’Canyoudothis，agrah？’saidthesmith；andheutteredawordwhichIhadneverheardbefore，inasharppungenttone。Theeffectuponmyselfwassomewhatextraordinary，astrangethrillranthroughme；butwithregardtothecobitwasterrible；theanimalforthwithbecamelikeonemad，andrearedandkickedwiththeutmostdesperation。
　　’Canyoudothat，agrah？’saidthesmith。
　　’Whatisit？’saidI，retreating，’Ineversawthehorsesobefore。’
　　’Gobetweenhislegs，agrah，’saidthesmith，’hishinderlegs’；
　　andheagainshowedhisfang。
　　’Idarenot，’saidI，’hewouldkillme。’
　　’Hewouldkillye!andhowdoyeknowthat，agrah？’
　　’Ifeelhewould，’saidI，’somethingtellsmeso。’
　　’Andittellsyetruth，agrah；butit’safinebeast，andit’sapitytoseehiminsuchastate：Isagaman’tleigeas’-andhereheutteredanotherwordinavoicesingularlymodified，butsweetandalmostplaintive；theeffectofitwasasinstantaneousasthatoftheother，buthowdifferent!-theanimallostallitsfury，andbecameatoncecalmandgentle。Thesmithwentuptoit，coaxedandpattedit，makinguseofvarioussoundsofequineendearment；thenturningtome，andholdingoutoncemorethegrimyhand，hesaid，’AndnowyewillbegivingmetheSassannachtenpence，agrah？’
　　CHAPTERXIV
　　Afineoldcity-Normanmaster-work-Lollards’Hole-Goodblood-TheSpaniard’ssword-Oldretiredofficer-Writingtoaduke-
　　Godhelpthechild-NothinglikeJacob-Irishbrigades-OldSergeantMeredith-Ihavebeenyoung-Idleness-Onlycourseopen-Thebookstall-Aportrait-Abanishedpriest。
　　FROMthewildsceneswhichIhaveattemptedtodescribeinthelatterpagesImustnowtransportthereadertoothersofawidelydifferentcharacter。HemustsupposehimselfnolongerinIreland，butintheeasterncornerofmerryEngland。Bogs，ruins，andmountainshavedisappearedamidstthevapoursofthewest：Ihavenothingmoretosayofthem；theregioninwhichwearenowisnotfamousforobjectsofthatkind：perhapsitflattersitselfthatitcanproducefairerandbetterthings，ofsomeofwhichletmespeak；thereisafineoldcitybeforeus，andfirstofthatletmespeak。
　　Afineoldcity，truly，isthat，viewitfromwhateversideyouwill；butitshowsbestfromtheeast，wheretheground，boldandelevated，overlooksthefairandfertilevalleyinwhichitstands。
　　Gazingfromthoseheights，theeyebeholdsascenewhichcannotfailtoawaken，evenintheleastsensitivebosom，feelingsofpleasureandadmiration。Atthefootoftheheightsflowsanarrowanddeepriver，withanantiquebridgecommunicatingwithalongandnarrowsuburb，flankedoneithersidebyrichmeadowsofthebrightestgreen，beyondwhichspreadsthecity；thefineoldcity，perhapsthemostcuriousspecimenatpresentextantofthegenuineoldEnglishtown。Yes，thereitspreadsfromnorthtosouth，withitsvenerablehouses，itsnumerousgardens，itsthricetwelvechurches，itsmightymound，which，iftraditionspeakstrue，wasraisedbyhumanhandstoserveasthegrave-heapofanoldheathenking，whositsdeepwithinit，withhisswordinhishand，andhisgoldandsilvertreasuresabouthim。Thereisagrayoldcastleuponthetopofthatmightymound；andyonder，risingthreehundredfeetabovethesoil，fromamongthosenobleforesttrees，beholdthatoldNormanmaster-work，thatcloud-encircledcathedralspire，aroundwhichagarrulousarmyofrooksandchoughscontinuallywheeltheirflight。Now，whocanwonderthatthechildrenofthatfineoldcityareproudofher，andofferupprayersforherprosperity？I，myself，whowasnotbornwithinherwalls，offerupprayersforherprosperity，thatwantmaynevervisithercottages，viceherpalaces，andthattheabominationofidolatrymayneverpollutehertemples。Ha，idolatry!thereignofidolatryhasbeenoverthereformanyalongyear，nevermore，letushope，toreturn；braveheartsinthatoldtownhavebornewitnessagainstit，andsealedtheirtestimonywiththeirhearts’blood-mostprecioustotheLordisthebloodofHissaints!wearenotfarfromhallowedground。Observeyenotyonchalkyprecipice，totherightoftheNormanbridge？Onthissideofthestream，uponitsbrow，isapieceofruinedwall，thelastrelicofwhatwasofoldastatelypile，whilstatitsfootisaplacecalledtheLollards’
　　Hole；andwithgoodreason，formanyasaintofGodhasbreathedhislastbeneaththatwhiteprecipice，bearingwitnessagainstpopishidolatry，midstflameandpitch；manyagrislyprocessionhasadvancedalongthatsuburb，acrosstheoldbridge，towardstheLollards’Hole：furiouspriestsinfront，acalmpalemartyrinthemidst，apityingmultitudebehind。Ithashaditsmartyrs，thevenerableoldtown!
