to write a narrative in it. He gives us, however, all that he knows, without much reference to particular periods; it may not be good ancient English, but, come what may, it shall not be good modern. This, it need scarcely be said, is not fair play: the recreation is all on the writer's side. Archaism is, no doubt, very seductive to the archaist. Well done (that is, negatively done), it looks easy; and to do it badly is perhaps even easier than it looks. No very considerable stock-in-trade is required; the following will do quite well: Prithee–quotha–perchance–peradventure–i' faith–sirrah –beshrew me–look ye–sith that–look to it–leave prating–it shall go hard but–I tell you, but the more part–fair cold water—to me-ward—I am shrewdly afeared–it is like to go stiff with me–y' are–y' have—it irks me sorely—benison–staunch-gyves–yarely–this same villain–drink me this–you were better go; to these may be added the indiscriminate use of 'Nay' and 'Now (by the rood, &c.)'; free inversion; and verb terminations in -st and -th. Our list is largely drawn from Stevenson, who, having tried negative archaism with success in Treasure Island, chose to give us a positive specimen in The Black Arrow. How vexatious these reach-me-down archaisms can become, even in the hands of an able writer, will be seen from the following examples of a single trick, all taken from The Black Arrow.
An I had not been a thief, I could not have painted me your face.
Put me your hand into the corner, and see what ye find there.
Bring me him down like a ripe apple. And keep ever forward, Master Shelton; turn me not back again, an ye love your life.
Selden, take me this old shrew softly to the nearest elm, and hang me him tenderly by the neck, where I may see him at my riding.
Mark me this old villain on the piebald.
'Sirrah, no more words,' said Dick. 'Bend me your back.'
'Here is a piece of forest that I know not', Dick remarked. 'Where goeth me this track?'
'I slew him fair. I ran me in upon his bow,' he cried.
'Swallow me a good draught of this,' said the knight.
It is like a child with a new toy.
