A courtier extraordinary, who by diet

Of meats and drinks, his temperate¹ exercise,

Choice music, frequent bath, his horary shifts

Of shirts and waistcoats, means to immortalize

Mortality itself, and makes the essence

Of his whole happiness the trim of court.

Magnetic Lady.

When the Lord Abbot had suddenly and superciliously² vanished from the eyes of his expectant vassals³, the Sub-Prior made amends⁴ for the negligence⁵ of his principal, by the kind and affectionate greeting which he gave to all the members of the family, but especially to Dame⁷ Elspeth, her foster-daughter, and her son Edward. “Where,” he even condescended⁸ to inquire, “is that naughty Nimrod, Halbert? — He hath not yet, I trust, turned, like his great prototype, his hunting-spear against man!”

“O no, an it please your reverence⁹,” said Dame Glendinning, “Halbert is up at the glen to get some venison, or surely he would not have been absent when such a day of honour dawned upon me and mine.”

“Oh, to get savoury meat, such as our soul loveth,” muttered the Sub-Prior; “it has been at times an acceptable gift. — I bid you good morrow, my good dame, as I must attend upon his lordship the Father Abbot.”

“And O, reverend sir,” said the good widow, detaining him, “if it might be your pleasure to take part with us if there is any thing wrong; and if there is any thing wanted, to say that it is just coming, or to make some excuses your learning best knows how. Every bit of vassail and silver work have we been spoiled of since Pinkie Cleuch, when I lost poor Simon Glendinning, that was the warst of a’.”

分享到：