Page:Buke of the Howlat.djvu/33

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xiv
THE PREFACE.

cestor, who was chosen by Robert the Bruce, when on his death-bed, to carry his heart to the Holy Land, are very animated. After this romantick episode, he proceeds to describe the blazons of the other branches of the family; but with all his minuteness, the author is afraid he has not said enough; and more than once refers the readers to professed heralds, to tell them the haill.

Returning then to the fable, the temporal birds are welcomed by the Prelates, and kindly invited to dinner by the Pope. They are arranged at table by the Falcon, who is marshall: the Stork being appointed steward during flesh-time; and the Soland-Goose during the season of Lent, for this special reason, that from the firmament he could fang the fische deid. In the midst of the banquet, the Thrush, and some other birds, as minstrels, enter, and sing a hymn to the Virgin Mary, which is followed by a curious list of musical instruments. The Jay, in the capacity of a juggler, is next introduced, who exhibits several wonderful exploits. He is succeeded by the Rook, in the character of a bard from Ireland, who begins to repeat an absurd rhapsody of the genealogy of the Irish Kings; for which, and some other of his falsehoods, he is sharply rebuked. But his continued insolence and loquacity is checked by the entrance of the Lapwing and the Cuckoo, as two flyrand fools, who seize