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goodly materials。 He was in the prime and vigour of manhood； his
features handsome and noble； but full of calmness and benevolence；
at least I thought so； though they were somewhat shaded by a hat of
finest beaver； with broad drooping eaves。
'Surely that is a very cruel diversion in which thou indulgest； my
young friend？' he continued。
'I am sorry for it； if it be； sir；' said I； rising； 'but I do not
think it cruel to fish。'
'What are thy reasons for not thinking so？'
'Fishing is mentioned frequently in Scripture。 Simon Peter was a
fisherman。'
'True； and Andrew and his brother。 But thou forgettest： they did
not follow fishing as a diversion； as I fear thou doest。 … Thou
readest the Scriptures？'
'Sometimes。'
'Sometimes？ … not daily？ … that is to be regretted。 What
profession dost thou make？ … I mean to what religious denomination
dost thou belong； my young friend。'
'Church？'
'It is a very good profession … there is much of Scripture
contained in its liturgy。 Dost thou read aught besides the
Scriptures？'
'Sometimes。'
'What dost thou read besides？'
'Greek； and Dante。'
'Indeed！ then thou hast the advantage over myself； I can only read
the former。 Well； I am rejoiced to find that thou hast other
pursuits beside thy fishing。 Dost thou know Hebrew？'
'No。'
'Thou shouldst study it。 Why dost thou not undertake the study？'
'I have no books。'
'I will lend thee books； if thou wish to undertake the study。 I
live yonder at the hall； as perhaps thou knowest。 I have a library
there； in which are many curious books； both in Greek and Hebrew；
which I will show to thee； whenever thou mayest find it convenient
to come and see me。 Farewell！ I am glad to find that thou hast
pursuits more satisfactory than thy cruel fishing。'
And the man of peace departed； and left me on the bank of the
stream。 Whether from the effect of his words； or from want of
inclination to the sport； I know not； but from that day I became
less and less a practitioner of that 'cruel fishing。' I rarely
flung line and angle into the water； but I not unfrequently
wandered by the banks of the pleasant rivulet。 It seems singular
to me； on reflection； that I never availed myself of his kind
invitation。 I say singular； for the extraordinary； under whatever
form； had long had no slight interest for me； and I had discernment
enough to perceive that yon was no common man。 Yet I went not near
him； certainly not from bashfulness or timidity； feelings to which
I had long been an entire stranger。 Am I to regret this？ perhaps；
for I might have learned both wisdom and righteousness from those
calm； quiet lips； and my after…course might have been widely
different。 As it was； I fell in with other guess companions； from
whom I received widely different impressions than those I might
have derived from him。 When many years had rolled on； long after I
had attained manhood； and had seen and suffered much； and when our
first interview had long since been effaced from the mind of the
man of peace； I visited him in his venerable hall； and partook of
the hospitality of his hearth。 And there I saw his gentle partner
and his fair children； and on the morrow he showed me the books of
which he had spoken years before by the side of the stream。 In the
low quiet chamber； whose one window； shaded by a gigantic elm；
looks down the slope towards the pleasant stream； he took from the
shelf his learned books； Zohar and Mishna； Toldoth Jesu and
Abarbenel。 'I am fond of these studies；' said he； 'which； perhaps；
is not to be wondered at； seeing that our people have been
compared to the Jews。 In one respect I confess we are similar to
them； we are fond of getting money。 I do not like this last
author； this Abarbenel； the worse for having been a money…changer。
I am a banker myself； as thou knowest。'
And would there were many like him； amidst the money…changers of
princes！ The hall of many an earl lacks the bounty； the palace of
many a prelate the piety and learning； which adorn the quiet
quaker's home！
CHAPTER XVI
Fair of horses … Looks of respect … The fast trotter … Pair of eyes
… Strange men … Jasper； your pal … Force of blood … Young lady with
diamonds … Not quite so beautiful。
I WAS standing on the castle hill in the midst of a fair of horses。
I have already had occasion to mention this castle。 It is the
remains of what was once a Norman stronghold； and is perched upon a
round mound or monticle； in the midst of the old city。 Steep is
this mound and scarped； evidently by the hand of man； a deep gorge
over which is flung a bridge； separates it； on the south； from a
broad swell of open ground called 'the hill'； of old the scene of
many a tournament and feat of Norman chivalry； but now much used as
a show…place for cattle； where those who buy and sell beeves and
other beasts resort at stated periods。
So it came to pass that I stood upon this hill； observing a fair of
horses。
The reader is already aware that I had long since conceived a
passion for the equine race； a passion in which circumstances had
of late not permitted me to indulge。 I had no horses to ride； but
I took pleasure in looking at them； and I had already attended more
than one of these fairs： the present was lively enough； indeed
horse fairs are seldom dull。 There was shouting and whooping；
neighing and braying； there was galloping and trotting； fellows
with highlows and white stockings； and with many a string dangling
from the knees of their tight breeches； were running desperately；
holding horses by the halter； and in some cases dragging them
along； there were long…tailed steeds and dock…tailed steeds of
every degree and breed； there were droves of wild ponies； and long
rows of sober cart horses； there were donkeys； and even mules： the
last rare things to be seen in damp； misty England； for the mule
pines in mud and rain； and thrives best with a hot sun above and a
burning sand below。 There were … oh； the gallant creatures！ I
hear their neigh upon the wind； there were … goodliest sight of all
… certain enormous quadrupeds only seen to perfection in our native
isle； led about by dapper grooms； their manes ribanded and their
tails curiously clubbed and balled。 Ha！ ha！ … how distinctly do
they say； ha！ ha！
An old man draws nigh； he is mounted on a lean pony； and he leads
by the bridle one of these animals； nothing very remarkable about
that creature； unless in being smaller than the rest and gentle；
which they are not； he is not of the sightliest look； he is almost
dun； and over one eye a thick film has gathered。 But stay！ there
IS something remarkable about that horse； there is something in his
action in which he differs from all the rest： as he advances； the
clamour