<h3><SPAN name="chap14"></SPAN>[ 14 ]</h3>
<p>Deshil Holles Eamus. Deshil Holles Eamus. Deshil Holles Eamus.</p>
<p>Send us bright one, light one, Horhorn, quickening and wombfruit. Send us
bright one, light one, Horhorn, quickening and wombfruit. Send us bright one,
light one, Horhorn, quickening and wombfruit.</p>
<p>Hoopsa boyaboy hoopsa! Hoopsa boyaboy hoopsa! Hoopsa boyaboy hoopsa!</p>
<p>Universally that person’s acumen is esteemed very little perceptive concerning
whatsoever matters are being held as most profitably by mortals with sapience
endowed to be studied who is ignorant of that which the most in doctrine
erudite and certainly by reason of that in them high mind’s ornament deserving
of veneration constantly maintain when by general consent they affirm that
other circumstances being equal by no exterior splendour is the prosperity of a
nation more efficaciously asserted than by the measure of how far forward may
have progressed the tribute of its solicitude for that proliferent continuance
which of evils the original if it be absent when fortunately present
constitutes the certain sign of omnipollent nature’s incorrupted benefaction.
For who is there who anything of some significance has apprehended but is
conscious that that exterior splendour may be the surface of a downwardtending
lutulent reality or on the contrary anyone so is there unilluminated as not to
perceive that as no nature’s boon can contend against the bounty of increase so
it behoves every most just citizen to become the exhortator and admonisher of
his semblables and to tremble lest what had in the past been by the nation
excellently commenced might be in the future not with similar excellence
accomplished if an inverecund habit shall have gradually traduced the
honourable by ancestors transmitted customs to that thither of profundity that
that one was audacious excessively who would have the hardihood to rise
affirming that no more odious offence can for anyone be than to oblivious
neglect to consign that evangel simultaneously command and promise which on all
mortals with prophecy of abundance or with diminution’s menace that exalted of
reiteratedly procreating function ever irrevocably enjoined?</p>
<p>It is not why therefore we shall wonder if, as the best historians relate,
among the Celts, who nothing that was not in its nature admirable admired, the
art of medicine shall have been highly honoured. Not to speak of hostels,
leperyards, sweating chambers, plaguegraves, their greatest doctors, the
O’Shiels, the O’Hickeys, the O’Lees, have sedulously set down the divers
methods by which the sick and the relapsed found again health whether the
malady had been the trembling withering or loose boyconnell flux. Certainly in
every public work which in it anything of gravity contains preparation should
be with importance commensurate and therefore a plan was by them adopted
(whether by having preconsidered or as the maturation of experience it is
difficult in being said which the discrepant opinions of subsequent inquirers
are not up to the present congrued to render manifest) whereby maternity was so
far from all accident possibility removed that whatever care the patient in
that allhardest of woman hour chiefly required and not solely for the copiously
opulent but also for her who not being sufficiently moneyed scarcely and often
not even scarcely could subsist valiantly and for an inconsiderable emolument
was provided.</p>
<p>To her nothing already then and thenceforward was anyway able to be molestful
for this chiefly felt all citizens except with proliferent mothers prosperity
at all not to can be and as they had received eternity gods mortals generation
to befit them her beholding, when the case was so hoving itself, parturient in
vehicle thereward carrying desire immense among all one another was impelling
on of her to be received into that domicile. O thing of prudent nation not
merely in being seen but also even in being related worthy of being praised
that they her by anticipation went seeing mother, that she by them suddenly to
be about to be cherished had been begun she felt!</p>
<p>Before born bliss babe had. Within womb won he worship. Whatever in that one
case done commodiously done was. A couch by midwives attended with wholesome
food reposeful, cleanest swaddles as though forthbringing were now done and by
wise foresight set: but to this no less of what drugs there is need and
surgical implements which are pertaining to her case not omitting aspect of all
very distracting spectacles in various latitudes by our terrestrial orb offered
together with images, divine and human, the cogitation of which by sejunct
females is to tumescence conducive or eases issue in the high sunbright
wellbuilt fair home of mothers when, ostensibly far gone and reproductitive, it
is come by her thereto to lie in, her term up.</p>
<p>Some man that wayfaring was stood by housedoor at night’s oncoming. Of Israel’s
folk was that man that on earth wandering far had fared. Stark ruth of man his
errand that him lone led till that house.</p>
<p>Of that house A. Horne is lord. Seventy beds keeps he there teeming mothers are
wont that they lie for to thole and bring forth bairns hale so God’s angel to
Mary quoth. Watchers tway there walk, white sisters in ward sleepless. Smarts
they still, sickness soothing: in twelve moons thrice an hundred. Truest
bedthanes they twain are, for Horne holding wariest ward.</p>
<p>In ward wary the watcher hearing come that man mildhearted eft rising with
swire ywimpled to him her gate wide undid. Lo, levin leaping lightens in
eyeblink Ireland’s westward welkin. Full she drad that God the Wreaker all
mankind would fordo with water for his evil sins. Christ’s rood made she on
breastbone and him drew that he would rathe infare under her thatch. That man
her will wotting worthful went in Horne’s house.</p>
<p>Loth to irk in Horne’s hall hat holding the seeker stood. On her stow he ere
was living with dear wife and lovesome daughter that then over land and
seafloor nine years had long outwandered. Once her in townhithe meeting he to
her bow had not doffed. Her to forgive now he craved with good ground of her
allowed that that of him swiftseen face, hers, so young then had looked. Light
swift her eyes kindled, bloom of blushes his word winning.</p>
<p>As her eyes then ongot his weeds swart therefor sorrow she feared. Glad after
she was that ere adread was. Her he asked if O’Hare Doctor tidings sent from
far coast and she with grameful sigh him answered that O’Hare Doctor in heaven
was. Sad was the man that word to hear that him so heavied in bowels ruthful.
