第 三十三 章 · CONCERNING THE FASHION OF KING-MAKING IN STARK-WALL

. CONCERNING THE FASHION OF KING-MAKING IN STARK-WALL

Meanwhile the King spake to the elder, and said: "Now tell me whereof I

am become king, and what is the fashion and cause of the king-making; for

wondrous it is to me, whereas I am but an alien amidst of mighty men."

"Lord," said the old man, "thou art become king of a mighty city, which

hath under it many other cities and wide lands, and havens by the sea-

side, and which lacketh no wealth which men desire. Many wise men dwell

therein, and of fools not more than in other lands. A valiant host shall

follow thee to battle when needs must thou wend afield; an host not to be

withstood, save by the ancient God-folk, if any of them were left upon

the earth, as belike none are. And as to the name of our said city, it

hight the City of the Stark-wall, or more shortly, Stark-wall. Now as to

the fashion of our king-making: If our king dieth and leaveth an heir

male, begotten of his body, then is he king after him; but if he die and

leave no heir, then send we out a great lord, with knights and sergeants,

to that pass of the mountain whereto ye came yesterday; and the first man

that cometh unto them, they take and lead to the city, as they did with

thee, lord. For we believe and trow that of old time our forefathers

came down from the mountains by that same pass, poor and rude, but full

of valiancy, before they conquered these lands, and builded the Stark-

wall. But now furthermore, when we have gotten the said wanderer, and

brought him home to our city, we behold him mother-naked, all the great

men of us, both sages and warriors; then if we find him ill-fashioned and

counterfeit of his body, we roll him in a great carpet till he dies; or

whiles, if he be but a simple man, and without guile, we deliver him for

thrall to some artificer amongst us, as a shoemaker, a wright, or what

not, and so forget him. But in either case we make as if no such man had

come to us, and we send again the lord and his knights to watch the pass;

for we say that such an one the Fathers of old time have not sent us. But

again, when we have seen to the new-comer that he is well-fashioned of

his body, all is not done; for we deem that never would the Fathers send

us a dolt or a craven to be our king. Therefore we bid the naked one

take to him which he will of these raiments, either the ancient armour,

which now thou bearest, lord, or this golden raiment here; and if he take

the war-gear, as thou takedst it, King, it is well; but if he take the

raiment of peace, then hath he the choice either to be thrall of some

goodman of the city, or to be proven how wise he may be, and so fare the

narrow edge betwixt death and kingship; for if he fall short of his

wisdom, then shall he die the death. Thus is thy question answered,

King, and praise be to the Fathers that they have sent us one whom none

may doubt, either for wisdom or valiancy."