 Time of the Year this happened. Was I a Witness? quoth
Sancho,
how the Vengeance should I know in what Year, or what Time of the Year it happened? Hadst thou,
Sancho,
rejoined the Knight, any thing within thee of the Sentiment of Saint
Martin,
thou must assuredly have known that this happened in Winter; for had it been Summer, Saint
Martin
would have given the whole Cloak.
Another Characteristic of the true Gentleman, is a Delicacy of Behaviour toward that Sex, whom Nature has entitled to the Protection, and consequently entitled to the Tenderness of Man.
The same Gentleman-Errant, entering into a Wood on a Summer's Evening, found himself entangled among Nets of green Thread that, here and there, hung from Tree to Tree; and, conceiving it some Matter of purposed Conjuration, pushed valorously forward to break through the Enchantment. Hereupon some beautiful Shepherdesses interposed with a Cry, and besought him to spare the Implements of their innocent Recreation. The Knight, surprised and charmed by the Vision, replied.  �  Fair Creatures! my Province is to protect, not to injure; to seek all Means of Service but never of Offence, more especially to any of your Sex and apparent Excellencies. Your pretty Nets take up but a small Piece of favoured Ground; but, did they enclose the World, I would seek out new Worlds, whereby I might win a Passage, rather than break them.
Two very lovely but shamefaced Girls had a Cause, of some Consequence, depending at
Westminster,
that indispensably required their personal Appearance. They were Relations of Sir
Joseph Jeckel,
and, on this tremendous Occasion, requested his Company and Countenance at the Court. Sir
Joseph
attended accordingly, and the Cause being opened, the Judge demanded whether he was to entitle those Ladies by the Denomination of Spinsters? No, my Lord, said Sir
Joseph;
they are Lilies of the Valley, they toil not, neither do they spin, yet you see that no Monarch, in all his Glory, was ever arrayed like one of these.
Another very peculiar Characteristic of a Gentleman, is, the giving Place, and yielding to all with whom he has to do.
Of this we have a shining and affecting Instance in
Abraham,
perhaps the most accomplished Character that may be found in History, whether sacred or profane.
A Contention had arisen between the Herdsmen of
Abraham
and the Herdsmen of his Nephew
Lot,
respecting the Propriety of the Pasture of the Lands wherein they dwelled, that could now scarce contain the Abundance of their Cattle. And those Servants, as is
