_Arden._ Come, Master Franklin, onwards with your tale. _Frank._ I’ll assure you, Sir, you task me much. A heavy blood is gather’d at my heart; And on the sudden is my wind so short, As hindereth the passage of my speech. So fierce a qualm yet ne’er assailed me. _Arden._ Come, Master Franklin, let us go on softly; The annoyance of the dust, or else some meat You ate at dinner cannot brook with you. I have been often so, and soon amended. _Frank._ Do you remember where my tale did leave? _Arden._ Aye, where the Gentleman did check his wife-- _Frank._ She being reprehended for the fact, Witness produced that took her with the fact, Her glove brought in which there she left behind, And many other assured arguments, Her Husband ask’d her whether it were not so-- _Arden._ Her answer then? I wonder how she look’d, Having forsworn it with so vehement oaths, And at the instant so approved upon her. _Frank._ First did she cast her eyes down on the earth, Watching the drops that fell amain from thence; Then softly draws she out her handkercher, And modestly she wipes her tear-stain’d face: Then hemm’d she out (to clear her voice it should seem), And with a majesty addrest herself To encounter all their accusations-- Pardon me, Master Arden, I can no more; This fighting at my heart makes short my wind. _Arden._ Come, we are almost now at Raynum Down; Your pretty tale beguiles the weary way, I would you were in case to tell it out. [_They are set upon by the Ruffians._] * * * * * ~Music.~ _For the Table Book._ GOD SAVE THE KING. JOHN BULL. In answer to an inquiry in _The Times_, respecting the author of “God save the King,” the writers of several letters in that journal, during the present month, concur in ascribing the air of the “national anthem” to Dr. John Bull. This opinion results from recent researches, by the curious in music, which have been published in elaborate forms.