I should as soon have expected to hear you praise the wicked and foolish work of Hobbes, with his mischievous thesis, "A Deo rex, a rege lex."' 'It is true that I contemn and despise the use which Butler hath made of his satire,' said Saxon adroitly; 'yet I may admire the satire itself, just as one may admire a damascened blade without approving of the quarrel in which it is drawn.' 'These distinctions are, I fear, too subtle for my old brain,' said the stout old Puritan.

'This England of ours is divided into two camps, that of God and that of Antichrist.

He who is not with us is against us, nor shall any who serve under the devil's banner have anything from me save my scorn and the sharp edge of my sword.' 'Well, well,' said Saxon, filling up his glass, 'I am no Laodicean or time-server.

The cause shall not find me wanting with tongue or with sword.' 'Of that I am well convinced, my worthy friend,' the Mayor answered, 'and if I have spoken over sharply you will hold me excused.

But I regret to have evil tidings to announce to you.