eaming hair and rent
raiment, bearing their babes in their bosoms. These with tears and
shrill lamentations fell at Arthur's knees right humbly, weeping,
clamouring, and imploring his grace. "Sire, gentle king, have mercy
and pity," cried these lamentable women, "on this wasted land, and on
those wretched men who are dying of hunger and misery. If thou hast no
bowels of pity for the fathers, look, sire, and behold these babes
and these mothers; regard their sons and their daughters, and all
the distressful folk thou art bringing down to death. Give again the
fathers to the little children, restore to the ladies their husbands,
and to this sad company of damsels return their brothers and their
lords. Have we not paid enough by reason of the Saxon passing this
way? It was not for our pleasure they sojourned awhile in the land. We
went the more heavily for their presence, for much pain and sorrow we
suffered because of the heathen, and passing weary were we of their
speech. If we sheltered them in our houses, the greater sorrow is
ours, since we have endured the more at their hands. Our beasts they
have slain and eaten; and for our goods, these they have taken, and
sent the gear into their own realm. There was none to help us, nor
was any man so strong as to deliver us from their power. Sire, if we
prepared them a feast, it was because we feared to drink their wine
cup to the dregs. Might was theirs, and we were as the captive who
sees no succour on the road. These Saxons were pagan men. Thy servants
are Christians. Therefore the heathen oppressed us the more mightily,
and laid the heavier burdens upon us. But great as was the mischief
these Saxons wrought us, thou hast done us the sorer harm. Theirs
were the whips, but thine are the stinging scorpions. It should prove
little honour to the Christian king that he slay by hunger amongst
these rocks those folk who cry his pardon for their trespass. We die,
sire, of famine and of all misease. Nothing is left us save cold and
wretchedness. Thou hast overcome us, every one; destroy us not from
the land, but suffer us to live of thy bounty. Grant that we and all
our race--so it be thy pleasure--may find peace in the king's service.
Have mercy on thy poor Christians. We hold the faith that you, too,
count dear. How foully then should Christianity be wronged, if you
destroy the whole realm. Alas, has not mischief enough been wrought
already!" Arthur was tender of heart and marvellou