it yourself! I'll be your servant no longer." His brother was amazed
at this boldness. "How now, Gamelyn!" he said; "you have never spoken
like this before. What ails you?" "By my faith," answered Gamelyn,
"never before did I think of all the wrongs I have suffered at your
hands. My parks are broken up, my fields lie unsown, my houses are in
ruins. All the goods my father left me are wasted through you. A
curse on you, brother!" His brother was angry at this answer, yet he
feared Gamelyn's strength too much to face him alone, so he called to
his men, "Here, my men, beat this proud rascal for me and teach him
to behave himself to his betters."

Down came the servants armed with staves. Gamelyn looked around for
something with which to defend himself and found a pestle standing by
the wall. This he snatched up and wielded so vigorously that the men
fled this way and that, and his brother ran for safety up into a
tower. Looking down from the window he was seen by Gamelyn. "Come
down, brother," Gamelyn called up to him, "and I will treat you as I
treated your men." "Not so whilst you hold that pestle," answered his
brother, "but if you will lay it aside I will come down and grant you
whatever you ask." Gamelyn was ready enough to believe his brother.
He laid aside his pestle and answered, "All I ask is the land that my
father left me." "That you shall have," his brother replied, "and all
the damage it has suffered these many years I will make good." So the
two kissed, and peace was made for a season.

No long time after the news came that a wrestling-bout was arranged,
with a ram and a ring as prizes for the winner. Gamelyn thought that
he would enter as a competitor. He asked his brother for a horse and
set off. John hoped that he would never come back and barred the gate
after him.