Lest, however, there should be any mistake,
the cunning limner had warily inscribed the names of Prince Hal
and Falstaff on the bottoms of their chairs.
On the inside of the cover was an inscription, nearly
obliterated, recording that this box was the gift of Sir Richard
Gore, for the use of the vestry meetings at the Boar's Head
Tavern, and that it was "repaired and beautified by his
successor, Mr. John Packard, 1767." Such is a faithful
description of this august and venerable relic, and I question
whether the learned Scriblerius contemplated his Roman shield, or
the Knights of the Round Table the long-sought San-greal, with
more exultation.
While I was meditating on it with enraptured gaze, Dame
Honeyball, who was highly gratified by the interest it excited,
put in my hands a drinking-cup or goblet which also belonged to
the vestry, and was descended from the old Boar's Head. It bore
the inscription of having been the gift of Francis Wythers,
Knight, and was held, she told me, in exceeding great value,
being considered very "antyke." This last opinion was
strengthened by the shabby gentleman with the red nose and
oilcloth hat, and whom I strongly suspected of being a lineal
descendant from the variant Bardolph.
Pages:
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203