The utmost we can allow in propriety is to call a
knight Phoebus, and a dame Diana. They are not meat for every
trencher.
"We must now proceed straightforward with the business on which thou
comest before us. What further sayest thou, witness?"
EUSEBY TREEN.
"His face was toward me; I saw it clearly. The graver man followed
him into the punt, and said, roughly, 'We shall get hanged as sure
as thou pipest.'
"Whereunto he answered, -
'Naturally, as fall upon the ground
The leaves in winter and the girls in spring.'
And then began he again with the mermaid; whereat the graver man
clapped a hand before his mouth, and swore he should take her in
wedlock, to have and to hold, if he sang another stave. 'And thou
shalt be her pretty little bridemaid,' quoth he gaily to the graver
man, chucking him under the chin."
SIR THOMAS.
"And what did Carnaby say unto thee, or what didst thou say unto
Carnaby?"
EUSEBY TREEN.
"Carnaby said unto me, somewhat tauntingly, 'The big squat man, that
lay upon thy bread-basket like a nightmare, is a punt at last, it
seems.'
"'Punt, and more too,' answered I. 'Tarry awhile, and thou shalt
see this punt (so let me call it) lead them into temptation, and
swamp them or carry them to the gallows; I would not stay else.
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