of bacon, I suppose.’
‘Yes, brother; but gammon likewise means—’
‘I know it does, Jasper; it means fun, ridicule, jest; it is an ancient Norse word, and is found in the Edda.’
‘Lor’, brother! how learned in lils you are!’
‘Many words of Norse are to be found in our vulgar sayings, Jasper; for example—in that particularly vulgar saying of ours, “Your mother is up,” [62b] there’s a noble Norse word; mother, there, meaning not the female who bore us, but rage and choler, as I discovered by reading the Sagas, Jasper.’
‘Lor’, brother! how book-learned you be.’
‘Indifferently so, Jasper. Then you think you might trust your wife with the duke?’
‘I think I could, brother, or even with yourself.’
‘Myself, Jasper! Oh, I never troubled my head about your wife; but I suppose there have been love affairs between gorgios and Romany chies. [63] Why novels are stuffed with such matters; and then even one of your own songs says so—the song which Ursula was singing the other afternoon.’
‘That is somewhat of an old song, brother, and is sung by the chies as a warning at our solemn festivals.’
‘Well! but there’s your sister-in-law, Ursula, herself, Jasper.’
‘Ursula, herself, brother?’
‘You were talking of my having her, Jasper.’
‘Well, brother, why didn’t you have her?’
‘Would she have had me?’
‘Of course, brother. You are so much of a Roman, and speak Romany so remarkably well.’
‘Poor thing! she looks very innocent!’
‘Remarkably so, brother! however, though not born on the same common with my wife, she knows a thing or two of Roman matters.’
‘I should like to ask her a question or two, Jasper, in connection with that song.’
‘You can do no better, brother. Here we are at the camp. After tea, take Ursula under a hedge, and ask her a question or two in connection with that song.’
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