They Took Off Their
Cloaks, And At The End Of Each They Made A Knot, In Which They
Placed A Large Stone, And With These They Thrashed And Belaboured
Each Other Till Both Fell Dead.
Master, I know not which are the
worst plagues, friars, curates, or sparrows:
"May the Lord God preserve us from evil birds three:
From all friars and curates and sparrows that be;
For the sparrows eat up all the corn that we sow,
The friars drink down all the wine that we grow,
Whilst the curates have all the fair dames at their nod:
From these three evil curses preserve us, Lord God."
In about two hours from this time we reached Luarca, the situation
of which is most singular. It stands in a deep hollow, whose sides
are so precipitous that it is impossible to descry the town until
you stand just above it. At the northern extremity of this hollow
is a small harbour, the sea entering it by a narrow cleft. We
found a large and comfortable posada, and by the advice of Martin,
made inquiry for a fresh guide and horse; we were informed,
however, that all the horses of the place were absent, and that if
we waited for their return, we must tarry for two days. "I had a
presentiment," said Martin, "when we entered Luarca, that we were
not doomed to part at present. You must now hire my mare and me as
far as Giyon, from whence there is a conveyance to Oviedo.
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