And the maiden, now growing more reasonable, did promise the same. But Master Silas said,
“_No_,” said the mother, “_I answer for her she shall not think of him_, _even if she see his ghost_.”
Hannah screamed, and swooned, the better to forget him. And Master Silas went home easier and contenteder. For now all the worst of his hard duty was accomplished,—he having been, on the Wednesday of last week, at the speech of Master John Shakspeare, Will’s father, to inquire whether the sorrel mare was his. To which question the said Master John Shakspeare did answer, “_Yea_.”
“_Horse-stealing is capital_. _We shall bind thee over to appear against the culprit_, _as prosecutor_, _at the next assizes_.”
May the Lord in his mercy give the lad a good deliverance, if so be it be no sin to wish it!
A CONFERENCE OF MASTER EDMUND SPENSER, A GENTLEMAN OF NOTE, WITH THE EARL OF ESSEX, TOUCHING THE STATE OF IRELAND.
TO the same worthy man who preserved the _Examination of Shakspeare_, we are indebted for what he entitles on the cover, _A Conference of Master Edmund Spenser_, _etc._, _with the Earl of Essex_. It must be confessed that this Conference throws little light upon the great rebellion of Ireland. Nevertheless, there are some curious minds, which perhaps may take an interest in the conversation of two illustrious men, one distinguished by his genius, the other by the favour of his sovereign. The Editor, it will be perceived, is but little practised in the ways of literature; much less is he gifted with that prophetic spirit which can anticipate the judgment of the public. It may be that he is too idle or too apathetic to think anxiously or much about the matter; and yet he has been amused, in his earlier days, at watching the first appearance of such few books as he believed to be the production of some powerful intellect. He has seen people slowly rise up to them, like carp in a pond when food is thrown among them; some of which carp snatch suddenly at a morsel, and swallow it; others touch it gently with their barbe, pass deliberately by, and leave it; others wriggle and rub against it more disdainfully; others, in sober truth, know not what to make of it, swim round and round it, eye it on the sunny side, eye it on the shady, approach it, question it, shoulder it, flap it with the tail, turn it over, look askance at it, take a pea-shell or a worm instead of it, and plunge again their contented heads into the comfortable mud; after some seasons the same food will suit their stomachs better.