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During the afternoon some literary dispute arose but Johnson sat silent, till the Dean of Derry, very respectfully said, "We all wish, Sir, for your opinion on the subject." Johnson, inclined his head, and never shone more in his life than at that period; he replied, without any pomp, he was perfectly clear and explicit, full of the subject, and left nothing undetermined. There was a pause, and he was then hailed with aston ishment by all the company. The evening in general passed off very pleasantly. Some talked perhaps for amusement, and others for victory. We sat very late, and the conversation that at last ensued, was the direct cause of my friend Goldsmith's poem, called Retaliation,"met

Dr. Goldsmith and myself never quart relled; for he was convinced that I had a real regard for him, but a kind of civil sparring continually took place between us. You are so attached," says the Doctor, to Hurd, Gray, and Mason, that you think nothing good can proceed, but out of that formal school; but now I'll mend Gray's elegy by leaving out an idle word in every line!

reserve." You do, Doctor, and sometimes catch a Tartar."" If it were not for me, he would be insufferable; if you remember, the last time we ever supped together, he sat sulky and growling, but I resolved to fetch him out."—"You did, and at last he told you that he would have no more of your fooleries."

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It was always thought fair by some persons to make what stories they pleased of Dr. Goldsmith, and the following was freely circulated in ridicule of him, "That he attended the Fantoccini in Pentonstreet, and that from envy he wished to excel the dexterity of one of the puppets." Mr. Joseph Cradock was of the party, and remembered no more, than that the Doctor, the Rev. Mr. Ludlam of St. John's College, and some others, went together to see the puppet-show, that we were all greatly entertained, and many idle remarks might possibly be made by all of us during the evening. Mr. Ludlam afterwards laughingly declared, that he believed he must shut up all his experiments at Cam bridge and Leicester in future, and take lectures only, during the winter, from Fantoccinis, and the expert mechanists of The

"And, for me, Doctor, completely both the teatres."

spoil it."

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Cradock (after a pause), I am determined to come down in the country, and make some stay with you, and I will build you an ice-house. Indeed, my dear Doctor," I replied, "you will not; you have got the strangest notion in the world of making amends to your friends wherever you go; I hope, if you favour me with a visit, that you will consider that your own company is the best recompense." Well," says Goldsmith, "that is civilly enough expressed; but I should like to build you an ice-house. I have built two already, they are perfect, and this should be a pattern to all your country." ་ ་

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"I dined yesterday," says he, laying down his papers, in company with three of your friends, and I talked at every thing. And they would spare you in nothing." I cared not for that, I per sisted; but I declare solemnly to you, that though I angled the whole evening I never once obtained a bite."

"You are all of you," continued he, "absolutely afraid of Johnson, now I attack him boldly, and without the least

real fault of Dr. Goldsmith was, that if he had thirty pounds in his pocket, he would go into certain companies in the country, and in hopes of doubling the sum, would generally return to town without any part of it.

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One of the worst affrays that Dr. Goldsmith was ever engaged in, was with Evans the bookseller, of Paternoster-row. Evans was the editor of the Universal Magazine, and had suffered a most offensive article to be inserted therein, which turned to ridicule, not only the Doctor, but some ladies of the highest respectability. The Doctor, unfortunately, went to dine with the family in Westminster, just after they had read this insulting article, and they were all most highly indignant al it, The Doctor agonized all dinnertime; but as soon as possible afterwards, he stole away, set off in great haste for Paternoster-row, and caned Evans in his own shop. This was every way a terrible affair, and I privately consulted with Dr. Johnson concerning it. He said "that this at any time would have been highly prejudicial to Goldsmith, but particularly now," and he advised me, as I was intimate with both, that I should call upon Evans, and endeavour to get the matter adjusted. I followed his advice; and Evans really behaved very kindly to me on the occasion. I truly urged that this publication had cut off Dr. Goldsmith from the society of one of the most friendly houses that he had ever frequented, and that he could not

have tortured him in a more tender point." Evans calmly attended to me; and after much negociation, and the interference of several discreet friends, this vexatious affair was at last finally got rid of. The name of Johnson on such an affray, will perhaps remind the reader that he himself once knocked down a very worthy bookseller in his own shop, at Gray's Inn (as related by Boswell.) The story was currently reported, and caused the following extempore, which has never extended before beyond a private circulation :

"When Johnson, with tremendous step, and
slow,

Fully determin'd, deigns to fell the foe,
E'en the earth trembles, thunders roll around,
And mighty Osborne's self lies levell'd with
the ground.

