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CHAPTER XII.

Your master is to be married to-day?
Else all this rosemary is lost.

Come strew apace.

MIDDLETON.

Lord! shall I never live

To walke to church on flowers? O'tis fine

To see a bride trip it to church so lightly,
As if her new choppines would scorn to brush
A silly flower.

BARRY.

A parliament member, a justice of peace,
At home a poor scarecrowe, in London an asse.

Off my painted honour!

SHAKSPEARE.

Whilst with vain hopes our faculties we tire,
We seem to sweat in ice, and freeze in fire.

WEBSTER.

"O' MY Christian conscience, the monstrousness of this world passeth belief!" exclaimed Oliver Dumps, in his miserablest manner, as he flung himself into a seat in the chimney corner of the widow Pippins's comfortable kitchen-a place he seemed more partial to than any other in all Stratford.

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Why, what's i' the wind now, master constable?" enquired the laughing widow, as she brought her visitor his customary tankard, dressed more gaily than she had been seen for many years.

The melancholy Dumps looked up to her jolly features and sighed heavily; took a draught of the tankard, and sighed again. "'Tis a villainous world, that's the truth on't," said he, shaking his head very woefully.

"Villainous fiddlestick?" replied his merry companion. "By my fackings, the world be a right pleasant world, and is as full of delectable jests as world can be."

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Only think of young Will Shakspeare taking to deer stealing," observed the constable, gravely. "Who? Will Shakspeare!" cried the widow, with a look of exceeding astonishment.

"Taken by the keepers in the very fact,” replied Oliver Dumps. "Conveyed by them to the lodge at Daisy Hill, for the night. Made his escape in a most unaccountable manner, carrying off the deer he had slain, and the gun he had done it with. Sir Thomas Lucy hath issued a warrant for his apprehension, I have it to execute on him without delay; and hearing he is at John Hathaway's cottage, about to be married, am going there to carry him before his worship."

"Tilly vally! thou art jesting, master constable,” exclaimed the other, "Will Shakspeare is not like to do any thing of the sort, I will be bound for it."

The queen's proper officer looked into his pouch, took out a folded piece of paper, and gave into her hands.

"That's the warrant," said he.

"An honest neighbour, that is now in my parlour, shall read it to me, seeing I cannot read a word of it myself," answered the widow Pippins; " and as I am going to John Hathaway's as soon as I have got on my hat and muffler, if thou wilt wait a brief while, we will walk together." The constable promised to wait any reasonable time, for in truth he was well pleased to have her company, he, as many shrewdly imagined, having long been seeking to be her sixth husband; and thereupon the widow went to get the warrant explained to her.

A short time before this took place, a procession moved from the yeoman's cottage, in the direction of the church, which, methinks, deserveth here to be set down. First rode an old churl, blowing of such a peal on his bagpipes as if he was determined to expend his wind as quickly as he could, his long pipes and his cap decked with rosemary—then followed a merry company of lusty lads and bold bachelors of the neighbourhood, two and two, in their holiday jerkins, every one clean trussed, with a blue buckram bride lace upon a branch of rosemary, upon his left arm, on horses of all sorts and colours; William Shakspeare, the bridegroom, riding at their head in a new suit of frolic green, gaily decked with ribbons, with a branch of rosemary at his cap, and a true love posey at his breast; and on each side rode a bridesman, in tawny worsted jackets, straw

hats on their heads with a steeple crown, and harvest gloves on their hands, similarly appointed with ribbons, rosemary, and posies. All the way he went, the bridegroom pulled off his cap courteously to the spectators, who, seeing so gallant a youth, could not help loudly greeting him with their good wishes.

Then came a company of Morris-dancers on foot, jingling it very prettily, with a most moving accompaniment of pipe and tabor. After them, six fair maidens in fair white court-pies and orange tawny kirtles, garlanded with wreaths of wheat, finely gilded, on their heads, and casting of flowers, by handfuls, out of small wicker baskets, gaily decked for the occasion. Then came the two bridemaids, most daintily tired, carrying before them each a large spice cake, followed by the bride's brother, a fair boy, carrying himself very bravely, choicely apparelled, bearing the parcel-gilt bride-cup, full of sweet ippocras, with a goodly branch of rosemary gilded and hung about with ribbons of all colours streaming in the wind; next came Anne Hathaway, the blushing blooming bride-her appareling of appropriate whiteness, rarely garnished with ribbons and flowers, her hair curiously combed and plaited, and crowned with a garland of white roses-answering very gracefully the hearty salutations of her neighbours. On each side of her walked a fair boy, with bride laces and rosemary tied about his silken sleeves. After these, several musicians, with flutes, sackbuts, and

other delicate instruments, made excellent music. Then rode the father of the bride, between the father and mother of the bridegroom, in their holiday garments, with no lack of proper garnishing; and, lastly, came the friends invited to the bride-ale, also wearing of their best suits, decorated with bride laces and rosemary.

In this order they reached the church at a slow pace, where the priest soon did his office for them; the bride-cup was then emptied by the company to the health and happiness of the new-married folks; and they returned in much the same fashion as they went, save that the bride rode on a pillion behind the bridegroom. John Hathaway's dwelling would scarce hold the guests; but they managed to accommodate themselves pretty well, for every room was thrown open, filled with a most bountiful provision of things for convenience and honest cheer, beside which there lay the orchard, the paddock, and the garden, for any that chose out of door pastime. The revels that followed exceed description -all sorts of games were going on in every direction-here a blind harper singing of ballads to a well-pleased audience, of all ages-there sundry young people, sitting in a circle with one in the midst, playing at hunt the slipper-another set at barley break-a third at a dance-the old, the young, the middle-aged, maidens and bachelors, husbands, wives, widows, and widowers, striving all

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