Ivanhoe

"'Drink hael', Holy Clerk of Copmanhurst!" answered the warrior, and did

his host reason in a similar brimmer.

"Holy Clerk," said the stranger, after the first cup was thus swallowed,

"I cannot but marvel that a man possessed of such thews and sinews as

thine, and who therewithal shows the talent of so goodly a trencher-man,

should think of abiding by himself in this wilderness. In my judgment,

you are fitter to keep a castle or a fort, eating of the fat and

drinking of the strong, than to live here upon pulse and water, or even

upon the charity of the keeper. At least, were I as thou, I should find

myself both disport and plenty out of the king's deer. There is many a

goodly herd in these forests, and a buck will never be missed that goes

to the use of Saint Dunstan's chaplain."

"Sir Sluggish Knight," replied the Clerk, "these are dangerous words,

and I pray you to forbear them. I am true hermit to the king and law,

and were I to spoil my liege's game, I should be sure of the prison,

and, an my gown saved me not, were in some peril of hanging."

"Nevertheless, were I as thou," said the knight, "I would take my walk

by moonlight, when foresters and keepers were warm in bed, and ever

and anon,--as I pattered my prayers,--I would let fly a shaft among the

herds of dun deer that feed in the glades--Resolve me, Holy Clerk, hast

thou never practised such a pastime?"

"Friend Sluggard," answered the hermit, "thou hast seen all that can

concern thee of my housekeeping, and something more than he deserves who

takes up his quarters by violence. Credit me, it is better to enjoy

the good which God sends thee, than to be impertinently curious how it

comes. Fill thy cup, and welcome; and do not, I pray thee, by further

impertinent enquiries, put me to show that thou couldst hardly have made

good thy lodging had I been earnest to oppose thee."

"By my faith," said the knight, "thou makest me more curious than ever!

Thou art the most mysterious hermit I ever met; and I will know more of

thee ere we part. As for thy threats, know, holy man, thou speakest to

one whose trade it is to find out danger wherever it is to be met with."

"Sir Sluggish Knight, I drink to thee," said the hermit; "respecting thy

valour much, but deeming wondrous slightly of thy discretion. If thou

wilt take equal arms with me, I will give thee, in all friendship and

brotherly love, such sufficing penance and complete absolution, that

thou shalt not for the next twelve months sin the sin of excess of

curiosity."