All she there told him, ruing death for friend so young, algate sore unwilling
God’s rightwiseness to withsay. She said that he had a fair sweet death through
God His goodness with masspriest to be shriven, holy housel and sick men’s oil
to his limbs. The man then right earnest asked the nun of which death the dead
man was died and the nun answered him and said that he was died in Mona Island
through bellycrab three year agone come Childermas and she prayed to God the
Allruthful to have his dear soul in his undeathliness. He heard her sad words,
in held hat sad staring. So stood they there both awhile in wanhope sorrowing
one with other.</p>
<p>Therefore, everyman, look to that last end that is thy death and the dust that
gripeth on every man that is born of woman for as he came naked forth from his
mother’s womb so naked shall he wend him at the last for to go as he came.</p>
<p>The man that was come in to the house then spoke to the nursingwoman and he
asked her how it fared with the woman that lay there in childbed. The
nursingwoman answered him and said that that woman was in throes now full three
days and that it would be a hard birth unneth to bear but that now in a little
it would be. She said thereto that she had seen many births of women but never
was none so hard as was that woman’s birth. Then she set it all forth to him
for because she knew the man that time was had lived nigh that house. The man
hearkened to her words for he felt with wonder women’s woe in the travail that
they have of motherhood and he wondered to look on her face that was a fair
face for any man to see but yet was she left after long years a handmaid. Nine
twelve bloodflows chiding her childless.</p>
<p>And whiles they spake the door of the castle was opened and there nighed them a
mickle noise as of many that sat there at meat. And there came against the
place as they stood a young learningknight yclept Dixon. And the traveller
Leopold was couth to him sithen it had happed that they had had ado each with
other in the house of misericord where this learningknight lay by cause the
traveller Leopold came there to be healed for he was sore wounded in his breast
by a spear wherewith a horrible and dreadful dragon was smitten him for which
he did do make a salve of volatile salt and chrism as much as he might suffice.
And he said now that he should go in to that castle for to make merry with them
that were there. And the traveller Leopold said that he should go otherwhither
for he was a man of cautels and a subtile. Also the lady was of his avis and
repreved the learningknight though she trowed well that the traveller had said
thing that was false for his subtility. But the learningknight would not hear
say nay nor do her mandement ne have him in aught contrarious to his list and
he said how it was a marvellous castle. And the traveller Leopold went into the
castle for to rest him for a space being sore of limb after many marches
environing in divers lands and sometime venery.</p>
<p>And in the castle was set a board that was of the birchwood of Finlandy and it
was upheld by four dwarfmen of that country but they durst not move more for
enchantment. And on this board were frightful swords and knives that are made
in a great cavern by swinking demons out of white flames that they fix then in
the horns of buffalos and stags that there abound marvellously. And there were
vessels that are wrought by magic of Mahound out of seasand and the air by a
warlock with his breath that he blases in to them like to bubbles. And full
fair cheer and rich was on the board that no wight could devise a fuller ne
richer. And there was a vat of silver that was moved by craft to open in the
which lay strange fishes withouten heads though misbelieving men nie that this
be possible thing without they see it natheless they are so. And these fishes
lie in an oily water brought there from Portugal land because of the fatness
that therein is like to the juices of the olivepress. And also it was a marvel
to see in that castle how by magic they make a compost out of fecund
wheatkidneys out of Chaldee that by aid of certain angry spirits that they do
in to it swells up wondrously like to a vast mountain. And they teach the
serpents there to entwine themselves up on long sticks out of the ground and of
the scales of these serpents they brew out a brewage like to mead.</p>
<p>And the learning knight let pour for childe Leopold a draught and halp thereto
the while all they that were there drank every each. And childe Leopold did up
his beaver for to pleasure him and took apertly somewhat in amity for he never
drank no manner of mead which he then put by and anon full privily he voided
the more part in his neighbour glass and his neighbour nist not of this wile.
