These are, indeed, designed to supply the place of the said
ale, and to refresh the mind, whenever those slumbers, which in a long work are apt to invade the reader as well as the writer, shall begin to creep upon him.
When Robin was a youth of eighteen, stout of sinew and bold of heart, the Sheriff of Nottingham proclaimed a shooting match and offered a prize of a butt of
ale to whosoever should shoot the best shaft in Nottinghamshire.
Whilst he was speaking the landlady came in again, bearing a broad platter, upon which stood all the beakers and flagons charged to the brim with the brown
ale or the ruby wine.
'Misses wished some
ale to be given out, sir; and as I felt no ways inclined for my own little room, sir, and was disposed for company, I am taking mine among
broke his knees?" said the Squire, after taking a draught of
ale. "I thought you knew how to ride better than that, sir.
And when he came into the palace, the flies were sleeping on the walls; the spit was standing still; the butler had the jug of
ale at his lips, going to drink a draught; the maid sat with a fowl in her lap ready to be plucked; and the cook in the kitchen was still holding up her hand, as if she was going to beat the boy.
'
Ale, Squeery?' inquired the lady, winking and frowning to give him to understand that the question propounded, was, whether Nicholas should have
ale, and not whether he (Squeers) would take any.
The son walked up to the pot of
ale, and nodding significantly to his parent, took a long draught by way of reply.
'Then,' said Mr Codlin, 'fetch me a pint of warm
ale, and don't let nobody bring into the room even so much as a biscuit till the time arrives.'
Poyser's attention was here diverted by the appearance of Molly, carrying a large jug, two small mugs, and four drinking- cans, all full of
ale or small beer--an interesting example of the prehensile power possessed by the human hand.
"Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and
ale in fear."
Red wines and
ale were brought forth and poured out, each man having a horn tankard from which to drink.
Markham,' said he: 'I'll take a glass of your excellent
ale.'
"But a glass of
ale you may have, and welcome," said I.
Besides these subjects of anxiety, the Saxon thane was impatient for the presence of his favourite clown Wamba, whose jests, such as they were, served for a sort of seasoning to his evening meal, and to the deep draughts of
ale and wine with which he was in the habit of accompanying it.
