The New York Journal, And Daily Patriotic Register

MISCELLANY.

THE NORMAN BACHELOR.

In the year that Acre* was taken, a pleasant adventure happened in Normandy. A bachelor of that province had one morning nothing for his dinner but a half-penny loaf. To make his scanty meal the more palatable, he went into a tavern and called for a pennyworth of wine. The master of the house, who was a man of rough and boorish manners, came and presented to the gentleman, with great rudeness, the liquor in a cup; and in handing it to him, spilt near half of it on the floor. To complete his insolence, he observed to him, "you are going to be a rich man, Mr. Bachelor—for liquor spilt is a sign of good luck."

To break out into a rage against so contemptible a brute, would have been beneath a gentleman: the Norman took his measures with better management, and more address. He had still a half-penny remaining in his purse; he gave it to the tavern-keeper, and desired to have a piece of cheese to eat with his bread. The vintner takes it with a sneering air, and goes to the cellar to bring what was required. The bachelor, during the absence of the vintner, goes to the wine cask, turns the cock, and lets the wine run out upon the floor. The other, on his return, finding his wine running out and overflowing the room, quickly makes up to the barrel, and having stopped the cock, rushes upon the Norman, and seizes him by the collar, vowing vengeance for the loss of his wine. The Norman, however, being the stronger, raises the other by the middle, and throws him among the bottles, a great number of which are broken, and proceeds to inflict the merited chastisement, till he is interrupted by the entry of some neighbours.

The affair was notwithstanding carried before the sovereign, Count Henry. The vintner spoke first, and demanded reparation of his damage. The prince, before he condemned the knight, asked him what he had to urge in his defence. The latter then related the affair exactly as it had fallen out, and concluded with saying, "Sire, this man assured me, that wine spilt portended good fortune, and that, having wasted half my measure, he had put me into a fair way to become a rich man. Gratitude demanded a return on my part, and as I did not choose to be out-done in generosity, I spilt him half a tun."

All the courtiers applauded the conduct and the declaration of the bachelor. The Count himself laughed heartily, and dismissed both parties, saying, that what was spilt could not be gathered up again.

* This town was taken by Philip Augustus, and Richard Cœur-de-Lion in 1191.

+ A bachelor meant, in the days of chivalry, a probationary knight, or one between that degree and an esquire. It was also used to signify a poor gentleman, and in that sense it is here to be taken.

It was the custom then to dine at ten o'clock in the morning, and to sup at five in the afternoon. Thus in the story of Lanval, we hear of a company going out after supper and walking till night.