This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872 Excerpt: ...gifts, such as befitted his royal magnificence, to be produced and given to the jester. Rejecting all these, the bard (hystrio) or player asserted that he could obtain plenty of such things in his own country. Asked by the king what he would be pleased to accept, he replied that he was in no want of gold or silver, ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872 Excerpt: ...gifts, such as befitted his royal magnificence, to be produced and given to the jester. Rejecting all these, the bard (hystrio) or player asserted that he could obtain plenty of such things in his own country. Asked by the king what he would be pleased to accept, he replied that he was in no want of gold or silver, garments or horses, in which Ireland abounded. "But if you please," he added, " in order that I may go away guerdoned by you, let a plateful of fresh bramble-berries be given me." They who heard that word come out of the man's mouth were convulsed with laughter, because they imagined that his jesting tongue had said this as a joke; and a court-attendant of his kind is usually acceptable in the eyes of those who hear him, in proportion to the success of his ludicrous talk in exciting their mirth. But he affirmed with an oatli that he had asked the brambleberries, not in joke at all, but in serious earnest; nor could he by any means whatever, --by entreaties, by promises, by the offer of the most ample gifts, --be bent from this intention of his; and rising up he intimated his wish to withdraw and, --as the vulgar phrase runs, --await the king's honour. But the king took all this sufficiently ill, and inquired of those who were about him what could be done on the occasion, so that I'inkerton, Vitae, &c, 277 he might not be disgraced; for it was winter, and not a bramble-berry could anywhere be found. By the advice therefore of his friends he went to St. Kentigern, and humbly requested that he would by prayer procure from God what was demanded. The man of God, although he did not deem it pleasant to practice prayer in the interest of such frivolities, yet had known that the king cherished much devotion towards God and the holy ch...
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