Georgie O. Seaman - Sailor Stories

The Two Georgies

During the reign (1272-1307) of King Edward Longshanks who subdued Wales, there lived in the town of London a man called Georgie Porter. He carried burdens for hire. One day when he was carrying a heavy load on a very hot day, he got more weary than usual and started to sweat a whole lot. The heat and the weight burdened him that day. But as he was passing the gate of a merchant's house where the ground was swept and watered in front of it, he noticed that the air was temperate there. He saw a broad bench beside the door; set his load on it, to take rest and smell the air.

When the porter set his load on the bench to rest and smell the air, a pleasant breeze with a delicious fragrance came out to him from the court-door. He sat down on the edge of the bench, and at once heard from within the melodious sound of lutes and other stringed instruments. Mirth-exciting voices were singing and reciting, together with the song of birds that were warbling and glorifying the Lord in various tunes and tongues. He discerned turtles, mocking-birds, merles, nightingales, cushats and stone-curlews inside, and marvelled and was moved to much joy and solace.

Then he went up to the gate and saw a great flower-garden inside. There were pages and servants and such a train of attendants and so forth as is found only with kings and emperors; and his nostrils were greeted with the savoury odours of all manner meats rich and delicate, and delicious and generous wines. So he raised his eyes heavenwards and said,

"Whom you will you make rich! How you rule - while I for my part suffer travail and misery enough."

And he fell to reciting quite loudly,

How many enjoy goods of life by my labours

and now recline in cool shades?

Each morning I wake.

This ordinance is just and cannot fail."

When Georgie the porter stopped reciting his verses, he picked up his burden and was about to fare on, when a little foot-page came up to him from the gate, caught him by the hand and said, "Come in and speak with my master, for he calls for you."

The porter would have excused himself to the page but the lad would heed no refusal; so he left his load with the doorkeeper in the vestible and followed the boy into the house.

It was a goodly mansion, radiant and full of majesty. In a grand sitting-room he saw a company of nobles. They were all seated at tables garnished with flowers and herbs, besides great plenty of dainty viands and dried and fresh fruits and confections and wines of the most select vintages. There also were music instruments and mirth and delicious servant-girls playing and singing.

All the company was seated according to rank around a grey-bearded, noble-looking man. He was stately and fair to look at, and there was majesty about him as well. Georgie the porter was confounded at that which he saw and said in himself, "This must be a piece of Eden or some king's palace!"

Then he greeted the company with much respect, and stood with his head bowed down as humbly as can be. The master of the house bade him draw near and be seated and spoke kindly to him, bidding him welcome. Then he set before him various kinds of viands; they were rich and delicate and delicious. And the porter, after saying graces, ate his fill. Afterwards he exclaimed, "Praised be for this good meal!" and also thanked the company for the entertainment.

The host said, "You are welcome. But what is your name and calling?"

"My name is Georgie Porter, and I carry folk's goods for hire," said the porter.

The house-master smiled and rejoined, "Know, Georgie, that your name is as mine. I am Georgie O. Seaman. And now, please, let me hear the couplets you recited at the gate."

The porter was abashed and replied, "No, for toil and travail and lack of luck when the hand is empty, teach a man ill manners and boorish ways."

Said the host, "Don't be ashamed; we have the same forename, and then you have become my name-sake or brother. Your verses pleased me when I heard you recite them at the gate."

On this the porter repeated the couplets and they delighted the merchant, who said to him, "Well, Georgie, I reckon that my life-story is wonderful, and you shall hear all that happened to me and all I underwent before I rose to this state of prosperity and became the owner of this place; for I came to this high estate only after sore travail and great perils. Oh, how much toil and trouble I suffered in days gone by!..I made seven voyages, each is a marvellous tale that can confound the wise and ensnare, and all happened in ways from which there were neither refuge nor flight."