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the bank； and more than once let my rod drop from my hands into the
water。
At some distance from the city； behind a range of hilly ground
which rises towards the south…west； is a small river； the waters of
which； after many meanderings； eventually enter the principal river
of the district； and assist to swell the tide which it rolls down
to the ocean。 It is a sweet rivulet； and pleasant is it to trace
its course from its spring…head； high up in the remote regions of
Eastern Anglia； till it arrives in the valley behind yon rising
ground； and pleasant is that valley； truly a goodly spot； but most
lovely where yonder bridge crosses the little stream。 Beneath its
arch the waters rush garrulously into a blue pool； and are there
stilled； for a time； for the pool is deep； and they appear to have
sunk to sleep。 Farther on； however； you hear their voice again；
where they ripple gaily over yon gravelly shallow。 On the left；
the hill slopes gently down to the margin of the stream。 On the
right is a green level； a smiling meadow； grass of the richest
decks the side of the slope； mighty trees also adorn it； giant
elms； the nearest of which； when the sun is nigh its meridian；
fling a broad shadow upon the face of the pool； through yon vista
you catch a glimpse of the ancient brick of an old English hall。
It has a stately look； that old building； indistinctly seen； as it
is； among those umbrageous trees； you might almost suppose it an
earl's home； and such it was； or rather upon its site stood an
earl's home； in days of old； for there some old Kemp； some Sigurd
or Thorkild； roaming in quest of a hearthstead； settled down in the
gray old time； when Thor and Freya were yet gods； and Odin was a
portentous name。 Yon old hall is still called the Earl's Home；
though the hearth of Sigurd is now no more； and the bones of the
old Kemp； and of Sigrith his dame； have been mouldering for a
thousand years in some neighbouring knoll； perhaps yonder； where
those tall Norwegian pines shoot up so boldly into the air。 It is
said that the old earl's galley was once moored where is now that
blue pool； for the waters of that valley were not always sweet； yon
valley was once an arm of the sea； a salt lagoon； to which the war…
barks of 'Sigurd； in search of a home；' found their way。
I was in the habit of spending many an hour on the banks of that
rivulet； with my rod in my hand； and； when tired with angling；
would stretch myself on the grass； and gaze upon the waters as they
glided past； and not unfrequently； divesting myself of my dress； I
would plunge into the deep pool which I have already mentioned； for
I had long since learned to swim。 And it came to pass that on one
hot summer's day； after bathing in the pool； I passed along the
meadow till I came to a shallow part； and； wading over to the
opposite side； I adjusted my dress； and commenced fishing in
another pool； beside which was a small clump of hazels。
And there I sat upon the bank； at the bottom of the hill which
slopes down from 'the Earl's home'； my float was on the waters； and
my back was towards the old hall。 I drew up many fish； small and
great； which I took from off the hook mechanically； and flung upon
the bank； for I was almost unconscious of what I was about； for my
mind was not with my fish。 I was thinking of my earlier years … of
the Scottish crags and the heaths of Ireland … and sometimes my
mind would dwell on my studies … on the sonorous stanzas of Dante；
rising and falling like the waves of the sea … or would strive to
remember a couplet or two of poor Monsieur Boileau。
'Canst thou answer to thy conscience for pulling all those fish out
of the water； and leaving them to gasp in the sun？' said a voice；
clear and sonorous as a bell。
I started； and looked round。 Close behind me stood the tall figure
of a man； dressed in raiment of quaint and singular fashion； but of
goodly materials。 He was in the prime and vigour of manhood； his
features handsome and noble； but full of calmness and benevolence；
at least I thought so； though they were somewhat shaded by a hat of
finest beaver； with broad drooping eaves。
'Surely that is a very cruel diversion in which thou indulgest； my
young friend？' he continued。
'I am sorry for it； if it be； sir；' said I； rising； 'but I do not
