Page:Maid Marian - Peacock (1822).djvu/138

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Maid Marian.

castle of Arlingford, to make proposals to the lady. This Harpiton was a very useful person. He was always ready, not only to maintain the cause of his master with his pen, and to sing his eulogies to his harp, but to undertake at a moment's notice any kind of courtly employment, called dirty work by the profane, which the blessings of civil government, namely his master's pleasure, and the interests of social order, namely his own emolument, might require. In short

Il eût l'emploi qui certes n'est pas mince,Et qu'à la cour, où tout se peint en beau,On appelloit être l'ami du prince;Mais qu'à la ville, et surtout en province,Les gens grossiers ont nommé maquereau.

Prince John was of opinion, that the love of a prince actual and king expectant, was in itself a sufficient honour to the daughter of a

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