Chapter 18 - Page 2

double-piled
Genoa velvet, puffed out with ciprus, the gems, being relieved and set
off by the darker and more grave ground of the stuff, show like stars
giving a lustre through dark clouds."

"I nothing doubt it," said the Abbot, "but I pray you to sit down at the
board."

But Sir Piercie had now got into his element, and was not easily
interrupted--"I own," he continued, "that slight as the toy is, it
might perchance have had some captivation for Julian--Santa Maria!"
said he, interrupting himself; "what was I about to say, and my fair
and beauteous Protection, or shall I rather term her my Discretion,
here in presence!--Indiscreet hath it been in your Affability, O most
lovely Discretion, to suffer a stray word to have broke out of the
penfold of his mouth, that might overleap the fence of civility, and
trespass on the manor of decorum."

"Marry!" said the Abbot, somewhat impatiently, "the greatest
discretion that I can see in the matter is, to eat our victuals being
hot--Father Eustace, say the Benedicite, and cut up the haunch."

The Sub-Prior readily obeyed the first part of the Abbot's injunction,
but paused upon the second--"It is Friday, most reverend," he said in
Latin, desirous that the hint should escape, if possible, the ears of
the stranger.

"We are travellers," said the Abbot, in reply, "and _viatoribus
licitum est_--You know the canon--a traveller must eat what food
his hard fate sets before him. I grant you all a dispensation to eat
flesh this day, conditionally that you, brethren, say the Confiteor at
curfew time, that the knight give alms to his ability, and that all
and each of you fast from flesh on such day within the next month that
shall seem most convenient;--wherefore fall to and eat your food with
cheerful countenances, and you, Father Refectioner, _da mixtus_."

While the Abbot was thus stating the conditions on which his
indulgence was granted, he had already half finished a slice of the
noble haunch, and now washed it down with a flagon of Rhenish,
modestly tempered with water.

"Well is it said," he observed, as he required from the Refectioner
another slice, "that virtue is its own reward; for though this is but
humble fare, and hastily prepared, and eaten in a poor chamber, I do
not remember me of having had such an appetite since I was a simple
brother in the Abbey of Dundrennan, and was wont to labour in the
garden from morning until nones, when our Abbot struck the
_Cymbalum_. Then would I enter keen with hunger, parched with
thirst, (_da mihi vinum quaeso, et merum sit_,) and partake with
appetite of whatever was set