Our bodies are our
slaves, yet they must be fed if we would have their
service. So spake in ancient days the Blind Bard
to the warriors of Fion.''
The young man made no reply, but he fed on
what was placed. before him, as if to gather strength
for the scene which he was to undergo. When
his mother saw that be had eaten what sufficed
him, she again filled the fatal quaigh, and proffered
it as the conclusion of the repast. But he started
aside with a convulsive gesture, expressive at once
of fear and abhorrence.
``Nay, my son,'' she said, ``this time surely, thou
hast no cause of fear.''
``Urge me not, mother,'' answered Hamish; ``or
put the leprous toad into a flagon, and I will drink
but from that accursed cup, and of that mind-destroying
potion, never will I taste more!''
``At your pleasure, my son,'' said Elspat,
haughtily, and began, with much apparent assiduity,
the various domestic tasks which had been interrupted
during the preceding day. Whatever was
at her heart, all anxiety seemed banished from
her looks and demeanour. It was but from an
over activity of bustling exertion that it might have
been perceived, by a close observer, that her actions
were spurred by some internal cause of painful excitement;
and such a spectator, too, might also have
observed bow often she broke off the snatches
of songs or tunes which she hummed, apparently
without knowing what she was doing, in order to
cast a hasty glance from the door of the hut.
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