of which your praises were the harbingers. I am honest, and so
forth, you would say, but a hot brained brawler, and common sworder
or stabber."

"I should injure both myself and you in calling you such. No, Henry,
to no common stabber, had he worn a plume in his bonnet and gold
spurs on his heels, would Catharine Glover have offered the little
grace she has this day voluntarily done to you. If I have at times
dwelt severely upon the proneness of your spirit to anger, and of
your hand to strife, it is because I would have you, if I could
so persuade you, hate in yourself the sins of vanity and wrath by
which you are most easily beset. I have spoken on the topic more
to alarm your own conscience than to express my opinion. I know as
well as my father that, in these forlorn and desperate days, the
whole customs of our nation, nay, of every Christian nation, may
be quoted in favour of bloody quarrels for trifling causes, of the
taking deadly and deep revenge for slight offences, and the slaughter
of each other for emulation of honour, or often in mere sport. But
I knew that for all these things we shall one day be called into
judgment; and fain would I convince thee, my brave and generous
friend, to listen oftener to the dictates of thy good heart, and
take less pride in the strength and dexterity of thy unsparing
arm."

"I am--I am convinced, Catharine" exclaimed Henry: "thy words
shall henceforward be a law to me. I have done enough, far too much,
indeed, for proof of my bodily strength and courage; but it is only
from you, Catharine, that I can learn a better way of thinking.
Remember, my fair Valentine, that my ambition of distinction in
arms, and my love of strife, if it can be called such, do not fight