Thou art not of the
indigent and destitute, who have great temptations; thou art not of
the wealthy and affluent, who have greater still. God hath placed
thee, William Shakspeare, in that pleasant island, on one side
whereof are the sirens, on the other the harpies, but inhabiting the
coasts on the wider continent, and unable to make their talons felt,
or their voices heard by thee. Unite with me in prayer and
thanksgiving for the blessings thus vouchsafed. We must not close
the heart when the finger of God would touch it. Enough, if thou
sayest only, MY SOUL, PRAISE THOU THE LORD!'"
Sir Thomas said, "AMEN!" Master Silas was mute for the moment, but
then quoth he, "I can say amen too in the proper place."
The knight of Charlecote, who appeared to have been much taken with
this conversation, then interrogated Willy:-
"What farther might have been thy discourse with the doctor? or did
he discourse at all at trencher-time? Thou must have been very much
abashed to sit down at table with one who weareth a pure lambskin
across his shoulder, and moreover a pink hood."
WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.
"Faith! was I, your honour! and could neither utter nor gulp."
SIR THOMAS.
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