The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

268 WAVERILEY NOVELS.
the King, with his privy-council, whom he had not dismissed, again returned to his council-chamber, though the hour was unusually late. Hleriot's attendance was still commanded, but for what reason was not explained
to him.
c aitty ttr $ tirTq-'$ irh.
I'll play the eavesdropper.
RICHIARD III. ACT V. Sc. 3.
JAMES had no sooner resumed his seat at the council-board than he began
to hitch in his chair, cough, use his handkerchief, and make other intimations that he meditated a long speech. The council composed themselves
to the beseeming degree of attention. Charles, as strict in his notions of
decorum, as his father was indifferent to it, fixed himself in an attitude of
rigid and respectful attention, vWhile the haughty favourite, conscious of his
power over both father and son, stretched himself more easily on his seat,
and, in assuming an appearance of listening, seemed to pay a debt to ceremonial rather than to duty.
" I doubt not, my lords," said the Monarch, " that some of you may be
thinking the hour of refection is past, and that it is time to ask with the
slave in the comedy —Quid de symbolo? Nevertheless, to do justice and
exercise judgment is our meat and drink; and n wv we are to pray your
wisdom to consider the case of this unhappy youth, Lord Glenvarloch, and
see whether, consistently with our honour, any thing can be done in his
favour."
" I am surprised at your MIajesty's wisdom making the inquiry," said the
Duke; "it is plain this Dalgarno hath proved one of the most insolent villains on earth, and it must therefore be clear, that if Lord Glenvarloch had
run him through the body, there would but have been out of the world a
knave who had lived in it too long. I think Lord Glenvarloch bath had
much wrong; and I regret that, by the persuasions of this false fellow, I
have myself had some hand in it."
" Ye speak like a child, Steenie-I mean my Lord of Buckingham," answered the King, "and as one that does not understand the logic of the
schools; for an action may be inconsequential, or even meritorious, quoad
hominem, that is, as touching him upon whom it is acted; and yet most
criminal, qeoadc loceum, or considering the place wherein it is done, as a man
may lawfully dance Chrighty Beardie or any other dance in a tavern, but
not interparietes eccesice. So that, though it may have been a good deal to
have sticked Lord Dalgarno, being such as he has shown himself, any where
else, yet it fell under the plain statute, when violence was offered within/
the verge of the Court. For, let me tell you, my lords, the statute against
striking would be of small use in our Court, if it could be eluded by justifying the person stricken to be a knave. It is much to be lamented that I
ken nae Court in Christendom where knaves are not to' be found; and if
men are to break the peace under pretence of beating them, why, it will
rain Jeddcart staves- in our very antechamber."
"What your M5ajesty says," replied Prince Charles, "is marked with
your usual wisdom —the precincts of palaces must be sacred as Well as the
persons of kings, which are respected even in the most barbarous nations,
*The old-fashioned weapon called the Jeddart staff was a species of battle-axe. Of a very great tempest,
it is said, in the south of Scotland, that it rains Jeddart staffs, as in England the common people talk of ies
raining cats and dlogs.