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Here smokes his forge； he bares his sinewy arm；
And early strokes the sounding anvil warm；
Around his shop the steely sparkles flew；
As for the steed he shaped the bending shoe。 GAY'S TRIVIA。
As it was deemed proper by the traveller himself； as well as by
Giles Gosling； that Tressilian should avoid being seen in the
neighbourhood of Cumnor by those whom accident might make early
risers； the landlord had given him a route； consisting of various
byways and lanes； which he was to follow in succession； and
which； all the turns and short…cuts duly observed； was to conduct
him to the public road to Marlborough。
But； like counsel of every other kind； this species of direction
is much more easily given than followed； and what betwixt the
intricacy of the way； the darkness of the night； Tressilian's
ignorance of the country； and the sad and perplexing thoughts
with which he had to contend； his journey proceeded so slowly；
that morning found him only in the vale of Whitehorse； memorable
for the defeat of the Danes in former days； with his horse
deprived of a fore…foot shoe； an accident which threatened to put
a stop to his journey by laming the animal。 The residence of a
smith was his first object of inquiry； in which he received
little satisfaction from the dullness or sullenness of one or two
peasants； early bound for their labour； who gave brief and
indifferent answers to his questions on the subject。 Anxious； at
length； that the partner of his journey should suffer as little
as possible from the unfortunate accident； Tressilian dismounted；
and led his horse in the direction of a little hamlet； where he
hoped either to find or hear tidings of such an artificer as he
now wanted。 Through a deep and muddy lane； he at length waded on
to the place； which proved only an assemblage of five or six
miserable huts； about the doors of which one or two persons；
whose appearance seemed as rude as that of their dwellings； were
beginning the toils of the day。 One cottage； however； seemed of
rather superior aspect； and the old dame； who was sweeping her
threshold； appeared something less rude than her neighbours。 To
her Tressilian addressed the oft…repeated question； whether there
was a smith in this neighbourhood； or any place where he could
refresh his horse？ The dame looked him in the face with a
peculiar expression as she replied； 〃Smith！ ay； truly is there a
smithwhat wouldst ha' wi' un； mon？〃
〃To shoe my horse； good dame；〃 answered Tressiliany： you may see
that he has thrown a fore…foot shoe。〃
〃Master Holiday！〃 exclaimed the dame； without returning any
direct answer〃Master Herasmus Holiday； come and speak to mon；
and please you。〃
〃FAVETE LINGUIS；〃 answered a voice from within；〃 I cannot now
come forth； Gammer Sludge； being in the very sweetest bit of my
morning studies。〃
〃Nay； but； good now； Master Holiday； come ye out； do ye。 Here's
a mon would to Wayland Smith； and I care not to show him way to
devil； his horse hath cast shoe。〃
〃QUID MIHI CUM CABALLO？〃 replied the man of learning from
within； 〃I think there is but one wise man in the hundred； and
they cannot shoe a horse without him！〃
And forth came the honest pedagogue； for such his dress bespoke
him。 A long； lean； shambling； stooping figure was surmounted by
a head thatched with lank； black hair somewhat inclining to grey。
His features had the cast of habitual authority； which I suppose
Dionysius carried with him from the throne to the schoolmaster's
pulpit； and bequeathed as a legacy to all of the same profession；
A black buckram cassock was gathered at his middle with a belt；
at which hung； instead of knife or weapon； a goodly leathern pen…
and…ink case。 His ferula was stuck on the other side； like
Harlequin's wooden sword； and he carried in his hand the tattered
volume which he had been busily perusing。
On seeing a person of Tressilian's appearance； which he was
better able to estimate than the country folks had been； the
schoolmaster unbonneted； and accosted him with； 〃SALVE； DOMINE。
INTELLIGISNE LINGUAM LATINAM？〃
Tressilian mustered his learning to reply； 〃LINGUAE LATINAE HAUD
PENITUS IGNARUS； VENIA TUA； DOMINE ERUDITISSIME； VERNACULAM
LIBENTIUS LOQUOR。〃
The Latin reply had upon the schoolmaster the effect which the
mason's sign is said to produce on the brethren of the trowel。
He was at once interested in the learned traveller； listened with
gravity to his story of a tired horse and a lost shoe； and then
replied with solemnity； 〃It may appear a simple thing； most
worshipful； to reply to you that there dwells； within a brief
mile of these TUGURIA； the best FABER FERARIUS； the most
accomplished blacksmith； that ever nailed iron upon horse。 Now；
were I to say so； I warrant me you would think yourself COMPOS
VOTI； or； as the vulgar have it； a made man。〃
〃I should at least；〃 said Tressilian； 〃have a direct answer to a
plain question； which seems difficult to be obtained in this
country。〃
〃It is a mere sending of a sinful soul to the evil un；〃 said the
old woman； 〃the sending a living creature to Wayland Smith。〃
〃Peace； Gammer Sludge！〃 said the pedagogue； 〃PAUCA VERBA； Gammer
Sludge； look to the furmity； Gammer Sludge； CURETUR JENTACULUM；
Gammer Sludge； this gentleman is none of thy gossips。〃 Then
turning to Tressilian； he resumed his lofty tone； 〃And so； most
worshipful； you would really think yourself FELIX BIS TERQUE
should I point out to you the dwelling of this same smith？〃
〃Sir；〃 replied Tressilian； 〃I should in that case have all that I
want at presenta horse fit to carry me forward；out of hearing
of your learning。〃 The last words he muttered to himself。
〃O CAECA MENS MORTALIUM！〃 said the learned man 〃well was it sung
by Junius Juvenalis； 'NUMINIBUS VOTA EXAUDITA MALIGNIS！'〃
〃Learned Magister；〃 said Tressilian； 〃your erudition so greatly
exceeds my poor intellectual capacity that you must excuse my
seeking elsewhere for information which I can better understand。〃
〃There again now；〃 replied the pedagogue； 〃how fondly you fly
from him that would instruct you！ Truly said Quintilian〃
〃I pray； sir； let Quintilian be for the present； and answer； in a
word and in English； if your learning can condescend so far；
whether there is any place here where I can have opportunity to
refresh my horse until I can have him shod？〃
〃Thus much courtesy； sir；〃 said the schoolmaster； 〃I can readily
render you； that although there is in this poor hamlet （NOSTRA
PAUPERA REGNA） no regular HOSPITIUM； as my namesake Erasmus
calleth it； yet； forasmuch as you are somewhat embued； or at
least tinged； as it were； with good letters； I will use my
interest with the good woman of the house to accommodate you with
a platter of furmityan wholesome food for which I have found no
Latin phraseyour horse shall have a share of the cow…house；
with a bottle of sweet hay； in which the good woman Sludge so
much abounds； that it may be said of her cow； FAENUM HABET IN
CORNU； and if it please you to bestow on me the pleasure of your
company； the banquet shall cost you NE SEMISSEM QUIDEM； so much
is Gammer Sludge bound to me for the pains I have besto