The next in order of these "lays of many lands" refers to a period far earlier in point of date, and has for its scene the banks of what our Teutonic friends are won't to call their "own imperial River!" The incidents which it records afford sufficient proof (and these are days of demonstration), that a propensity to flirtation is not confined to age or country, and that its consequences were not less disastrous to the mail-clad _Ritter_ of the dark ages than to the silken courtier of the seventeenth century. The whole narrative bears about it the stamp of truth, and from the papers among which it was discovered I am inclined to think it must have been picked up by Sir Peregrine in the course of one of his valetudinary visits to "The German Spa." FOOTNOTES: [19] Mrs. Ingoldsby, who is deeply read in Robertson, informs me that this is a mistake; that the lady to whom this memorable _billet_ was delivered by the hands of Pennalosa, was the unfortunate monarch's mamma, and not his sister. I would gladly rectify the error, but, then,--what am I to do for a rhyme?--On the whole, I fear I must content myself, like Talleyrand, with admitting that "it is worse than a fault--it's a blunder!" for which enormity,--as honest old Pepys says when he records having kissed his cookmaid,--"I humbly beg pardon of Heaven, and Mrs. Ingoldsby!" [20] Qui mores hominum multorum vidit et urbes. Who viewed men's manners, Londons, Yorks, and Derbys. [21] "Tompion's, I presume?"--FARQUHAR. [22] May good digestion wait on appetite, And health on both.--_Macbeth._ SIR RUPERT THE FEARLESS. A LEGEND OF GERMANY. Sir Rupert the Fearless, a gallant young knight, Was equally ready to tipple or fight, Crack a crown, or a bottle, Cut sirloin, or throttle; In brief, or as Hume says, "to sum up the tottle," Unstain'd by dishonour, unsullied by fear, All his neighbours pronounced him a _preux chevalier_. Despite these perfections, corporeal and mental, He had one slight defect, viz. a rather lean rental; Besides, as 'tis own'd there are spots in the sun, So it must be confessed that Sir Rupert had one; Being rather unthinking, He'd scarce sleep a wink in A night, but addict himself sadly to drinking, And, what moralists say Is as naughty--to play, To _Rouge et Noir_, Hazard, Short Whist, _Ecarté_; Till these, and a few less defensible fancies Brought the Knight to the end of his slender finances. When at length through his boozing, And tenants refusing Their rents, swearing "times were so bad they were losing," His steward said, "O, sir, It's some time ago, sir, Since ought through my hands reach'd the baker or grocer, And the tradesmen in general are grown great complainers." Sir Rupert the brave thus addressed his retainers: