CHAPTER X.
The Three Maxims—The Monk’s Errors in History—The Trials of Eustace—Sources of its Incidents—Colonel Gardiner—St. Herbert—Early English Romance of Sir Isumbras.
“What marvellous tale of sorcery are we to be regaled with to-night?” asked Thompson, when the tenth evening with the old story-tellers came round.
“We must adjourn that subject for to-night; for I have chanced on a point, in illustration of one of the tales intended for this evening’s reading, that will require another day’s looking up.”
“Are we to go to bed supperless, then?”
“No, no; not quite; here are two specimens that will both amuse and, I hope, instruct us. To those who remember the Turkish tales, and have not forgotten the story of The King, The Sofi, and The Surgeon, the three maxims of Domitian will hardly appear a novelty. But without further preface, I will commence the monk’s account of the three maxims, for each of which Domitian thankfully gave a thousand florins.”