OKENARDSAID: “MY dear lord, I’ll willingly swear the oath.” They asked for the relics, and Okenard swore upon them to what Edward required. Next he asked for leave to go and they all granted it. He commended them to God and gave them many thanks for thus freeing him, then he left and quickly made his way out of the city. He rode so long that day that he lodged in Hertford, where he was received with great honour. He stayed there all that day, and left next morning, to go straight to King Waldef. Waldef was then in Thetford, holding a great feast. King Merlin and King Florenz and King Swein, with large retinues, King Felix of Huntingdon with his family and his friends, and dukes, earls, and barons from other parts, had all come to the feast and were most joyful at the return of King Waldef, who had escaped from prison. Then a traveller appeared, spurring into King Waldef's presence. “Sire,” he said, “listen to me and you’ll hear news of Okenard. He is quite free now; you’ll soon see him in the city.” When King Waldef heard him, he rejoiced greatly. “My lords,” he said, “now quickly mount your horses and all together come with me. We’ll go and greet Okenard. We should show him great honour, for he's saved me from death and God sends him here to us. I’ll reward him as soon as ever I can.” King Waldef mounted his horse, accompanied by his magnificent assembly of barons. Bells rang in the city and a Te Deum was sung. Everyone went to meet Okenard and greeted him with great joy. Having received him courteously, they all went back together. Whoever serves a worthy man prospers mightily, but whoever serves a bad man comes off the worse. He who serves the worthy man will in the end profit by it, and he who serves the bad one, as we have heard many times, will never get anything good from him; on the contrary, he who has served him the most will, in the end, seek to trick his master into dismissing him. According to a proverb I have often heard, he who serves a bad man wastes his time. (10807–74)