Part 40 (2/2)
The gentleman, wondering how he should know this so soon, denied it.
”Nay,” replied he, fiercely, ”deny it not, for I'll not be cheated of my bargain,” and thereupon changed into a horrible shape, struck him almost dead with fear, for now he perceived it was the devil. Then he told him if he did not meet on the morrow, in the same place he had lent him the money, he would come the next day and tear him to pieces. ”And,” says he, ”if I prove not what I say, you shall be quiet”; and so vanished out of the window in a flash of flame, with horrible bellowings. The gentleman, seeing himself in this case, began to weep bitterly, and wished he had been contented in his sad condition, rather than have taken such a desperate way to enrich himself, and was almost at his wits' end.
Friar Bacon, knowing by his art what had pa.s.sed, came to comfort him, and having heard the whole story, bid him not despair, but pray and repent of his sins, and he would contrive to show the devil a trick that should release him from his obligation. This greatly comforted the gentleman, and he promised to do whatever the friar should order him.
”Then,” says he, ”meet at the time appointed, and I will be near. Offer to put the decision of the controversy to the next that comes by, and that shall be myself, and I will find a way infallibly to give it on your side.” Accordingly he met, and the devil consented to put it to arbitration. Then Friar Bacon appearing, ”Lo,” said the gentleman, ”here's a proper judge. This learned friar shall determine it, and if it goes against me, you have free liberty to do with me as you please.”
”Content,” said the devil. Then each of them told their story, and the writing was produced, with all the acquittances he had taken; for the devil, contrary to his knowledge, had stolen them and the other writings belonging to his estate out of his closet. The friar, weighing well the matter, asked the gentleman whether he had paid the devil any of the money he borrowed of him. ”No,” replied he, ”not one farthing.” ”Why then,” said he, ”Mr. Devil, his debts are not discharged; you are his princ.i.p.al creditor, and, according to this writing, can lay no claim to him till every one of his debts are discharged.” ”How! how!” replied the devil, ”am I outwitted then? O friar, thou art a crafty knave!” and thereupon vanished in a flame, raising a mighty tempest of thunder, lightning, and rain; so that they were wet through before they could get shelter. Then Bacon charged him he should never pay the devil a farthing of his debt, whatever shape he came in, or artifice he used to wheedle him out of it, and then he could have no power over him. The gentleman on this, living a temperate frugal life, grew very rich, and leaving no children at his death, bequeathed his estate to Brazen Nose College, because Friar Bacon, a member of it, had delivered him from so great a danger of body and soul.
CHAPTER IV.
_How Friar Bacon framed a Brazen Head which, by Enchantment, was to Speak; by that means all England had been walled with Bra.s.s, if the Folly of his man Miles, who was set to watch the Head, had not disappointed it, not timely calling his Master to answer it, for which he was struck Dumb many Days._
Friar Bacon, being now a profound proficient in the art of magic and many other sciences, contrived, with one Friar Bungey, who was his pupil, to do something memorable for the good of his country, and many things they cast in their minds. At last they remembered that England had often been hara.s.sed and invaded by the Romans, Saxons, Danes, Normans, and other nations at sundry times, to the great effusion of blood, and often alteration of the const.i.tution of governments; and if anything might be contrived to prevent the like for the future, they should thereby raise a lasting monument to their names.
Bacon, upon this, concluded to frame a head of bra.s.s, and if, by their art, they could cause it to speak, and answer their demands, they required that all the sea-girt sh.o.r.es of England and Wales should be walled with bra.s.s, and brazen towers be raised on the frontiers of Scotland, to hinder the incursions and rovings of the hardy Scots.
They laboured to do this by art, but could not; so they conjured up a spirit, to inquire of the infernal council whether it might be done or not. The spirit, however, was unwilling to answer, till Friar Bacon threatened with his charms to bind him in chains in the Red Sea or to a burning rock, and make him the sport of wrecking whirlwinds.
Terrified by this means, he said of himself he could give no answer, but must inquire of his lord, Lucifer. They granted him two days for an answer. Accordingly he returned this:--”If they for two months would carefully watch the head, it should in that time speak, but the certain time should not be known to them, and then, if they did hear it, they should be answered.”
At this they much rejoiced, and watched by turns very carefully for six weeks, and no voice was uttered. At length, tired out, and broken for want of their natural rest, they concluded some other might watch as well as they, till they refreshed themselves in repose, and call them when the head began to speak, which would be time enough; and because this was a secret they did not care for having it known till they saw what they should make of it. Bacon thereupon proposed his man Miles, and Bungey approved of it; so they called Miles, told him the nature of the brazen head and what was intended, by giving him a strict charge on his life, to awake them as soon as ever he heard it speak.
”For that, master,” said he, ”let me alone. I warrant you I'll do your business effectually, never fear it.” So he got him a long sword by his side, and a tabor and pipe to play, and keep him awake if any drowsiness or the like should overtake him.
The charge being given, and he thus accoutred, the two friars went to rest in the next apartment. Miles then began to pipe and sing songs of his sweethearts and frolics:--
”Bessy, that is so frolic and gay, Like a cat she loves with her tail to play; Though sometimes she'll pant and frown, All's well when her anger goes down.
”She'll never say nay, but sport and play; O, Bessy to me is the queen of the May; For Margery she is peevish and proud; Come, fiddlers, then, and sc.r.a.pe the crowd.”
Whilst his merriment pa.s.sed, after a hoa.r.s.e noise, like thunder almost spent, the head spoke distinctly, ”TIME IS.” ”Oh ho!” says Miles, ”is this all the news you can tell me? Well, copper nose, has my master taken all this pains about you, and you can speak no wiser? Dost thou think I am such a fool to break his sweet slum for this? No, speak wiser, or he shall sleep on. Time is, quotha! Why, I know time is, and that thou shalt hear, goodman kettle jaws.
”Time is for some to gain, Time is for some to lose; Time is for some to hand, But then they cannot choose.
Time is to go a score, Time is when one should pay: Time is to reckon, too, But few care for that day.
Time is to graft the born Upon another's head; Time is to make maids' hearts swell, Oh, then 'tis time they're wed.
”Hear'st thou this, goodman copper nose? We scholars know when time is, without thy babbling. We know when time is to drink good sack, eat well, kiss our hostesses, and run on the score. But when time is to pay them is indeed but seldom.”
While thus he merrily discoursed, about half an hour after the same noise began as before, and the head said, ”TIME WAS.” ”Well,” said Miles, ”this blockish head is the foolishest thing my wise master ever troubled himself about. How would he have laughed, had he been here, to hear it prat so simply! Therefore, thou brazen-faced a.s.s, speak wiser, or I shall never trouble my head to awake him. Time was, quotha! thou a.s.s thou! I know that, and so thou shalt hear, for I find my master has watched and tutored thee to a fine purpose.
”Time was when thou, a kettle, Was wont to hold good matter; But Friar Bacon did thee spoil When he thy sides did batter.
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