speak in passion, and I will do it in King Cambyses' vein.

--Henry IV, part I.


Mannering, with Sampson for his companion, lost no time in his
journey to Edinburgh. They travelled in the Colonel's post-
chariot, who, knowing his companion's habits of abstraction, did
not choose to lose him out of his own sight, far less to trust him
on horseback, where, in all probability, a knavish stable-boy
might with little address have contrived to mount him with his
face to the tail. Accordingly, with the aid of his valet, who
attended on horseback, he contrived to bring Mr. Sampson safe to
an inn in Edinburgh--for hotels in those days there were none--
without any other accident than arose from his straying twice upon
the road. On one occasion he was recovered by Barnes, who
understood his humour, when, after engaging in close colloquy with
the schoolmaster of Moffat respecting a disputed quantity in
Horace's 7th Ode, Book II, the dispute led on to another
controversy concerning the exact meaning of the word malobathro in
that lyric effusion. His second escapade was made for the purpose
of visiting the field of Rullion Green, which was dear to his
Presbyterian predilections. Having got out of the carriage for an
instant, he saw the sepulchral monument of the slain at the
distance of about a mile, and was arrested by Barnes in his
progress up the Pentland Hills, having on both occasions forgot
his friend, patron, and fellow-traveller as completely as if he
had been in the East Indies. On being reminded that Colonel
Mannering was waiting for him, he uttered his usual ejaculation of
'Prodigious! I was oblivious,' and then strode back to his post.