Page:The venture; an annual of art and literature.djvu/107

 his journey, he took a horse and travelled through Spain and France to arrive where he would be. But as he had little money, and was free with what he had, ere he had performed two thirds of the journey he was obliged to sell his horse that that he might have wherewith to eat, and to go on foot. As he was little accustomed to this he proceeded but slowly, and his money came to an end before his travel. And so it came to pass that being one day at the door of an inn, he forbore to enter, having no money to pay for his meal, but looking within he saw two men sitting eating at a table who seemed to be noble and well mannered persons, and had with them in a case a viol and a psaltery, upon which the youth looked earnestly, being well seen in the art and mystery of music. The men seeing him gazing on the instruments called him in and bade him eat; but he thanking them said he had not wherewith to pay. They offered to pay, and made him eat, and talking at table asked him if he could dance or play, and he told them that he knew somewhat of all such things. "We," they said, "are performers on these instruments, and having heard that the King of England's daughter has been brought to him from abroad, and that she has fallen into such melancholy that nothing can make her glad we have determined to go before her to play, dance and sing, and with the help of God and our skill cure her of her melancholy, for which the King, her father, has promised a great reward. If you know ought of this art, and will come with us, you shall have your share in what we may gain." He, who desired nothing better,