The Ladies of Grace Adieu: And Other Stories by Susanna Clarke Read Free Book Online Page B

Aubrey, "Miranda is alwaies merry."
    "Mr Aubrey," sayz I.
    "Yes, Miranda?" sayz he.
    " 'Tis a very curious thinge, Mr Aubrey," sayz I. "I have lived all my life neare Lickerish Hill, but I never once sawe a Pharisee."
    "A Pharisee?" sayz Mr Aubrey, "What doe you meane, child?"
    "They live on Lickerish Hill," sayz I, "Or under it. I doe not know which. They pinche dairymaides blacke and blewe. Other times they sweepe the floor, drinke the creame and leave silver pennies in shoes. They putte on white cappes, crie Horse and Hattock, flie through the aire on Bitts of Strawe - generally to the Kinge of France's wine-cellar where they drinke the wine out of silver cups and then off to see a wicked man hanged which person they may save if they have a minde to it."
    "Oh!" sayz Dr Foxton, " 'Tis Fairies she meanes."
    "Yes," sayz I. "That is what I sayd. Pharisees. I have never seen one. Dr Quince haz told me that they are not so common as once they were. Dr Quince haz told me that the Pharisees are leaving and will never more be seen in England. For my-selfe I never sawe one. But many Ancient Persons worthy of Belief have seen them on Lickerish Hill, trooping out of the World on Ragged Ponies, their heads bowed downe with Sadnesse, descending into dark hollows and blewe shadowes betwixt the trees. My Opinion is," sayz I, "that there can be no better taske for an Antiquarie than to discouver all he can of the Pharisees and I thinke there can be no better place in all the World to look for Pharisees than Pipers Hall under Lickerish Hill, for that is where they live. Mr Aubrey," sayz I, "Doe you know anie Spells to conjure Pharisees?"
    "Oh, several!!" sayz Mr Aubrey, "Mr Ashmole (who is a noble Antiquary and haz made the Collection at Oxford) haz putt them downe in his Papers."
    "Mr Aubrey," sayz I.
    "Yes, Miranda?" sayz he.
    "Will you shew me the Spells, Mr Aubrey?"
    But before he could answer me Mr Meldreth ask'd with a Frowne if they worked?
    "I doe not knowe," sayz Mr Aubrey.
    "Who shall we conjure first?" askes Dr Foxton.
    "Titania," sayz Mr Shepreth.
    "A common Pharisee," sayz I.
    "Why, Miranda?" askes Mr Shepreth.
    "Oh!," sayz I, "they can doe a hundred clever thinges. Bake cakes, gather in flockes of sheepe, churne butter, spinne flax . . ."
    All the Scholars laugh't very much at this.
    "So can your mayde, Miranda," sayz Mr Shepreth. "No, 'tis fairie politics we chiefly wish to learn. And for this purpose the Queen is best. Besides," sayz Mr Shepreth, "she may give us presents."
    "Tut," sayz Mr Meldreth, "'Tis onlie young men with handsome faces that she woos with presents."
    "We are handsome enough," sayz Mr Shepreth.
    Dr Foxton sayd that it waz one of the many inconveniences of discoursing with Fairies, that they may at anie moment disappear and so the gentlemen agreed to draw up a list of questions - so that when they discouvered a Fairie willing to speak to them all pertinent questions should be convenient to hand.
    Quaere: if the Faeries have anie Religion among them?
    Oh! sayd Dr Foxton, there waz a Fairie-woman in Cornwall who heard a Reverend gentleman saying his prayers. She asked him if there were salvation and eternal life for such as shee? No sayd the Reverend gentleman. With a cry of despair she instantly threw herself over a cliff and into the foaming sea. This, sayd Dr Foxton, he gott from a very Pious person who all his life abhorred Lying. Dr Foxton sayd he would not believe it else and Mr Meldreth, who is of a sweet and gentle nature, wept a little to think on't.
    Quaere: if they have anie marrying amottg them?
    Mr Shepreth sayd he believed they did not live together like Christians and turtle-doves, but had all their ladyes in common. Tut! sayz Mr Meldreth. Ha! cried Mr Aubrey and wrote it down very fast.
    Quaere: if it is true (as some people say) that they are a much-decayed people and not so strong as they used to be?
    Quaere: their system of Gouvernment: if a Monarchie or a Com-monwealthe?
    Quaere: if a