ite, or neglected saying grace before it. Gentlemen,
here's Peter Bradley's toast: 'The scragging post--the three-legged
mare,' with three times three."

Appropriate as this sentiment was, it did not appear to be so inviting
to the party as might have been anticipated, and the shouts soon died
away.

"They like not the thoughts of the gallows," said Turpin to Peter. "More
fools they. A mere bugbear to frighten children, believe me; and never
yet alarmed a brave man. The gallows, pshaw! One can but die once, and
what signifies it how, so that it be over quickly. I think no more of
the last leap into eternity than clearing a five-barred gate. A rope's
end for it! So let us be merry, and make the most of our time, and
that's true philosophy. I know you can throw off a rum chant," added he,
turning to Peter. "I heard you sing last night at the hall. Troll us a
stave, my antediluvian file, and, in the meantime, tip me a gage of
fogus,[75] Jerry; and if that's a bowl of huckle-my-butt[76] you are
brewing, Sir William," added he, addressing the knight of Malta, "you
may send me a jorum at your convenience."

Jerry handed the highwayman a pipe, together with a tumbler of the
beverage which the knight had prepared, which he pronounced excellent;
and while the huge bowl was passed round to the company, a prelude of
shawms announced that Peter was ready to break into song.

Accordingly, after the symphony was ended, accompanied at intervals by a
single instrument, Peter began his melody, in a key so high, that the
utmost exertions of the shawm-blower failed to approach its altitudes.
The burden of his minstrelsy was

THE MANDRAKE[77]

{Moly de min kaleousi theoi, chalnpon de t' oryssein
Andrasi ge thnetoisi theoi, de te panta dynantai.}
HOMERUS.

The mandrake grows 'neath the gallows-tree,
And rank and green are its leaves to see;
Green and rank, as the grass that waves
Over the unctuous earth of graves;
And though all around it lie bleak and bare,
Freely the mandrake flourisheth there.
_Maranatha--Anathema!
Dread is the curse of mandragora!
Euthanasy!_

At the foot of the gibbet the mandrake springs;
Just where the creaking carcase swings;
Some have thought it engendered
From the fat that drops from the