old christmas-第8章

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neration　to　generation；　almost　from　the　time　of　the　Conquest。　Something　of　the　kind　was　to　be　observed　in　the　worthy　company　around　me。　　Many　of　their　faces　had　evidently　originated　in　a　Gothic　age；　and　been　merely　copied　by　succeeding　generations；　and　there　was　one　little　girl；　in　particular；　of　staid　demeanour；　with　a　high　Roman　nose；　and　an　antique　vinegar　aspect；　who　was　a　great　favourite　of　the　Squire's；　being；　as　he　said；　a　Bracebridge　all　over；　and　the　very　counterpart　of　one　of　his　ancestors　who　figured　in　the　court　of　Henry　VIII。

The　parson　said　grace；　which　was　not　a　short；　familiar　one；　such　as　is　commonly　addressed　to　the　Deity；　in　these　unceremonious　days；　but　a　long；　courtly；　well…worded　one　of　the　ancient　school。

There　was　now　a　pause；　as　if　something　was　expected；　when　suddenly　the　butler　entered　the　hall　with　some　degree　of　bustle；　he　was　attended　by　a　servant　on　each　side　with　a　large　wax…light；　and　bore　a　silver　dish；　on　which　was　an　enormous　pig's　head；　decorated　with　rosemary；　with　a　lemon　in　its　mouth；　which　was　placed　with　great　formality　at　the　head　of　the　table。　　The　moment　this　pageant　made　its　appearance；　the　harper　struck　up　a　flourish；　at　the　conclusion　of　which　the　young　Oxonian；　on　receiving　a　hint　from　the　Squire；　gave；　with　an　air　of　the　most　comic　gravity；　an　old　carol；　the　first　verse　of　which　was　as　follows：


　　　　　　〃Caput　apri　defero　　　　　　　　Reddens　laudes　Domino。　　　　The　boar's　head　in　hand　bring　I；　　　　With　garlands　gay　and　rosemary。　　　　　　　　I　pray　you　all　synge　merily　　　　　　　　Qui　estis　in　convivio。〃


Though　prepared　to　witness　many　of　these　little　eccentricities；　from　being　apprised　of　the　peculiar　hobby　of　mine　host；　yet；　I　confess；　the　parade　with　which　so　odd　a　dish　was　introduced　somewhat　perplexed　me；　until　I　gathered　from　the　conversation　of　the　Squire　and　the　parson　that　it　was　meant　to　represent　the　bringing　in　of　the　boar's　head：　a　dish　formerly　served　up　with　much　ceremony；　and　the　sound　of　minstrelsy　and　song；　at　great　tables　on　Christmas　Day。　　〃I　like　the　old　custom；〃　said　the　Squire；　〃not　merely　because　it　is　stately　and　pleasing　in　itself；　but　because　it　was　observed　at　the　College　of　Oxford；　at　which　I　was　educated。　When　I　hear　the　old　song　chanted；　it　brings　to　mind　the　time　when　I　was　young　and　gamesomeand　the　noble　old　college…halland　my　fellow　students　loitering　about　in　their　black　gowns；　many　of　whom；　poor　lads；　are　now　in　their　graves！〃

The　parson；　however；　whose　mind　was　not　haunted　by　such　associations；　and　who　was　always　more　taken　up　with　the　text　than　the　sentiment；　objected　to　the　Oxonian's　version　of　the　carol：　which　he　affirmed　was　different　from　that　sung　at　college。　　He　went　on；　with　the　dry　perseverance　of　a　commentator；　to　give　the　college　reading；　accompanied　by　sundry　annotations：　addressing　himself　at　first　to　the　company　at　large；　but　finding　their　attention　gradually　diverted　to　other　talk；　and　other　objects；　he　lowered　his　tone　as　his　number　of　auditors　diminished；　until　he　concluded　his　remarks；　in　an　under　voice；　to　a　fat…headed　old　gentleman　next　him；　who　was　silently　engaged　in　the　discussion　of　a　huge　plateful　of　turkey。*


*　See　Note　E。


The　table　was　literally　loaded　with　good　cheer；　and　presented　an　epitome　of　country　abundance；　in　this　season　of　overflowing　larders。　　A　distinguished　post　was　allotted　to　〃ancient　sirloin；〃　as　mine　host　termed　it；　being；　as　he　added；　〃the　standard　of　old　English　hospitality；　and　a　joint　of　goodly　presence；　and　full　of　expectation。〃

