“The poor wretch,” said De Bracy, “is resolved to die in his vocation.⁠—Front-de-Boeuf, you shall not slay him. Give him to me to make sport for my Free Companions.⁠—How sayst thou, knave? Wilt thou take heart of grace, and go to the wars with me?”

“Ay, with my master’s leave,” said Wamba; “for, look you, I must not slip collar” (and he touched that which he wore) “without his permission.”

“Oh, a Norman saw will soon cut a Saxon collar,” said De Bracy.

“Ay, noble sir,” said Wamba, “and thence goes the proverb⁠—

‘Norman saw on

English

oak,

On

English

neck a Norman yoke;

Norman spoon in

English