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objurgations of Master Erasmus Holiday。 But Dickie Sludge;
equally deaf to the voice of maternal tenderness and of
magisterial authority; skipped on unconsciously before
Tressilian; only observing that 〃if they cried themselves hoarse;
they might go lick the honey…pot; for he had eaten up all the
honey…comb himself on yesterday even。〃
CHAPTER X。
There entering in; they found the goodman selfe
Full busylie unto his work ybent;
Who was to weet a wretched wearish elf;
With hollow eyes and rawbone cheeks forspent;
As if he had been long in prison pent。 THE FAERY QUEENE。
〃Are we far from the dwelling of this smith; my pretty lad?〃
said Tressilian to his young guide。
〃How is it you call me?〃 said the boy; looking askew at him with
his sharp; grey eyes。
〃I call you my pretty ladis there any offence in that; my boy?〃
〃No; but were you with my grandam and Dominie Holiday; you might
sing chorus to the old song of
'We three
Tom…fools be。'〃
〃And why so; my little man?〃 said Tressilian。
〃Because;〃 answered the ugly urchin; 〃you are the only three ever
called me pretty lad。 Now my grandam does it because she is
parcel blind by age; and whole blind by kindred; and my master;
the poor Dominie; does it to curry favour; and have the fullest
platter of furmity and the warmest seat by the fire。 But what
you call me pretty lad for; you know best yourself。〃
〃Thou art a sharp wag at least; if not a pretty one。 But what do
thy playfellows call thee?〃
〃Hobgoblin;〃 answered the boy readily; 〃but for all that; I would
rather have my own ugly viznomy than any of their jolter…heads;
that have no more brains in them than a brick…bat。〃
〃Then you fear not this smith whom you are going to see?〃
〃Me fear him!〃 answered the boy。 〃If he were the devil folk
think him; I would not fear him; but though there is something
queer about him; he's no more a devil than you are; and that's
what I would not tell to every one。〃
〃And why do you tell it to me; then; my boy?〃 said Tressilian。
〃Because you are another guess gentleman than those we see here
every day;〃 replied Dickie; 〃and though I am as ugly as sin; I
would not have you think me an ass; especially as I may have a
boon to ask of you one day。〃
〃And what is that; my lad; whom I must not call pretty?〃 replied
Tressilian。
〃Oh; if I were to ask it just now;〃 said the boy; 〃you would deny
it me; but I will wait till we meet at court。〃
〃At court; Richard! are you bound for court?〃 said Tressilian。
〃Ay; ay; that's just like the rest of them;〃 replied the boy。 〃I
warrant me; you think; what should such an ill…favoured;
scrambling urchin do at court? But let Richard Sludge alone; I
have not been cock of the roost here for nothing。 I will make
sharp wit mend foul feature。〃
〃But what will your grandam say; and your tutor; Dominie
Holiday?〃
〃E'en what they like;〃 replied Dickie; 〃the one has her chickens
to reckon; and the other has his boys to whip。 I would have
given them the candle to hold long since; and shown this trumpery
hamlet a fair pair of heels; but that Dominie promises I should
go with him to bear share in the next pageant he is to set forth;
and they say there are to be great revels shortly。〃
〃And whereabouts are they to be held; my little friend?〃 said
Tressilian。
〃Oh; at some castle far in the north;〃 answered his guide〃a
world's breadth from Berkshire。 But our old Dominie holds that
they cannot go forward without him; and it may be he is right;
for he has put in order many a fair pageant。 He is not half the
fool you would take him for; when he gets to work he understands;
and so he can spout verses like a play…actor; when; God wot; if
you set him to steal a goose's egg; he would be drubbed by the
gander。〃
〃And you are to play a part in his next show?〃 said Tressilian;
somewhat interested by the boy's boldness of conversation and
shrewd estimate of character。
〃In faith;〃 said Richard Sludge; in answer; 〃he hath so promised
me; and if he break his word; it will be the worse for him; for
let me take the bit between my teeth; and turn my head downhill;
and I will shake him off with a fall that may harm his bones。
And I should not like much to hurt him neither;〃 said he; 〃for
the tiresome old fool has painfully laboured to teach me all he
could。 But enough of thathere are we at Wayland Smith's forge…
door。〃
〃You jest; my little friend;〃 said Tressilian; 〃here is nothing
but a bare moor; and that ring of stones; with a great one in the
midst; like a Cornish barrow。〃