think it cruel to fish。'
'What are thy reasons for not thinking so？'
'Fishing is mentioned frequently in Scripture。 Simon Peter was a
fisherman。'
'True； and Andrew and his brother。 But thou forgettest： they did
not follow fishing as a diversion； as I fear thou doest。 … Thou
readest the Scriptures？'
'Sometimes。'
'Sometimes？ … not daily？ … that is to be regretted。 What
profession dost thou make？ … I mean to what religious denomination
dost thou belong； my young friend。'
'Church？'
'It is a very good profession … there is much of Scripture
contained in its liturgy。 Dost thou read aught besides the
Scriptures？'
'Sometimes。'
'What dost thou read besides？'
'Greek； and Dante。'
'Indeed！ then thou hast the advantage over myself； I can only read
the former。 Well； I am rejoiced to find that thou hast other
pursuits beside thy fishing。 Dost thou know Hebrew？'
'No。'
'Thou shouldst study it。 Why dost thou not undertake the study？'
'I have no books。'
'I will lend thee books； if thou wish to undertake the study。 I
live yonder at the hall； as perhaps thou knowest。 I have a library
there； in which are many curious books； both in Greek and Hebrew；
which I will show to thee； whenever thou mayest find it convenient
to come and see me。 Farewell！ I am glad to find that thou hast
pursuits more satisfactory than thy cruel fishing。'
And the man of peace departed； and left me on the bank of the
stream。 Whether from the effect of his words； or from want of
inclination to the sport； I know not； but from that day I became
less and less a practitioner of that 'cruel fishing。' I rarely
flung line and angle into the water； but I not unfrequently
wandered by the banks of the pleasant rivulet。 It seems singular
to me； on reflection； that I never availed myself of his kind
invitation。 I say singular； for the extraordinary； under whatever
form； had long had no slight interest for me； and I had discernment
enough to perceive that yon was no common man。 Yet I went not near
him； certainly not from bashfulness or timidity； feelings to which
I had long been an entire stranger。 Am I to regret this？ perhaps；
for I might have learned both wisdom and righteousness from those
calm； quiet lips； and my after…course might have been widely
different。 As it was； I fell in with other guess companions； from
whom I received widely different impressions than those I might
have derived from him。 When many years had rolled on； long after I
had attained manhood； and had seen and suffered much； and when our
first interview had long since been effaced from the mind of the
man of peace； I visited him in his venerable hall； and partook of
the hospitality of his hearth。 And there I saw his gentle partner
and his fair children； and on the morrow he showed me the books of
which he had spoken years before by the side of the stream。 In the
low quiet chamber； whose one window； shaded by a gigantic elm；
looks down the slope towards the pleasant stream； he took from the
shelf his learned books； Zohar and Mishna； Toldoth Jesu and
Abarbenel。 'I am fond of these studies；' said he； 'which； perhaps；
is not to be wondered at； seeing that our people have been
compared to the Jews。 In one respect I confess we are similar to
them； we are fond of getting money。 I do not like this last
author； this Abarbenel； the worse for having been a money…changer。
I am a banker myself； as thou knowest。'
And would there were many like him； amidst the money…changers of
princes！ The hall of many an earl lacks the bounty； the palace of
many a prelate the piety and learning； which adorn the quiet
quaker's home！
CHAPTER XVI
Fair of horses … Looks of respect … The fast trotter … Pair of eyes
… Strange men … Jasper； your pal … Force of blood … Young lady with
diamonds … Not quite so beautiful。
I WAS standing on the castle hill in the midst of a fair of horses。
I have already had occasion to mention this castle。 It is the
remains of what was once a Norman stronghold； and is perched upon a
round mound or monticle； in the midst of the old city。 Steep is
this mound and scarped； evidently by the hand of man； a deep gorge
over which is flung a bridge； separates it； on the south； from a
broad swell of open ground called 'the hill'； of old the scene of
many a tournament and feat of Norman chivalry； but now much used as
a show…place for cattle；