prone to listen to the pretensions of such unworthy men； who are；
indeed； mere SALTIM BANQUI and CHARLATANI； though usurping the
style and skill of doctors of medicine； yet the pretensions of
this poor Zany； this Wayland； were too gross to pass on them； nor
was there a mere rustic； a villager； who was not ready to accost
him in the sense of Persius； though in their own rugged words；
DILIUS HELLEBORUM CERTO COMPESCERE PUNCTO
NESCIUS EXAMEN？ VETAT HOC NATURA VEDENDI；'
which I have thus rendered in a poor paraphrase of mine own；
Wilt thou mix hellebore； who dost not know
How many grains should to the mixture go？
The art of medicine this forbids； I trow。
Moreover； the evil reputation of the master； and his strange and
doubtful end； or at least sudden disappearance； prevented any；
excepting the most desperate of men； to seek any advice or
opinion from the servant； wherefore； the poor vermin was likely
at first to swarf for very hunger。 But the devil that serves
him； since the death of Demetrius or Doboobie； put him on a fresh
device。 This knave； whether from the inspiration of the devil；
or from early education； shoes horses better than e'er a man
betwixt us and Iceland； and so he gives up his practice on the
bipeds； the two…legged and unfledged species called mankind； and
betakes him entirely to shoeing of horses。〃
〃Indeed！ and where does he lodge all this time？〃 said
Tressilian。 〃And does he shoe horses well？ Show me his dwelling
presently。〃
The interruption pleased not the Magister； who exclaimed； 〃O
CAECA MENS MORTALIUM！though； by the way； I used that quotation
before。 But I would the classics could afford me any sentiment
of power to stop those who are so willing to rush upon their own
destruction。 Hear but； I pray you； the conditions of this man；〃
said he； in continuation； 〃ere you are so willing to place
yourself within his danger〃
〃A' takes no money for a's work；〃 said the dame； who stood by；
enraptured as it were with the line words and learned apophthegms
which glided so fluently from her erudite inmate； Master Holiday。
But this interruption pleased not the Magister more than that of
the traveller。
〃Peace；〃 said he； 〃Gammer Sludge； know your place； if it be your
will。 SUFFLAMINA； Gammer Sludge； and allow me to expound this
matter to our worshipful guest。Sir；〃 said he； again addressing
Tressilian； 〃this old woman speaks true； though in her own rude
style； for certainly this FABER FERRARIUS； or blacksmith； takes
money of no one。〃
〃And that is a sure sign he deals with Satan；〃 said Dame Sludge；
〃since no good Christian would ever refuse the wages of his
labour。〃
〃The old woman hath touched it again；〃 said the pedagogue； 〃REM
ACU TETIGITshe hath pricked it with her needle's point。 This
Wayland takes no money； indeed； nor doth he show himself to any
one。〃
〃And can this madman； for such I hold him；〃 said the traveller；
〃know aught like good skill of his trade？〃
〃Oh； sir； in that let us give the devil his dueMulciber
himself； with all his Cyclops； could hardly amend him。 But
assuredly there is little wisdom in taking counsel or receiving
aid from one who is but too plainly in league with the author of
evil。〃
〃I must take my chance of that； good Master Holiday；〃 said
Tressilian； rising； 〃and as my horse must now have eaten his
provender； I must needs thank you for your good cheer； and pray
you to show me this man's residence； that I may have the means of
proceeding on my journey。〃
〃Ay； ay； do ye show him； Master Herasmus；〃 said the old dame； who
was； perhaps； desirous to get her house freed of her guest； 〃a'
must needs go when the devil drives。〃
〃DO MANUS；〃 said the Magister； 〃I submittaking the world to
witness； that I have possessed this honourable gentleman with the
full injustice which he has done and shall do to his own soul； if
he becomes thus a trinketer with Satan。 Neither will I go forth
with our guest myself； but rather send my pupil。RICARDE！
ADSIS； NEBULO。〃
〃Under your favour； not so；〃 answered the old woman； 〃you may
peril your own soul； if you list； but my son shall budge on no
such errand。 And I wonder at you； Dominie Doctor； to propose
such a piece of service for little Dickie。〃
〃Nay； my good Gammer Sludge；〃 answered the preceptor； 〃Ricardus
shall go but to the top of the hill； and indicate with his digit
to the stranger the dwelling of Wayland Smith。 Believe not that
any evil can come to him； he having read this morning； fasting； a
chapter of the Septuagint； and； moreover； having had his lesson
in the Greek Testament。〃
