"Moreover, the evil reputation of the master, and his strange and

doubtful end, or at least sudden disappearance, prevented any, excepting

the most desperate of men, to seek any advice or opinion from the

servant; wherefore, the poor vermin was likely at first to swarf for

very hunger. But the devil that serves him, since the death of Demetrius

or Doboobie, put him on a fresh device. This knave, whether from the

inspiration of the devil, or from early education, shoes horses better

than e'er a man betwixt us and Iceland; and so he gives up his practice

on the bipeds, the two-legged and unfledged species called mankind, and

betakes him entirely to shoeing of horses."

"Indeed! and where does he lodge all this time?" said Tressilian. "And

does he shoe horses well? Show me his dwelling presently."

The interruption pleased not the Magister, who exclaimed, "O CAECA MENS

MORTALIUM!--though, by the way, I used that quotation before. But I

would the classics could afford me any sentiment of power to stop those

who are so willing to rush upon their own destruction. Hear but, I pray

you, the conditions of this man," said he, in continuation, "ere you are

so willing to place yourself within his danger--"

"A' takes no money for a's work," said the dame, who stood by,

enraptured as it were with the line words and learned apophthegms which

glided so fluently from her erudite inmate, Master Holiday. But this

interruption pleased not the Magister more than that of the traveller.

"Peace," said he, "Gammer Sludge; know your place, if it be your will.

SUFFLAMINA, Gammer Sludge, and allow me to expound this matter to our

worshipful guest.--Sir," said he, again addressing Tressilian, "this

old woman speaks true, though in her own rude style; for certainly this

FABER FERRARIUS, or blacksmith, takes money of no one."

"And that is a sure sign he deals with Satan," said Dame Sludge; "since

no good Christian would ever refuse the wages of his labour."

"The old woman hath touched it again," said the pedagogue; "REM ACU

TETIGIT--she hath pricked it with her needle's point. This Wayland takes

no money, indeed; nor doth he show himself to any one."

"And can this madman, for such I hold him," said the traveller, "know

aught like good skill of his trade?"

"Oh, sir, in that let us give the devil his due--Mulciber himself, with

all his Cyclops, could hardly amend him. But assuredly there is little

wisdom in taking counsel or receiving aid from one who is but too

plainly in league with the author of evil."




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