Quoth CARRYL: "and moreover, where he met
The lowly Monk, and that most gentle fair,

Whose small soft fingers, throbbing through her glove, Made YORICK spite his breeches' guess at love. (1)

66

XCII.

No, I have not forgot; but you, my friend,
Have you to learn that such things I despise ?
No pilgrim devotee am I, to wend

Long journeys to the sepulchre where lies
The slough of some great poet, or to bend
In awe o'er musty relics of the wise.

Urns, tombs, to me, are simply tombs and urns,

A room no marvel, though you name it Sterne's (2).

XCIII.

"No, FELIX; such realities for me

Are clogs to fancy, and not aids. And here

The spot's sole interest comes from history.

.....

'King EDWARD's leaguer, and the brave SAINT

PIERRE?"

.....

"The same. You have the story fresh, I see.

It is a brief one, if the inn is near :

Pray tell it me; for well I know you can."

Bow'd FELIX, blush'd, and, modest, thus began:

(1) See, in the Sentimental Journey, the chapters headed The Monk, The Remise, etc. Spite his "breeches," spite of his sacerdotal character. See the Journey.

(2) At Dessin's, say the guide-books, is shown a room where STERNE is said to have written part of his Sentimental Journey. The door is inscribed, "This is Sterne's room."

XCIV.

"'T was after CRECI's day of great renown,
When folly wrought the lilies fell mischance (1),
The victor on the fifth day sat him down

Before the ramparts of this key of FRANCE (2).
JOHN of VIENNE then govern'd in the town;
Than whom a bolder knight ne'er shiver'd lance.
So, hopeless to achieve the place by storm,
The British king laid siege to it in form.

XCV.

"He cast intrenchments on each landward side,
And built a town of huts to hold his men,
Where winter's sleet and rain might be defy'd ;
For autumn weather was commencing then.
The CALAISANS with food were well supply'd
By sea; but when this came to EDWARD's ken,
He rais'd a wooden castle 'twixt the shore
And town, and intercepted every store.

(1) The ENGLISH owed their success in the battle of CRECI, not more to the prudence and valor of their sovereign, and the skilful disposition of his slender forces, than to the impetuosity, overconfidence, and want of discipline of the enemy, whose very numbers, under their mismanagement, were a material cause of their defeat, and certainly, when once the fortune of the day had turned against them, rendered it irretrievable. HUME has therefore said, that "the whole" affair was "rather a rout than a battle."

(2) The battle of CRECI was fought on a Saturday, and, on Thursday of the next week, EDWARD, whose promptness in action (that great requisite in a commander) was never anywhere more conspicuous than in FRANCE, appeared before the walls of CALAIS.

XCVI.

"And now began the leagur'd to despair.
No succor from king PHILIP seem'd at hand.
In little time, so scanty grew their fare,

The famine would be more than they could stand.
Yet all the useless mouths they number'd there
Had been expell'd, by DE VIENNE's command;
(All whom the royal BRITON fed, men say,
And pitying sent, with money, on their way.)

XCVII.

"Nor when at length the citizens descry'd,
From their beleagur'd walls, the white tents spread,
Upon the hill of Sangate, far and wide,
Which told them of an army thither led
To raise the siege and combat on their side,
Did Hope long flatter them; for EDWARD sped
A force to guard the approaches to the town
And keep the hostile FRENCH from coming down.

XCVIII.

"The passes of approach were only two;
One by the downs; the other o'er a swamp
Spann'd by a single bridge, the which a few,
But chosen spirits, of right valiant stamp,
Maintain'd with ease. So after much ado
Of parley, and some fight, the FRENCH decamp,
Retire to AMIENS, are disbanded there,

And leave the CALAISANS to their despair.

XCIX.

"Upon the ramparts, for his townsmen's sake,
And at their prayer, stood then the bold VIENNE,
And made a sign for parley. Thus he spake,
To the deputed BRITONS: Gentlemen,
Our lord and sovereign set us here to take
Good care of this his town and castle. Then,
Being strong, we did so, and should do so still,
But that the means are wanting to our will.

C.

"Go tell your king, whose gallantry we know,
We have done our best, but now can do no more,
Yet feel a hope his clemency will show
Compassion, and that, seeing we give o'er
Into his hands the town, he will forego

All vengeance meditated on the score
Of past resistance, and dismiss us free,

To seek a new home where'er that shall be.

CI.

"His loss, our town will quit it, and our treasure.' To which Sir WALTER MANNÝ (of the two (1)

Sent to VIENNE) reply'd Our master's pleasure

:

Is known to us; and thus it is in few:

The king is wroth with you beyond all measure,

And will not hear of terms. Without ado,

You must submit ; and, as may be his will,
Some he will put to ransom, others kill.'

(1) Sir WALTER MANNY and the lord BASSET. FROISSARD.

CII.

"Then answer'd DE VIENNE.

'Too hard are these conditions.

Thus answer'd he :

We be here

Not many knights and squires, who 've done as ye
In a like case had done, and though severe
Have been our sufferings, yet prepar'd are we
To brave the extremest ills that men can bear,
Before the merest hind that mans our wall
Shall fare worse than the best among us all.

666

CIII.

I therefore beg you would return and crave Compassion for us, which, for that I know Your king is great of mind as well as brave, I trust he will, through GoD's dear mercy, show.' Return'd the knights, and pray'd the king to wave His purpose; but the monarch answer'd, no. Then said Sir WALTER, full of grief and shame, 'My lord, you may in this be much to blame.

666

CIV.

Hereafter, if you send us to maintain
A town or castle, we shall have less heart,
Seeing that if this people's prayer be vain,
And you should slay them for the valiant part
And loyal they have acted, it is plain

The FRENCH will do the like, should chance impart
A like occasion 'gainst us.' Gave accord

The barons round the throne. Then thus their lord: