The festivities of the day were closed by a splendid supper, attended by music and minstrel songs; and when the sleeping cup had passed round, the Count Henri retired to the chamber prepared for him, which he found to be not at all inferior to his own in luxury and magnificence.  Vessels of gold, filled with rose-water, were placed on his dressing-table; the curtains of the ample bed were ornamented with partridge plumes, supposed to ensure to the sleeper a long and peaceful life; and, in short, nothing was wanting that might have been deemed pleasing either to the taste or superstition of the age.

We halt for the present with this foretaste of the gratification we may calculate on receiving from nearly every page of the whole Series.  By the way, “the references to authorities for manners, &c. have been introduced throughout the work, and occasionally, illustrative and literary notes,” at the request of the publisher; and we must not lose this opportunity of complimenting the sense and good taste of the suggestion.

    [4] Gerard de Rousillon, MS. cited in Tristan le Voyageur.

    [5] The paste formed of these materials was spread upon broad
        cabbage leaves, which came out of the oven covered with a slight
        golden crust, composing the mias cakes.—­Tristan le Voyageur.

    [6] Tristan le Voyageur.  Boiled radishes, it may be important to
        know, are an excellent substitute for asparagus!

    [7] Forks did not come into use till the time of Charles V. in
        the latter half of the fourteenth century.  In France, these
        instruments, both in silver and tinned iron, are made so as to
        bear some resemblance to the fingers, of which they are the
        substitutes, and they are used exclusively in the business of
        conveying food to the mouth; while the knives, being narrow and
        sharp-pointed, can answer no purpose but that of carving.—­In
        England the case is different.  The steel forks, in common use
        among the people, are incapable of raising thin viands to the
        mouth:  while the broad, round-pointed knife was obviously
        intended for this business.

    [8] The vin d’Ai, in Champagne, according to Patin, was called “Vinum
        Dei,” by Dominicus Bandius.  It was the common drink of kings and
        princes.—­Paumier, Traite du Vin.

    [9] Mabillon, Annales Benedictines.

* * * * *

THE GATHERER.

  A snapper up of unconsidered trifles. 
  SHAKSPEARE.