BullTellethofHisWinningoftheLordshipofUtterbol“Whenthourannestawayfromme，andleftmealoneatGoldburg，Iwasgrieved；thenClementChapmanofferedtotakemebackwithhimtohisowncountry，which，hedidmetowit，liethhardbythine：
　　butIwouldnotgowithhim，sinceIhadaninklingthatI
　　shouldfindtheslayerofmybrotherandbeavengedonhim。
　　SotheChapmendepartedfromGoldbergafterthatClementhaddealtgenerouslybymeforthysake；andwhentheyweregoneIbethoughtmewhattodo，andthouknowestIcansomeskillwiththefiddleandsong，soIbetookmyselftothatcraft，bothtoearnsomewhatandthatImightgathertidingsandbelittleheeded，tillwithinawhilefolkgottoknowmewell，andwouldoftensendformetotheirmerry-makings，wheretheygavemefiddler’swages，towit，meat，drink，andmoney。
　　SowhatwithonethingwhatwithanotherIwasrichenoughtoleaveGoldburgandfalltomyjourneyuntoUtterbol；
　　sinceImisdoubtedmefromthefirstthatthecaytiffwhohadslainmybrotherwastheLordthereof。
　　“ButonedaywhenIwentintothemarket-placeIfoundagreatstirandclutterthere；somefolk，bothmenandwomenscreechingandfleeing，andsomerunningtobowsandotherweapons。
　　SoIcaughtholdofoneofthefleers，andaskedhimwhatwastoward；
　　andhecriedout，’Looseme！letmego！heisloose，heisloose！’
　　“’Whoisloose，fool？’quothI。’Thelion，’saidhe，andtherewithintheextremityofhisterrortorehimselfawayfrommeandfled。
　　Bythistimetheothersalsohadgotsomedistanceawayfromme，andIwasleftprettymuchalone。SoIwentforthonalittle，lookingaboutme，andsureenoughunderoneofthepillarsofthecloisterbeneaththemarket-housethegreatgreenpillar，ifthoumindestit，laycrouchedahugeyellowlion，onthecarcaseofagoat，whichhehadknockeddown，butwouldnotfalltoeatingofamidstallthatcryandhubbub。
　　“Nowbelikeonethingofmethouwottestnot，towit，thatI
　　haveagiftthatwildthingsloveandwilldomybidding。
　　Thehouse-micewillrunovermeasIlieawakelookingonthem；
　　thesmallbirdswillperchonmyshoulderswithoutfear；
　　thesquirrelsandhareswillgambolaboutquiteclosetomeasifIwerebutatree；and，withal，thefiercesthoundormastiffistamebeforeme。ThereforeIfearednotthislion，and，moreover，IlookedtoitthatifImighttamehimthoroughly，hewouldbothhelpmetoliveasajongleur，andwouldbeasurewardtome。
　　“SoIwalkeduptowardshimquietly，tillhesawmeandhalfroseupgrowling；butIwentonstill，andsaidtohiminapeaceablevoice：
　　’Hownow，yellowmane！whataileththee？downwiththee，andeatthymeat。’
　　Sohesatdowntohisquarryagain，butgrowledstill，andIwentupclosetohim，andsaidtohim：’Eatinpeaceandsafety，amInothere？’
　　AndtherewithIheldoutmybarehandunclenchedtohim，andhesmelttoit，andstraightwaybegantobepeaceable，andfelltotearingthegoat，anddevouringit，whileIstoodbyspeakingtohimfriendly。
　　“ButpresentlyIsawweaponsglitterontheothersideofthesquareplace，andmenwithbendedbows。Theyellowkingsawthemalso，androseupagainandstoodgrowling；thenIstrovetoquiethim，andsaid，’Theseshallnotharmthee。’
　　“Therewiththemencriedouttometocomeaway，fortheywouldshoot：
　　ButIcalledout；’Shootnotyet！buttellme，doesanymanownthisbeast？’
　　’Yea，’saidone，’Iownhim，andhappyamIthathedothnotownme。’
　　SaidI，’Wiltthousellhim？’’Yea’saidhe，’ifthoulivestanotherhourtotelldownthemoney。’SaidI，’Iamatamerofwildbeasts，andifthouwiltsellthisoneatsuchaprice，Iwillridtheeofhim。’
　　Themanyeasaidthis，butkeptwellaloofwithhisfellows，wholookedon，handlingtheirweapons。
　　“ThenIturnedtomynew-boughtthrallandbadehimcomewithme，andhefollowedmelikeadogtohiscage，whichwashardby；
　　andIshuthiminthere，andlaiddownthemoneytohisowner；
　　andfolkcameroundabout，andwondered，andpraisedme。
　　ButIsaid：’Mymasters，haveyenaughtofgiftsforthetamerofbeasts，andthedelivererofmen？’Thereattheylaughed：