"Lie still, Sir," said Johnson, "that
you may not give me a second trouble!"
Mr. Nichols once asked Dr. Johnson,
"if the story was true."-" No, Sir, it
was not in his shop, it was in my own
house."
Cradock's Memoirs.

THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.

SIR EMERIC DE PAVIA, a valiant Lombard, whom King Edward the Third had made Governor of Calais, was walking moodily on the ramparts of that town: his step was hurried and impatient. He often raised his hand and passed it rapidly across his brow, as if he would by that act wipe away some torturing recollection from his brain. Sometimes he stamped furiously on the ground, and at others sat down on the battlements; and while he leaned his head on his clenched hands, the sweat poured from his brow, and his whole frame shook convulsively. At times he looked towards the sun, which had nearly attained his meridian height and was gilding the broad expanse of ocean, the town and castle of Calais, and the distant plains of Picardy with the full effulgence of his beams. At others he stretched his eye across the Channel, and looked wistfully, yet fearfully, towards the white cliffs of Dover. So entirely absorbed in his own reflections was the Governor, that he did not observe a person near him wrapped in a long black cloak, who seemed narrowly to watch his motions. The stranger's face was enveloped in his cloak. At first he seemed to avoid coming in contact with Sir Emeric; afterwards, however, he crossed his path repeatedly, evidently intending, but not being able, to attract his notice. At length, during one of the most violent of

Sir Emeric's paroxysms, the stranger approached him, and tapping him on the shoulder, said in a low but distinct tone of voice, "Then the tale that was told to me is true."

"Ha!" said the Governor, starting and grasping his sword, " who and what art thou? What is the tale that has been told thee?"

"That Sir Emeric de Pavia is a traitor!" said the stranger.

"Dastard and liar!" said the Governor: "who and what, I say again, art thou that darest to call Emeric de Pavia a traitor?"

"Behold!" said the stranger, flinging back his mantle and exhibiting the fine majestic features of a man about thirtyfive years of age, which were well known to Sir Emeric. The latter fell on his knees, and in a suppliant tone exclaimed, Guilty, my most gracious liege, guilty, pardon, pardon !"*

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Emeric," said King Edward, for it was he, "thou knowest that I have entrusted to thee what I hold dearest in this world, after my wife and children,-I mean the town and castle of Calais, which thou hast sold to the French, and for which thou deservest death."

"Ah! gentle King, have mercy on me!" said the Governor; all that you have charged me with is true, most true; but there is yet time to break the disgraceful bargain. I have not yet received I agreed to deliver this town and castle to one penny of the filthy lucre for which your Grace's enemies."

"Emeric," said the King, raising him from his suppliant posture, "I have loved thee well, and even from a child have loaded thee with marks of my favour. Your plot, well and secretly contrived as it was, could not be kept hidden from me. I had certain intelligence of it a month ago.

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Westminster, that thou hadst sold this News was then brought me place to Sir Geoffrey de Charni for twenty thousand crowns, and that this day he is to proceed from St. Omers with his forces and arrive here at midnight, for the purpose of receiving possession from thee. Was my information true or false?"

Emeric, again attempting to throw him"It was most true, my liege," said self at the King's feet.

