Reader

By the ashes of S. Paul and the shrine of revered S. Peter, do not pull my verses to pieces. General James. So may S . Thomas prove a buckler to protect thy breast and S. Bartholomew bear thee company to the wars ; so may the blessed saints prevent the barbarians from crossing the Alps and Suzanna 2 endow thee with her strength ; so, should any savage foe seek to swim across the Danube, let him be drowned therein like the swift chariots of Pharaoh ; so may an avenging javelin strike the Getic hordes and the favour of Thecla 3 guide the armies of Rome ; so may thy guests dying in their efforts to out-drink thee assure thy board its triumph of hospitality and the broached casks o'ercome thy thirst ; so may thy hand ne'er be red with an enemy's blood — do not, I say, pull my verses to pieces.