[042]
Wroth beyond measure was the friar, as he heard her thus speak,
nor knew he what to say, except that he several times asked her if
she were quite certain that it was no other than he.
[043]
"Holy name
of God!" replied the lady, "as if I did not yet know him from
another! He it was, I tell you; and do you give no credence to his
denial."
[044]
"Daughter," said then the friar, "there is here nought
else to say but that this is a monstrous presumption and a most
heinous offence; and thou didst well to send him away as thou didst.
[045]
But seeing that God has preserved thee from shame, I would implore
thee that, as thou hast twice followed my advice, thou do so likewise
on this occasion, and making no complaint to any of thy kinsfolk,
leave it to me to try if I can control this devil that has slipt his chain,
whom I supposed to be a saint; and if I succeed in weaning him from
this insensate folly, well and good; and if I fail, thenceforth I give
thee leave, with my blessing, to do whatsoever may commend itself
to thy own judgment."
[046]
"Lo now," answered the lady, "once
again I will not vex or disobey you; but be sure that you so order
matters that he refrain from further annoyance, as I give you my
word that never will I have recourse to you again touching this
matter." Then, without another word, and with a troubled air, she
took leave of him.
[047]
Scarcely was she out of the church when the
gallant came up. The friar called him, took him aside, and gave him
the affront in such sort as 'twas never before given to any man,
reviling him as a disloyal and perjured traitor. The gallant, who by
his two previous lessons had been taught how to value the friar's
censures, listened attentively, and sought to draw him out by ambiguous
answers. "Wherefore this wrath, Sir?" he began. "Have I
crucified Christ?"
[048]
"Ay, mark the fellow's effrontery!" retorted
the friar: "list to what he says! He talks, forsooth, as if 'twere
a year or so since, and his villanies and lewdnesses were clean gone from
his memory for lapse of time. Between matins and now hast thou
forgotten this morning's outrage? Where wast thou this morning
shortly before daybreak?"
[049]
"Where was I?" rejoined the gallant;
"that know not I. 'Tis indeed betimes that the news has reached
you."
[050]
"True indeed it is," said the friar, "that the news has
reached
me: I suppose that, because the husband was not there, thou never
doubtedst that thou wouldst forthwith be received by the lady with
open arms. Ah! the gay gallant! the honourable gentleman! he
is now turned prowler by night, and breaks into gardens, and climbs
trees!
[051]
Dost thou think by sheer importunity to vanquish the virtue
of this lady, that thou escaladest her windows at night by the trees?
She dislikes thee of all things in the world, and yet thou must still
persist. Well indeed hast thou laid my admonitions to heart, to say
nothing of the many proofs which she has given thee of her disdain!
[052]But I have yet a word for thee: hitherto, not that she bears thee
any love, but that she has yielded to my urgent prayers, she has kept
silence as to thy misdeeds: she will do so no more: I have given her
leave to act as she may think fit, if thou givest her any further
annoyance. And what wilt thou do if she informs her brothers?"
[053]
The gallant, now fully apprised of what it imported him to know,
was profuse in promises, whereby as best he might he reassured the
friar, and so left him. The very next night, as soon as the matin
hour was come, he entered the garden, climbed up the tree, found the
window open, entered the chamber, and in a trice was in the embrace
of his fair lady.
[054]
Anxiously had she expected him, and blithely did she
now greet him, saying: "All thanks to master friar that he so well
taught thee the way hither." Then, with many a jest and laugh at
the simplicity of the asinine friar, and many a flout at distaff-fuls and
combs and cards, they solaced themselves with one another to their
no small delight.
[055]
Nor did they omit so to arrange matters that
they were well able to dispense with master friar, and yet pass many
another night together with no less satisfaction: to which goal I
pray that I, and all other Christian souls that are so minded, may be
speedily guided of God in His holy mercy.