"Listen to me," said the King, preventing him; "it is my wish that you continue on this treaty. When Sir Geoffrey's forces arrive, lead them to the great tower; and on this condition I pro

above, page 49,
• See the Embellishment, illustrative of the

mise you my pardon. I have just arrived from England with three hundred men-atarms, and six hundred archers, but have arrived so privily, that no one but thou knowest that I am here. The Prince of Wales and Sir Walter Manny are with me. Go with me that I may give you directions for placing the men in ambuscade in the rooms and the towers of the castle. Sir Walter Manny shall conduct this enterprise; and my son and I, who would at present remain unknown, will fight under his banner."

Again did the repentant Governor throw himself at the feet of his sovereign, and again did the latter raise him from his suppliant posture, and assure him of his pardon, and of his entire oblivion of the intended treason, if he remained faithful to him at the present crisis.

Sir Geoffrey de Charni, accompanied by the Lord of Namur, the Lord de Crequi, Sir Odoart de Reny, and numerous others of the most distinguished among the French lords and knights, arrived from St. Omers, with all the forces he could collect, crossed the bridge of Neui!let, and sat down about midnight before that gate of the castle of Calais which is called the gate of Boulogne. Here he halted, to give time for his rear to come up, and here he found Sir Emeric de Pavia anxiously awaiting his arrival.

"My gallant Lombard," said Sir Geoffrey, is all well, and are you ready to deliver up possession of the castle ?"

"All is well, Sir Knight," said the Lombard," and the castle is yours on payment of the twenty thousand crowns.

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"Then Sir Odoart de Reny," said Sir Geoffrey, addressing that Knight, who stood by his side, "take with you twelve knights and one hundred men-at-arms, and possess yourself of the castle. That once in our power, we shall soon be masters of the town, considering what strength we have with us that strength, should it be necessary, may be doubled in a few days. Myself will remain with the rest of the army here in silence; for I mean to enter the town by one of the gates, or not at all."

Thus saying, he delivered to Sir Odoart the twenty thousand crowns in a bag, with instructions that he should give them to the Lombard as soon as the French forces had crossed the drawbridge.

"Thou art a very knave, Sir Emeric," said Sir Odoart to the Governor, as they rode together to the drawbridge," to turn recreant to so gallant and chivalrous a king as thine. Thou hast earned the crowns doubtless, but Heaven save me from entitling myself in the like manner to uch a booty."

"Thou art marvellously honest on a sudden," said the Lombard; "but to a plain man's apprehension there seems to be no such wondrous difference between the tempter and the tempted, the briber and the bribed, especially when the former is breaking a solemn truce, as should entitle him to plume himself on his superiority to the latter."

"Lead on, lead on, Sir Emeric," said his companion

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we are e'en haggards, and thou art but a coystril; so, as thou sayest, we need not quarrel as to which soars highest."

At a sign from the Lombard, the drawbridge was let down, and one of the gates of the castle opened. Sir Odoart, having entered with his detachment, placed the bag in Sir Emeric's hands, saying, "The twenty thousand crowns are, I believe, all there. I have not time to count them, for it will be daylight presently."

Sir Emeric taking the bag from his hand, flung it into a room, the door of which he locked.

"Now, Sir Odoart," he said, "follow me, and I will conduct you to the great tower, that you may sooner possess yourself of the castle. Behold it there!" he added, pointing to a door before them. "Push back the bolts and enter." Thvs saying, he disappeared. Sir Odoart and the French advanced: the bolts gave way at their touch, and the great door of the tower flew open.

At that moment, a cry of "Manny, Manny, to the rescue!" rang in their ears, and about three hundred men, armed with swords and battle axes, rushed upon Sir Odoart and his little band. They seemed to be commanded by a knight in green armour, who advanced before them. "What!" said he to Sir Odoart, who, seeing the impossibility of resisting so disproportionate a force, had given up his sword to him, while his followers imitated his example, " do these Frenchmen think to conquer the castle of Calais with such a handful of men ?"

"Sir Knight," said Odoart, "that double villain, the Lombard, has betrayed us, or the standard of King Philip of France had floated on the towers of this castle ere now.

