The monastery; The abbot.

392 WAVERLEY NOVEIS.
done your errand, and listen to a good song?" and without waiting for an'
answ er, he commenced his ditty," The Pope, that pagan full of pride,
Hath blinded us full lang —"
It is probable that the good wine had made some innovation in the falconer's
brain, otherwise he would have recollected the danger of introducing any
thing like political or polemical pleasantry into a public assemblage at a
time when men's minds were in a state of great irritability. To do him
justice, he perceived his error, and stopped short so soon as he saw that the
word Pope had at once interrupted the separate conversations of the various
parties which were assembled in the apartment; and that many began to
draw themselves up, bridle, look big, and prepare to take part in the impending brawl; while others, more decent and cautious persons, hastily paid
down their lawing, and prepared to leave the place ere bad should come to
worse.
And to worse it was soon likely to come; for no sooner did Woodcock's
ditty reach the ear of the stranger page, than, uplifting his riding-rod, he
exclaimed, " He who speaks irreverently of the Holy Father of the church
in my presence, is the cub of a heretic wolf-bitch, and I will switch him as
I would a mongrel-cur."
"And I will break thy young pate," said Adam, " if thou darest to lift a
finger to me." -And then, in defiance of the young Drawcansir's threats,
with a stout heart and dauntless accent, he again uplifted the stave.
"The Pope, that pagan full of pride,
Hath blinded-"
But Adam was able to proceed no farther, being himself unfortunately
blinded by a stroke of the impatient youth's switch across his eyes. Enraged
at once by the smart and the indignity, the falconer started up, and darkling as he was, for his eyes watered too fast to permit his seeing any thing,
he would soon have been at close grips with his insolent adversary, had not
Roland Grmme, contrary to his nature, played for once the prudent man and
the peacemaker, and thrown himself betwixt them, imploring Woodcock's
patience. " You know not," he said, " with whom you have to do. - And
thou," addressing the messenger, who stood scornfully laughing at Adam's
rage, "get thee gone, whoever thou art; if thou be'st what I guess thee, thou
well knowest there are earnest reasons why thou shouldst."
"Thou hast hit it right for once, Holly-top," said the gallant, "though I
guess you drew your bow at a venture. Here, host, let this yeoman have
a pottle of wine to wash the smart out of his eyes- and there is a French
crown for him." So saying, he threw the piece of money on the table, and
left the apartment, with a quick yet steady pace, looking firmly at right and
left, as if to defy interruption: and snapping his fingers at two or three
respectable burghers, who, declaring it was a shame that any one should be
suffered to rant and ruffle in defence of the Pope, were labouring to find the
hilts of their swords, which had got for the present unhappily entangled in
the folds of their cloaks. But, as the adversary was gone ere any'of them
had reached his weapon, they did not think it necessary to unsheath cold
iron, but merely observed to each other, " This is more than masterful violence, to see a poor man stricken in the face just for singing a ballad against
the whore of Babylon! If the Pope's champions are to be bangsters in our
very change-houses, we shall soon have the old shavelings back again."
" The provost should look to it," said another, " and have some five or six
armed with partisans, to come in upon the first whistle, to teach these gallants their lesson. For, look you, neighbour Lugleather, it is not for decent
householders like ourselves to be brawling with the godless grooms and pert
pages of the nobles, that are bred up to little else save bloodshed and blasphemy."