``Aballad，aballad，’’saidthehermit，``againstallthe_ocs_and_ouis_ofFrance。DownrightEnglishamI，SirKnight，anddownrightEnglishwasmypatronStDunstan，andscorned_oc_and_oui_，ashewouldhavescornedtheparingsofthedevil’shoof——downrightEnglishaloneshallbesunginthiscell。’’
　　``Iwillassay，then，’’saidtheknight，``aballadcomposedbyaSaxonglee-man，whomIknewinHolyLand。’’
　　Itspeedilyappeared，thatiftheknightwasnotacompletemasteroftheminstrelart，histasteforithadatleastbeencultivatedunderthebestinstructors。
　　Arthadtaughthimtosoftenthefaultsofavoicewhichhadlittlecompass，andwasnaturallyroughratherthanmellow，and，inshort，haddoneallthatculturecandoinsupplyingnaturaldeficiencies。
　　Hisperformance，therefore，mighthavebeentermedveryrespectablebyablerjudgesthanthehermit，especiallyastheknightthrewintothenotesnowadegreeofspirit，andnowofplaintiveenthusiasm，whichgaveforceandenergytotheverseswhichhesung。
　　THECRUSADER’SRETURN。
　　1。
　　Highdeedsachievedofknightlyfame，FromPalestinethechampioncame；
　　Thecrossuponhisshouldersborne，Battleandblasthaddimm’dandtorn。
　　Eachdintuponhisbatter’dshieldWastokenofafoughtenfield；
　　Andthus，beneathhislady’sbower，Hesungasfellthetwilighthour：——
　　2。
　　``Joytothefair！——thyknightbehold，Return’dfromyonderlandofgold；
　　Nowealthhebrings，norwealthcanneed，Savehisgoodarmsandbattle-steedHisspurs，todashagainstafoe，Hislanceandswordtolayhimlow；
　　Suchallthetrophiesofhistoil，Such——andthehopeofTekla’ssmile！
　　3。
　　``Joytothefair！whoseconstantknightHerfavourfiredtofeatsofmight；
　　Unnotedshallshenotremain，Wheremeetthebrightandnobletrain；
　　Minstrelshallsingandheraldtell——
　　`Markyondermaidofbeautywell，’TissheforwhosebrighteyeswerewonThelistedfieldatAskalon！
　　4。
　　```Notewellhersmile！——itedgedthebladeWhichfiftywivestowidowsmade，When，vainhisstrengthandMahound’sspell，Iconium’sturban’dSoldanfell。
　　Seestthouherlocks，whosesunnyglowHalfshows，halfshades，herneckofsnow?
　　Twinesnotofthemonegoldenthread，ButforitssakeaPaynimbled。’
　　5。
　　``Joytothefair！——mynameunknown，Eachdeed，andallitspraisethineownThen，oh！unbarthischurlishgate，Thenightdewfalls，thehourislate。
　　InuredtoSyria’sglowingbreath，Ifeelthenorthbreezechillasdeath；
　　Letgratefullovequellmaidenshame，Andgranthimblisswhobringstheefame。’’
　　Duringthisperformance，thehermitdemeanedhimselfmuchlikeafirst-ratecriticofthepresentdayatanewopera。Hereclinedbackuponhisseat，withhiseyeshalfshut；now，foldinghishandsandtwistinghisthumbs，heseemedabsorbedinattention，andanon，balancinghisexpandedpalms，hegentlyflourishedthemintimetothemusic。Atoneortwofavouritecadences，hethrewinalittleassistanceofhisown，wheretheknight’svoiceseemedunabletocarrytheairsohighashisworshipfultasteapproved。Whenthesongwasended，theanchoriteemphaticallydeclareditagoodone，andwellsung。
　　``Andyet，’’saidhe，``IthinkmySaxoncountrymenhadherdedlongenoughwiththeNormans，tofallintothetoneoftheirmelancholyditties。
　　Whattookthehonestknightfromhome?orwhatcouldheexpectbuttofindhismistressagreeablyengagedwitharivalonhisreturn，andhisserenade，astheycallit，aslittleregardedasthecaterwaulingofacatinthegutter?Nevertheless，SirKnight，Idrinkthiscuptothee，tothesuccessofalltruelovers——Ifearyouarenone，’’headded，onobservingthattheknightwhosebrainbegantobeheatedwiththeserepeateddraughtsqualifiedhisflagonfromthewaterpitcher。
　　``Why，’’saidtheknight，``didyounottellmethatthiswaterwasfromthewellofyourblessedpatron，StDunstan?’’
