‘Risu solvuntur tabulae,’ said the Baron; ’when they recovered their panic trepidation they were too much ashamed to bring any wakening of the process against Janet Gellatley.’ [Footnote: See Note 11]
This anecdote led to a long discussion of
All those idle thoughts and
fantasies,
Devices, dreams, opinions unsound,
Shows, visions, soothsays, and prophecies,
And all that feigned is, as leasings, tales,
and lies.
With such conversation, and the romantic legends which it introduced, closed our hero’s second evening in the house of Tully-Veolan.
CHAPTER XIV
A DISCOVERY—WAVERLEY BECOMES DOMESTICATED AT TULLY-VEOLAN
The next day Edward arose betimes, and in a morning walk around the house and its vicinity came suddenly upon a small court in front of the dog-kennel, where his friend Davie was employed about his four-footed charge. One quick glance of his eye recognised Waverley, when, instantly turning his back, as if he had not observed him, he began to sing part of an old ballad:—
Young men will love thee more
fair and more fast;
Heard ye so merry
the little bird sing?
Old men’s love the longest
will last,
And the throstle-cock’s
head is under his wing.
The young man’s wrath
is like light straw on fire;
Heard ye so merry
the little bird sing?
But like red-hot steel is
the old man’s ire,
And the throstle-cock’s
head is under his wing.
The young man will brawl at
the evening board;
Heard ye so merry
the little bird sing?
But the old man will draw
at the dawning the sword,
And the throstle-cock’s
head is under his wing.