``Holyfather，’’saidtheknight，``uponwhosecountenanceithathpleasedHeaventoworksuchamiracle，permitasinfullaymantocravethyname?’’
　　``Thoumaystcallme，’’answeredthehermit，``theClerkofCopmanhurst，forsoIamtermedintheseparts——Theyadd，itistrue，theepithetholy，butIstandnotuponthat，asbeingunworthyofsuchaddition——Andnow，valiantknight，mayI
　　prayyeforthenameofmyhonourableguest?’’
　　``Truly，’’saidtheknight，``HolyClerkofCopmanhurst，mencallmeinthesepartstheBlackKnight，——many，sir，addtoittheepithetofSluggard，wherebyIamnowayambitioustobedistinguished。’’
　　Thehermitcouldscarcelyforbearfromsmilingathisguest’sreply。
　　``Isee，’’saidhe，``SirSluggishKnight，thatthouartamanofprudenceandofcounsel；andmoreover，Iseethatmypoormonasticfarelikestheenot，accustomed，perhaps，asthouhastbeen，tothelicenseofcourtsandofcamps，andtheluxuriesofcities；andnowIbethinkme，SirSluggard，thatwhenthecharitablekeeperofthisforest-walkleftthosedogsformyprotection，andalsothosebundlesofforage，heleftmealsosomefood，which，beingunfitformyuse，theveryrecollectionofithadescapedmeamidmymoreweightymeditations。’’
　　``Idarebeswornhedidso，’’saidtheknight；``I
　　wasconvincedthattherewasbetterfoodinthecell，HolyClerk，sinceyoufirstdoffedyourcowl——Yourkeeperiseverajovialfellow；andnonewhobeheldthygrinderscontendingwiththesepease，andthythroatfloodedwiththisungenialelement，couldseetheedoomedtosuchhorse-provenderandhorse-beverage，’’
　　pointingtotheprovisionsuponthetable，``andrefrainfrommendingthycheer。Letusseethekeeper’sbounty，therefore，withoutdelay。’’
　　Thehermitcastawistfullookupontheknight，inwhichtherewasasortofcomicexpressionofhesitation，asifuncertainhowfarbeshouldactprudentlyintrustinghisguest。Therewas，however，asmuchofboldfranknessintheknight’scountenanceaswaspossibletobeexpressedbyfeatures。
　　Hissmile，too，hadsomethinginitirresistiblycomic，andgaveanassuranceoffaithandloyalty，withwhichhishostcouldnotrefrainfromsympathizing。
　　Afterexchangingamuteglanceortwo，thehermitwenttothefurthersideofthehut，andopenedahutch，whichwasconcealedwithgreatcareandsomeingenuity。Outoftherecessesofadarkcloset，intowhichthisaperturegaveadmittance，hebroughtalargepasty，bakedinapewterplatterofunusualdimensions。Thismightydishheplacedbeforehisguest，who，usinghisponiardtocutitopen，lostnotimeinmakinghimselfacquaintedwithitscontents。
　　``Howlongisitsincethegoodkeeperhasbeenhere?’’saidtheknighttohishost，afterhavingswallowedseveralhastymorselsofthisreinforcementtothehermit’sgoodcheer。
　　``Abouttwomonths，’’answeredthefatherhastily。
　　``BythetrueLord，’’answeredtheknight，``everythinginyourhermitageismiraculous，HolyClerk！forIwouldhavebeenswornthatthefatbuckwhichfurnishedthisvenisonhadbeenrunningonfootwithintheweek。’’
　　Thehermitwassomewhatdiscountenancedbythisobservation；and，moreover，hemadebutapoorfigurewhilegazingonthediminutionofthepasty，onwhichhisguestwasmakingdesperateinroads；
　　awarfareinwhichhispreviousprofessionofabstinencelefthimnopretextforjoining。
　　``IhavebeeninPalestine，SirClerk，’’saidtheknight，stoppingshortofasudden，``andIbethinkmeitisacustomtherethateveryhostwhoentertainsaguestshallassurehimofthewholesomenessofhisfood，bypartakingofitalongwithhim。Farbeitfrommetosuspectsoholyamanofaughtinhospitable；neverthelessIwillbehighlyboundtoyouwouldyoucomplywiththisEasterncustom。’’
　　``Toeaseyourunnecessaryscruples，SirKnight，Iwillforoncedepartfrommyrule，’’repliedthehermit。Andastherewerenoforksinthosedays，hisclutcheswereinstantlyinthebowelsofthepasty。
