Yes , he sat on the straw like an eagle ruffled in her feathers , his yellow eyes rolling above the cup , and he pounced in his talk like an eagle , swooping from one thing to another , but always binding fast . Yes ; he would lie still awhile , and then rustle in the straw , and speak sometimes as though he were King William himself , and anon he would speak in parables and tales , and if at once we saw not his meaning he would yerk us in the ribs with his scabbarded sword . ' `` Look you , boys , '' said he , `` I am born out of my due time . Five hundred years ago I would have made all England such an England as neither Dane , Saxon , nor Norman should have conquered . Five hundred years hence I should have been such a counsellor to Kings as the world hath never dreamed of . 'T is all here , '' said he , tapping his big head , `` but it hath no play in this black age . Now Hugh here is a better man than thou art , Richard . '' He had made his voice harsh and croaking , like a raven 's . ' `` Truth , '' said I. `` But for Hugh , his help and patience and long-suffering , I could never have kept the Manor . '' ' `` Nor thy life either , '' said De Aquila . `` Hugh has saved thee not once , but a hundred times . Be still , Hugh ! '' he said . `` Dost thou know , Richard , why Hugh slept , and why he still sleeps , among thy Norman men-at-arms ? '' ' `` To be near me , '' said I , for I thought this was truth . ' `` Fool ! '' said De Aquila . `` It is because his Saxons have begged him to rise against thee , and to sweep every Norman out of the valley . No matter how I know . It is truth .
Therefore Hugh hath made himself an hostage for thy life , well knowing that if any harm befell thee from his XXXXX thy Normans would slay him without remedy .
Aquila Dane England Norman Saxon Saxons anon counsellor men-at-arms raven