　　buttheybroughtmemoneyandothergoods，tillIhadgottenfarmorethanIhadgivenforthelion。
　　“HowbeitthenextdaytheofficersofthePortecameandbademeavoidthetownofGoldburg，butgavememoremoneywithal。
　　Iwasnotloththereto，butdeparted，ridingalittlehorsethatIhad，andleadingmylionbyachain，thoughwhenI
　　wasbyheneededlittlechaining。
　　“SothatwithoutmoreadoItooktheroadtoUtterbol，andwheresoeverIcame，IhadwhatwastobehadthatIwould；
　　neitherdidanymanfallonme，oronmylion。Forthoughtheymighthaveshothimorslainhimwithmanyspear-thrusts，yetbesidesthattheyfearedhimsorely，theyfearedmestillmore；
　　deemingmesomemightysendingfromtheirGods。
　　“ThuscameItoUtterness，andfounditpoorandwretched，asforsooth，ityetis，butshallnotbesoforlong。ButtheHouseofUtterbolisexceedingfairandstatelyasthoumightesthavelearnedfromothers，mymaster，anditsgardens，andorchards，andacres，andmeadowsasgoodlyasmaybe。
　　Yea，averyparadise；yetthedwellersthereinasifitwerehell，asIsawopenlywithmineowneyes。
　　“Tobeshort，thefameofmeandmybeasthadsomehowgonebeforeme，andwhenIcametotheHouse，Iwasdealtwithfairly，andhadgoodentertainment：
　　andthisallthemore，astheLordwasawayforawhile，andthelifeoffolknotsohardbyagreatwayasithadbeenifhehadbeenthere：
　　buttheLadywasthereinthehouse，andonthemorrowofmycomingbyhercommand，Ibroughtmylionbeforeherwindowandmadehimcomeandgo，andfetchandcarryatmybidding，andwhenIhaddonemyplayshebademeupintoherbower，andbademesitandhadmeservedwithwine，whilesheaskedmemanyquestionsastomycountryandfriends，andwhenceandwhitherIwas；
　　andIansweredherwiththeverysooth，sofarasthesoothwashandy；
　　andtherewaswithherbutoneofherwomen，eventhyfriendAgatha，fairsir。
　　“MethoughtboththatthisQueenwasafairwoman，andthatshelookedkindlyuponme，andatlastshesaid，sighing，thatshewerewellateaseifherbaronwereevensuchamanasI，whereasthesaidLordwasfierceandcruel，andyetadastardwithal。ButthesaidAgathaturnedonher，andchidedher，asonemightwithachild，andsaid：
　　’Holdthypeaceofthylovesandthyhatesbeforeaverystranger！
　　OrmustIleaveyetmoreofmybloodonthepavementoftheWhitePillar，forthepleasureofthyloosetongue？Comeoutnow，mountain-carle！’
　　“Andshetookmebythehandandledmeout，andwhenwehadpassedthedooranditwasshut，sheturnedtomeandsaid：
　　’Thou，ifIhearanywordabroadofwhatmyLadyhasjustspoken，Ishallknowthatthouhasttoldit，andthoughIbebutathrall，yea，andoflateamishandledone，yetamIofmightenoughinUtterboltocompassthydestruction。’
　　“Ilaughedinherfaceandwentmyways：andthereafterIsawmanyfolkandshowedthemmybeast，andsoonlearnedtwothingsclearly。
　　“AndfirstthattheLordandtheLadywerenowutterlyatvariance。
　　Foralittlebeforehehadcomehome，andfoundalackinhishousehold——
　　towit，howacertainfairwomanwhomhehadbutjustgotholdof，andwhomhelustedaftersorely，wasfledaway。AndhelaidthewytethereofonhisLady，andthreatenedherwithdeath：
　　andwhenheconsideredthathedurstnotslayher，ortormentherforhewasverilybutadastard，hemadethyfriendAgathapayforherunderpretenceofwringingatruetaleoutofher。
　　“NowwhenIheardthisstoryIsaidtomyselfthatIshouldhearthatotheroneoftheslayingofmybrother，andevensoitbefell。
　　ForIcameacrossamanwhotoldmewhenandhowtheLordcamebythesaiddamselwhomIknewatoncecouldbenoneotherthanthou，Lady，andhowhehadslainmybrothertogether，evenasdoubtlessthouknowest，LordRalph。
　　“ButthesecondthingwhichIlearnedwasthatallfolkatUtterbol，menandwomen，dreadedthehome-comingofthistyrant；
　　andthattherewasnomanbutwouldhavedeemeditagooddeedtoslayhim。But，dastardashewas，useandwont，andthefearthatwithholdethrebels，andthedoubtthatdrawethbackslaves，savedhim；andtheydreadedhimmoreoverasadevilratherthanaman。
