gh the wicket to receive it, for it is a
singular property of this wine, that we of the wilderness can not
succeed in conveying it to you of the castle, without you hold out a
vessel to receive it." "O here is a glass," said Parley, holding out
a large goblet, which he always kept ready to be filled by any
chance-comer. The other immediately poured into the capacious goblet
a large draught of that delicious intoxicating liquor, with which
the family of the Flatterwells have for near six thousand years
gained the hearts, and destroyed the souls of all the inhabitants of
the castle, whenever they have been able to prevail on them to hold
out a hand to receive it. This the wise, master of the castle well
knew would be the case, for he knew what was in men; he knew their
propensity to receive the delicious poison of the Flatterwells; and
it was for this reason that he gave them THE BOOK of his laws, and
planted the hedge and invented the bolts, and doubled the lock.

As soon as poor Parley had swallowed the fatal draught, it acted
like enchantment. He at once lost all power of resistance. He had no
sense of fear left. He despised his own safety, forgot his master,
lost all sight of the home in the other country, and reached out for
another draught as eagerly as Flatterwell held out the bottle to
administer it. "What a fool have I been," said Parley, "to deny
myself so long!" "Will you now let me in?" said Flatterwell. "Ay,
that I will," said the deluded Parley. Though the train was now
increased to near a hundred robbers, yet so intoxicated was Parley,
that he did not see one of them except his new friend. Parley
eagerly pulled down the bars, drew back the bolts and forced open
the locks; thinking he could never let in his friend soon enough. He
had, however, just presence of mind to say, "My dear friend I hope
you are alone." Flatterwell swore he was--Parley opened the door--in
rushed, not Flatterwell only, but the whole banditti, who always
lurked behind in his train. The moment they had got sure possession,
Flatterwell changed his soft tone, and cried in a voice of thunder,
"Down with the castle; kill, burn, and destroy."

Rapine, murder, and conflagration, by turns took place. Parley was
the very first whom they attacked. He was overpowered with wounds.
As he fell he cried out, "O my master, I die a victim to my unbelief
in thee, and to my own vanity and imprudence. O that the guardians
of all other castles would hear