There　were　several　dishes　quaintly　decorated；　and　which　had　evidently　something　traditionary　in　their　embellishments；　but　about　which；　as　I　did　not　like　to　appear　over　curious；　I　asked　no　questions。　　I　could　not；　however；　but　notice　a　pie；　magnificently　decorated　with　peacocks'　feathers；　in　imitation　of　the　tail　of　that　bird；　which　overshadowed　a　considerable　tract　of　the　table。　　This；　the　Squire　confessed；　with　some　little　hesitation；　was　a　pheasant…　pie；　though　a　peacock…pie　was　certainly　the　most　authentical；　but　there　had　been　such　a　mortality　among　the　peacocks　this　season；　that　he　could　not　prevail　upon　himself　to　have　one　killed。*


*　See　Note　F。


It　would　be　tedious；　perhaps；　to　my　wiser　readers；　who　may　not　have　that　foolish　fondness　for　odd　and　obsolete　things　to　which　I　am　a　little　given；　were　I　to　mention　the　other　makeshifts　of　this　worthy　old　humourist；　by　which　he　was　endeavouring　to　follow　up；　though　at　humble　distance；　the　quaint　customs　of　antiquity。　　I　was　pleased；　however；　to　see　the　respect　shown　to　his　whims　by　his　children　and　relatives；　who；　indeed；　entered　readily　into　the　full　spirit　of　them；　and　seemed　all　well　versed　in　their　parts；　having　doubtless　been　present　at　many　a　rehearsal。　　I　was　amused；　too；　at　the　air　of　profound　gravity　with　which　the　butler　and　other　servants　executed　the　duties　assigned　them；　however　eccentric。　　They　had　an　old…　fashioned　look；　having；　for　the　most　part；　been　brought　up　in　the　household；　and　grown　into　keeping　with　the　antiquated　mansion；　and　the　humours　of　its　lord；　and　most　probably　looked　upon　all　his　whimsical　regulations　as　the　established　laws　of　honourable　housekeeping。　　When　the　cloth　was　removed；　the　butler　brought　in　a　huge　silver　vessel　of　rare　and　curious　workmanship；　which　he　placed　before　the　Squire。　　Its　appearance　was　hailed　with　acclamation；　being　the　Wassail　Bowl；　so　renowned　in　Christmas　festivity。　　The　contents　had　been　prepared　by　the　Squire　himself；　for　it　was　a　beverage　in　the　skilful　mixture　of　which　he　particularly　prided　himself；　alleging　that　it　was　too　abstruse　and　complex　for　the　comprehension　of　an　ordinary　servant。　　It　was　a　potation；　indeed；　that　might　well　make　the　heart　of　a　toper　leap　within　him；　being　composed　of　the　richest　and　raciest　wines；　highly　spiced　and　sweetened；　with　roasted　apples　bobbing　about　the　surface。*


*　See　Note　G。


The　old　gentleman's　whole　countenance　beamed　with　a　serene　look　of　indwelling　delight；　as　he　stirred　this　mighty　bowl。　　Having　raised　it　to　his　lips；　with　a　hearty　wish　of　a　merry　Christmas　to　all　present；　he　sent　it　brimming；　around　the　board；　for　every　one　to　follow　his　example；　according　to　the　primitive　style；　pronouncing　it　〃the　ancient　fountain　of　good　feeling；　where　all　hearts　met　together。〃*


*　See　Note　H。


There　was　much　laughing　and　rallying；　as　the　honest　emblem　of　Christmas　joviality　circulated；　and　was　kissed　rather　coyly　by　the　ladies。　　When　it　reached　Master　Simon　he　raised　it　in　both　hands；　and　with　the　air　of　a　boon　companion　struck　up　an　old　Wassail　chanson：


　　　　　The　browne　bowle；　　　　　　The　merry　browne　bowle；　　　　　　As　it　goes　round　about…a；　　　　　　　　　　　Fill　　　　　　　　　　　Still；　　　　　　Let　the　world　say　what　it　will；　　　　　　And　drink　your　fill　all　out…a。

　　　　　The　deep　canne；　　　　　　The　merry　deep　canne；　　　　　　As　thou　dost　freely　quaff…a；　　　　　　　　　　　Sing；　　　　　　　　　　　Fling；　　　　　　Be　as　merry　as　a　king；　　　　　　And　sound　a　lusty　laugh…a。*


*　From　〃Poor　Robin's　Almanack。〃


Much　of　the　conversation　during　dinner　turned　upon　family　topics；　to　which　I　was　a　stranger。　　There　was；　however；　a　great　deal　of　rallying　of　Master　Simon　about　some　gay　widow；　with　whom　he　was　accused　of　having　a　flirtation。　　This　attack　was　commenced　by　the　ladies；　but　it　was　continued　throughout　the　dinner　by　the　fat…　headed　old　gentleman　next　the　parson；　with　the　persevering　assiduity　of　a　slow…hound；　being　one　of　those　long…winded　jokers；　who；　though　rather　dull　at　starting　game；　are　unrivalled　for　their　talents　in　hunting　it　down。　　At　every　pause　in　the　general　conversation；　he　renewed　his　bantering　in　pretty　much　the　same　terms；　winking　hard　at　me　with　both　eyes　whenever　he　gave　Master　Simon　what　he　considered　a　home　thrust。　　The　latter；　indeed；　seemed　fond　of　being　teased　on　the　subject；　as　old　bachelors　are　apt　to　be；　and　he　took　occasion　to　inform　me；　in　an　undertone；　that　the　lady　in　question　was　a　prodigiously　fine　woman；　and　drove　her　own　curricle。

