By the Author of Waverley.
Chapter IV.
A Hunting Party. — An Adventure. — A Deliverance.
The next morning the bugles1 were sounded by daybreak in the court of Lord Boteler’s mansion3, to call the inhabitants from their slumbers4, to assist in a splendid chase, with which the baron5 had resolved to entertain his neighbour Fitzallen and his noble visitor St. Clere. Peter Lanaret the falconer was in attendance, with falcons6 for the knights8, and tiercelets for the ladies, if they should choose to vary their sport from huntirng to hawking9. Five stout11 yeomen keepers, with their attendants, called Bagged Robins12, all meetly arrayed in Kendal green, with bugles and short hangers13 by their sides, and quarterstaffs in their hands, led the slow-hounds, or brackets, by which the deer were to be put up. Ten brace14 of gallant15 greyhounds, each of which was fit to pluck down, singly, the tallest red deer, were led in leashes16 by as many of Lord Boteler’s foresters. The pages, squires17, and other attendants of feudal18 splendour, well attired19 in their best hunting-gear, upon horseback or foot, according to their rank, — with their boar-spears, long bows, and cross-bows, were in seemly waiting.
A numerous train of yeomen, called in the language of the times retainers, who yearly received a livery coat and a small pension for their attendance on such solemn occasions, appeared in cassocks of blue, bearing upon their arms the cognizance of the house of Boteler as a badge of their adherence20. They were the tallest men of their hands that the neighbouring villages could supply, with every man his good buckler on his shoulder, and a bright burnished22 broadsword dangling23 from his leathern belt. On this occasion they acted as rangers24 for beating up the thickets26 and rousing the game. These attendants filled up the court of the castle, spacious27 as it was. On the green without, you might have seen the motley assemblage of peasantry convened28 by report of the splendid hunting, including most of our old acquaintances from Tewin, as well as the jolly partakers of good cheer at Hob Filcher’s. Gregory the jester, it may well be guessed, had no great mind to exhibit himself in public after his recent disaster; but Oswald the steward29, a great formalist in whatever concerned the public exhibition of his master’s household state, had positively30 enjoined31 his attendance. “What,” quoth he, “shall the house of the brave Lord Boteler, or such a brave day as this, be without a fool? Certes, the good Lord St. Clere and his fair lady sister might think our housekeeping as niggardly32 as that of their churlish kinsman34 at Gay Bowers35, who sent his father’s jester to the hospital, sold the poor sot’s bells for hawk10-jesses, and made a nightcap of his long-eared bonnet36. And, sirrah, let me see thee fool handsomely, — speak squibs and crackers37, instead of that dry, barren, musty gibing38 which thou hast used of late; or, by the bones! the porter shall have thee to his lodge39, and cob thee with thine own wooden sword till thy skin is as motley as thy doublet.”
To this stern injunction, Gregory made no reply, any more than to the courteous40 offer of old Albert Drawslot, the chief park-keeper, who proposed to blow vinegar in his nose, to sharpen his wit, as he had done that blessed morning to Bragger41, the old hound, whose scent42 was failing. There was, indeed, little time for reply, for the bugles, after a lively flourish, were now silent, and Peretto, with his two attendant minstrels, stepping beneath the windows of the strangers’ apartments, joined in the following roundelay, the deep voices of the rangers and falconers making up a chorus that caused the very battlements to ring again.
Waken, lords and ladies gay,
On the mountain dawns the day;
All the jolly chase is here,
With hawk and horse and hunting-spear
Hounds are in their couples yelling,
Hawks43 are whistling, horns are knelling44,
Merrily, merrily, mingle45 they,
“Waken, lords and ladies gay.”
Waken, lords and ladies gay,
The mist has left the mountain gray;
Springlets in the dawn are streaming,
Diamonds on the brake are gleaming,
And foresters have busy been,
To track the buck21 in thicket25 green;
Now we come to chant our lay:
“Waken, lords and ladies gay.”
Waken, lords and ladies gay,
To the green-wood haste away;
We can show you where he lies,
Fleet of foot, and tall of size;
We can show the marks he made
When ‘gainst the oak his antlers frayed47;
You shall see him brought to bay,
“Waken, lords and ladies gay.”