〃Ay; and that great flat stone in the midst; which lies across
the top of these uprights;〃 said the boy; 〃is Wayland Smith's
counter; that you must tell down your money upon。〃
〃What do you mean by such folly?〃 said the traveller; beginning
to be angry with the boy; and vexed with himself for having
trusted such a hare…brained guide。
〃Why;〃 said Dickie; with a grin; 〃you must tie your horse to that
upright stone that has the ring in't; and then you must whistle
three times; and lay me down your silver groat on that other flat
stone; walk out of the circle; sit down on the west side of that
little thicket of bushes; and take heed you look neither to right
nor to left for ten minutes; or so long as you shall hear the
hammer clink; and whenever it ceases; say your prayers for the
space you could tell a hundredor count over a hundred; which
will do as welland then come into the circle; you will find
your money gone and your horse shod。〃
〃My money gone to a certainty!〃 said Tressilian; 〃but as for the
restHark ye; my lad; I am not your school…master; but if you
play off your waggery on me; I will take a part of his task off
his hands; and punish you to purpose。〃
〃Ay; when you catch me!〃 said the boy; and presently took to his
heels across the heath; with a velocity which baffled every
attempt of Tressilian to overtake him; loaded as he was with his
heavy boots。 Nor was it the least provoking part of the urchin's
conduct; that he did not exert his utmost speed; like one who
finds himself in danger; or who is frightened; but preserved just
such a rate as to encourage Tressilian to continue the chase; and
then darted away from him with the swiftness of the wind; when
his pursuer supposed he had nearly run him down; doubling at the
same time; and winding; so as always to keep near the place from
which he started。
This lasted until Tressilian; from very weariness; stood still;
and was about to abandon the pursuit with a hearty curse on the
ill…favoured urchin; who had engaged him in an exercise so
ridiculous。 But the boy; who had; as formerly; planted himself
on the top of a hillock close in front; began to clap his long;
thin hands; point with his skinny fingers; and twist his wild and
ugly features into such an extravagant expression of laughter and
derision; that Tressilian began half to doubt whether he had not
in view an actual hobgoblin。
Provoked extremely; yet at the same time feeling an irresistible
desire to laugh; so very odd were the boy's grimaces and
gesticulations; the Cornishman returned to his horse; and mounted
him with the purpose of pursuing Dickie at more advantage。
The boy no sooner saw him mount his horse; than he holloed out to
him that; rather than he should spoil his white…footed nag; he
would come to him; on condition he would keep his fingers to
himself。
〃I will make no conditions with thee; thou ugly varlet!〃 said
Tressilian; 〃I will have thee at my mercy in a moment。〃
〃Aha; Master Traveller;〃 said the boy; 〃there is a marsh hard by
would swallow all the horses of the Queen's guard。 I will into
it; and see where you will go then。 You shall hear the bittern
bump; and the wild…drake quack; ere you get hold of me without my
consent; I promise you。〃
Tressilian looked out; and; from the appearance of the ground
behind the hillock; believed it might be as the boy said; and
accordingly determined to strike up a peace with so light…footed
and ready…witted an enemy。 〃Come down;〃 he said; 〃thou
mischievous brat! Leave thy mopping and mowing; and; come
hither。
I will do thee no harm; as I am a gentleman。〃
The boy answered his invitation with the utmost confidence; and
danced down from his stance with a galliard sort of step; keeping
his eye at the same time fixed on Tressilian's; who; once more
dismounted; stood with his horse's bridle in his hand;
breathless; and half exhausted with his fruitless exercise;
though not one drop of moisture appeared on the freckled forehead
of the urchin; which looked like a piece of dry and discoloured
parchment; drawn tight across the brow of a fleshless skull。
〃And tell me;〃 said Tressilian; 〃why you use me thus; thou
mischievous imp? or what your meaning is by telling me so absurd
a legend as you wished but now to put on me? Or rather show me;
in good earnest; this smith's forge; and I will give thee what
will buy thee apples through the whole winter。〃
〃Were you to give me an orchard of apples;〃 said Dickie Sludge;
〃I can guide thee no better than I have done。 Lay down the
silver token on the flat stonewhistle three timesthen come