The sun., 1891-05-17

hear tho do,efui .dirgo which the beatsr was
chanting. bringing down his heavy whip
at tho end Of each limo. while the
Rroans OF the sufferer formed sort oil
dismal chorus. 1t was in old French. and ran
some what in this way:
Or avant entire nous tous frcrss
Nations oharoGnss bsa fort
En- rsmsmbrant Ia Srsnt mhers
De Dlsu Of - pitsuss mort.
Qui fut pris en- Ia gent smere
~ vehdus ct trails tort
1t basu 81 chair. rier4s et pers
Au nom de CO bAttons plus fort
Thon Mt tho end OF the verse tho scourss
changed hHnds aud the chanting began anew.
"Truly. holy iathers." said the archer in
French as thew camc abreast OF them. you
have beaten enough for to-day. Tho road fs
oil spotted like shambles ut Martinmna. Why
should 20 mishahdle yourselves thus?"
"Cest rour vos p;ches-pour vos p;ch5s."
they dronsd. looking at tho travellers with
sad lscH.lustro eyes. nad then bent to
their bloody work once moro without
hood to the prayers and persu0sluns which
were addressed to them. Finding all re-
monstrance uselsss, tho three comrades has
tened on their way leaving these strange trav-
ellsrs to their drsary task.
Mort Dieu" cried tho bowman. "there IL .
buckotiul or moro OF my blood over In France.
but It was oil spilled In hot fight. and I should
think twice before drew It drop By drop as
these friars are doing. By my hllt! our young
one here Is as white as Ifcardy cheese. What
is amiss thon, mon cher2"
1T is nothing" Alleyne answered MY life
hhs been too quiet am not used to such
sights"
Ma foil" the other cried. Il have never yot
seen O man who was 30 stout OF spoech aud
yet So weak OF heart"
Not so. friend" duoth big John: ut is not
weakness OF heart. for know the lad we'll
His heart 10 q good rs thine or mine. but he
hath moro in his pate than ever you will carry
under that tin pot OF thine. and as u conse-
Iuence he can see further into things. so that
they weigh upon him MORE"
''Surely 10 any man it 10 a sad sight" said
Alleyne to see these holy men. who have done
no sin themselves. suffering so for the sin. OF
others. Saints arc they. IL In this age any may
merit 30 high name"
I count them not Hy." cried Horde John:
for who 10 the better for all their whipping
and yow!ing1 They arc like other friars. throw.
whom all 10 doae. Lot them leave their backs
alone. and heat the pride out OF their hearts,"
=" BY tho thles kingsl there Is sooth In what
you sny," remarked the archer. Desldes
me:hinks II wero 10 bon Dieu. 1t would bring
me little Joy to SEQ poor devil outing the
flesh on his bones: and should think that he
had but a small opinion OF me. that he should
hope t., please me by such provost marshal
work. No, by my hilt! should look with more
loving eye upon an archer who never harmed
fallen foo and never fear I'd halo one"
Doubtless you moan NO SIM" said Alleyne.
" II your words are Wild. ie Is not for me to
Judge them. Can you not see that thors are
NHnr lv&N T.
and as much glory to be gained Ia conQnering
thsm2 Would It not be proud day for knight
or squire II he could overthrow seven adver.
sAres n the lists Yet here aro we In the lists Of
life, and there come the seven black champions
against US: Sir Pride. Sir Covstousness. Sir
Lust, Sir Anger, Sir Gluttony. Sir
Envy. and Sir Sloti. Let . man lay
those seven low. and he shall have the
prize Of the day. from the hands OF tho
fairest queen OF beauty. even from the Virgin
Mother herself. 1t is for this that these mon
mortify their flesh. and to set US an exam ple.
who would pamper ourselves over much. say
again that they are Co.. own saints. and I
bow my head to them."
And SO You thall. mon petit" replied the
archer. Il have not heard man speak better
since old Dom Bertrand died. who was ut one
time chaplain to the White Company. He was
4 very valiant man. but at the battle OF Brig.
nais no was sptted through the body by
Hajnault man-at-arms. For this We had an
read against tho man,
when next We saw our holy father at Avig-
non: but as We had not his name. and knew
nothing OF him. save that ne rode G Gappe-
gray rouss:n. have feared sometimes that the
blight may have settled upon The wrong man"
Your Company has been. then. to bow knee
before our holy father. the Pope Urban. the |
prop and contrs OF Chrlstendom2" asked !
Alleyne. much Interested. "Perchance you |
have yourself set eyes upon his august face ?" |
Twice l saw him." said the archer. He |
Was leo, little rat OF q man. with scab ON |
his chin. Tho first time We had live thousand |
crowns out OF him. though he made much ado |
about 1t. Tho second time we asked ton thou |
sand. but 1t was three days bo ore we could |
'ome to terms. and am OF opinion myself that |
We might have done better by plundering the |
palace. His chamberlain and cardinals came
orth. as I remember. to ask whether We would |
ake seven thousand crowns with his blessing
Ind plenary absolution. or the ten thousand
With his SOLEMN ban By bell. book. and candle.
We wsro all OF ono mind that 1t was best to
iave tile ton thousand with the curse: but In
'ome way they prevailed upon Sir John. SO that
'srchnnce It is as well. .or the Company were
q need Of It about that time"
The pious Alleyne was deeply shocked by
his "reminiscences. Involuntarily hs glanced
lp and around TO see II there were any trace
Il those opportune levin flashes and thunder.
'olts which. In the "Acta Sanctorum" wore
Vont 30 often TO out short tie loose talk OF the
Golfer. The autumn sun strsamsd down a.
rightly ~ ever. and the peaceful red path
till wound In front OF them through tho rust
Ing ysllow-tlntsd forest Nature seemed to bs
90 busy with her own concerns to heed the
ignity Of an outrsRed pontin. Yet he felt q
enss OF weight and rsproaeh within his breast.
. II be had sinpsd himself In giving ear
0 such words. The teaohinEs OF twenty yssrs
RED out against suoh license. Itwas not un.
Ia h.A l. 4. L