Louder, louder chant the lay,
“Waken, lords and ladies gay; ”
Tell them, youth and mirth and glee
Run a course as well as we.
Time, stern huntsman, who can baulk,
Staunch as hound, and fleet as hawk?
Think of this, and rise with day,
Gentle lords and ladies gay.
By the time this lay was finished, Lord Boteler, with his daughter and kinsman, Fitzallen of Harden, and other noble guests had mounted their palfreys, and the hunt set forward in due order. The huntsmen, having carefully observed the traces of a large stag on the preceding evening, were able, without loss of time, to conduct the company, by the marks which they had made upon the trees, to the side of the thicket in which, by the report of Drawslot, he had harboured all night. The horsemen spreading themselves along the side of the cover, waited until the keeper entered, leading his bandog, a large blood-hound tied in a leam or band, from which he takes his name.
But it befell this. A hart of the second year, which was in the same cover with the proper object of their pursuit, chanced to be unharboured first, and broke cover very near where the Lady Emma and her brother were stationed. An inexperienced varlet, who was nearer to them, instantly unloosed two tall greyhounds, who sprung after the fugitive48 with all the fleetness of the north wind. Gregory, restored a little to spirits by the enlivening scene around him, followed, encouraging the hounds with a loud tayout, 97 for which he had the hearty49 curses of the huntsman, as well as of the baron, who entered into the spirit of the chase with all the juvenile50 ardour of twenty. ‘May the foul51 fiend, booted and spurred, ride down his bawling52 throat, with a scythe53 at his girdle,” quoth Albert Drawslot; “here have I been telling him that all the marks were those of a buck of the first head, and he has hollowed the hounds upon a velvet-headed knobbler! By Saint Hubert, if I break not his pate54 with my cross-bow, may I never cast off hound more! But to it, my lords and masters! the noble beast is here yet, and, thank the saints, we have enough of hounds.”
The cover being now thoroughly55 beat by the attendants, the stag was compelled to abandon it, and trust to his speed for his safety. Three greyhounds were slipped upon him, whom he threw out, after running a couple of miles, by entering an extensive furzy brake which extended along the side of a hill. The horsemen soon came up, and casting off a sufficient number of slowhounds, sent them, with the prickers, into the cover, in order to chive the game from his strength. This object being accomplished56, afforded another severe chase of several miles, in a direction almost circular, during which the poor animal tried ever wile57 to get rid of his persecutors. He crossed and traversed all such dusty paths as were likely to retain the least scent of his footsteps; he laid himself close to the. ground, drawing his feet under his belly58, and clapping his nose close to the earth, lest he should be betrayed to the hounds by his breath and hoofs59. When all was in vain, and he found the hounds coining fast in upon him, his own strength failing, his mouth embossed with foam60, and the tears dropping from his eyes, he turned in despair upon his pursuers, who then stood at gaze, making an hideous61 clamour, and awaiting their two-footed auxiliaries62. Of these, it chanced that the Lady Eleanor, taking more pleasure in the sport than Matilda, and being a less burden to her palfrey than the Lord Boteler, was the first who arrived at the spot, and taking a cross-bow from an attendant, discharged a bolt at the stag. When the infuriated animal felt himself wounded, he pushed franticly towards her from whom he had received the shaft63, and Lady Eleanor might have had occasion to repent64 of her enterprise had not young Fitzallen, who had kept near her during the whole day, at that instant galloped65 briskly in, and ere the stag could change his object of assault, despatched him with his short hunting-sword.
Albert Drawslot, who had just come up in terror for the young lady’s safety, broke out into loud encomiums upon Fitzallen’s strength and gallantry. By ‘r Lady,” said he, taking off his cap, and wiping his sun-burnt face with his sleeve, “well struck, and in good time! But now, boys, doff66 your bonnets67, and sound the mort.”
