“He spake of the various races and qualities of men, as before stated; but chiefly on the elect and reprobate, and how to distinguish and know them.”

Sir Thomas.

“Did he go so far?”

William Shakspeare.

“He told me that by such discussion he should say enough to keep me constantly out of evil company.”

Sir Thomas.

“See there! see there! and yet thou art come before me!—­Can nothing warn thee?”

William Shakspeare.

“I dare not dissemble, nor feign, nor hold aught back, although it be to my confusion.  As well may I speak at once the whole truth for your worship could find it out if I abstained.”

Sir Thomas.

“Ay, that I should indeed, and shortly.  But, come now, I am sated of thy follies and roguish tricks, and yearn after the sound doctrine of that pious man.  What expounded the grave Glaston upon signs and tokens whereby ye shall be known?”

William Shakespeare.

“Wonderful things! things beyond belief!  ‘There be certain men,’ quoth he—­”

Sir Thomas.

“He began well.  This promises.  But why canst not thou go on?”

William Shakespeare.

“’There be certain men, who, rubbing one corner of the eye, do see a peacock’s feather at the other, and even fire.  We know, William, what that fire is, and whence it cometh.  Those wicked men, William, all have their marks upon them, be it only a corn, or a wart, or a mole, or a hairy ear, or a toe-nail turned inward.  Sufficient, and more than sufficient!  He knoweth his own by less tokens.  There is not one of them that doth not sweat at some secret sin committed, or some inclination toward it unsnaffled.

“’Certain men are there, likewise, who venerate so little the glorious works of the Creator that I myself have known them to sneeze at the sun!  Sometimes it was against their will, and they would gladly have checked it had they been able; but they were forced to shew what they are.  In our carnal state we say, what is one against numbers?  In another we shall truly say, what are numbers against one?’”

Sir Thomas did ejaculate, “Amen!  Amen!” And then his lips moved silently, piously, and quickly; and then said he, audibly and loudly, —

“And make us at last true Israelites!”

After which he turned to young Willy, and said, anxiously, —

“Hast thou more, lad? give us it while the Lord strengtheneth.”

“Sir,” answered Willy, “although I thought it no trouble, on my return to the Mitre, to write down every word I could remember, and although few did then escape me, yet at this present I can bring to mind but scanty sentences, and those so stray and out of order that they would only prove my incapacity for sterling wisdom, and my incontinence of spiritual treasure.”