"J.R.R. Tolkien - Farmer Giles of Ham" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tolkien J.R.R)

together (including Garin, who felt that he was concerned),
Augustus Bonifacius rex et basileus was graciously pleased to
address them.
He explained carefully that the wealth of the miscreant
Chrysophylax all belonged to himself as lord of the land.
He passed rather lightly over his claim to be considered
suzerain of the mountain-country (which was debatable);
but `we make no doubt in any case,' said he, `that all -the
treasure of this worm was stolen from our ancestors. Yet
we are, as all know, both just and generous, and our good
liege Ngidius shall be suitably rewarded; nor shall any of
our loyal subjects in this place go without some token of our
esteem, from the parson to the youngest child. For we are
well pleased with Ham. Here at least a sturdy and un-
corrupted folk still retain the ancient courage of our race.'
The knights were talking among themselves about the new
fashion in hats.
The people bowed and curtsied, and thanked him hum-
bly. But they wished now that they had closed with the
dragon's offer of ten pounds all round, and kept the matter
private. They knew enough, at any rate, to feel sure that
the King's esteem would not rise to that. Gum noticed
that there was no mention of dogs. Farmer Giles was the
only one of them who was really content. He felt sure of
some reward, and was mighty glad anyway to have come
safely out of a nasty business with his local reputation
higher than ever.

The King did not go away. He pitched his pavilions in
Farmer Giles's field, and waited for January the fourteenth,
making as merry as he could in a miserable village far from
the capital. The royal retinue ate up nearly all the bread,
butter, eggs, chickens, bacon and mutton, and drank up
every drop of old ale there was in the place in the next
three days. Then they began to grumble at short commons.

But the King paid handsomely for everything (in tallies to
be honoured later by the Exchequer, which he hoped
would shortly be richly replenished); so the folk of Ham
were well satisfied, not knowing the actual state of the
Exchequer.

January the fourteenth came, the feast of Hilarius and of
Felix, and everybody was up and about early. The knights
put on their armour. The farmer put on his coat of home-
made mail, and they smiled openly, until they caught the
King's frown. The farmer also put on Tailbiter, and it
went into its sheath as easy as butter, and stayed there.
The parson looked hard at the sword, and nodded to him-
self. The blacksmith laughed.