　　Theiceofceremonybeingoncebroken，itseemedmatterofrivalrybetweentheguestandtheentertainerwhichshoulddisplaythebestappetite；
　　andalthoughtheformerhadprobablyfastedlongest，yetthehermitfairlysurpassedhim。
　　``HolyClerk，’’saidtheknight，whenhishungerwasappeased，``Iwouldgagemygoodhorseyonderagainstazecchin，thatthatsamehonestkeepertowhomweareobligedforthevenisonhaslefttheeastoupofwine，orareinletofcanary，orsomesuchtrifle，bywayofallytothisnoblepasty。Thiswouldbeacircumstance，doubtless，totallyunworthytodwellinthememoryofsorigidananchorite；
　　yet，Ithink，wereyoutosearchyondercryptoncemore，youwouldfindthatIamrightinmyconjecture。’’
　　Thehermitonlyrepliedbyagrin；andreturningtothehutch，heproducedaleathernbottle，whichmightcontainaboutfourquarts。Healsobroughtforthtwolargedrinkingcups，madeoutofthehornoftheurus，andhoopedwithsilver。Havingmadethisgoodlyprovisionforwashingdownthesupper，heseemedtothinknofartherceremoniousscruplenecessaryonhispart；butfillingbothcups，andsaying，intheSaxonfashion，``_Waeshael_，SirSluggishKnight！’’heemptiedhisownatadraught。
　　``_Drinkhael_，HolyClerkofCopmanhurst！’’
　　answeredthewarrior，anddidhishostreasoninasimilarbrimmer。
　　``HolyClerk，’’saidthestranger，afterthefirstcupwasthusswallowed，``Icannotbutmarvelthatamanpossessedofsuchthewsandsinewsasthine，andwhotherewithalshowsthetalentofsogoodlyatrencher-man，shouldthinkofabidingbyhimselfinthiswilderness。Inmyjudgment，youarefittertokeepacastleorafort，eatingofthefatanddrinkingofthestrong，thantolivehereuponpulseandwater，orevenuponthecharityofthekeeper。Atleast，wereIasthou，Ishouldfindmyselfbothdisportandplentyoutoftheking’sdeer。Thereismanyagoodlyherdintheseforests，andabuckwillneverbemissedthatgoestotheuseofSaintDunstan’schaplain。’’
　　``SirSluggishKnight，’’repliedtheClerk，``thesearedangerouswords，andIprayyoutoforbearthem。Iamtruehermittothekingandlaw，andwereItospoilmyliege’sgame，Ishouldbesureoftheprison，and，anmygownsavedmenot，wereinsomeperilofhanging。’’
　　``Nevertheless，wereIasthou，’’saidtheknight，``Iwouldtakemywalkbymoonlight，whenforestersandkeeperswerewarminbed，andeverandanon，——asIpatteredmyprayers，——Iwouldletflyashaftamongtheherdsofdundeerthatfeedintheglades——Resolveme，HolyClerk，hastthouneverpractisedsuchapastime?’’
　　``FriendSluggard，’’answeredthehermit，``thouhastseenallthatcanconcerntheeofmyhousekeeping，andsomethingmorethanhedeserveswhotakesuphisquartersbyviolence。Creditme，itisbettertoenjoythegoodwhichGodsendsthee，thantobeimpertinentlycurioushowitcomes。
　　Fillthycup，andwelcome；anddonot，Ipraythee，byfurtherimpertinentenquiries，putmetoshowthatthoucouldsthardlyhavemadegoodthylodginghadIbeenearnesttoopposethee。’’
　　``Bymyfaith，’’saidtheknight，``thoumakestmemorecuriousthanever！ThouartthemostmysterioushermitIevermet；andIwillknowmoreoftheeerewepart。Asforthythreats，know，holyman，thouspeakesttoonewhosetradeitistofindoutdangerwhereveritistobemetwith。’’
　　`SirSluggishKnight，Idrinktothee，’’saidthehermit；``respectingthyvalourmuch，butdeemingwondrousslightlyofthydiscretion。Ifthouwilttakeequalarmswithme，Iwillgivethee，inallfriendshipandbrotherlylove，suchsufficingpenanceandcompleteabsolution，thatthoushaltnotforthenexttwelvemonthssinthesinofexcessofcuriosity。’’
　　Theknightpledgedhim，anddesiredhimtonamehisweapons。
　　``Thereisnone，’’repliedthehermit，``fromthescissorsofDelilah，andthetenpennynailofJael，tothescimitarofGoliath，atwhichIamnotamatchforthee——But，ifIamtomaketheelection，whatsaystthou，goodfriend，tothesetrinkets?’’