　　Ah!thereisgoodbloodinthatoldcity，andinthewholecircumjacentregionofwhichitisthecapital。TheAnglespossessedthelandatanearlyperiod，which，however，theywereeventuallycompelledtosharewithhordesofDanesandNorthmen，whoflockedthitheracrosstheseatofoundhearthsteadsonitsfertilesoil。Thepresentrace，amixtureofAnglesandDanes，stillpreservemuchwhichspeaksstronglyoftheirnorthernancestry；amongstthemyewillfindthelight-brownhairofthenorth，thestrongandburlyformsofthenorth，manyawildsuperstition，ay，andmanyawildnameconnectedwiththeancienthistoryofthenorthanditssublimemythology；thewarmheartandthestrongheartoftheoldDanesandSaxonsstillbeatsinthoseregions，andthereyewillfind，ifanywhere，oldnorthernhospitalityandkindnessofmanner，unitedwithenergy，perseverance，anddauntlessintrepidity；bettersoldiersormarinersneverbledintheircountry’sbattlesthanthosenurturedinthoseregions，andwithinthoseoldwalls。Itwasyonder，tothewest，thatthegreatnavalheroofBritainfirstsawthelight；
　　hewhoannihilatedtheseaprideofSpain，anddraggedthehumbledbannerofFranceintriumphathisstem。Hewasbornyonder，towardsthewest，andofhimthereisagloriousrelicinthatoldtown；initsdarkflintguildhouse，theroofofwhichyoucanjustdescryrisingabovethatmazeofbuildings，intheupperhallofjustice，isaspeciesofglassshrine，inwhichtherelicistobeseen；aswordofcuriousworkmanship，thebladeisofkeenToledansteel，theheftofivoryandmother-of-pearl。’TistheswordofCordova，woninbloodiestfrayoffSaintVincent’spromontory，andpresentedbyNelsontotheoldcapitalofthemuch-lovedlandofhisbirth。Yes，theproudSpaniard’sswordistobeseeninyonderguildhouse，intheglasscaseaffixedtothewall：manyotherrelicshasthegoodoldtown，butnoneprouderthantheSpaniard’ssword。
　　Suchwastheplacetowhich，whenthewarwasover，myfatherretired：itwasherethattheoldtiredsoldiersethimselfdownwithhislittlefamily。Hehadpassedthegreaterpartofhislifeinmeritoriousexertion，intheserviceofhiscountry，andhischiefwishnowwastospendtheremainderofhisdaysinquietandrespectability；hismeans，itistrue，werenotveryample；
　　fortunateitwasthathisdesirescorrespondedwiththem；withasmallfortuneofhisown，andwithhishalf-payasaroyalsoldier，hehadnofearsforhimselforforhisfaithfulpartnerandhelpmate；butthenhischildren!howwashetoprovideforthem？
　　howlaunchthemuponthewideoceanoftheworld？Thiswas，perhaps，theonlythoughtwhichgavehimuneasiness，andIbelievethatmanyanoldretiredofficeratthattime，andundersimilarcircumstances，experiencedsimilaranxiety；hadthewarcontinued，theirchildrenwouldhavebeen，ofcourse，providedforinthearmy，butpeacenowreigned，andthemilitarycareerwasclosedtoallsavethescionsofthearistocracy，orthosewhowereinsomedegreeconnectedwiththatprivilegedorder，anadvantagewhichfewoftheseoldofficerscouldboastof；theyhadslightinfluencewiththegreat，whogavethemselvesverylittletroubleeitheraboutthemortheirfamilies。
