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even as much and no more as he who lieth in pleasure under the lime…trees
in the summer heedeth the murmur of his toiling bees。 Yet in time shall
this also grow old； and doubt shall creep in； because men shall scarce be
able to live by that order； and the complaint of the poor shall be hearkened；
no longer as a tale not utterly grievous； but as a threat of ruin； and a fear。
Then shall these things； which to thee seem follies； and to the men
between thee and me mere wisdom and the bond of stability； seem follies
once again； yet； whereas men have so long lived by them； they shall cling
to them yet from blindness and from fear； and those that see； and that have
thus much conquered fear that they are furthering the real time that cometh
and not the dream that faileth； these men shall the blind and the fearful
mock and missay； and torment and murder： and great and grievous shall
be the strife in those days； and many the failures of the wise； and too oft
sore shall be the despair of the valiant； and back…sliding； and doubt； and
contest between friends and fellows lacking time in the hubbub to
understand each other； shall grieve many hearts and hinder the Host of the
Fellowship： yet shall all bring about the end； till thy deeming of folly and
ours shall be one； and thy hope and our hope； and thenthe Day will have
come。〃
Once more I heard the voice of John Ball： 〃Now； brother； I say
farewell； for now verily hath the Day of the Earth come； and thou and I are
lonely of each other again； thou hast been a dream to me as I to thee； and
sorry and glad have we made each other； as tales of old time and the
longing of times to come shall ever make men to be。 I go to life and to
death； and leave thee； and scarce do I know whether to wish thee some
dream of the days beyond thine to tell what shall be； as thou hast told me；
for I know not if that shall help or hinder thee； but since we have been
kind and very friends； I will not leave thee without a wish of good…will； so
at least I wish thee what thou thyself wishest for thyself； and that is
hopeful strife and blameless peace； which is to say in one word； life。
Farewell； friend。〃
For some little time； although I had known that the daylight was
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A DREAM OF JOHN BALL
growing and what was around me； I had scarce seen the things I had
before noted so keenly； but now in a flash I saw allthe east crimson with
sunrise through the white window on my right hand； the richly…carved
stalls and gilded screen work； the pictures on the walls； the loveliness of
the faultless colour of the mosaic window lights； the altar and the red light
over it looking strange in the daylight； and the biers with the hidden dead
men upon them that lay before the high altar。 A great pain filled my heart
at the sight of all that beauty； and withal I heard quick steps coming up the
paved church…path to the porch； and the loud whistle of a sweet old tune
therewith； then the footsteps stopped at the door； I heard the latch rattle；
and knew that Will Green's hand was on the ring of it。
Then I strove to rise up； but fell back again； a white light； empty of all
sights； broke upon me for a moment； and lo I behold； I was lying in my
familiar bed； the south…westerly gale rattling the Venetian blinds and
making their hold…fasts squeak。
I got up presently； and going to the window looked out on the winter
morning； the river was before me broad between outer bank and bank； but
it was nearly dead ebb； and there was a wide space of mud on each side of
the hurrying stream； driven on the faster as it seemed by the push of the
south…west wind。 On the other side of the water the few willow…trees left
us by the Thames Conservancy looked doubtfully alive against the bleak
sky and the row of wretched…looking blue…slated houses； although； by the
way； the latter were the backs of a sort of street of 〃villas〃 and not a slum；
the road in front of the house was sooty and muddy at once； and in the air
was that sense of dirty discomfort which one is never quit of in London。
The morning was harsh； too； and though the wind was from the south…west
it was as cold as a north wind； and yet amidst it all； I thought of the corner
of the next bight of the river which I could not quite see from where I was；
but over which one can see clear of houses and into Richmond Park；
looking like the open country； and dirty as the river was； and harsh as was
the January wind； they seemed to woo me toward the country…side； where
away from the miseries of the 〃Great Wen〃 I might of my own will carry
on a daydream of the friends I had made in the dream of the night and
against my will。
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But as I turned away shivering and downhearted； on a sudden came the
frightful noise of the 〃hooters；〃 one after the other； that call the workmen
to the factories； this one the after…breakfast one； more by token。 So I
grinned surlily； and dressed and got ready for my day's 〃work〃 as I call it；
but which many a man besides John Ruskin （though not many in his
position） would call 〃play。〃
A KING'S LESSON
It is told of Matthias Corvinus； king of Hungarythe Alfred the Great
of his time and peoplethat he once heard （once ONLY？） that some （only
SOME； my lad？） of his peasants were over… worked and under…fed。 So
he sent for his Council； and bade come thereto also some of the mayors of
the good towns； and some of the lords of land and their bailiffs； and asked
them of the truth thereof； and in diverse ways they all told one and the
same tale； how the peasant carles were stout and well able to work and had
enough and to spare of meat and drink； seeing that they were but churls；
and how if they worked not at the least as hard as they did； it would be ill
for them and ill for their lords； for that the more the churl hath the more he
asketh； and that when he knoweth wealth； he knoweth the lack of it also；
as it fared with our first parents in the Garden of God。 The King sat and
said but little while they spake； but he misdoubted them that they were
liars。 So the Council brake up with nothing done； but the King took the
matter to heart； b