IVANHOE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21156, 1 October 1938, Page 28 (Supplement)

IVANHOE

A STORY OF THE AGE OF CHIVALRY

By

SIR WALTER SCOTT

CHAPTER 14

The Hermit’s Weapons

The hermit only replied by a grin, and returning Io the hutch, he produced a leathern bottle, which might contain about four quarts. He now seemed to think no further ceremony necessary on his part, but did as great honour to both pasty and wine as the knight. “I wonder,” said the knight, “why a man possessed of such thews and sinews as yours, should think of abiding by himself in this wilderness. Were las you, I should find myself both disport and plenty out of a king’s deer. There is many a goodly herd in these forests, and a buck will never be missed that goes to your use.”

“Sir Knight,” replied the hermit, “I am a true hermit to the king and law.” “Be honest, Holy Clerk, have you never let fly a shaft among the herds of deer that feed in the glades?” asked the knight. “Sir Knight,” answered the hermit, “you have seen more of my housekeeping that he deserves who takes up his quarters by violence. Fill your cup, and welcome; and do not, I pray you, by further impertinent inquiries, put me to show that you could hardly have made good your lodging had I been in earnest to oppose you.” “By the faith,” said the knight, “you make me more curious than ever! Which weapons would you choose Were you to take arms with me?”

“If I am to make the election, what say you, good friend, to these trinkets?”

Wine and Song

Thus speaking, he opened another hutch, and took out from it a couple of broadswords and bucklers, such as were used by the yeomanry of the period. The knight observed that this second place of concealment was furnished with various bows and some arrows, too. A harp was also visible when this dark recess was opened.

“The contents of that cupboard are an answer to all my inquiries,” said the Black Knight, ■ “and I see a weapon there” (here he stopped and took out the harp), “on which I would more gladly prove my skill with you than at the sword and buckler.”

“Sit down then and fill your cup,” said the hermit, “let us drink, sing and be merry. If you know a good ballad, you shall always be welcome to a pasty and a cup of wine as long as I serve the chapel of St. Dunstan. When the song was ended, the hermit declared it a good one, and well sung. Then he reached the harp and entertained his guest with a merry ballad about the gay life of the Barefooted Friar, about all the adventures he meets on his way, about all the good food and brown ale kind people give him. The ballad ended in the words:—

“For to gather life’s roses, unscathed by the briar, Is granted alone to the Barefooted Friar.”

“By my troth,” said the knight, “you have sung well and lustily, and in high praise of your order. And, talking of the devil, Holy Clerk, are you not afraid that he may pay you a visit during some of your uncanonical pastimes?”