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.

384 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
" It is not you whom I address, reverend sir," replied the envoy; "your
interest, not unnaturally, may determine you to be more anxious about your
patron's life than about his honour. I must know, from himself, to which
he is disposed to give the preference."
So saying, and with a graceful bow, he again tendered the challenge to
Major Bridgenorth. There was obviously a struggle in that gentleman's
bosom, between the suggestions of human honour and those of religious
principle; but the latter prevailed. He calmly waved receiving the paper
-which Sir Jasper offered to him, and spoke to the following purpose: —" It
may not be known to you, Sir Jasper, that since the general pouring out of
Christian light upon this kingdom, many solid men have been led to doubt
whether the shedding human blood by the hand of a fellow-creature be in
any respect justifiable. And although this rule appears to me to be scarcely
applicable to our state in this stage of trial, seeing that such non-resistance,
if general, would surrender our civil and religious rights into the hands of
whatsoever daring tyrants might usurp the same; yet I am, and have been,
inclined to limit the use of carnal arms to the case of necessary self-defence,
whether such regards our own person, or the protection of our country
against invasion; or of our rights of property, and the freedom of our laws
and of our conscience, against usurping power. And as I have never shown
myself unwilling to draw my sword in any of the latter causes, so you shall
excuse my suffering it now to remain in the scabbard, when, having sustained a grievous injury, the man who inflicted it summons me to combat,
either upon an idle punctilio, or, as is more likely, in mere bravado."
"I have heard you with patience," said Sir Jasper; "and now, Master
Bridgenorth, take it not amiss, if I beseech you to bethink yourself better
on this matter. I vow to Heaven, sir, that your honour lies a-bleeding;
and that in condescending to afford you this fair meeting, and thereby giving
you some chance-to stop its wounds, Sir Geoffrey has been moved by a
tender sense of your condition, and an earnest wish to redeem your dishonour. And it will be but the crossing of your blade with his honoured
sword for the space of some few minutes, and you will either live or die a
noble and honoured gentleman. Besides, that the Knight's exquisite skill
of fence may enable him, as his good nature will incline him, to disarm you
with some flesh wound, little to the damage of your person, and greatly to
the benefit of your reputation."
"The tender mercies of the wicked," said Master Solsgrace, emphatically,
by way of commenting on this speech, which Sir Jasper had uttered very
pathetically, " are cruel."
" I pray to have no farther interruption from your reverence," said Sir
Jasper; "especially as I think this affair very little concerns you; and I
entreat that you permit me to discharge myself regularly of my commission from my worthy friend."
So saying, he took his sheathed rapier from his belt, and passing the point
through the silk thread which secured the letter, he once more, and literally
at sword point, gracefully tendered it to Major Bridgenorth, who again
waved it aside, though colouring deeply at the same time, as if he was putting a marked constraint upon himself- drew back, and made Sir Jasper
Cranbourne a deep bow.
"Since it is to be thus," said Sir Jasper, " I must myself do violence to
the seal of Sir Geoffrey's letter, and read it to you, that I may fully acquit
myself of the charge intrusted to me, and make you, Master Bridgenorth,
equally aware of the generous intentions of Sir Geoffrey on your behalf."
"If," said Major Bridgenorth, "the contents of the letter be to no other
purpose than you have intimated, methinks farther ceremony is unnecessary on this occasion, as I have already taken my course."
" Nevertheless," said Sir Jasper, breaking open the letter, "it is fitting