"Gang to the deil wi' your prospective, man," said the king; "there
canna be a waur prospective for a lawful king, wha wishes to reign in
luve, and die in peace and honour, than to have naked swords flashing
in his een. I am accounted as brave as maist folks; and yet I profess
to ye I could never look on a bare blade without blinking and winking.
But a'thegither it is a brave piece;--and what is the price of it,
man?"
The goldsmith replied by observing, that it was not his own property,
but that of a distressed countryman.
"Whilk you mean to mak your excuse for asking the double of its worth,
I warrant?" answered the king. "I ken the tricks of you burrows-town
merchants, man."
"I have no hopes of baffling your Majesty's sagacity," said Heriot;
"the piece is really what I say, and the price a hundred and fifty
pounds sterling, if it pleases your Majesty to make present payment."
"A hundred and fifty punds, man! and as mony witches and warlocks to
raise them!" said the irritated Monarch. "My saul, Jingling Geordie,
ye are minded that your purse shall jingle to a bonny tune!--How am I
to tell you down a hundred and fifty punds for what will not weigh as
many merks? and ye ken that my very household servitors, and the
officers of my mouth, are sax months in arrear!"
The goldsmith stood his ground against all this objurgation, being
what he was well accustomed to, and only answered, that, if his
Majesty liked the piece, and desired to possess it, the price could be
easily settled.
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