[The Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves by Tobias Smollett]@TWC D-Link bookThe Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves CHAPTER FIVE 6/13
Sir Launcelot's armour was lacquered black; and on his shield was represented the moon in her first quarter, with the motto, Impleat orbem.
The trumpets having sounded a charge, the stranger pronounced with a loud voice, 'God preserve this gallant knight in all his honourable achievements; and may he long continue to press the sides of his now adopted steed, which I denominate Bronzomarte, hoping that he will rival in swiftness and spirit, Bayardo, Brigliadoro, or any other steed of past or present chivalry!' After another flourish of the trumpets, all four clapped spurs to their horses, Sir Launcelot couching his lance, and galloped to and fro, as if they had been mad, to the terror and astonishment of all the spectators. "What should have induced our knight to choose this here man for his squire, is not easy to determine; for, of all the servants about the house, he was the least likely either to please his master, or engage in such an undertaking.
His name is Timothy Crabshaw, and he acted in the capacity of whipper-in to Sir Everhard.
He afterwards married the daughter of a poor cottager, by whom he has several children, and was employed about the house as a ploughman and carter.
To be sure, the fellow has a dry sort of humour about him; but he was universally hated among the servants, for his abusive tongue and perverse disposition, which often brought him into trouble; for, though the fellow is as strong as an elephant, he has no more courage naturally than a chicken; I say naturally, because, since his being a member of knight-errantry, he has done some things that appear altogether incredible and preternatural. "Timothy kept such a bawling, after he had received the blow from Sir Launcelot, that everybody on the field thought that some of his bones were broken; and his wife, with five bantlings, came snivelling to the knight, who ordered her to send the husband directly to his house.
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