The sportsmen then sounded a treble mort and set up a general whoop68, which, mingled69 with the yelping70 of the dogs, made the welkin ring again. The huntsman then offered his knife to Lord Boteler, that he might take the say of the deer; but the baron courteously71 insisted upon Fitzallen going through that ceremony. The Lady Matilda was now come up, with most of the attendants; and the interest of the chase being ended, it excited some surprise that neither St. Clere nor his sister made their appearance. The Lord Boteler commanded the horns again to sound the recheat, in hopes to call in the stragglers, and said to Fitzallen: “Methinks St. Clere, so distinguished72 for service in war, should have been more forward in the chase.”
“I trow,” said Peter Lanaret, “I know the reason of the noble lord’s absence; for when that moon-calf, Gregory, hallooed the dogs upon the knobbler, and galloped like a green hilding, as he is, after them, I saw the Lady Emma’s palfrey follow apace after that varlet, who should be trashed for overrunning, and I think her noble brother has followed her, lest she should come to harm. But here, by the rood, is Gregory to answer for himself.”
At this moment Gregory entered the circle which had been formed round the deer, out of breath, and his face covered with blood. He kept for some time uttering inarticulate cries of “Harrow!” and “Wellaway!” and other exclamations73 of distress74 and terror, pointing all the while to a thicket at some distance from the spot where the deer had been killed.
“By my honour,” said the baron, “I would gladly know who has dared to array the poor knave75 thus; and I trust he should dearly aby his outrecuidance, were he the best, save one, in England.”
Gregory, who had now found more breath, cried, “Help, an ye be men! Save Lady Emma and her brother, whom they are murdering in Brockenhurst thicket.”
This put all in motion. Lord Boteler hastily commanded a small party of his men to abide76 for the defence of the ladies, while he himself, Fitzallen, and the rest made what speed they could towards the thicket, guided by Gregory, who for that purpose was mounted behind Fabian. Pushing through a narrow path, the first object they encountered was a man of small stature77 lying on the ground, mastered and almost strangled by two dogs, which were instantly recognized to be those that had accompanied Gregory. A little farther was an open space, where lay three bodies of dead or wounded men; beside these was Lady Emma, apparently78 lifeless, her brother and a young forester bending over and endeavouring to recover her. By employing the usual remedies, this was soon accomplished; while Lord Boteler, astonished at such a scene, anxiously inquired at St. Clere the meaning of what he saw, and whether more danger was to be expected?
“For the present, I trust not,” said the young warrior79, who they now observed was slightly wounded; “but I pray you, of your nobleness, let the woods here be searched; for we were assaulted by four of these base assassins, and I see three only on the sward.”
The attendants now brought forward the person whom they had rescued from the dogs, and Henry, with disgust, shame, and astonishment80, recognized his kinsman, Gaston St. Clere. This discovery he communicated in a whisper to Lord Boteler, who commanded the prisoner to be conveyed to Queen-Hoo Hall and closely guarded; meanwhile he anxiously inquired of young St. Clere about his wound. “A scratch, a trifle!” cried Henry; “I am in less haste to bind81 it than to introduce to you one without whose aid that of the leech82 would have come too late. Where is he? Where is my brave deliverer?” “Here, most noble lord,” said Gregory, sliding from his palfrey and stepping forward, “ready to receive the guerdon which your bounty83 would heap on him.”
“Truly, friend Gregory,” answered the young warrior, “thou shalt not be forgotten; for thou didst run speedily and roar manfully for aid, without which, I think verily, we had not received it. But the brave forester who came to my rescue when these three rufiians had nigh overpowered me, where is he?”
Every one looked around; but though all had seen him on entering the thicket, he was not now to be found. They could only conjecture84 that he had retired85 during the confusion occasioned by the detention86 of Gaston.
“Seek not for him,” said the Lady Emma, who had now in some degree recovered her composure; “he will not be found of mortal, unless at his own season.”
The baron, convinced from this answer that her terror had, for the time, somewhat disturbed her reason, forebore to question her; and Matilda and Eleanor, to whom a message had been despatched with the result of this strange adventure, arriving, they took the Lady Emma between them, and all in a body returned to the castle.