　　Thusspeaking，heopenedanotherhutch，andtookoutfromitacoupleofbroadswordsandbucklers，suchaswereusedbytheyeomanryoftheperiod。Theknight，whowatchedhismotions，observedthatthissecondplaceofconcealmentwasfurnishedwithtwoorthreegoodlong-bows，across-bow，abundleofboltsforthelatter，andhalf-a-dozensheavesofarrowsfortheformer。Aharp，andothermattersofaveryuncanonicalappearance，werealsovisiblewhenthisdarkrecesswasopened。
　　``Ipromisethee，brotherClerk，’’saidhe，``I
　　willasktheenomoreoffensivequestions。Thecontentsofthatcupboardareananswertoallmyenquiries；
　　andIseeaweaponthere’’herebestoopedandtookouttheharp``onwhichIwouldmoregladlyprovemyskillwiththee，thanattheswordandbuckler。’’
　　``Ihope，SirKnight，’’saidthehermit，``thouhastgivennogoodreasonforthysurnameoftheSluggard。IdopromisetheeIsuspecttheegrievously。
　　Nevertheless，thouartmyguest，andIwillnotputthymanhoodtotheproofwithoutthineownfreewill。Sittheedown，then，andfillthycup；letusdrink，sing，andbemerry。Ifthouknowesteveragoodlay，thoushaltbewelcometoanookofpastyatCopmanhurstsolongasIservethechapelofStDunstan，which，pleaseGod，shallbetillIchangemygreycoveringforoneofgreenturf。Butcome，fillaflagon，foritwillcravesometimetotunetheharp；andnoughtpitchesthevoiceandsharpensthecarlikeacupofwine。Formypart，Ilovetofeelthegrapeatmyveryfinger-endsbeforetheymaketheharp-stringstinkle。’’*
　　*TheJollyHermit——Allreaders，howeverslightlyacquainted*withblackletter，mustrecogniseintheClerkofCopmanhurst，*FriarTuck，thebuxomConfessorofRobinHood’s*gang，theCurtalFriarofFountain’sAbbey。
　　CHAPTERXVII
　　Ateve，withinyonstudiousnook，Iopemybrass-embossedbook，Portray’dwithmanyaholydeedOfmartyrscrown’dwithheavenlymeed；
　　Then，asmytaperwaxesdim，Chant，ereIsleep，mymeasuredhymn。
　　Whobutwouldcasthispompaway，Totakemystaffandamicegrey，Andtotheworld’stumultuousstage，PreferthepeacefulHermitage?
　　WartonNotwithstandingtheprescriptionofthegenialhermit，withwhichhisguestwillinglycomplied，hefounditnoeasymattertobringtheharptoharmony。
　　``Methinks，holyfather，’’saidhe，``theinstrumentwantsonestring，andtheresthavebeensomewhatmisused。’’
　　``Ay，mark’stthouthat?’’repliedthehermit；
　　``thatshowstheeamasterofthecraft。Wineandwassail，’’headded，gravelycastinguphiseyes——
　　``allthefaultofwineandwassail！——ItoldAllana-Dale，thenorthernminstrel，thathewoulddamagetheharpifhetoucheditaftertheseventhcup，buthewouldnotbecontrolled——Friend，Idrinktothysuccessfulperformance。’’
　　Sosaying，hetookoffhiscupwithmuchgravity，atthesametimeshakinghisheadattheintemperanceoftheScottishharper。
　　Theknightinthemeantime，hadbroughtthestringsintosomeorder，andafterashortprelude，askedhishostwhetherhewouldchoosea_sirvente_
　　inthelanguageof_oc_，ora_lai_inthelanguageof_oui_，ora_virelai_，oraballadinthevulgarEnglish。*
　　*NoteC。Minstrelsy。