"Presently a strange dimness came o'er me; I lay down to sleep on the snow.'Twas ill done, and with store of wolves hard by.Had Iloved thee as thou dost deserve, I had shown more manhood.But oh, sweet love, the drowsiness that did crawl o'er me desolate, and benumb me, was more than nature.And so I slept; and but that God was better to us, than I to thee or to myself, from that sleep Ine'er had waked; so all do say.I had slept an hour or two, as Isuppose, but no more, when a hand did shake me rudely.I awoke to my troubles.And there stood a servant girl in her holiday suit.
'Are ye mad,' quoth she, in seeming choler, 'to sleep in snow, and under wolves' nosen? Art weary o' life, and not long weaned? Come, now, said she, more kindly, 'get up like a good lad;' so I did rise up.'Are ye rich, or are ye poor?' But I stared at her as one amazed.'Why, 'tis easy of reply,' quoth she.'Are ye rich, or are ye poor?' Then I gave a great, loud cry; that she did start back.
'Am I rich, or am I poor? Had ye asked me an hour agone, I had said I am rich.But now I am so poor as sure earth beareth on her bosom none poorer.An hour agone I was rich in a friend, rich in money, rich in hope and spirits of youth; but now the Bastard of Burgundy hath taken my friend, and another gentleman my purse; and I can neither go forward to Rome nor back to her I left in Holland.I am poorest of the poor.' 'Alack!' said the wench.
'Natheless, an ye had been rich ye might ha' lain down again in the snow for any use I had for ye; and then I trow ye had soon fared out o' this world as bare as ye came into it.But, being poor, you are our man: so come wi' me.' Then I went because she bade me, and because I recked not now whither I went.And she took me to a fine house hard by, and into a noble dining-hall hung with black; and there was set a table with many dishes, and but one plate and one chair.'Fall to!' said she, in a whisper.'What, alone?' said I.'Alone? And which of us, think ye, would eat out of the same dish with ye? Are we robbers o' the dead?' Then she speered where I was born.'At Tergou,' said I.Says she, 'And when a gentleman dies in that country, serve they not the dead man's dinner up as usual, till he be in the ground, and set some poor man to it?' I told her, 'nay.' She blushed for us then.Here they were better Christians.' So I behoved to sit down.But small was my heart for meat.Then this kind lass sat by me and poured me out wine; and tasting it, it cut me to the heart Denys was not there to drink with me.He doth so love good wine, and women good, bad, or indifferent.The rich, strong wine curled round my sick heart;and that day first I did seem to glimpse why folk in trouble run to drink so.She made me eat of every dish.''Twas unlucky to pass one.Nought was here but her master's daily dinner.' 'He had a good stomach, then,' said I.'Ay, lad, and a good heart.
Leastways, so we all say now he is dead; but, being alive, no word on't e'er heard I.' So I did eat as a bird, nibbling of every dish.And she hearing me sigh, and seeing me like to choke at the food, took pity and bade me be of good cheer.I should sup and lie there that night.And she went to the hind, and he gave me a right good bed; and I told him all, and asked him would the law give me back my purse.'Law!' quoth he; 'law there was none for the poor in Burgundy.Why, 'twas the cousin of the Lady of the Manor, he that had robbed me.He knew the wild spark.The matter must be judged before the lady; and she was quite young, and far more like to hang me for slandering her cousin, and a gentleman, and a handsome man, than to make him give me back my own.Inside the liberties of a town a poor man might now and then see the face of justice; but out among the grand seigneurs and dames - never.' So I said, 'I'll sit down robbed rather than seek justice and find gallows.' They were all most kind to me next day; and the girl proffered me money from her small wage to help me towards Rhine.""Oh, then, he is coming home! he is coming home!" shouted Denys, interrupting the reader.She shook her head gently at him, by way of reproof.
"I beg pardon, all the company," said he stiffly.
"'Twas a sore temptation; but being a servant, my stomach rose against it.'Nay, nay,' said I.She told me I was wrong.''Twas pride out o' place; poor folk should help one another; or who on earth would?' I said if I could do aught in return 'twere well;but for a free gift, nay: I was overmuch beholden already.Should I write a letter for her? 'Nay, he is in the house at present,'
said she.'Should I draw her picture, and so earn my money?'
'What, can ye?' said she.I told her I could try; and her habit would well become a picture.So she was agog to be limned, and give it her lad.And I set her to stand in a good light, and soon made sketches two, whereof I send thee one, coloured at odd hours.
The other I did most hastily, and with little conscience daub, for which may Heaven forgive me; but time was short.They, poor things, knew no better, and were most proud and joyous; and both kissing me after their country fashion, 'twas the hind that was her sweetheart, they did bid me God-speed; and I towards Rhine."Margaret paused here, and gave Denys the coloured drawing to hand round.It was eagerly examined by the females on account of the costume, which differed in some respects from that of the Dutch domestic: the hair was in a tight linen bag, a yellow half kerchief crossed her head from ear to ear, but threw out a rectangular point that descended the centre of her forehead, and it met in two more points over her bosom.She wore a red kirtle with long sleeves, kilted very high in front, and showing a green farthingale and a great red leather purse hanging down over it;red stockings, yellow leathern shoes, ahead of her age; for they were low-quartered and square-toed, secured by a strap buckling over the instep, which was not uncommon, and was perhaps the rude germ of the diamond buckle to come.
Margaret continued:-