Pagina 259 van 1116

Then arose the provisioneress and tightening her girdle set the

table by the fountain and put the flowers and sweet herbs in

their jars, and strained the wine and ranged the flasks in row

and made ready every requisite. Then sat she down, she and her

sisters, placing amidst them the Porter who kept deeming himself

in a dream; and she took up the wine flagon, and poured out the

first cup and drank it off, and likewise a second and a

third.[FN#156] After this she filled a fourth cup which she

handed to one of her sisters; and, lastly, she crowned a goblet

and passed it to the Porter, saying:-

"Drink the dear draught, drink free and fain * What healeth every

grief and pain."

He took the cup in his hand and, louting low, returned his best

thanks and improvised:-

"Drain not the bowl save with a trusty friend * A man of worth

whose good old blood all know: For wine, like wind, sucks

sweetness from the sweet * And stinks when over stench it haply

blow:"

Adding:-