``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。