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were still quietly chiming with that far…away voice of theirs； and the long…
winged dusky swifts； by no means scared by the concourse； swung round
about the cross with their wild squeals； and the man stood still for a little；
eyeing the throng； or rather looking first at one and then another man in it；
as though he were trying to think what such an one was thinking of； or
what he were fit for。 Sometimes he caught the eye of one or other； and
then that kindly smile spread over his face； but faded off it into the
sternness and sadness of a man who has heavy and great thoughts hanging
about him。 But when John Ball first mounted the steps of the cross a lad at
some one's bidding had run off to stop the ringers； and so presently the
voice of the bells fell dead； leaving on men's minds that sense of blankness
or even disappointment which is always caused by the sudden stopping of
a sound one has got used to and found pleasant。 But a great expectation
had fallen by now on all that throng； and no word was spoken even in a
whisper； and all men's hearts and eyes were fixed upon the dark figure
standing straight up now by the tall white shaft of the cross； his hands
stretched out before him； one palm laid upon the other。
And for me； as I made ready to hearken； I felt a joy in my soul that I
had never yet felt。
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CHAPTER IV
THE VOICE OF JOHN BALL
SO now I heard John Ball； how he lifted up his voice and said：
〃Ho； all ye good people！ I am a priest of God； and in my day's work
it cometh that I should tell you what ye should do； and what ye should
forbear doing； and to that end I am come hither： yet first； if I myself have
wronged any man here； let him say wherein my wrongdoing lieth； that I
may ask his pardon and his pity。〃
A great hum of good…will ran through the crowd as he spoke； then he
smiled as in a kind of pride； and again he spoke：
〃Wherefore did ye take me out of the archbishop's prison but three
days agone； when ye lighted the archbishop's house for the candle of
Canterbury； but that I might speak to you and pray you： therefore I will not
keep silence； whether I have done ill； or whether I have done well。 And
herein； good fellows and my very brethren； I would have you to follow me；
and if there be such here； as I know full well there be some； and may be a
good many； who have been robbers of their neighbours （‘And who is my
neighbour？' quoth the rich man）； or lechers； or despiteful haters； or
talebearers； or fawners on rich men for the hurt of the poor （and that is the
worst of all）Ah； my poor brethren who have gone astray； I say not to you；
go home and repent lest you mar our great deeds； but rather come afield
and there repent。 Many a day have ye been fools； but hearken unto me
and I shall make you wise above the wisdom of the earth； and if ye die in
your wisdom； as God wot ye well may； since the fields ye wend to bear
swords for daisies； and spears for bents； then shall ye be； though men call
you dead； a part and parcel of the living wisdom of all things； very stones
of the pillars that uphold the joyful earth。
〃Forsooth； ye have heard it said that ye shall do well in this world that
in the world to come ye may live happily for ever； do ye well then； and
have your reward both on earth and in heaven； for I say to you that earth
and heaven are not two but one； and this one is that which ye know； and
are each one of you a part of； to wit； the Holy Church； and in each one of
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you dwelleth the life of the Church； unless ye slay it。 Forsooth； brethren；
will ye murder the Church any one of you； and go forth a wandering man
and lonely； even as Cain did who slew his brother？ Ah； my brothers；
what an evil doom is this； to be an outcast from the Church； to have none
to love you and to speak with you； to be without fellowship！ Forsooth；
brothers； fellowship is heaven； and lack of fellowship is hell： fellowship is
life； and lack of fellowship is death： and the deeds that ye do upon the
earth； it is for fellowship's sake that ye do them； and the life that is in it；
that shall live on and on for ever； and each one of you part of it； while
many a man's life upon the earth from the earth shall wane。
〃Therefore； I bid you not dwell in hell but in heaven； or while ye must；
upon earth； which is a part of heaven； and forsooth no foul part。
〃Forsooth； he that waketh in hell and feeleth his heart fail him； shall
have memory of the merry days of earth； and how that when his heart
failed him there； he cried on his fellow； were it his wife or his son or his
brother or his gossip or his brother sworn in arms； and how that his fellow
heard him and came and they mourned together under the sun； till again
they laughed together and were but half sorry between them。 This shall
he think on in hell； and cry on his fellow to help him； and shall find that
therein is no help because there is no fellowship； but every man for
himself。 Therefore； I tell you that the proud； despiteous rich man； though
he knoweth it not； is in hell already； because he hath no fellow； and he that
hath so hardy a heart that in sorrow he thinketh of fellowship； his sorrow
is soon but a story of sorrowa little change in the life that knows not ill。〃
He left off for a little； and indeed for some time his voice had fallen；
but it was so clear and the summer evening so soft and still； and the
silence of the folk so complete； that every word told。 His eyes fell down
to the crowd as he stopped speaking； since for some little while they had
been looking far away into the blue distance of summer； and the kind eyes
of the man had a curious sight before him in that crowd； for amongst them
were many who by this time were not dry…eyed； and some wept outright in
spite of their black beards； while all had that look as if they were ashamed
of themselves； and did not want others to see how deeply they were moved；
after the fashion of their race when they are strongly stirred。 I looked at
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Will Green beside me：