"Well, gemmen, all the children were immediately clothed and fed, and the
poor widow had well-nigh run distracted with joy. The old knight, being
of a humane temper himself, was pleased to see such proofs of his son's
generosity. He was not angry at his spending his money, but at
squandering away his time among the dregs of the people. For you must
know, he not only made matches, portioned poor maidens, and set up young
couples that came together without money; but he mingled in every rustic
diversion, and bore away the prize in every contest. He excelled every
swain of that district in feats of strength and activity; in leaping,
running, wrestling, cricket, cudgel-playing, and pitching the bar; and
was confessed to be, out of sight, the best dancer at all wakes and
holidays. Happy was the country-girl who could engage the young squire
as her partner! To be sure, it was a comely sight for to see as how the
buxom country-lasses, fresh and fragrant and blushing like the rose, in
their best apparel dight, their white hose, and clean short dimity
petticoats, their gaudy gowns of printed cotton; their top-knots and
stomachers, bedizened with bunches of ribbons of various colours, green,
pink, and yellow; to see them crowned with garlands, and assembled on
Mayday, to dance before Squire Launcelot, as he made his morning's
progress through the village. Then all the young peasants made their
appearance with cockades, suited to the fancies of their several
sweethearts, and boughs of flowering hawthorn. The children sported
about like flocks of frisking lambs, or the young fry swarming under the
sunny bank of some meandering river. The old men and women, in their
holiday garments, stood at their doors to receive their benefactor, and
poured forth blessings on him as he passed. The children welcomed him
with their shrill shouts, the damsels with songs of praise, and the young
men, with the pipe and tabor, marched before him to the May-pole, which
was bedecked with flowers and bloom. There the rural dance began. A