Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-26

| window
a sweet voice singing,
clark" said Matilda.
Now the tolls of day are over
| And the sun hath sunk to rest
| Seeking, like o fiery lover,
| The bosom of the blushing west
Inc faithful night keeps watch and ward
| RAISING the moon, her silver shield
And summoning the stars to guard
| The slumbers of my fair MatiIde!
"For mercy's sake % said Sir Rollo, "the ave
| first, and next the song"
SO Matilda again dutifuly betook her to her
devotions, and began
cave Maria, Gratia Pena ~ but the music he
gan again, and the prayer ceased of course
The faithful night Now all things lie
Hid by her mantle dark and dim,
In pious hope hither HE,
~, ana humbly chaunt mine ev'ning hymn.
Ihou art my prayer my saint, my shrinei
(For never holy pilgrim kneel'd,
or Wept, affect more pure than thine,)
Ny virgin love, my sweet Matilde
VIRGIN love ~ said the Baron; ssupon nv
soul, this is too bad ~ and he thought Of The
lady's lover whom he had caused to be hanged
put sne only thought OF him who stood singing
at her window.
..Nece Matilda ~ cried Sir Roger, agonizedv.
wilt thou listen to the lies of impudent page
whist thine uncle is ating but dozen words
to make him happy O.
AT this Matilda grew angry: edward is nei-
Cuer ilnPuueuI nor liar, Sir Uncle, and | will
listen to the end of the song"
Come away" said Mercurius, che hath got
WELD, field, sealed, CONCEALED, and dozen other
rhymes beside; and after the song will come the
supper"
So the poor soul was obliged to 90; while the
lady listened, and the page sung away till morn
ing.
"My virtues have been my ruin, said poor Sir
Rollo, as he and Mercurius skunk silently out
OF the window. "Had hanged that knaye Ed
ward, as did the page, his predecessor, my niece
would nave sung mine ave: l should have been
by this time an angel in heaven"
ne IS reserved Tor wiser purposes" respond
ed the devil; che will assassinate your successor
Mathllde's brother; and, in consequence, will
be hanged. In the love of the lady he will be
succeeded 10y gardener, vino will be replaced bv
monk, who will give way to an ostler, who will
be deposed by Jew pedlar who shall, finally,
yieid TO noble earl, the future husband of
| the fair Mathilde. So that you see, instead
OF having one poor soul a-frying, we may
now look forward to goodly harvest for our
lord the Devil."s
| The soul of the Baron began to think that his
companion knew too much for one who would
| make falr BETS; but there was no help for it; he
would not, and he could not, cry off: and he
| prayed nwardly that the brother might be found
more pious than the sister.
| But there seemed little chance of this AS thew
| crossed the COURT lackeys, with smoking dishes
and full jugs passed and repassed continually, al
thought was long past midnight. On entering
the hall, they found Sir Randall at the head Of a
vast table, surrounded by iercer and more mot
ley collection of individuals than had congrega-
ted there even in the time of Sir Roll
| To- The lord of the castle had signified that sit
was his royal pleasure to be drunk and the
gentlemen of his train had obsequiously followed
| their master Mercurius was delighted with the
rnia voH
into bland and benevolent smile, which became
him wonderfully
The entrance of Sir Roger, who had been dead
about year, and person with hoofs, horns, and
tail, rather disturbed the hilarity of the compa-
ny. Sir Randall dropped his cup of wine; and
Father Peter, the conessor, incontinently paused
In the midst of profane song, with which he was
amusing the society.
'.Holy Mother % cried he, at is Sir Roger,
"Alive - screamed Sir Randall.
ono my lord" Mercurius said, "Sir Roger is
dead, but cometh on a matter Of BUSINESS and
nave the honor to act as his counsellor and atten-
dant.'
Nephew" said Sir Roger, ''the demon saith
justly; come on triAing affair in which the
service is essential"
Il will do anything, uncle, in my power"
'Ihou canst give me life, if thou wilt 90 But
Sir Randall looked very blank at this proposition.
81 mean life Spiritual, Randall said Sir Roger:
and thereupon he explained to him the nature of
the wager.
Whilst he was telling his story his companion
Mercurlus was playing all sorts of antics ills the
hall; and, by his wit and fun, became so popular
with this goddess crew, that they lost all the fear
which his first appearance had given them. The
far was wonderfully taken with him, and used
their utmost eloquence and endeavours to convert
the devil; the knights stopped drink ing to listen
TO the argument; the men, alarms fofbore Draw
ling; and the wicked little pages crowded round
the two strange disputants, to hear their edifyng
discourse. The ghostly man. however, had little
| chance IN the controversy, and certainly little
learning TO carry it on. Sir Randall interrupted
him: Father Petsr," said he, "our kinsman is
condemned for ever, for want of a single ave :
wilt thou say it for him ?'' ssWillingly, nv
lord, ,, said the monk, with my book" and.
accordingly, he produced his missal to read, with
cut winch aid 1t appeared that the holy father
could not manage the desired prayer But the
crafty Mercurius had, by the devilsh art, inser-
ted song in the place of the ave-, so that Faith
| er Peter, instead Of chanting hymn, sang the
following irreverent ditty
Some love the matn-chimes which tell
The hour Of prayer to sinners
But better fairs the mid day bell,
Which speaks the hour of dinner;
For when see a smoking fish,
Or capon drown'd in gravy
Or noble haunch on silver dish,
Full glad sing mine ave.
My pulpit is an alehouse bench.
Whereon I sit so jolly;
smiling rosy country wench
MY saint and patron holy.
kiss her cheek so red and sleek,
press her ringlets wavy,
And in her willing ear speak
A most religious ave.
And finn blind, yet Heaven is kind,
And holy saints forgiving;
For sure he leads right good life
Who thus admires good living