　　Forsoothoneofthementhere，wholookeduponmefriendly，whohadhadtidingsofthisevilbeastdrawingnear，spaketomeawordofwarning，andsaid：’Friendlion-master，takeheedtothyself！
　　ForIfearfortheewhentheLordcomethhomeandfindeththeehere；
　　lestheletpoisonthylionandslaytheemiserablyafterward。’
　　“Well，inthreedaysfromthatwordhomecomeththeLordwitharoutofhisspearmen，andsomedozenofcaptives，whomhehadtaken。
　　Andthemorrowofhiscoming，he，havingheardofme，sentandbademeshowingthewonderoftheManandtheLion；thereforeinthebrightmorningIplayedwiththelionunderhiswindowasIhaddonebytheQueen。
　　AndafterIhadplayedsomewhile，andhelookingoutofthewindow，hecalledtomeandsaid：’Canstthoulullthyliontosleep，sothatthoumaystleavehimforalittle？ForIwouldfainhavetheeuphere。’
　　“Iyeasaidthat，andchidthebeast，andthensangtohimtillhelaydownandsleptlikeahoundwearywithhunting。
　　AndthenIwentupintotheLord’schamber；andasithapped，allthewhileofmyplayingIhadhadmyshort-swordnakedinmyhand，andthus，Ideemwithoutnotingit，yetasweirdwould，Icamebeforethetyrant，wherehesatwithnoneanighhimsavethisOtterandanotherman-at-arms。ButwhenIsawhim，allthebloodwithinmethatwascomeofonemotherwithmybrother’sbloodstirredwithinme，andIsetmyfootonthefoot-paceofthismurderer’schair，andhoveupmyshort-sword，andclavehisskull，infrontandwithmineownhand：
　　notashewrought，notashewroughtwithmybrother。
　　“ThenIturnedabouttoOtterwhohadhisswordinhisfistwhenitwastoolatetillheshouldspeak。HahOtter，whatdidstthousay？”
　　Otterlaughed：Quothhe，“Isaid：thusendeththeworstmanintheworld。
　　Welldone，lion-tamer！thouartnoillguest，andhastpaidonthenailformeat，drinkandlodging。Butwhatshallwedonow？
　　Thenthousaidst；’Well，Isupposethouwiltbeforslayingme。’
　　’Nay，’saidI，’Wewillnotslaythee；atleastnotforthis，nornow，norwithoutterms。’Thousaidst：’Perchancethenthouwiltletmegofree，sincethismanwasill-beloved：yea，andheowedmealife。’
　　’Nay，nay，’saidI，’notsofast，goodbeast-lord。’’Whynot？’
　　saidstthou，’Icanseeoftheethatthouartavaliantman，andwhereasthouhastbeencaptainofthehost，andthemen-at-armswilllightlydothybidding，whyshouldestthounotsitintheplaceofthisman，andbeLordofUtterbol？’
　　“’Naynay，’saidI，’itwillnotdo，hearkenthourather：
　　ForhereIgivetheethechoiceoftwothings，eitherthatthoubeLordofUtterbol，orthatweslaytheehereandnow。
　　Forwebetwomenall-armed。’
　　“Thoudidstseemtoponderitawhile，andthensaidstatlast：
　　’Well，Isetnotoutonthisjourneywithanysuch-likeintent；
　　yetwillInotwrestlewithweird。OnlyIforewarntheethatI
　　shallchangethedaysofUtterbol。’
　　“’Itwillnotbefortheworstthen，’quothI。’Sonowgowakeupthylion，andleadhimawaytohisden：andwewillpresentlysendhimthiscarrionforarewardofhisjonglery。’
　　’Gramercy，butcher，’saidstthou，’Iamnotforthyflesh-meatto-day。Iwasforewarnedthatthepoorbeastshouldbepoisonedatthisman’shome-coming，andsowillhebeifheeatofthisdastard；hewillnotoutlivesuchadinner。’
　　Thereatwealllaughedheartily。”
　　“Yea。”saidBull，“SoIwenttoleadawaythelionwhenthouhadstbiddenmereturninanhours’wearing，whenallshouldbereadyformyLordship。
　　Andthouwertnotworsethanthyword，forwhenIcameintothatcourtagain，therewereallthemen-at-armsassembled，andthefreecarles，andthethralls；andthemen-at-armsraisedmeonashield，setacrownedhelmonmyhead，andthrustagreatswordintomyhand，andhailedmebythenameoftheBullofUtterbol，LordoftheWasteandtheWildwood，andtheMountain-side：andthenthou，Otter，wertsosimpleastokneelbeforemeandnamethyselfmyman，andtakethegirdingonofswordatmyhand。