stand with his hand
stretched out； while he looked askance at his own lord and baron； who
wagged his head at him grimly as one who says； 〃Do it； dog！〃
Then the carle lets the hoe come into the King's hand； and the King
falls to； and orders his lords for vine…dressing； to each his due share of the
work： and whiles the carle said yea and whiles nay to his ordering。 And
then ye should have seen velvet cloaks cast off； and mantles of fine
Flemish scarlet go to the dusty earth； as the lords and knights busked them
to the work。
So they buckled to； and to most of them it seemed good game to play
at vine…dressing。 But one there was who； when his scarlet cloak was off；
stood up in a doublet of glorious Persian web of gold and silk； such as men
make not now； worth a hundred florins the Bremen ell。 Unto him the
King with no smile on his face gave the job of toing and froing up and
down the hill with the biggest and the frailest dung…basket that there was；
and thereat the silken lord screwed up a grin； that was sport to see； and all
the lords laughed； and as he turned away he said； yet so that none heard
him； 〃Do I serve this son's son of a whore that he should bid me carry
dung？〃 For you must know that the King's father； John Hunyad； one of
the great warriors of the world； the Hammer of the Turks； was not gotten
in wedlock； though he were a king's son。
Well； they sped the work bravely for a while； and loud was the
laughter as the hoes smote the earth and the flint stones tinkled and the
cloud of dust rose up； the brocaded dung…bearer went up and down；
cursing and swearing by the White God and the Black； and one would say
to another； 〃See ye how gentle blood outgoes churls' blood； even when the
gentle does the churl's work： these lazy loons smote but one stroke to our
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three。〃 But the King； who worked no worse than any； laughed not at all；
and meanwhile the poor folk stood by； not daring to speak a word one to
the other； for they were still sore afraid； not now of being slain on the spot；
but this rather was in their hearts： 〃These great and strong lords and
knights have come to see what work a