Euseby Treen.

“Carnaby said unto me, somewhat tauntingly, ’The big squat man, that lay upon thy bread-basket like a nightmare, is a punt at last, it seems.’

“‘Punt, and more too,’ answered I.  ’Tarry awhile, and thou shalt see this punt (so let me call it) lead them into temptation, and swamp them or carry them to the gallows; I would not stay else.’

Sir Thomas.

“And what didst thou, Joseph Carnaby?”

Joseph Carnaby.

“Finding him neither slack nor shy, I readily tarried.  We knelt down opposite each other, and said our prayers; and he told me he was now comfortable.  ‘The evil one,’ said he, ’hath enough to mind yonder:  he shall not hurt us.’

“Never was a sweeter night, had there been but some mild ale under it, which any one would have sworn it was made for.  The milky way looked like a long drift of hail-stones on a sunny ridge.”

Sir Thomas.

“Hast thou done describing?”

Joseph Carnaby.

“Yea, an please your worship.”

Sir Thomas.

“God’s blessing be upon thee, honest Carnaby!  I feared a moon-fall.  In our days nobody can think about a plum-pudding but the moon comes down upon it.  I warrant ye this lad here hath as many moons in his poems as the Saracens had in their banners.”

William Shakespeare.

“I have not hatched mine yet, sir.  Whenever I do I trust it will be worth taking to market.”

Joseph Carnaby.

“I said all I know of the stars; but Master Euseby can run over half a score and upward, here and there.  ‘Am I right, or wrong?’ cried he, spreading on the back of my hand all his fingers, stiff as antlers and cold as icicles.  ’Look up, Joseph!  Joseph! there is no Lucifer in the firmament!’ I myself did feel queerish and qualmy upon hearing that a star was missing, being no master of gainsaying it; and I abased my eyes, and entreated of Euseby to do in like manner.  And in this posture did we both of us remain; and the missing star did not disquiet me; and all the others seemed as if they knew us and would not tell of us; and there was peace and pleasantness over sky and earth.  And I said to my companion, —

“’How quiet now, good Master Euseby, are all God’s creatures in this meadow, because they never pry into such high matters, but breathe sweetly among the pig-nuts.  The only things we hear or see stirring are the glow-worms and dormice, as though they were sent for our edification, teaching us to rest contented with our own little light, and to come out and seek our sustenance where none molest or thwart us’”

William Shakspeare.

“Ye would have it thus, no doubt, when your pockets and pouches are full of gins and nooses.”

Sir Thomas.