His native dialect he generally employed on jocose and familiar
subjects. In affairs of importance he affected the use of the English
tongue, which he spoke with great formality and pomp.
"Stop," said he. "There be _literae_ or letters thereon. Unto what
purport?"
But no one could resolve him as to the use of the stone, or the purport
of the writing. His worthy host protested that the wonder had never
before been observed. It was doubtless some miracle worked for the
occasion.
"But the _scriptum_ or writing will set forth the motive or argument
thereto. The letters be goodly and well-shapen."
Many voices recited the inscription, forming the following ill-spelled
line.
"_Torne me o're, an I'le tel thee plaine_."
The well-known childish curiosity of the monarch would not permit him to
go away unsatisfied. The day was hot, and the stone was heavy; but a
long and laborious toil brought to light the following satisfactory
intelligence,--
"_Hot porritch softens hard butter-cakes,
So torne me o'er again_"[31]
"And o' my saul," said the king, "ye shall gang roun' to yere place
again; for sa meikle as these country gowks mauna ken the riddle without
the labour.
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