{"product_id":"2940013407992","title":"Sir Mortimer","description":"_Sir Mortimer_\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"But if we return not from our adventure,\" ended Sir Mortimer, \"if the\u003cbr\u003esea claims us, and upon his sandy floor, amid his Armida gardens, the\u003cbr\u003esilver-singing mermaiden marvel at that wreckage which was once a tall\u003cbr\u003eship and at those bones which once were animate,--if strange islands\u003cbr\u003eknow our resting-place, sunk for evermore in huge and most unkindly\u003cbr\u003eforests,--if, being but pawns in a mighty game, we are lost or changed,\u003cbr\u003ehappy, however, in that the white hand of our Queen hath touched us,\u003cbr\u003egiving thereby consecration to our else unworthiness,--if we find no\u003cbr\u003egold, nor take one ship of Spain, nor any city treasure-stored,--if we\u003cbr\u003esuffer a myriad sort of sorrows and at the last we perish miserably--\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe paused, being upon his feet, a man of about thirty years, richly\u003cbr\u003edressed, and out of reason good to look at. In his hand was a great\u003cbr\u003ewine-cup, and he held it high. \"I drink to those who follow after!\" he\u003cbr\u003ecried. \"I drink to those who fail--pebbles cast into water whose ring\u003cbr\u003estill wideneth, reacheth God knows what unguessable shore where loss may\u003cbr\u003eyet be counted gain! I drink to Fortune her minions, to Francis Drake\u003cbr\u003eand John Hawkins and Martin Frobisher; to all adventurers and their\u003cbr\u003edeeds in the far-off seas! I drink to merry England and to the day when\u003cbr\u003eevery sea shall bring her tribute!--to England, like Aphrodite,\u003cbr\u003enew-risen from the main! Drink with me!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe tavern of the Triple Tun rang with acclamation, and, the windows\u003cbr\u003ebeing set wide because of the warmth of the June afternoon, the noise\u003cbr\u003erushed into the street and waylaid the ears of them who went busily to\u003cbr\u003eand fro, and of them who lounged in the doorway, or with folded arms\u003cbr\u003eplayed Atlas to the tavern walls. \"Who be the roisterers within?\"\u003cbr\u003edemanded a passing citizen of one of these supporters. The latter made\u003cbr\u003eno answer; he was a ragged retainer of Melpomene, and he awaited the\u003cbr\u003ecoming forth of Sir Mortimer Ferne, a notable encourager of all who\u003cbr\u003ewould scale Parnassus. But his neighbor, a boy in blue and silver,\u003cbr\u003esquatted upon a sunny bench, vouchsafed enlightenment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Travellers to strange places,\" quoth he, taking a straw from his mouth\u003cbr\u003eand stretching long arms. \"Tall men, swingers in Brazil-beds,\u003cbr\u003eparcel-gilt with the Emperor of Manoa, and playfellows to the nymphs of\u003cbr\u003eDon Juan Ponce de Leon his fountain,--in plain words, my master, Sir\u003cbr\u003eMortimer Ferne, Captain of the _Cygnet_, and his guests to dinner, to\u003cbr\u003ewit, Sir John Nevil, Admiral of our fleet, with sundry of us captains\u003cbr\u003eand gentlemen adventurers to the Indies, and, for seasoning, a handful\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eof my master's poor friends, such as courtiers and great lords\u003cbr\u003eand poets.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Thinkest to don thy master's wit with his livery?\" snapped the\u003cbr\u003epoetaster. \"'Tis a chain for a man,--too heavy for thy wearing.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe boy stretched his arms again. \"'Master' no more than in reason,\"\u003cbr\u003equoth he. \"I also am a gentleman. Heigho! The sun shineth hotter here\u003cbr\u003ethan in the doldrums!\"","brand":"SAP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47079438975216,"sku":"2940013407992","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013407992_p0.jpg?v=1763580468","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013407992","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}