The distance was, however, considerable, and before reaching it they had another alarm. The prickers, who rode foremost in the troop, halted, and announced to the Lord Boteler, that they perceived advancing towards them a body of armed men. The followers88 of the baron were numerous, but they were arrayed for the chase, not for battle; and it was with great pleasure that he discerned, on the pennon of the advancing body of men-at-arms, instead of the cognizance of Gaston, as he had some reason to expect, the friendly bearings of Fitzosborne of Diggswell, the same young lord who was present at the May-games with Fitzallen of Marden. The knight7 himself advanced, sheathed89 in armour90, and, without raising his visor, informed Lord Boteler, that having heard of a base attempt made upon a part of his train by ruffianly assassins, he had mounted and armed a small party of his retainers, to escort them to Queen-Hoo Hall. Having received and accepted an invitation to attend them thither91, they prosecuted92 their journey in confidence and security, and arrived safe at home without any further accident.
Chapter V.
Investigation93 of the Adventure of the Hunting. — A Discovery. — Gregory’s Manhood. — Fate of Gaston St. Clere. — Conclusion.
So soon as they arrived at the princely mansion of Boteler, the Lady Emma craved94 permission to retire to her chamber95, that she might compose her spirits after the terror she had undergone. Henry St. Clere, in a few words, proceeded to explain the adventure to the curious audience. “I had no sooner seen my sister’s palfrey, in spite of her endeavours to the contrary, entering with spirit into the chase set on foot by the worshipful Gregory than I rode after to give her assistance. So long was the chase that when the greyhounds pulled down the knobbler, we were out of hearing of your bugles; and having rewarded and coupled the dogs, I gave them to be led by the jester, and we wandered in quest of our company, whom, it would seem, the sport had led in a different direction. At length, passing through the thicket where you found us, I was surprised by a cross-bow bolt whizzing past mine head. I drew my sword and rushed into the thicket, but was instantly assailed96 by two ruffians, while other two made towards my sister and Gregory. The poor knave fled, crying for help, pursued by my false kinsman, now your prisoner; and the designs of the other on my poor Emma (murderous no doubt) were prevented by the sudden apparition97 of a brave woodsman, who, after a short encounter, stretched the miscreant98 at his feet and came to my assistance. I was already slightly wounded, and nearly overlaid with odds99. The combat lasted some time, for the caitiffs were both well armed, strong, and desperate; at length, however, we had each mastered our antagonist100, when your retinue101, my Lord Boteler, arrived to my relief. So ends in my story; but, on my knighthood, I would give an earl’s ransom102 for an opportunity of thanking the gallant forester by whose aid I live to tell it.”
“Fear not,” said Lord Boteler; “he shall be found if this or the four adjacent counties hold him. And now Lord Fitzosborne will be pleased to doff the armour he has so kindly103 assumed for our sakes, and we will all bowne ourselves for the banquet.”
When the hour of dinner approached, the Lady Matilda and her cousin visited the chaumber of the fair Darcy. They found her in a composed but melancholy104 posture105. She turned the discourse106 upon the misfortunes of her life, and hinted that having recovered her brother, and seeing him look forward to the society of one who would amply repay to him the loss of hers, she had thoughts of dedicating her remaining life to Heaven, by whose providential interference it had been so often preserved.
Matilda coloured deeply at something in this speech, and her cousin inveighed108 loudly against Emma’s resolution. “Ah, my dear Lady Eleanor,” replied she, “I have to-day witnessed what I cannot but judge a supernatural visitation, and to what end can it call me but to give myself to the altar? That peasant who guided me, to Baddow through the Park of Danbury, the same who appeared before me at different times and in different forms during that eventful journey, — that youth, whose features are imprinted109 on my memory, is the very individual forester who this day rescued us in the forest. I cannot be mistaken; and connecting these marvellous appearances with the spectre which I saw while at Gay Bowers, I cannot resist the conviction that Heaven has permitted my guardian110 angel to assume mortal shape for my relief and protection.”