The　dinner…time　passed　away　in　this　flow　of　innocent　hilarity；　and；　though　the　old　hall　may　have　resounded　in　its　time　with　many　a　scene　of　broader　rout　and　revel；　yet　I　doubt　whether　it　ever　witnessed　more　honest　and　genuine　enjoyment。　　How　easy　it　is　for　one　benevolent　being　to　diffuse　pleasure　around　him；　and　how　truly　is　a　kind　heart　a　fountain　of　gladness；　making　everything　in　its　vicinity　to　freshen　into　smiles！　　The　joyous　disposition　of　the　worthy　Squire　was　perfectly　contagious；　he　was　happy　himself；　and　disposed　to　make　all　the　world　happy；　and　the　little　eccentricities　of　his　humour　did　but　season；　in　a　manner；　the　sweetness　of　his　philanthropy。

When　the　ladies　had　retired；　the　conversation；　as　usual；　became　still　more　animated；　many　good　things　were　broached　which　had　been　thought　of　during　dinner；　but　which　would　not　exactly　do　for　a　lady's　ear；　and　though　I　cannot　positively　affirm　that　there　was　much　wit　uttered；　yet　I　have　certainly　heard　many　contests　of　rare　wit　produce　much　less　laughter。　　Wit；　after　all；　is　a　mighty　tart；　pungent　ingredient；　and　much　too　acid　for　some　stomachs；　but　honest　good　humour　is　the　oil　and　wine　of　a　merry　meeting；　and　there　is　no　jovial　companionship　equal　to　that　where　the　jokes　are　rather　small；　and　the　laughter　abundant。　　The　Squire　told　several　long　stories　of　early　college　pranks　and　adventures；　in　some　of　which　the　parson　had　been　a　sharer；　though　in　looking　at　the　latter；　it　required　some　effort　of　imagination　to　figure　such　a　little　dark　anatomy　of　a　man　into　the　perpetrator　of　a　madcap　gambol。　　Indeed；　the　two　college　chums　presented　pictures　of　what　men　may　be　made　by　their　different　lots　in　life。　　The　Squire　had　left　the　university　to　live　lustily　on　his　paternal　domains；　in　the　vigorous　enjoyment　of　prosperity　and　sunshine；　and　had　flourished　on　to　a　hearty　and　florid　old　age；　whilst　the　poor　parson；　on　the　contrary；　had　dried　and　withered　away；　among　dusty　tomes；　in　the　silence　and　shadows　of　his　study。

Still　there　seemed　to　be　a　spark　of　almost　extinguished　fire；　feebly　glimmering　in　the　bottom　of　his　soul；　and　as　the　Squire　hinted　at　a　sly　story　of　the　parson　and　a　pretty　milkmaid；　whom　they　once　met　on　the　banks　of　the　Isis；　the　old　gentleman　made　an　〃alphabet　of　faces；〃　which；　as　far　as　I　could　decipher　his　physiognomy；　I　verily　believe　was　indicative　of　laughter；indeed；　I　have　rarely　met　with　an　old　gentleman　who　took　absolutely　offence　at　the　imputed　gallantries　of　his　youth。

I　found　the　tide　of　wine　and　wassail　fast　gaining　on　the　dry　land　of　sober　judgment。　　The　company　grew　merrier　and　louder　as　their　jokes　grew　duller。　　Master　Simon　was　in　as　chirping　a　humour　as　a　grasshopper　filled　with　dew；　his　old　songs　grew　of　a　warmer　complexion；　and　he　began　to　talk　maudlin　about　the　widow。　　He　even　gave　a　long　song　about　the　wooing　of　a　widow；　which　he　informed　me　he　had　gathered　from　an　excellent　black…letter　work；　entitled　〃Cupid's　Solicitor　for　Love；〃　containing　store　of　good　advice　for　bachelors；　and　which　he　promised　to　lend　me。　　The　first　verse　was　to　this　effect：


　　　　　〃He　that　will　woo　a　widow　must　not　dally；　　　　　　　He　must　make　hay　while　the　sun　doth　shine；　　　　　　　He　must　not　stand　with　her；　Shall　I；　Shall　I？　　　　　　　But　boldly　say；　Widow；　thou　must　be　mine。〃


This　song　inspired　the　fat…headed　old　gentleman；　who　ma