d I have the honour to act as his counsellor and
attendant."

"Nephew," said Sir Roger, "the demon saith justly; I am come on a
trifling affair, in which thy service is essential."

"I will do anything, uncle, in my power."

"Thou canst give me life, if thou wilt?" But Sir Randal looked very
blank at this proposition. "I mean life spiritual, Randal," said Sir
Roger; and thereupon he explained to him the nature of the wager.

Whilst he was telling his story, his companion Mercurius was playing
all sorts of antics in the hall; and, by his wit and fun, became so
popular with this godless crew, that they lost all the fear which his
first appearance had given them. The friar was wonderfully taken with
him, and used his utmost eloquence and endeavours to convert the
devil; the knights stopped drinking to listen to the argument; the
men-at-arms forbore brawling; and the wicked little pages crowded
round the two strange disputants, to hear their edifying discourse.
The ghostly man, however, had little chance in the controversy, and
certainly little learning to carry it on. Sir Randal interrupted him.
"Father Peter," said he, "our kinsman is condemned for ever, for want
of a single ave: wilt thou say it for him?" "Willingly, my lord," said
the monk, "with my book;" and accordingly he produced his missal to
read, without which aid it appeared that the holy father could not
manage the desired prayer. But the crafty Mercurius had, by his
devilish art, inserted a song in the place of the ave, so that Father
Peter, instead of chanting an hymn, sang the following irreverent
ditty:--

"Some love the matin-chimes, which tell
The hour of prayer to sinner:
But better far's the mid-day bell,
Which speaks the hour of dinner;
For when I see a smoking fish,
Or capon drowned in gravy,
Or noble haunch on silver dish,
Full glad I sing mine ave.

"My pulpit is an ale-house bench,
Whereon I sit so jolly;
A smiling rosy country wench
My saint and patron holy.
I kiss her cheek so red and sleek,
I press her ringlets wavy.
And in her willing ear I speak
A most religious ave.

"And if I'm blind, yet heaven is kind,
And holy saints forgiving;
For sure he leads a right good life
Who thus admires good living.
Above, they say, our flesh is air,
Our blood celestial ichor:
Oh, grant! mid all the changes there,
They may no