And all this truly for
fellows like unto thee."
WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.
"Whom a God came down from heaven to save."
SIR THOMAS.
"Silas! he hangeth not. William, I must have the heads of the
sermon, six or seven of 'em; thou hast whetted my appetite keenly.
How! dost duck thy pate into thy hat? nay, nay, that is proper and
becoming at church; we need not such solemnity. Repeat unto us the
setting forth at St. Mary's."
Whereupon did William Shakspeare entreat of Master Silas that he
would help him in his ghostly endeavours, by repeating what he
called the PRELIMINARY prayer; which prayer I find nowhere in our
ritual, and do suppose it to be one of those Latin supplications
used in our learned universities now or erewhile.
I am afeard it hath not the approbation of the strictly orthodox,
for inasmuch as Master Silas at such entreaty did close his teeth
against it, and with teeth thus closed did say, Athanasiuswise, "Go
and be damned!"
Bill was not disheartened, but said he hoped better, and began
thus:-
"'My brethren!' said the preacher, 'or rather let me call you my
children, such is my age confronted with yours, for the most part,--
my children, then, and my brethren (for here are both), believe me,
killing is forbidden.
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