〃Ay；〃 said his mother； 〃and I have sewn a sprig of witch's elm in
the neck of un's doublet； ever since that foul thief has begun
his practices on man and beast in these parts。〃
〃And as he goes oft （as I hugely suspect） towards this conjurer
for his own pastime； he may for once go thither； or near it； to
pleasure us； and to assist this stranger。ERGO； HEUS RICARDE！
ADSIS； QUAESO； MI DIDASCULE。〃
The pupil； thus affectionately invoked； at length came stumbling
into the room； a queer； shambling； ill…made urchin； who； by his
stunted growth； seemed about twelve or thirteen years old； though
he was probably； in reality； a year or two older； with a carroty
pate in huge disorder； a freckled； sunburnt visage； with a snub
nose； a long chin； and two peery grey eyes； which had a droll
obliquity of vision； approaching to a squint； though perhaps not
a decided one。 It was impossible to look at the little man
without some disposition to laugh； especially when Gammer Sludge；
seizing upon and kissing him； in spite of his struggling and
kicking in reply to her caresses； termed him her own precious
pearl of beauty。
〃RICARDE；〃 said the preceptor； 〃you must forthwith （which is
PROFECTO） set forth so far as the top of the hill； and show this
man of worship Wayland Smith's workshop。〃
〃A proper errand of a morning；〃 said the boy； in better language
than Tressilian expected； 〃and who knows but the devil may fly
away with me before I come back？〃
〃Ay； marry may un；〃 said Dame Sludge； 〃and you might have thought
twice； Master Domine； ere you sent my dainty darling on arrow
such errand。 It is not for such doings I feed your belly and
clothe your back； I warrant you！〃
〃PshawNUGAE； good Gammer Sludge；〃 answered the preceptor； 〃I
ensure you that Satan； if there be Satan in the case； shall not
touch a thread of his garment； for Dickie can say his PATER with
the best； and may defy the foul fiendEUMENIDES； STYGIUMQUE
NEFAS。〃
〃Ay； and I； as I said before； have sewed a sprig of the mountain…
ash into his collar；〃 said the good woman； 〃which will avail more
than your clerkship； I wus； but for all that； it is ill to seek
the devil or his mates either。〃
〃My good boy；〃 said Tressilian； who saw； from a grotesque sneer
on Dickie's face； that he was more likely to act upon his own
bottom than by the instructions of his elders； 〃I will give thee
a silver groat； my pretty fellow； if you will but guide me to
this man's forge。〃
The boy gave him a knowing side…look； which seemed to promise
acquiescence； while at the same time he exclaimed； 〃I be your
guide to Wayland Smith's！ Why； man； did I not say that the devil
might fly off with me； just as the kite there〃 （looking to the
window） 〃is flying off with one of grandam's chicks？〃
〃The kite！ the kite！〃 exclaimed the old woman in return； and
forgetting all other matters in her alarm； hastened to the rescue
of her chickens as fast as her old legs could carry her。
〃Now for it；〃 said the urchin to Tressilian； 〃snatch your beaver；
get out your horse； and have at the silver groat you spoke of。〃
〃Nay； but tarry； tarry；〃 said the preceptor〃SUFFLAMINA；
RICARDE！〃
〃Tarry yourself；〃 said Dickie； 〃and think what answer you are to
make to granny for sending me post to the devil。〃
The teacher； aware of the responsibility he was incurring；
bustled up in great haste to lay hold of the urchin and to
prevent his departure； but Dickie slipped through his fingers；
bolted from the cottage； and sped him to the top of a
neighbouring rising ground； while the preceptor； despairing； by
well…taught experience； of recovering his pupil by speed of foot；
had recourse to the most honied epithets the Latin vocabulary
affords to persuade his return。 But to MI ANIME； CORCULUM MEUM；
and all such classical endearments； the truant turned a deaf ear；
and kept frisking on the top of the rising ground like a goblin
by moonlight； making signs to his new acquaintance； Tressilian；
to follow him。
The traveller lost no time in getting out his horse and departing
to join his elvish guide； after half…forcing on the poor；
deserted teacher a recompense for the entertainment he had
received； which partly allayed that terror he had for facing the
return of the old lady of the mansion。 Apparently this took
place soon afterwards； for ere Tressilian and his guide had
proceeded far on their journey； they heard the screams of a
cracked female voice； intermingled with the classical
objurgations of Master Erasmus Holiday。 But Dickie Sludge；
equally deaf to the voice of maternal tenderness and of
magisterial authority