to assume an extreme degree of humility, and make himself, to suit
his argument, look meaner yet, and yet more insignificant, than
nature had made him.

"Pardon me," said he; "I am but a poor pottingar. Nevertheless, I
have been bred in Paris, and learned my humanities and my cursus
medendi as well as some that call themselves learned leeches. Methinks
I can tent this wound, and treat it with emollients. Here is our
friend Simon Glover, who is, as you all know, a man of worship.
Think you he would not be the most willing of us all to pursue harsh
courses here, since his family honour is so nearly concerned? And
since he blenches away from the charge against these same revellers,
consider if he may not have some good reason more than he cares
to utter for letting the matter sleep. It is not for me to put
my finger on the sore; but, alack! we all know that young maidens
are what I call fugitive essences. Suppose now, an honest maiden
--I mean in all innocence--leaves her window unlatched on St.
Valentine's morn, that some gallant cavalier may--in all honesty, I
mean--become her Valentine for the season, and suppose the gallant
be discovered, may she not scream out as if the visit were unexpected,
and--and--bray all this in a mortar, and then consider, will
it be a matter to place the town in feud for?"

The pottingar delivered his opinion in a most insinuating manner;
but he seemed to shrink into something less than his natural tenuity
when he saw the blood rise in the old cheek of Simon Glover, and
inflame to the temples the complexion of the redoubted smith.

The last, stepping forward, and turning a stern look on the alarmed
pottingar, broke out as follows: "Thou walking skeleton! thou