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free grace a sine qua non： and to think of being； by any means whatever； the lord of Locksley and Arlingford； and the husband of the bewitching Matilda； was to cut in the shades of futurity a vista very tempting to a soldier of fortune。 He set out in high spirits with a chosen band of followers； and beat up all the country far and wide around both the Ouse and the Trent； but fortune did not seem disposed to second his diligence； for no vestige whatever could he trace of the earl。 His followers； who were only paid with the wages of hope； began to murmur and fall off； for； as those unenlightened days were ignorant of the happy invention of paper machinery； by which one promise to pay is satisfactorily paid with another promise to pay； and that again with another in infinite series； they would not； as their wiser posterity has done； take those tenders for true pay which were not sterling； so that； one fine morning； the knight found himself sitting on a pleasant bank of the Trent； with only a solitary squire； who still clung to the shadow of preferment； because he did not see at the moment any better chance of the substance。
The knight did not despair because of the desertion of his followers： he was well aware that he could easily raise recruits if he could once find trace of his game； he； therefore； rode about indefatigably over hill and dale； to the great sharpening of his own appetite and that of his squire； living gallantly from inn to inn when his purse was full； and quartering himself in the king's name on the nearest ghostly brotherhood when it happened to be empty。 An autumn and a winter had passed away； when the course of his perlustations brought him one evening into a beautiful sylvan valley； where he found a number of young women weaving garlands of flowers； and singing over their pleasant occupation。 He approached them； and courteously inquired the way to the nearest town。
〃There is no town within several miles；〃 was the answer。
〃A village； then； if it be but large enough to furnish an inn？〃
〃There is Gamwell just by； but there is no inn nearer than the nearest town。〃
〃An abbey； then？〃
〃There is no abbey nearer than the nearest inn。〃
〃A house then； or a cottage； where I may obtain hospitality for the night？〃
〃Hospitality！〃 said one of the young women； 〃you have not far to seek for that。 Do you not know that you are in the neighbourhood of Gamwell…Hall？〃
〃So far from it；〃 said the knight； 〃that I never heard the name of Gamwell…Hall before。〃
〃Never heard of Gamwell…Hall？〃 exclaimed all the young women together； who could as soon have dreamed of his never having heard of the sky。
〃Indeed； no；〃 said Sir Ralph； 〃but I shall be very happy to get rid of my ignorance。〃
〃And so shall I；〃 said his squire； 〃for it seems that in this case knowledge will for once be a cure for hunger； wherewith I am grievously afflicted。〃
〃And why are you so busy； my pretty damsels； weaving these garlands？〃 said the knight。
〃Why； do you not know； sir；〃 said one of the young women； 〃that to…morrow is Gamwell feast？〃
The knight was again obliged； with all humility； to confess his ignorance。
〃Oh！ sir；〃 said his informant； 〃then you will have something to see； that I can tell you； for we shall choose a Queen of the May； and we shall crown her with flowers； and place her in a chariot of flowers； and draw it with lines of flowers； and we shall hang all the trees with flowers； and we shall strew all the ground with flowers； and we shall dance with flowers； and in flowers； and on flowers； and we shall be all flowers。〃
〃That you will；〃 said the knight； 〃and the sweetest and brightest of all the flowers of the May； my pretty damsels。〃 On which all the pretty damsels smiled at him and each other。
〃And there will be all sorts of May…games； and there will be prizes for archery； and there will be the knight's ale； and the foresters' venison； and there will be Kit Scrapesqueak with his fiddle； and little Tom Whistlerap with his fife and tabor； and Sam Trumtwang with his harp； and Peter Muggledrone with his bagpipe； and how I shall dance with Will Whitethorn！〃 added the girl； clapping her hands as she spoke； and bounding from the ground with the pleasure of the anticipation。
A tall athletic young man approached； to whom the rustic maidens courtesied with great respect； and one of them informed Sir Ralph that it was young Master William Gamwell。 The young gentleman invited and conducted the knight to the hall； where he introduced him to the old knight his father； and to the old lady his mother； and to the young lady his sister； and to a number of bold yeomen； who were laying siege to beef； brawn； and plum pie around a ponderous table； and taking copious draughts of old October。 A motto was inscribed over the interior door；