The fair cousins, after exchanging looks which implied a fear that her mind was wandering, answered her in soothing111 terms, and finally prevailed upon her to accompany them to the banqueting-hall. Here the first person they encountered was the Baron Fitzosborne of Diggswell, now divested112 of his armour; at the sight of whom the Lady Emma changed colour, and exclaiming, “It is the same!” sunk senseless into the arms of Matilda.
“She is bewildered by the terrors of the day,” said Eleanor; and we have done ill in obliging her to descend113.”
“And I,” said Fitzosborne, “have done madly in presenting before her one whose presence must recall moments the most alarming in her life.”
While the ladies supported Emma from the hall, Lord Boteler and St. Clere requested an explanation from Fitzosborne of the words he had used.
“Trust me, gentle lords,” said the Baron of Diggswell, “ye shall have what ye demand, when I learn that Lady Emma Darcy has not suffered from my imprudence.”
At this moment Lady Matilda, returning, said that her fair friend, on her recovery, had calmly and deliberately114 insisted that she had seen Fitzosborne before, in the most dangerous crisis of her life.
“I dread,” said she, “her disordered mind connects all that her eye beholds115 with the terrible passages that she has witnessed.”
“Nay,” said Fitzosborne, “if noble St. Clere can pardon the unauthorized interest which, with the purest and most honourable116 intentions, I have taken in his sister’s fate, it is easy for me to explain this mysterious impression.”
He proceeded to say that, happening to be in the hostelry called the Griffin, near Baddow, while upon a journey in that country, he had met with the old nurse of the Lady Emma Darcy, who, being just expelled front Gay Bowers, was in the height of her grief and indignation, and made loud and public proclamation of Lady Emma’s wrongs. From the description she gave of the beauty of her foster-child, as well as from the spirit of chivalry117, Fitzosborne became interested in her fate. This interest was deeply enhanced when, by a bribe118 to Old Gaunt the Reve, he procured119 a view of the Lady Emma as she walked near the castle of Gay Bowers. The aged120 churl33 refused to give him access to the castle, yet dropped some hints, as if he thought the lady in danger, and wished she were well out of it. His master, he said, had heard she had a brother in life, and since that deprived him of all chance of gaining her domains121 by purchase, he In short, Gaunt wished they were safely separated. “If any injury,” quoth he, “should happen to the damsel here, it were ill for us all. I tried, by an innocent stratagem122, to frighten her from the castle by introducing a figure through a trap-door and warning her, as if by a voice from the dead, to retreat from thence; but the giglet is wilful123, and is running upon her fate.”
Finding Gaunt, although covetous124 and communicative, too faithful a servant to his wicked master to take any active steps against his commands, Fitzosborne applied125 himself to old Ursely, whom he found more tractable126. Through her he learned the dreadful plot Gaston had laid to rid himself of his kinswoman, and resolved to effect her deliverance. But aware of the delicacy127 of Emma’s situation, he charged Ursely to conceal128 from her the interest he took in her distress, resolving to watch over her in disguise until he saw her in a place of safety. Hence the appearance he made before her in various dresses during her journey, in the course of which he was never far distant; and he had always four stout yeomen within hearing of his bugle2, had assistance been necessary. When she was placed in safety at the lodge, it was Fitzosborne’s intention to have prevailed upon his sisters to visit, and take her under their protection; but he found them absent from Diggswell, having gone to attend an aged relation who lay dangerously ill in a distant county. They did not return until the day before the May-games; and the other events followed too rapidly to permit Fitzosborne to lay any plan for introducing them to Lady Emma Darcy. On the day of the chase he resolved to preserve his romantic disguise and attend the Lady Emma as a forester, partly to have the pleasure of being near her, and partly to judge whether, according to an idle report in the country, she favoured his friend and comrade Fitzallen of Marden. This last motive129, it may easily be believed, he did not declare to the company. After the skirmish with the ruffians, he waited till the baron and the hunters arrived, and then, still doubting the further designs of Gaston, hastened to his castle to arm the band which had escorted them to Queen-Hoo Hall.
Fitzosborne’s story being finished, he received the thanks of all the company, particularly of St. Clere, who felt deeply the respectful delicacy with which he had conducted himself towards his sister. The lady was carefully informed of her obligations to him; and it is left to the well-judging reader whether even the raillery of Lady Eleanor made her regret that Heaven had only employed natural means for her security, and that the guardian angel was converted into a handsome, gallant, and enamoured knight.
