But St.John's absenting himself from our solemn revels, so long before decreed, is flat mutiny and disclamation of allegiance.

Or, if the knight be really the prisoner of illness and melancholy, we must ourself grace him with a visit, seeing there can be no better cure for those maladies than our own presence, and a gentle kiss of the calabash.

Forward, ushers, minstrels, guard, and attendants! Bear on high the great emblem of our dignity.

Up with the calabash, I say, and let the merry men who carry these firkins, which are to supply the wine cup with their life blood, be chosen with regard to their state of steadiness.

Their burden is weighty and precious, and if the fault is not in our eyes, they seem to us to reel and stagger more than were desirable.