"How now," quoth he, "we want no fool's-heads here--"
"Sooth," laughed the Duke, "you're fools enow 't is clear,
Yet there be fools and fools, ye must allow,
Gay fools as I and surly fools--as thou."

"Ha, look 'ee, Fool, Black Lewin e'en am I,
And, by my head, an ill man to defy.
Now, motley rogue, wilt call me fool?" he roared,
And roaring fierce, clapped hairy fist on sword.

"Aye, that will I," Duke Joc'lyn soft replied,
And black-avised, swart, knavish rogue beside."

But now, while thus our ducal jester spoke,
Black Lewin sprang and fetched him such a stroke


That Jocelyn saw flash before his eyes,
More stars that e'er he'd noticed in the skies.
Whereat Sir Pertinax did gaping stare,
Then ground his teeth and mighty oaths did swear,
And in an instant bared his trusty blade,
But then the Duke his fiery onslaught stayed.

"Ha!" cried the Knight, "and wilt thou smitten be
By such base knave, such filthy rogue as he?"

"Nay," smiled the Duke, "stand back and watch, good brother,
A Rogue and Fool at buffets with each other."