The joy of the company in the hall extended itself to the buttery, where Gregory the jester narrated130 such feats131 of arms done by himself in the fray46 of the morning as might have shamed Bevis and Guy of Warwick. He was, according to his narrative132, singled out for destruction by the gigantic baron himself, while he abandoned to meaner hands the destruction of St. Clere and Fitzosborne.
“But, certes,” said he, “the foul paynim met his match; for, ever as he foined at me with his brand, I parried his blows with my bauble133, and closing with him upon the third veny, threw him to the ground, and made him cryrecreant to an unarmed man.”
“Tush, man!” said Drawslot, “thou forgettest thy best auxiliaries, the good greyhounds, Help and Holdfast! I warrant thee that when the humpbacked baron caught thee by the cowl, which he hath almost torn off, thou hadst been in a fair plight134, had they not remembered an old friend and come in to the rescue. Why, man, I found them fastened on him myself; and there was odd staving and stickling to make them ‘ware haunch!’ Their mouths were full of the flex135, for I pulled a piece of the garment from their jaws136. I warrant thee that when they brought him to ground, thou fledst 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 yewhedge.”
“It is false! “ said Gregory; “Colbrand the Dane was a dwarf137 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 horrid138 imprecations, he had been of late perfectly139 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 aperture140 he beheld141 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 malice142, 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 drawn143 up and certified144. He was buried that evening in the chapel145 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 transcribed146.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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 intelligible147, saving that avarice148 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 wedded149 a young old queen, and she had a child; and this child was sent to Solomon the Sage87, praying he would give it the same blessing150 which he got from the witch of Endor when she bit him by the heel. Hereof speaks the worthy151 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 Saint Peter asked father Adam, as they journeyed to Camelot, an high, great, and doubtful question: ‘Adam, Adam, why eated’st thou the apple without paring?’” 98
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 Jack152 was long without his Jill. Much pithy153 matter concerning the bringing the bride to bed, the loosing the bridegroom’s points, the scramble154 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 tune107 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, —
‘T is pity old customs should ever decay;
And woe155 be to him that was horsed on a jade156,
For he carried no credit away, away.
We met a consort157 of fiddle-de-dees;
We set them a cockhorse, and made them play
The winning of Bullen, and Upsey-fires,
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 maidens158 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 sip160,
And simpering said they could eat no more;
Full many a maiden159 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. Clore 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 Queen-Hoo Hall upon the same day, being the twentieth Sunday after Easter. There is a prolix161 account of the marriage-feast, of which we can pick out the names of a few dishes, such as peterel, crane, sturgeon, swan, etc., with a profusion162 of wild-fowl and venison. We also see that a suitable song was produced by Peretto on the occasion, and that the bishop163, who blessed the bridal beds which received the happy couples, was no niggard of his holy water, bestowing164 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 glazed165 by the ingenious artist who rendered that service to Mr. Ireland’s Shakspeare manuscripts. And so (being unable to lay aside the style to which our pen is habituated), gentle reader, we bid thee heartily166 farewell.
