derived from trebuchet, or trap-door, of which he made frequent use during his performance." The company passed to the next booth.

"There," said Ned, "will be exhibited vaulting, tumbling, jumping through hoops, balancing, grotesque dances by the clown, and dancing upon the tight-rope."

"The tragetour rarely executed this part of the performance himself," said the vicar, "but left it to some of his confederates."

"And yet I should have thought it the most profitable department of the art," observed the major; "for it was so patronised as to secure the reception of its professors into the houses of the nobility. In the reign of Edward II. a tumbler rode before the king, and so delighted His Majesty, that he rewarded him with a gratuity of twenty shillings, a very considerable sum in those days."

"In the caravan that you see yonder," said Ned Hopkins, "is the apparatus of the famous glass-blower, who will exhibit his surprising art, and present a specimen to any one who will give him a penny. I have no doubt he will have ample custom for the stars he has prepared in commemoration of the present jubilee. My

young masters," added Ned, "will be much astonished at his appearance; for he is dressed in a full-bottomed wig of glass; and all his buttons are of the same materials. As he As he proposes to read a lecture upon the history of glass-blowing, I hope my young masters will not fail to attend his exhibition."

The whole party, having expressed their satisfaction at the genius which Ned Hopkins had displayed in selecting and arranging the various kinds of amusement, were conducted by the vicar to a small enclosure, at a short distance from the fair, which he had appropriated to the youths of the village, who had been trained to perform the "Ludus Troja," according to the description left us by Virgil in the fifth Æneid.

"I shall be curious to witness the sport," said the major, "for Lazius asserts, in his commentaries upon the Roman Republic, that the jousts and tournaments, so much in fashion about two or three hundred years ago, were indebted for their origin to this game; and that • Tournamenta' is but a corruption of Trojamenta.'"

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Undoubtedly," replied the vicar; "and the

learned and noble Du Franse entertains the same opinion; by some the word has been derived from the French tourner, to turn round with agility; yet the exercises have so much resemblance, as to prove the one an imitation of the other."

"Come, come, my good friend," exclaimed the honest major, "all these preparations are highly laudable, and will, no doubt, afford satisfaction to the spectators, for whose amusement they have been designed; but there are other senses, besides the eye and ear, to be gratified upon this occasion. I have not yet observed any arrangements for the dinner."

"Fear not, major; the awning which has been erected for that purpose is within sight; observe you not the banners which are floating yonder?" said the vicar.

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Ay, ay, to be sure I do; and let me tell you, that you have taken up a very snug posi

tion."

Tables had been arranged, under an awning of canvass, in the form of a cross, and were capable of accommodating about two hundred persons. On a platform, somewhat elevated, was another table appropriated to the major

and his guests, on which covers were laid for forty.

"You perceive, major," said Mr. Twaddleton, as they approached the scene of future action, "that the fare which has been provided is simple, but substantial, and I trust will be considered as no less according with English hospitality, than with classical propriety."

"The beef certainly predominates," said the major, “and I observe that most of the joints

are roasted."

"Quite correct, sir; the ox is the animal most frequently spoken of, as furnishing food for ancient heroes; and you will remember that Homer rarely mentions any other than roasted meat."

"I perceive that you have been more miscellaneous in your arrangement of the upper table."

"I have placed before you a chine of beef, because Menelaus set that dish before Telemachus at the marriage-feast of his son; but I thought it right to dedicate a part of your table to the display of that allegorical confectionary which the London artist has executed with such refined taste."

"Upon my word, those chariots are exquisitely modelled," said the major.

"From drawings which were copied, for the occasion, from the engravings of Montfauçon."

"You have placed the car of Venus opposite to the chair in which Mrs. Beacham is to sit; that is quite correct."

"Yes, and you may observe that the goddess is beckoning an airy figure from the group of rocks which form the back-ground, in allusion to the part which Echo performed, in so happily bringing the lovers together."

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Every dish, to my mind, gentlemen, appears to bear some allegorical meaning," cried Ned Hopkins. "Look at those red-coated prawns, which peep so slyly from the bed of parsley in which they lie in ambush; and say if you are not reminded of the future race of heroes who will emulate the military prowess of their valiant ancestor."

"Ned, you are a most insufferable wag," said the major, as he laughed and chuckled at the joke.

"Then again, observe those rosy-cheeked apples, which look out from among their leaves,