MOCK HEROISM. 147 



left the stagg and followed that gentleman, who first spake 

 it ; but I found him of that cold temper, that it seems his 

 words made an escape from him, as by his denial and re- 

 pentance it appeared. 



" But this made nice more violent in pursuit of the stagg, 

 to recover my reputation ; and I happened to be the only 

 horseman in, when the dogs sett him up at bay, and ap- 

 proaching nere him on horsebacke, hec broke through the 

 dogs, and run at mee, and tore my horse's side with his 

 homes, close by my thigh. Then I quitted my horse, and 

 grew more cunning (for the dogs had set him up again) ; 

 stealing behind him, with my sword I cut his ham-strings, 

 and then got upon its back, and cut his throat ; which as 

 I was doing the company came in, and blamed my rashness 

 for running such a hazard."* 



Rashness ! what rashness ? Here's a fellow for you now ; 

 armed with a long sword ; and probably in the uniform of 

 the city train bands, he sneaks behind a stag at bay with 

 fifty hounds fighting at his front, fifty hounds and an 

 historian are fearful odds. He then cuts his ham-strings 

 in a dastardly manner, and puts an end to the brave 

 animal's existence without doubt, by poking the end of his 

 toledo, as Master Matthew has it, into the point of junc- 

 tion between the head and neck, precisely in the same 

 manner in which the Laps kill their domesticated rein- 

 deer. As for his cutting the throat, I do not believe ti 

 word of it ; he was of too cold a temper, and did no such 

 thing, depend upon it, he dared not so much as to look 

 at his throat, being too fearful of his own. 



This, however, was all mighty well for a young historian. 

 * Quoted in the notes to the " Lady of the Lake." 

 L 2 