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bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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6
falcons
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| n.猎鹰( falcon的名词复数 ) | |
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7
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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8
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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9
hawking
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| 利用鹰行猎 | |
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10
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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12
robins
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| n.知更鸟，鸫( robin的名词复数 )；（签名者不分先后，以避免受责的）圆形签名抗议书（或请愿书） | |
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13
hangers
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| n.衣架( hanger的名词复数 )；挂耳 | |
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14
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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15
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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16
leashes
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| n.拴猎狗的皮带( leash的名词复数 ) | |
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17
squires
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| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) | |
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18
feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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19
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
adherence
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| n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着 | |
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21
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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22
burnished
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| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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23
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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24
rangers
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| 护林者( ranger的名词复数 )； 突击队员 | |
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25
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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26
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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27
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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28
convened
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| 召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合 | |
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29
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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30
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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31
enjoined
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| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
niggardly
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| adj.吝啬的，很少的 | |
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33
churl
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| n.吝啬之人；粗鄙之人 | |
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34
kinsman
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| n.男亲属 | |
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35
bowers
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| n.（女子的）卧室( bower的名词复数 )；船首锚；阴凉处；鞠躬的人 | |
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36
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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37
crackers
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| adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘 | |
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38
gibing
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| adj.讥刺的，嘲弄的v.嘲笑，嘲弄( gibe的现在分词 ) | |
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39
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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40
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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41
bragger
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| n.吹牛 | |
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42
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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43
hawks
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| 鹰( hawk的名词复数 )； 鹰派人物，主战派人物 | |
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44
knelling
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| v.丧钟声( knell的现在分词 )；某事物结束的象征 | |
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45
mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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46
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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47
frayed
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| adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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49
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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50
juvenile
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| n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的 | |
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51
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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52
bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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53
scythe
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| n. 长柄的大镰刀，战车镰； v. 以大镰刀割 | |
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54
pate
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| n.头顶；光顶 | |
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55
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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56
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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57
wile
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| v.诡计，引诱；n.欺骗，欺诈 | |
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58
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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59
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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60
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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61
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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62
auxiliaries
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| n.助动词 ( auxiliary的名词复数 )；辅助工，辅助人员 | |
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63
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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64
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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65
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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66
doff
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| v.脱，丢弃，废除 | |
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67
bonnets
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| n.童帽( bonnet的名词复数 )；（烟囱等的）覆盖物；（苏格兰男子的）无边呢帽；（女子戴的）任何一种帽子 | |
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68
whoop
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| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 | |
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69
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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70
yelping
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| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的现在分词 ) | |
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71
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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72
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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73
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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74
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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75
knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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76
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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77
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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78
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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79
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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80
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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81
bind
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|
| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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82
leech
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|
| n.水蛭，吸血鬼，榨取他人利益的人；vt.以水蛭吸血；vi.依附于别人 | |
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83
bounty
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| n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与 | |
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84
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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85
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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86
detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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87
sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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88
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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89
sheathed
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| adj.雕塑像下半身包在鞘中的；覆盖的；铠装的；装鞘了的v.将（刀、剑等）插入鞘( sheathe的过去式和过去分词 )；包，覆盖 | |
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90
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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91
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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92
prosecuted
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| a.被起诉的 | |
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93
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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94
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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95
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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96
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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97
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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98
miscreant
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| n.恶棍 | |
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99
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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100
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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101
retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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102
ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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103
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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104
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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105
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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106
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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107
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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108
inveighed
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| v.猛烈抨击，痛骂，谩骂( inveigh的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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109
imprinted
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| v.盖印（imprint的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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110
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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111
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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112
divested
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| v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
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113
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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114
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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115
beholds
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| v.看，注视( behold的第三人称单数 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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116
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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117
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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118
bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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119
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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120
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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121
domains
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| n.范围( domain的名词复数 )；领域；版图；地产 | |
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122
stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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123
wilful
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| adj.任性的，故意的 | |
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124
covetous
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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125
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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126
tractable
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| adj.易驾驭的；温顺的 | |
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127
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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128
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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129
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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130
narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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131
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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132
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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133
bauble
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| n.美观而无价值的饰物 | |
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134
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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135
flex
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| n.皮线，花线；vt.弯曲或伸展 | |
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136
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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137
dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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138
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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139
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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140
aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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141
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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142
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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143
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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144
certified
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| a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的 | |
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145
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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146
transcribed
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| （用不同的录音手段）转录( transcribe的过去式和过去分词 )； 改编（乐曲）（以适应他种乐器或声部）； 抄写； 用音标标出（声音） | |
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147
intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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148
avarice
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| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
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149
wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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150
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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151
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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152
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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153
pithy
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| adj.(讲话或文章)简练的 | |
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154
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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155
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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156
jade
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| n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠 | |
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157
consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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158
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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159
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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160
sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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161
prolix
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| adj.罗嗦的；冗长的 | |
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162
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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163
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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164
bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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165
glazed
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| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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166
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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