noon
We profess to find a perfect commentary on the Pindaric laud of the strongest element in the circumstance of the banks of a river being the locality where the juice of the grape is most delicious , and holding , therefore , that water is strongest because , in a manner , it giveth birth to wine , we also hold it as a sacred element , and consequently most religiously refrain from refreshing our bodies with that sanctified and most undrinkable fluid . Know ye that we are the children of the Rhine , the conservators of his flavours , profound in the learning of his exquisite aroma , and deep students in the mysteries of his inexplicable näre . Professing not to be immortal , we find in the exercise of the chase a noble means to preserve that health which is necessary for the performance of the ceremonies to which we are pledged . At to-morrow 's dawn our bugle sounds , and thou , stranger , may engage the wild boar at our side ; at to-morrow 's noon the castle bell will toll , and thou , stranger , may eat of the beast which thou hast conquered ; but to feed after midnight , to destroy the power of catching the delicate flavour , to annihilate the faculty of detecting the undefinable näre , is heresy , most rank and damnable heresy ! Therefore at this hour soundeth no plate or platter , jingleth no knife or culinary instrument , in the PALACE or THE WINES . Yet , in consideration of thy youth , and that on the whole thou hast tasted thy liquor like a proper man , from which we augur the best expectations of the manner in which thou wilt drink it , we feel confident that our brothers of the goblet will permit us to grant thee the substantial solace of a single shoeing horn . '' `` Let it be a Dutch herring , then , '' said Vivian , `` and as you have souls to be saved grant me one slice of bread . ''