appendix-1-第7节
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haunch！' Their mouths were full of the flex； for I pulled a piece of the
garment from their jaws。 I warrant thee； that when they brought him to
the ground； thou fled'st like a frighted pricket。''
‘‘And as for Gregory's gigantic paynim；'' said Fabian； ‘‘why； he lies
yonder in the guard…room； the very size； shape； and colour of a spider in a
yew…hedge。''
‘‘It is false；'' said Gregory； ‘‘Colbrand the Dane was a dwarf to him。''
‘‘It is as true；'' returned Fabian； ‘‘as that the Tasker is to be married；
on Tuesday； to Pretty Margery。 Gregory； thy sheet hath brought them
between a pair of blankets。''
‘‘I care no more for such a gillflirt；'' said the Jester； ‘‘than I do for thy
leasings。 Marry； thou hop…o'…my…thumb； happy wouldst thou be could thy
head reach the captive Baron's girdle。''
‘‘By the mass；'' said Peter Lanaret； ‘‘I will have one peep at this burly
gallant；'' and leaving the buttery； he went to the guard…room where Gaston
St。 Clere was confined。 A man…at…arms； who kept sentinel on the strong
studded door of the apartment； said he believed he slept； for that after
raging； stamping； and uttering the most horrid imprecations； he had been
of late perfectly still。 The Falconer gently drew back a sliding board； of
a foot square； towards the top of the door； which covered a hole of the
same size； strongly latticed； through which the warder； without opening the
door； could look in upon his prisoner。 From this aperture he beheld the
wretched Gaston suspended by the neck； by his own girdle； to an iron ring
in the side of his prison。 He had clambered to it by means of the table
on which his food had been placed； and in the agonies of shame and disappointed
malice； had adopted this mode of ridding himself of a wretched
life。 He was found yet warm； but totally lifeless。 A proper account of
the manner of his death was drawn up and certified。 He was buried that
evening in the chapel of the castle； out of respect to his high birth； and
the chaplain of Fitzallen of Marden； who said the service upon the occasion；
preached； the next Sunday； an excellent sermon upon the text； _Radix malorum
est cupiditas；） which we have here transcribed。
* * * * * * *
＇Here the manuscript； from which we have painfully transcribed； and
frequently； as it were； translated this tale； for the reader's edification； is so
indistinct and defaced； that； excepting certain howbeits； nathlesses； lo ye's！
etc。； we can pick out little that is intelligible； saving that avarice is defined
‘‘a likourishness of heart after earthly things。'' A little farther； there
seems to have been a gay account of Margery's wedding with Ralph the
Tasker； the running at the quintain； and other rural games practised on
the occasion。 There are also fragments of a mock sermon preached by
Gregory upon that occasion； as； for example：…
‘‘My dear cursed caitiffs； there was once a king； and he wedded a young
old queen； and she had a child； and this child was sent to Solomon the
Sage； praying he would give it the same blessing which he got from the
witch of Endor when she bit him by the heel。 Hereof speaks the worthy
Dr。 Radigundus Potator； why should not mass be said for all the roasted
shoe souls served up in the king's dish on Saturday； for true it is； that
St。 Peter asked father Adam； as they journeyed to Camelot； an high； great；
and doubtful question； ‘Adam； Adam； why eatedst thou the apple without
paring？' ''
* This tirade of gibberish is literally taken or selected from a mock discourse
* pronounced by a professed jester； which occurs in an ancient manuscript in the
* Advocates' Library； the same from which the late ingenious Mr。 Weber published
* the curious comic romance of the Hunting of the Hare。 It was introduced in
* compliance with Mr。 Strutt's plan of rendering his tale an illustration of ancient
* manners。 A similar burlesque sermon is pronounced by the Fool in Sir David
* Lindesay's satire of the Three Estates。 The nonsense and vulgar burlesque of that
* composition illustrate the ground of Sir Andrew Aguecheek's eulogy on the exploits
* of the jester in Twelfth Night； who； reserving his sharper jests for Sir Toby； had
* doubtless enough of the jargon of his calling to captivate the imbecility of his
* brother knight； who is made to exclaim…‘‘In sooth thou wast in very gracious
* fooling last night； when thou spokest of Pigrogremitus； and of the vapours passing
* the equinoctials of Quenbus； 'twas very good； i' faith！'' It is entertaining to find
