CXXXII.

"In future, not to trust to faith so light
A charge so precious, suffer me to pray
That you would condescend your name to write
Upon this leaf, or any other way
Enable me in Memory's despite

To keep the recollection of this day

Secure, by knowing to whose grace I owe
A pleasure Fortune does not oft bestow."

CXXXIII.

So saying, smiling, with a sportive air,
Yet gallantly withal, and with much grace,

The little chart, which in his hand he bare,
CARRYL transferr'd to BLANCHE, whose lovely face
Blush'd faintly like a budding rose, and ware

A look of hesitation, for a space.

Then, in a hand not coarse, though bold and steady, She wrote for ARTHUR what we know already.

CXXXIV.

"Thanks," said the youth; " and there; a fair exchange," And handed her a card of his address.

BLANCHE seem'd to think the whole proceeding strange,
(And, sooth to say, she could not deem it less,)
But, being dispos'd to give his humor range,
With a sweet laugh that did her thoughts express
The billet took. Just then a voice, quite near,

Exclaim'd in English, "Taking notes, too! Queer! "

110

AN UNPLEASANT INTERRUPTION.

CXXXV.

The voice was neither pleasant, nor refin'd,
Not bass, nor tenor, bariton, nor treble,
But a strange medley of all four combin'd,
That prov'd the owner was a desperate rebel
Against all harmony of every kind.

Our gallant turn'd, and lo, where Mr. PEBBLE! The master of the bagpipe stood alone,

And must have meant for CARRYL's ear its drone.

CXXXVI.

"Sir !
cry'd our hero. Not so huge a leap
Made DORALICE's pony, when the art
Of MALAGIGI caus'd the devil to creep
Into its bowels; (1) not, at least, a start
So sudden, (for my Muse prefers to keep
To truth;) as PEBBLE, when, on CARRYL's part
Anticipating a more rude attack,

He leapt, not forward like the nag, but back.

(1) Nel mansueto ubino, che sul dosso

Avea la figlia del re Stordilano,
Fece entrare un degli angel di Minosso
Sol con parole il frate di Viviano:
E quel, che dianzi mai non s'era mosso,
Se non quanto ubbidito avea alla mano,
Or d'improvviso spiccò in aria un salto,
Che trenta piè fu lungo, e sedici alto.

Orl. Furioso, xxvi. 129.

CXXXVII.

At length recovering from the sound and stroke
Of ARTHUR'S voice and ARTHUR'S flashing eyes,
This other pibrach from the cornmuse (1) broke

In tones of mingled terror and surprise:

66

66

'Why what's the matter now?" ('t was thus he spoke ;) I hope I have offended in no wise?

But if I have, when peaceful my intent is,

I must, as OVID says, be compos mentis (2).”

(1) Cornmuse (cornemuse, Fr., cornamusa, Ital.). This name for that very ancient and classical instrument, the bagpipe," was long ago made English by CHAUCER. See the House of Fame, Bk. iii. 128. The word coalesces well and elegantly with the language, and forms a useful synonym for the purposes of poetry.

(2) The proficient on NERO's instrument must have meant to use the law-phrase, non compos mentis.

* The precise antiquity of this rude instrument is not ascertained, though for several reasons it may be supposed to be considerable. It was known to the GREEKS under the name of doros (saccus e corio factus, a bag made of hide.) See BARTHOLINUS, De Tib. Vet. iii. 7, who cites an epistle attributed to ST. JEROME, where the latter describes the instrument under the term choros (which SAUMAISE thought should be written doros). SUETONIUS, in his Life of NERO (c. lxiv.), mentions that emperor as having vowed to act the part of an utricularius, (which MARTIAL calls, from the Greek, ascaules, (Ep. x. 3,) and SENECA, perhaps, pithaules (Epist. x. 77,)) that is, of a bagpiper; and the poet VIRGIL is generally thought to allude to this instrument in a descriptive periphrasis, in his Copa. These, it will be perceived, are comparatively modern authorities.

In the Santa-Croce palace at ROME, there is a low-relief of an ancient bag. pipe, with a single pipe and two reeds. It is mentioned by MONTFAUCON, BIANCHINI, and other antiquaries. There is a representation of it likewise in FERRARIO: Cost. Ant. e Mod. - Europa. iii. Tav. 121. On page 82 (note) of the same volume (ed. 2a.) we are told, that the most ancient and perhaps the only monument in which is seen a species of cornmuse properly so called is a cammeo published by FICORONI; Masch. Scen. Tav. 83.

CXXXVIII.

"Matter?"quoth ARTHUR, but with much ado, For now he felt most strongly mov'd to laughter; "Offended? Pray, what interest have you

In this young lady, that you dare, and after

So very impudent a fashion too,

To interfere between us?" Had a rafter

By some rare chance then fallen, and PEBBLE wounded, He had felt worse, but not much worse confounded.

CXXXIX.

"Lord!" he exclaim'd, and "Goodness gracious me!" When seeing a smile on CARRYL's handsome face, He fell a laughing, and so heartily,

It actually convuls'd him for a space.

"I only thought, sir, that you seem'd to be,

As I, collecting notes about this place."..

Comparing them," said ARTHUR, "I suppose." Then PEBBLE laid a finger on his nose :

CXL.

"Good! Bravo! Very good! Well, as I

--

(CARRYL turn'd round.) "Do hear my explanation!"
"I'm satisfy'd," said ARTHUR ; "sir, good day.
What would you have?" he added, in vexation,
And some disgust, as PEBBLE stopp'd the way,
And seiz'd a button to maintain his station :
"The devil, sir! if you must speak, be quick.
And speak in French, if we 're to hear you speak.

CXLI.

"Was ever such an ass ! he said aside,

In her own tongue, to BLANCHE, who look'd amaz'd, And now her escort, now the cockney ey'd,

Nor doubted that the latter must be craz'd.

But, when she saw him walking by their side,
And CARRYL's bidding him speak French had rais'd
Her curiosity, with secret mirth

She waited for the laboring mountain's birth.

CXLII.

It heav'd; it strain'd; and lo! the mouse came out : je vous . . . . . T is no use to try!

"Je veux vous

...

I never really know what I 'm about
Whenever, where there's no necessity,
I travel from my long-accustom'd route,
And put a je for you, and vous for I.

I beg, young gentleman, you'll not withstand
My speaking in a tongue I understand.

CXLIII.

"That is, I mean, I manage with facility.

And if that lady be the bar indeed,

And your request was made in mere civility,

You can interpret me in case of need;

For which, no doubt, you have the due ability."

"In Heaven's name," cry'd ARTHUR, "then proceed!

We want to be alone, as you should know.

In few words then, and quick; and let us go."