"Swine, fool, swine," said the herd; "every fool knows
that."

"And swine is good Saxon," said the Jester; "but how
call you the sow when she is flayed, and hung up by the heels?"

"Pork," answered the swine-herd.

"I am very glad every fool knows that, too," said Wamba,
"and pork, I think, is good Norman-French; and so when
the brute lives, and is in charge of a Saxon slave, she goes by
her Saxon name; but becomes a Norman, and is called pork,
when she is carried to the castle-hall to feast among the nobles
--what dost thou think of this, friend Gurth, ha?"

"It is but too true doctrine, friend Wamba."

"Nay, I can tell you more," said Wamba: "there is old
Alderman Ox continues to hold his Saxon epithet, while he is
under the charge of serfs and bondsmen such as thou, but
becomes Beef, a fiery French gallant, when he arrives before
the worshipful jaws that are destined to consume him. Myn-
heer ¹ Calf, too, becomes Monsieur le Veau ² in like manner; he
is Saxon when he requires tendance, and takes a Norman name
when he becomes matter of enjoyment."

"By St. Dunstan!" ³ answered Gurth, "thou speakest but
sad truths; little is left to us but the air we breathe. The
finest and the fattest is for their board; the best and bravest
supply their foreign masters with soldiers. God's blessing on
our master Cedric; he hath done the work of a man in stand-
ing in the gap; but Reginald Front-de-Bœuf ⁴ is coming down
to this country in person, and we shall soon see how little
Cedric's trouble will avail him."

" Gurth," said the Jester, "I know thou thinkest me a
fool, or thou wouldst not be so rash in putting thy head into
my mouth. One word to Reginald Front-de-Bœuf, or Philip
Malvoisin, ⁵ that thou hast spoken treason against the Nor-

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