　　’IhavebeenwritingtotheDuke，’saidmyfatheronedaytomyexcellentmother，afterwehadbeenathomesomewhatbetterthanayear。’IhavebeenwritingtotheDukeofYorkaboutacommissionforthateldestboyofours。He，however，affordsmenohopes；hesaysthathislistiscrammedwithnames，andthatthegreaternumberofthecandidateshavebetterclaimsthanmyson。’
　　’Idonotseehowthatcanbe，’saidmymother。
　　’NordoI，’repliedmyfather。’Iseethesonsofbankersandmerchantsgazettedeverymonth，andIdonotseewhatclaimstheyhavetourge，unlesstheybegoldenones。However，Ihavenotservedmykingfiftyyearstoturngrumbleratthistimeoflife。
　　Isupposethatthepeopleattheheadofaffairsknowwhatismostproperandconvenient；perhapswhentheladseeshowdifficult，nay，howimpossibleitisthatheshouldenterthearmy，hewillturnhismindtosomeotherprofession；Iwishhemay!’
　　’Ithinkhehasalready，’saidmymother；’youseehowfondheisofthearts，ofdrawingandpainting，and，asfarasIcanjudge，whathehasalreadydoneisveryrespectable；hismindseemsquiteturnedthatway，andIheardhimsaytheotherdaythathewouldsoonerbeaMichaelAngelothanageneralofficer。Butyouarealwaystalkingofhim；whatdoyouthinkofdoingwiththeotherchild？’
　　’What，indeed!’saidmyfather；’thatisaconsiderationwhichgivesmenolittleuneasiness。Iamafraiditwillbemuchmoredifficulttosettlehiminlifethanhisbrother。Whatishefittedfor，evenwereitinmypowertoprovideforhim？Godhelpthechild!Ibearhimnoillwill，onthecontrary，allloveandaffection；butIcannotshutmyeyes；thereissomethingsostrangeabouthim!HowhebehavedinIreland!IsenthimtoschooltolearnGreek，andhepickedupIrish!’
　　’AndGreekaswell，’saidmymother。’IheardhimsaytheotherdaythathecouldreadSt。Johnintheoriginaltongue。’
　　’Youwillfindexcusesforhim，Iknow，’saidmyfather。’YoutellmeIamalwaystalkingofmyfirst-born；Imightretortbysayingyouarealwaysthinkingoftheother：butitisthewayofwomenalwaystosidewiththesecond-born。There’swhat’shernameintheBible，bywhosewilestheoldblindmanwasinducedtogivetohissecondsontheblessingwhichwasthebirthrightoftheother。
　　IwishIhadbeeninhisplace!Ishouldnothavebeensoeasilydeceived!nodisguisewouldeverhavecausedmetomistakeanimpostorformyfirst-born。ThoughImustsayforthisboythatheisnothinglikeJacob；heisneithersmoothnorsleek，and，thoughmysecond-born，isalreadytallerandlargerthanhisbrother。’
　　’Justso，’saidmymother；’hisbrotherwouldmakeafarbetterJacobthanhe。’
　　’Iwillhearnothingagainstmyfirst-born，’saidmyfather，’eveninthewayofinsinuation：heismyjoyandpride；theveryimageofmyselfinmyyouthfuldays，longbeforeIfoughtBigBen；thoughperhapsnotquitesotallorstrongbuilt。Asfortheother，Godblessthechild!Ilovehim，I’msure；butImustbeblindnottoseethedifferencebetweenhimandhisbrother。Why，hehasneithermyhairnormyeyes；andthenhiscountenance!why，’tisabsolutelyswarthy，Godforgiveme!Ihadalmostsaidlikethatofagypsy，butIhavenothingtosayagainstthat；theboyisnottobeblamedforthecolourofhisface，norforhishairandeyes；