EAT； DRINK； AND BE MERRY：
an injunction which Sir Ralph and his squire showed remarkable alacrity in obeying。 Old Sir Guy of Gamwell gave Sir Ralph a very cordial welcome； and entertained him during supper with several of his best stories； enforced with an occasional slap on the back； and pointed with a peg in the ribs； a species of vivacious eloquence in which the； old gentleman excelled； and which is supposed by many of that pleasant variety of the human spectes； known by the name of choice fellows and comical dogs； to be the genuine tangible shape of the cream of a good joke。
CHAPTER VI
What！ shall we have incision？ shall we embrew？ Henry IV。
Old Sir Guy of Gamwell； and young William Gamwell； and fair Alice Gamwell； and Sir Ralph Montfaucon and his squire； rode together the next morning to the scene of the feast。 They arrived on a village green； surrounded with cottages peeping from among the trees by which the green was completely encircled。 The whole circle was hung round with one continuous garland of flowers； depending in irregular festoons from the branches。 In the centre of the green was a May…pole hidden in boughs and garlands； and a multitude of round…faced bumpkins and cherry…checked lasses were dancing around it； to the quadruple melody of Scrapesqueak； Whistlerap； Trumtwang； and Muggledrone： harmony we must not call it； for； though they had agreed to a partnership in point of tune； each； like a true painstaking man； seemed determined to have his time to himself： Muggledrone played allegretto； Trumtwang allegro； Whistlerap presto； and Scrapesqueak prestissimo。 There was a kind of mathematical proportion in their discrepancy： while Muggledrone played the tune four times； Trumtwang played it five； Whistlerap six； and Scrapesqueak eight； for the latter completely distanced all his competitors； and indeed worked his elbow so nimbly that its outline was scarcely distinguishable through the mistiness of its rapid vibration。
While the knight was delighting his eyes and ears with these pleasant sights and sounds； all eyes were turned in one direction； and Sir Ralph； looking round； saw a fair lady in green and gold come riding through the trees； accompanied by a portly friar in grey； and several fair damsels and gallant grooms。 On their nearer approach； he recognised the lady Matilda and her ghostly adviser； brother Michael。 A party of foresters arrived from another direction； and then ensued cordial interchanges of greeting； and collisions of hands and lips； among the Gamwells and the new…comers；〃How does my fair coz； Mawd？〃 and 〃How does my sweet coz； Mawd？〃 and 〃How does my wild coz； Mawd？〃 And 〃Eh！ jolly friar； your hand； old boy：〃 and 〃Here； honest friar：〃 and 〃To me； merry friar：〃 and 〃By your favour； mistress Alice：〃 and 〃Hey！ cousin Robin：〃 and 〃Hey！ cousin Will：〃 and 〃Od's life！ merry Sir Guy； you grow younger every year；〃 as the old knight shook them all in turn with one hand； and slapped them on the back with the other； in token of his affection。 A number of young men and women advanced； some drawing； and others dancing round； a floral car； and having placed a crown of flowers on Matilda's head； they saluted her Queen of the May； and drew her to the place appointed for the rural sports。
A hogshead of ale was abroach under an oak； and a fire was blazing in an open space before the trees to roast the fat deer which the foresters brought。 The sports commenced； and； after an agreeable series of bowling； coiling； pitching； hurling； racing； leaping； grinning； wrestling or friendly dislocation of joints； and cudgel…playing or amicable cracking of skulls； the trial of archery ensued。 The conqueror was to be rewarded with a golden arrow from the hand of the Queen of the May； who was to be his partner in the dance till the close of the feast。 This stimulated the knight's emulation： young Gamwell supplied him with a bow and arrow； and he took his station among the foresters； but had the mortification to be out…shot by them all； and to see one of them lodge the point of his arrow in the golden ring of the centre； and receive the prize from the hand of the beautiful Matilda； who smiled on him with particular grace。 The jealous knight scrutinised the successful champion with great attention； and surely thought he had seen that face before。 In the mean time the forester led the lady to the station。 The luckless Sir Ralph drank deep draughts of love from th