And he sat down in that castle with them for to rest him there awhile. Thanked
be Almighty God.</p>
<p>This meanwhile this good sister stood by the door and begged them at the
reverence of Jesu our alther liege Lord to leave their wassailing for there was
above one quick with child, a gentle dame, whose time hied fast. Sir Leopold
heard on the upfloor cry on high and he wondered what cry that it was whether
of child or woman and I marvel, said he, that it be not come or now. Meseems it
dureth overlong. And he was ware and saw a franklin that hight Lenehan on that
side the table that was older than any of the tother and for that they both
were knights virtuous in the one emprise and eke by cause that he was elder he
spoke to him full gently. But, said he, or it be long too she will bring forth
by God His bounty and have joy of her childing for she hath waited marvellous
long. And the franklin that had drunken said, Expecting each moment to be her
next. Also he took the cup that stood tofore him for him needed never none
asking nor desiring of him to drink and, Now drink, said he, fully delectably,
and he quaffed as far as he might to their both’s health for he was a passing
good man of his lustiness. And sir Leopold that was the goodliest guest that
ever sat in scholars’ hall and that was the meekest man and the kindest that
ever laid husbandly hand under hen and that was the very truest knight of the
world one that ever did minion service to lady gentle pledged him courtly in
the cup. Woman’s woe with wonder pondering.</p>
<p>Now let us speak of that fellowship that was there to the intent to be drunken
an they might. There was a sort of scholars along either side the board, that
is to wit, Dixon yclept junior of saint Mary Merciable’s with other his fellows
Lynch and Madden, scholars of medicine, and the franklin that hight Lenehan and
one from Alba Longa, one Crotthers, and young Stephen that had mien of a frere
that was at head of the board and Costello that men clepen Punch Costello all
long of a mastery of him erewhile gested (and of all them, reserved young
Stephen, he was the most drunken that demanded still of more mead) and beside
the meek sir Leopold. But on young Malachi they waited for that he promised to
have come and such as intended to no goodness said how he had broke his avow.
And sir Leopold sat with them for he bore fast friendship to sir Simon and to
this his son young Stephen and for that his languor becalmed him there after
longest wanderings insomuch as they feasted him for that time in the
honourablest manner. Ruth red him, love led on with will to wander, loth to
leave.</p>
<p>For they were right witty scholars. And he heard their aresouns each gen other
as touching birth and righteousness, young Madden maintaining that put such
case it were hard the wife to die (for so it had fallen out a matter of some
year agone with a woman of Eblana in Horne’s house that now was trespassed out
of this world and the self night next before her death all leeches and
pothecaries had taken counsel of her case). And they said farther she should
live because in the beginning, they said, the woman should bring forth in pain
and wherefore they that were of this imagination affirmed how young Madden had
said truth for he had conscience to let her die. And not few and of these was
young Lynch were in doubt that the world was now right evil governed as it was
never other howbeit the mean people believed it otherwise but the law nor his
judges did provide no remedy. A redress God grant. This was scant said but all
cried with one acclaim nay, by our Virgin Mother, the wife should live and the
babe to die. In colour whereof they waxed hot upon that head what with argument
and what for their drinking but the franklin Lenehan was prompt each when to
pour them ale so that at the least way mirth might not lack. Then young Madden
showed all the whole affair and said how that she was dead and how for holy
religion sake by rede of palmer and bedesman and for a vow he had made to Saint
Ultan of Arbraccan her goodman husband would not let her death whereby they
were all wondrous grieved. To whom young Stephen had these words following:
Murmur, sirs, is eke oft among lay folk. Both babe and parent now glorify their
Maker, the one in limbo gloom, the other in purgefire. But, gramercy, what of
those Godpossibled souls that we nightly impossibilise, which is the sin
against the Holy Ghost, Very God, Lord and Giver of Life? For, sirs, he said,
our lust is brief. We are means to those small creatures within us and nature
has other ends than we. Then said Dixon junior to Punch Costello wist he what
ends. But he had overmuch drunken and the best word he could have of him was
that he would ever dishonest a woman whoso she were or wife or maid or leman if
it so fortuned him to be delivered of his spleen of lustihead. Whereat
Crotthers of Alba Longa sang young Malachi’s praise of that beast the unicorn
how once in the millennium he cometh by his horn, the other all this while,
pricked forward with their jibes wherewith they did malice him, witnessing all
and several by saint Foutinus his engines that he was able to do any manner of
thing that lay in man to do. Thereat laughed they all right jocundly only young
Stephen and sir Leopold which never durst laugh too open by reason of a strange
humour which he would not bewray and also for that he rued for her that bare
whoso she might be or wheresoever. Then spake young Stephen orgulous of mother
Church that would cast him out of her bosom, of law of canons, of Lilith,
patron of abortions, of bigness wrought by wind of seeds of brightness or by
potency of vampires mouth to mouth or, as Virgilius saith, by the influence of
the occident or by the reek of moonflower or an she lie with a woman which her
man has but lain with, <i>effectu secuto</i>, or peradventure in her bath
according to the opinions of Averroes and Moses Maimonides. He said also how at
the end of the second month a human soul was infused and how in all our holy
mother foldeth ever souls for God’s greater glory whereas that earthly mother
which was but a dam to bear beastly should die by canon for so saith he that
holdeth the fisherman’s seal, even that blessed Peter on which rock was holy
church for all ages founded. All they bachelors then asked of sir Leopold would
he in like case so jeopard her person as risk life to save life. A wariness of
mind he would answer as fitted all and, laying hand to jaw, he said
dissembling, as his wont was, that as it was informed him, who had ever loved
the art of physic as might a layman, and agreeing also with his experience of
so seldomseen an accident it was good for that mother Church belike at one blow
had birth and death pence and in such sort deliverly he scaped their questions.