　　``Ay，truly，’’saidthehermit，``andmanyahundredofpagansdidhebaptizethere，butIneverheardthathedrankanyofit。Everythingshouldbeputtoitsproperuseinthisworld。StDunstanknew，aswellasanyone，theprerogativesofajovialfriar。’’
　　Andsosaying，hereachedtheharp，andentertainedhisguestwiththefollowingcharacteristicsong，toasortofderry-downchorus，appropriatetoanoldEnglishditty。*
　　*Itmaybepropertoremindthereader，thatthechorusof*``derrydown’’issupposedtobeasancient，notonlyasthetimes*oftheHeptarchy，butasthoseoftheDruids，andtohavefurnished*thechorustothehymnsofthosevenerablepersonswhen*theywenttothewoodtogathermistletoe。
　　THEBAREFOOTEDFRIAR。
　　1。
　　I’llgivethee，goodfellow，atwelvemonthortwain，TosearchEuropethrough，fromByzantiumtoSpain；
　　Butne’ershallyoufind，shouldyousearchtillyoutire，SohappyamanastheBarefootedFriar。
　　2。
　　Yourknightforhisladypricksforthincareer，Andisbroughthomeateven-songprick’dthroughwithaspear；
　　Iconfesshiminhaste——forhisladydesiresNocomfortonearthsavetheBarefootedFriar’s。
　　3。
　　Yourmonarch?——Pshaw！manyaprincehasbeenknownTobarterhisrobesforourcowlandourgown，Butwhichofuse’erfelttheidledesireToexchangeforacrownthegreyhoodofaFriar！
　　4。
　　TheFriarhaswalk’dout，andwhere’erhehasgone，Thelandanditsfatnessismark’dforhisown；
　　Hecanroamwherehelists，hecanstopwhenhetires，Foreveryman’shouseistheBarefootedFriar’s。
　　5。
　　He’sexpectedatnoon，andnowighttillhecomesMayprofanethegreatchair，ortheporridgeofplumsForthebestofthecheer，andtheseatbythefire，IstheundeniedrightoftheBarefootedFriar。
　　6。
　　He’sexpectedatnight，andthepasty’smadehot，Theybroachthebrownale，andtheyfilltheblackpot，Andthegoodwifewouldwishthegoodmaninthemire，Erehelack’dasoftpillow，theBarefootedFriar。
　　7。
　　Longflourishthesandal，thecord，andthecope，ThedreadofthedevilandtrustofthePope；
　　Fortogatherlife’sroses，unscathedbythebriar，IsgrantedalonetotheBarefootedFriar。
　　``Bymytroth，’’saidtheknight，``thouhastsungwellandlustily，andinhighpraiseofthineorder。And，talkingofthedevil，HolyClerk，areyounotafraidthathemaypayyouavisitdaringsomeofyouruncanonicalpastimes?’’
　　``Iuncanonical！’’answeredthehermit；``I
　　scornthecharge——Iscornitwithmyheels！——I
　　servethedutyofmychapeldulyandtruly——Twomassesdaily，morningandevening，primes，noons，andvespers，_aves，credos，paters_——’’
　　``Exceptingmoonlightnights，whenthevenisonisinseason，’’saidhisguest。
　　``_Exceptisexcipiendis_，’’repliedthehermit，``asouroldabbottaughtmetosay，whenimpertinentlaymenshouldaskmeifIkepteverypunctilioofmineorder。’’
　　``True，holyfather，’’saidtheknight；``butthedevilisapttokeepaneyeonsuchexceptions；hegoesabout，thouknowest，likearoaringlion。’’
　　``Lethimroarhereifhedares，’’saidthefriar；
　　``atouchofmycordwillmakehimroarasloudasthetongsofStDunstanhimselfdid。Ineverfearedman，andIaslittlefearthedevilandhisimps。SaintDunstan，SaintDubric，SaintWinibald，SaintWinifred，SaintSwibert，SaintWillick，notforgettingSaintThomasaKent，andmyownpoormeritstospeed，Idefyeverydevilofthem，comecutandlongtail——Buttoletyouintoasecret，Ineverspeakuponsuchsubjects，myfriend，untilaftermorningvespers。’’
　　Hechangedtheconversation；fastandfuriousgrewthemirthoftheparties，andmanyasongwasexchangedbetwixtthem，whentheirrevelswereinterruptedbyaloudknockingatthedoorofthehermitage。
　　Theoccasionofthisinterruptionwecanonlyexplainbyresumingtheadventuresofanothersetofourcharacters；for，likeoldAriosto，wedonotpiqueourselvesuponcontinuinguniformlytokeepcompanywithanyonepersonageofourdrama。
　　CHAPTERXVIII
　　Away！ourjourneyliesthroughdellanddingle，Wheretheblithefawntripsbyitstimidmother，Wherethebroadoak，withinterceptingboughs，Chequersthesunbeaminthegreen-swardalley——
　　Upandaway！——forlovelypathsaretheseTotread，whenthegladSunisonhisthroneLesspleasant，andlesssafe，whenCynthia’slampWithdoubtfulglimmerlightsthedrearyforest。
　　_EttrickForest。_
　　WhenCedrictheSaxonsawhissondropdownsenselessinthelistsatAshby，hisfirstimpulsewastoorderhimintothecustodyandcareofhisownattendants，butthewordschokedinhisthroat。
　　Hecouldnotbringhimselftoacknowledge，inpresenceofsuchanassembly，thesonwhomhehadrenouncedanddisinherited。Heordered，however，Oswaldtokeepaneyeuponhim；anddirectedthatofficer，withtwoofhisserfs，toconveyIvanhoetoAshbyassoonasthecrowdhaddispersed。
　　Oswald，however，wasanticipatedinthisgoodoffice。