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"The standard of King Edward," said the Green Knight, King of France and England, floats there now, and ill betide the hand that shall attempt to pluck it down. But let us onward to the gate leading to Boulogne :-guard well the prisoners. Manny, Manny, to the rescue!" Thus saying, the captives were shut in the tower, and the English. mounting their horses, made for the gate of Boulogne.

In the mean time Sir Geoffrey, with

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his banners displayed, and surrounded by his forces, was awaiting at the Boulogne gate, with some impatience, the return of messengers from the castle. "If this Lombard," he said to the knight who stood next him, "delays opening the gate we shall all die of cold."

"In God's name," replied the knight, "these Lombards are a malicious sort of people; perhaps he is examining your florins, lest there should be any false ones, and to see if they be right in number."

The day was now breaking, and the gate of the castle was distinctly visible to those outside, when on a sudden it burst open, and amidst deafening shouts of "Manny, Manny, to the rescue!" a numerous troop of armed warriors, well mounted, gallopped towards the French forces. The Green Knight led them on, preceded by the banner of Sir Walter Manny; and numerous other banners, such as the Earl of Suffolk's, the Lord Stafford's, and the Lord Berkeley's, were seen among the English troops. "Betrayed! betrayed!" said Sir Geoffrey de Charni to those who stood about him "Gentlemen, if we fly we shall lose all; it will be more advantageous for us to fight valiantly, in the hope that the day may be ours.

"By St. George!" said the Green Knight, who had approached near enough to hear de Charni's words, " you speak truth-evil befal him who thinks of flying!" theti, retreating a little, the English dismounted from their horses, and advancing on foot, for the most part armed with battle-axes, they attacked the enemy. The battle was short, but desperate and sanguinary. The English, incensed at the treachery of the French, and the latter infuriated at the unexpected opposition which they encountered, vied with each other in the fury and zeal with which they contested the victory. Six banners and three hundred archers left the main body of the English army, and made for the bridge of Neuillet, where they found the Lord, Moreau de Fiennes, and the Lord de Crequi, who guarded it. The cross-bowmen of St. Omer and Aire were also posted between the bridge and Calais, and met a furious assault from their enemies. They were immediately discomfited and pursed to the river, where more than six hundred of them were drowned. The knights of Picardy for a long time maintained their post against very supe rior numbers; but reinforcements still pouring in to the English from the town, the French were at length obliged to surrender, or seek their safety in flight.

The Green Knight performed prodigies of valour. He was frequently seen sur rounded by the enemy, but hewing his

way through them with his battle-axe Sir Geoffrey de Charni, Sir Henry du Bois, and Sir John de Landes, were all made prisoners by him; and scarcely had one knight surrendered to him, before he was seen attacking another or defending himself from the assault of numbers. He had many times, during the engagement, attempted to come in contact with a French knight, Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont, whose extraordinary prowess struck as much terror among the English as that of the Green Knight's did in the opposite ranks; they were scarcely able ever to exchange a blow, before two large bodies meeting where they were fighting, compelled them to break off the engagement. At length, however, the Green Knight and his opponent met without the intervention of any obstacle. The conflict around them was suspended, as if by the mutual consent of the combatants, and the two armies stood by and gazed at the contention between their respective champions. Twice did Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont fell the Green Knight to the ground; but he arose, like another Antæus, from his fall each time apparently with renewed strength and vigour. Their battle-axes were struck from each other's hands; their spears, which were then resorted to, shivered into a thousand splinters; their swords were the only weapons left to them.' With these they held for a long time a doubtful conflict, until at length that of Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont broke against the shield of the Green Knight, and the latter, pressing irresistibly upon him, threw him to the ground, and planted his knee upon his breast. A tumultuous shout of applause immediately burst from the ranks of the English; and the French, who had already, although fighting with the utmost valour, been defeated at every point, threw away their arms, and surrendered themselves prisoners of war.

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Brave Knight," said Sir Eustace to his conqueror, "I yield to your superior prowess, nor blush to be overcome by strength like yours."

"Sir Eustace," said the Green Knight, raising his fallen antagonist, and returning him the sword which he presented him, "

you of all men have least cause to blush for the events of this day. By St. George! I have encountered many a tall and stalwart knight in my time, but never one who gave me so much trouble as you have done."

