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a time, as the old ones are drafted off, just to keep the stock and number up; and we generally examine them as well as we can, to see if they bear the Master's mark, that we may not admit wolves in sheep-skins into the flock.

Steward. When shall you be at leisure again?

Shepherd. Almost any day while we tarry in the fat vallies; for herbage and water are so plenty, that the work of a shepherd becomes delightful recreation, instead of labour: yea, I would rather be employed in it than have the whole of my time on my own hands; for, at such seasons, you may draw water enough to refresh the whole flock, only by sending the vessel once to the well; and the herbage springs so fast, that it grows upon the sheep; the flock cannot eat fast enough to keep it under.

Steward. I, as a Steward, find it just the same at our entertainments. If his Majesty be at the feast, there is never any want of wine; and, if he tells us to draw out, and bear unto the governor, or to any body else, we may draw away, either from the flagon, the new bottle, or from the water-pots of stone: it is sure to give satisfaction; they will all praise the liquor, and declare that the best wine is kept till now. I have never much running up and down stairs; nor is it a difficult matter to please the company when his Majesty's presence is at the feast; nor am I obliged to fetch the wine out of the cellar, for it is handed forth

to me as fast as called for. At such times I am as highly delighted at attending the table, as you are in attending the flock: the new bottle and the water are handled with as much dexterity as either the sheers or the crook. I envy the happiness of no shepherd under heaven, nor do I envy the flocks their fat pastures, at such banquets as these, when Wisdom takes the head of the table: "Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath killed her beasts, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also furnished her table. She hath sent forth her maidens," and given her invitations on the high places of the city, "Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled." When Wisdom furnishes the table, the sideboard is easily set off, and attendance becomes delightful. Her propitious looks, and the light of her countenance, are sufficient to satisfy and delight all the company, if it consists of five thousand in number. And, at these entertainments, we are never troubled with making orgeat, lemonade, nor cold tankard.

Shepherd. Well, Sir, let the Steward of the household rule well, and be counted worthy of double honour; and, as the King hath made him a ruler, let him give to each a portion of meat in due season. I wish thee the presence of Wisdom at her own table: and pray thou for me, that the chief Shepherd may ever attend his own flock; and then the Shepherd will never envy the Steward,

nor the Steward vex the Shepherd. When an opportunity offers, come again to the hut: the country air, in all probability, will do you good.

Steward. I will. Till then, may the presence of him who dwelt with Moses in the tent, and spoke to Jonah in the booth, commune with the Shepherd in the hut!

Shepherd. Thank you. Farewell! Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces!

DIALOGUE THE FOURTEENTH.

Shepherd. Here comes the Steward of his Majesty's household! a Steward of the mysteries, and of the manifold grace of the King! Walk in, your honour.

Steward. The Shepherd is very polite and complimental to-day. Pray, what makes him so humourous? Are the upland commons quite out of sight, and out of mind, with him?

Shepherd. "In the day of prosperity, be joyful; in the day of adversity, consider." Pray, how come Little Faith and his wife on? Does the matrimonial yoke gall his neck as bad as ever? or, does it sit more easy than usual?

Steward. Worse and worse! I believe I told you, at our last interview, that Mara had left the

chapel royal, and she has never been seen near it since. She hath shewn herself in her true colours, indeed! She ridicules the doctrines of the palace, and all the service of the sanctuary; and, as for the King's seed, she hates them with perfect hatred.

Shepherd. And does Little Faith follow her to the workhouse still?

Steward. No: he has been constantly at the chapel for these three weeks. The first time that he came, I was delivering to the family one of the King's most gracious speeches; in which was this clause, "Return, ye backsliding children, for I am married unto you." While I was delivering the speech, I perceived a strange bustle, looking, and whispering, among the young princes and princesses; and I was obliged to call them to order, not knowing what was the matter; but, as soon as I had done, I saw them gathering all together in a huddle again; and presently I perceived Little Faith among them, but so altered, that I hardly knew him. I went into the palace; and, soon after, he followed me, and came into the Steward's

room.

Shepherd. And what did you say to him?

Steward. Nothing harsh, for I perceived that his heart was ready to burst. I took him by the hand; told him I was glad to see him; led him into the pantry, and bade him sit down: and there I left him till he had given a little vent to his grief by weeping; and, after that, I went in, and

communed with him; and such an account did he give me of Mara, as I never heard.

Shepherd. Pray, did the King give testimony to his gracious speech, because it seemed so very applicable to Little Faith's case?

Steward. He did: and Little Faith told me, that it was the more cordially received by him, as coming immediately from the King, and that on purpose for him; for not a soul knew of his coming to the chapel royal, nor did he enter the door till part of the speech was delivered.

Shepherd. The King's speeches are mighty; and, if they mightily grow and prevail, the bands of Little Faith's inordinate affection will snap like

Samson's cords.

Steward. This, he says, is what he longs for: for such a woman he never saw; nor could he have ever thought that there had been such an one in existence, if he had not been married to Mara. He declared that, at times, he could not persuade himself that she really was one of the children of men, or one of the human species; but rather a machine, in which the devil lived, reigned, and ruled; and in which he displayed all the art, craft, subtlety, mischief, deceit, hypocrisy, cruelty, and malice, that could be hatched in hell. He told me that she never would consent to bow her knees with him since he mentioned to her his suspicions of Doeg; nor did he believe that she ever bowed them in private from year's end to year's end; and yet was as confident of her por

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