Page:The Famous History of the Learned Friar Bacon.djvu/22

 fame.–Then, continued Miles, about half an hour after it said, TIME WAS.—O, wretch! cried Bacon, anger burns against thee; hadst thou but called me then it aught have done what I desired.—Then, said Miles, it said, TIME IS PAST, and so fell down with that horrible noise which has now awakened you, and made me. I am sure, befoul myself: and since here is so much to do about Time, I think it is time for me to retire and clean myself.—Well, villain, said Bacon, thou hast lost all our cost and pains by thy foolish negligence—Why, said Miles, I thought it would not have stopped, but that when it began it would have gone on and told me some pretty story, or commanded me to have called you, and I would have done it; but see the Devil is a cunning sophister; for all hell could not furnish brass and tinkers enough to do the work, and therefore he has put this trick upon you, to get off from his promise.—How, said Bacon, do you play the buffoon now you have done me this great in jury? Sirrah, because you think that the head spoke not enough to induce you to call us, you shall speak less for two months space; and so he struck him dumb till the end of that time, and would have punished him worse, had not Bungey taken compassion on the fellow's simplicity and persuaded him from it. And