* commentators seeking to discover some meaning in the professional jargon of such
* a passage as this。
With much goodly gibberish to the same effect； which display of Gregory's
ready wit not only threw the whole company into convulsions of
laughter； but made such an impression on Rose； the Potter's daughter；
that it was thought it would be the Jester's own fault if Jack was long
without his Jill。 Much pithy matter； concerning the bringing the bride to
bed； the loosing the bridegroom's points； the scramble which ensued for
them； and the casting of the stocking； is also omitted from its obscurity。
The following song； which has been since borrowed by the worshipful
author of the famous ‘‘History of Fryar Bacon；'' has been with difficulty
deciphered。 It seems to have been sung on occasion of carrying home the
bride。
BRIDAL SONG。
_To the tune of…‘‘I have been a Fiddler；'' etc。_
And did you not hear of a mirth befell
The morrow after a wedding day；
And carrying a bride at home to dwell？
And away to Tewin； away； away！
The quintain was set； and the garlands were made；…
'Tis pity old customs should ever decay；
And wo be to him that was horsed on a jade；
For he carried no credit away； away。
We met a concert of fiddle…de…dees；
We set them a cockhorse； and made them play
The winning of Bullen； and Upsey…frees；
And away to Tewin； away； away！
There was ne'er a lad in all the parish
That would go to the plough that day；
But on his fore…horse his wench he carries；
And away to Tewin； away； away！
The butler was quick； and the ale he did tap：
The maidens did make the chamber full gay；
The servants did give me a fuddling cup；
And I did carry't away； away！
The smith of the town his liquor so took；
That he was persuaded that the ground looked blue；
And I dare boldly be sworn on a book；
Such smiths as he there's but a few。
A posset was made； and the women did sip；
And simpering said； they could eat no more；
Full many a maiden was laid on the lip；…
I'll say no more； but give o'er （give o'er）。
But what our fair readers will chiefly regret； is the loss of three declarations
of love： the first by St。 Clere to Matilda； which； with the lady's
answer； occupies fifteen closely…written pages of manuscript。 That of
Fitzosborne to Emma is not much shorter； but the amours of Fitzallen
and Eleanor； being of a less romantic cast； are closed in three pages only。
The three noble couples were married in Queenhoo…Hall upon the same
day； being the twentieth Sunday after Easter。 There is a prolix account
of the marriage…feast； of which we can pick out the names of a few dishes；
such as peterel； crane； sturgeon； swan； etc。 etc。； with a profusion of wild…fowl
and venison。 We also see that a suitable song was produced by
Peretto on the occasion； and that the bishop who blessed the bridal beds
which received the happy couples； was no niggard of his holy water； bestowing
half…a…gallon upon each of the couches。 We regret we cannot give
these curiosities to the reader in detail； but we hope to expose the manuscript
to abler antiquaries； so soon as it shall be framed and glazed by the
ingenious artist who rendered that service to Mr。 Ireland's Shakspeare
MSS。 And so （being unable to lay aside the style to which our pen is
habituated）； gentle reader； we bid thee heartily farewell。＇
No。 III。
ANECDOTE OF SCHOOL DAYS；
UPON WHICH MR。 THOMAS SCOTT PROPOSED TO FOUND A TALE OF FICTION。
It is well known in the South that there is little or no boxing at the
Scottish schools。 About forty or fifty years ago； however； a far more
dangerous mode of fighting； in parties or factions； was permitted in the
streets of Edinburgh； to the great disgrace of the police； and danger of the
parties concerned。 These parties were generally formed from the quarters
of the town in which the combatants resided； those of a particular square
or district fighting against those of an adjoining one。 Hence it happened
that the children of the higher classes were often pitted against those of
the lower； each taking their side according to the residence of their friends。
So far as I recollect； however； it was unmingled either with feelings of
democracy or aristocracy； or indeed with malice or ill…will of any kind
towards the opposite party。 In fact； it was only a rough mode of play。
Such contests were； however； maintained with great vigour； with stones； and
sticks； and fisticuffs； when one party dared to charge； and the other stood
their ground。 Of course； mischief sometimes happened： boys are said to
have been killed at
