Page:Archaeologia Volume 13.djvu/306

 1^44 D'tffet-iatlon on the Lives and Works After this anfwer, the cldeft of the fons of the Conqueror was dif- milled, and the fecond made his appearance. " Fine boy/' fays in the fame manner this fagacious fcholar, "if God had made you a bird, what bird would you wifh to be ?" Wil- liam Rufus, after a moment's reflexion, anfwered, " I would be an eagle." " Why ?" " Becaufe he is the moft ftrong and moft power- ful of all the birds ; and, in one word, he is their king. If he likes to fecure his prey, he likes alfo to mare it ; and, like him, I would be king, and feize and beftow, according to my own fancy." William Rufus retires, and Henry, his youngeft brother, takes his place. The fame queftions are put to him, and he anfwers that he would have been a ftarling ; " becaufe," fays he, " this bird is good and fimple ; he delights to live with others of his own kind; if he roves over the country, it is for amufement and for food, and never to do mifchief ; if he is kept and fed in a cage, he is happy andfmgs, and entertains his protestor. In like manner I would be good, would take field amufements with thofe like myfelf, would live in peace with them, would never do injury to any one, and would be always content with having my neceffities iupplied." Having given this anfwer, the young prince quits the aiTembly. Then the learned fcholar, who had put thefe queilions to the three brothers, broke filence, and faid, " We know the difpofitions of the children, and can now eafily give an anfwer to their father." The firft would be a hawk, a bird gallant and brave, one that is beloved, but at the fame time feared. He does not always freely range at his own pleafure : he paffes the greateft part of his time in confinement. So fay I of Robert ; he will be brave, and emulous of glory. He will acquire a character by the valour of his exploits ; but after having repeatedly traverfed foreign countries, ranging in the puriuit of fame, he will be taken by force like the hawk, and, like him, will die in captivity. The