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May I crave your name, courteous Knight," said Sir Eustace, "that when the friends of Eustace de Ribeaumont learn that he had been vanquished, they may know it was by the hands of one who has doubtless distinguished himself in many a fiercer field than this."

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They are features, Sir Knight," said de Ribeaumont," which when once seen are not easily forgotten; but I would speedily pay my ransom money and regain my liberty-when, therefore, I pray you, shall we meet again?"

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To-night at supper, in Calais castle," said the Green Knight; and as he spake," the conquerors and the prisoners simultaneously moved towards the gate of Boulogne.

That evening a superb banquet was given in the castle of Calais, to which the French and English knights were alike invited. There was no distinction made between the guests of the two nations, except that the tables of the prisoners were more superbly decorated, and more profusely supplied than those of the captors. A table was placed on an elevated platform at the end of the room, the seats at which were not occupied at the time that the principal part of the company was assembled; but the astonishment of the French knights was extreme, when the doors were thrown open, and the King of England, the Prince of Wales, and a numerous train of the most distinguished barons and warriors of England, entered the room. As yet they had imagined that the most eminent person in the ranks of their opponents had been Sir Walter Manny. The wonder and interest of Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont were, however, the most intense of all; for, as he gazed on the features of him who wore the crown and held the sceptre, he recognized the Green Knight, and perceived that he had been opposed in single combat to the King of England.

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The banquet passed off cheerfully, with many expressions on the part of the Frenchmen, of wonder and delight at the distinguished rank of the persons to whom they had been opposed, and the courtesy with which they were treated. At its conclusion, King Edward rose from his seat, and having laid aside his crown, advanced bareheaded, except that he wore a chaplet of fine pearls around his head, down the hall, attended by his son and the lords who had sat down at table with him, for the purpose of retiring from the assembly. As he moved down the hall the knights rose up, and he entered into familiar and courteous conversation with them, especially with his prisoners. As he approached Sir Geoffrey de Charni, his

countenance altered and assumed a severe expression. "Sir Geoffrey," he said, "I have but little reason to love you, since you wished to take from me by stealth last night, and during the continuance of a solemn truce, what had given me so much trouble and cost me so large a sum of money to acquire. I am, however, rejoiced to have detected and frustrated your attempt. You were desirous of gaining Calais town and castle at a cheaper rate than I did, and thought that you could purchase them for twenty thousand crowns; but through God's assistance you have been disappointed."

This rebuke was given with so much dignity and feeling, that Sir Geoffrey was unable to utter a syllable in his defence, and the King passed on unanswered. The last person whom he addressed was Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont, who stood at the hall door through which the monarch was about to make his exit, and fell on his knees before him.

"Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont," said the King, extending his hand to him, and raising him, "of all men living you are the knight whom I have found most valiant as well in attacking his enemy, as in defending himself. I never found any one in battle who gave me, body to body, so much to do as you have given me today. I adjudge the prize of valour to you, above all the knights of my court, as what is justly due to you."

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The knight would have expressed his sense of the honour. conferred, but the King stopped him by taking the chaplet > of pearls, which was very rich and handsome, from his own brow, and placing it on Sir Eustace's head: "Sir Eustace," he added, "I present this chaplet to you as the best combatant this day of either party, whether French or English; and I beg you to wear it this year at festivals, for my sake. You are a personable gentleman, young and amorous, and well accepted among the ladies; wherefore, if you will only wear it at all public balls, and declare unto them that the King of England gave it to you as the reward of your valour, I will now release you from your captivity, quitting you wholly of your ransom.

Thus saying, the King left the hall, after the knight, whose feelings could not find utterance, had knelt down and kissed the monarch's hand in token of gratitude and acquiescence. Not only did Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont, as long as he lived, wear the chaplet in remembrance of the gift of so renowned a prince, but his family ever afterwards bore for their arms three chaplets garnished with pearls. Neele's Romance of History.

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