The parson and the miller hammered

They went up the hill, not without anxious looks north across the river.There was no sign of the dragon.Probably he was asleep;he had been feeding very well all the Christmas-time.The parson (and the miller) hammered on the farmer's door.There was no answer,so they hammered louder.At last Giles came out. His face was very red.

He also had sat up far into the night, drinking a good deal of ale; and he had begun again as soon as he got up.They all crowded round him, calling him Good Ngidius, Bold Ahenobarbus, Great Julius, Staunch Agricola, Pride of Ham, Hero of the Countryside.And they spoke of Caudimordax, Tailbiter, The Sword that would not be Sheathed, Death or Victory,The Glory of the Yeomanry, Backbone of the Country,and the Good of one's Fellow Men, until the farmer's head was hope- lessly confused.