struck off. Willelmus
Sacrista adds, that he will of his own accord decline,--a touch
of grace and respect for the _Sacrosancta,_ even in Willelmus!
The King then orders us to strike off a couple more; then yet
one more: Hugo Third-Prior goes, and Roger _Cellerarius,_ and
venerable Monk Dennis;--and now there remain on our List two
only, Samson Subsacrista and the Prior.

Which of these two? It were hard to say,--by Monks who may get
themselves foot-gyved and thrown into limbo, for speaking! We
humbly request that the Bishop of Winchester and Geoffrey the
Chancellor may again enter, and help us to decide. "Which do you
want?" asks the Bishop. Venerable Dennis made a speech,
'commending the persons of the Prior and Samson; but always in
the corner of his discourse, in _angulo sui sermonis,_ brought
Samson in.' "I see!" said the Bishop: "We are to understand
that your Prior is somewhat remiss; that you want to have him
you call Samson for Abbot." "Either of them is good," said
venerable Dennis, almost trembling; "but we would have the
better, if it pleased God." "Which of the two _do_ you want?"
inquires the Bishop pointedly. "Samson!" answered Dennis;
"Samson!" echoed all of the rest that durst speak or echo
anything: and Samson is reported to the King accordingly. His
Majesty, advising of it for a moment, orders that Samson be
brought in with the other Twelve.

The King's Majesty, looking at us somewhat sternly, then says:
"You present to me Samson; I do not know him: had it been your
Prior, whom I do know, I should have accepted him: however, I
will now do as you wish. But have a care of yourselves. By the
true eyes of God, _per veros oculos Dei,_ if you manage badly, I
will be upon you!" Samson, therefore, steps forward, kisses the
King's feet; but swiftly rises erect again, swiftly turns
towards the altar, uplifting with the other Twelve, in clear
tenor-note, the Fifty-first Psalm, _'Miserere mei Deus,_

'After thy loving-kindness, Lord,
Have mercy upon _me;'_

with firm voice, firm step and head, no change in his countenance
whatever. "By God's eyes," said the King, "that one, I think,
will govern the Abbey well." By the same oath (charged to your
Majesty's account), I too am precisely of that opinion! It is
some while since I fell in with a likelier man anywhere than this
new Abbot Samson. Long life to him, and may the Lord _have_
mercy on him as Abbot!

Thus, then,