That is truth, pardy, said Dixon, and, or I err, a pregnant word. Which hearing
young Stephen was a marvellous glad man and he averred that he who stealeth
from the poor lendeth to the Lord for he was of a wild manner when he was
drunken and that he was now in that taking it appeared eftsoons.</p>
<p>But sir Leopold was passing grave maugre his word by cause he still had pity of
the terrorcausing shrieking of shrill women in their labour and as he was
minded of his good lady Marion that had borne him an only manchild which on his
eleventh day on live had died and no man of art could save so dark is destiny.
And she was wondrous stricken of heart for that evil hap and for his burial did
him on a fair corselet of lamb’s wool, the flower of the flock, lest he might
perish utterly and lie akeled (for it was then about the midst of the winter)
and now sir Leopold that had of his body no manchild for an heir looked upon
him his friend’s son and was shut up in sorrow for his forepassed happiness and
as sad as he was that him failed a son of such gentle courage (for all
accounted him of real parts) so grieved he also in no less measure for young
Stephen for that he lived riotously with those wastrels and murdered his goods
with whores.</p>
<p>About that present time young Stephen filled all cups that stood empty so as
there remained but little mo if the prudenter had not shadowed their approach
from him that still plied it very busily who, praying for the intentions of the
sovereign pontiff, he gave them for a pledge the vicar of Christ which also as
he said is vicar of Bray. Now drink we, quod he, of this mazer and quaff ye
this mead which is not indeed parcel of my body but my soul’s bodiment. Leave
ye fraction of bread to them that live by bread alone. Be not afeard neither
for any want for this will comfort more than the other will dismay. See ye
here. And he showed them glistering coins of the tribute and goldsmith notes
the worth of two pound nineteen shilling that he had, he said, for a song which
he writ. They all admired to see the foresaid riches in such dearth of money as
was herebefore. His words were then these as followeth: Know all men, he said,
time’s ruins build eternity’s mansions. What means this? Desire’s wind blasts
the thorntree but after it becomes from a bramblebush to be a rose upon the
rood of time. Mark me now. In woman’s womb word is made flesh but in the spirit
of the maker all flesh that passes becomes the word that shall not pass away.
This is the postcreation. <i>Omnis caro ad te veniet</i>. No question but her
name is puissant who aventried the dear corse of our Agenbuyer, Healer and
Herd, our mighty mother and mother most venerable and Bernardus saith aptly
that She hath an <i>omnipotentiam deiparae supplicem</i>, that is to wit, an
almightiness of petition because she is the second Eve and she won us, saith
Augustine too, whereas that other, our grandam, which we are linked up with by
successive anastomosis of navelcords sold us all, seed, breed and generation,
for a penny pippin. But here is the matter now. Or she knew him, that second I
say, and was but creature of her creature, <i>vergine madre, figlia di tuo
figlio</i>, or she knew him not and then stands she in the one denial or
ignorancy with Peter Piscator who lives in the house that Jack built and with
Joseph the joiner patron of the happy demise of all unhappy marriages,
<i>parceque M. Léo Taxil nous a dit que qui l’avait mise dans cette fichue
position c’était le sacré pigeon, ventre de Dieu! Entweder</i>
transubstantiality <i>oder</i> consubstantiality but in no case
subsubstantiality. And all cried out upon it for a very scurvy word. A
pregnancy without joy, he said, a birth without pangs, a body without blemish,
a belly without bigness. Let the lewd with faith and fervour worship. With will
will we withstand, withsay.</p>
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