Read Books Online, for Free |
A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court | Mark Twain | |
The Yankee And The King Travel Incognito |
Page 3 of 5 |
"Great guns, my liege, where did you get that?" "From a smuggler at the inn, yester eve." "What in the world possessed you to buy it?" "We have escaped divers dangers by wit -- thy wit -- but I have bethought me that it were but prudence if I bore a weapon, too. Thine might fail thee in some pinch." "But people of our condition are not allowed to carry arms. What would a lord say -- yes, or any other person of whatever condition -- if he caught an upstart peasant with a dagger on his person?" It was a lucky thing for us that nobody came along just then. I persuaded him to throw the dirk away; and it was as easy as persuading a child to give up some bright fresh new way of killing itself. We walked along, silent and thinking. Finally the king said: "When ye know that I meditate a thing inconvenient, or that hath a peril in it, why do you not warn me to cease from that project?" It was a startling question, and a puzzler. I didn't quite know how to take hold of it, or what to say, and so, of course, I ended by saying the natural thing: "But, sire, how can I know what your thoughts are?" The king stopped dead in his tracks, and stared at me. "I believed thou wert greater than Merlin; and truly in magic thou art. But prophecy is greater than magic. Merlin is a prophet." I saw I had made a blunder. I must get back my lost ground. After a deep reflection and careful planning, I said: |
Who's On Your Reading List? Read Classic Books Online for Free at Page by Page Books.TM |
A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court Mark Twain |
Home | More Books | About Us | Copyright 2004