Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/326

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152
OF WANT OF CHARITY.

rate mankind from their worst enemies. As Cosdras changed his regal state for the humiliating garb of a servant, so did Christ put on mortality, and by his death triumphed over our demoniacal foes.





TALE XLII.

OF WANT OF CHARITY.

Valerius records, (40) that there once stood in the city of Rome a very lofty column, on which a certain person inscribed four letters, three times repeated. Three P's, three S's, three R's, and three F's. When the letters had attracted attention, he exclaimed, "Woe, woe, to the eternal city." The nobles, hearing what had been done, said to him, "Master, let us understand thy conceit." He an-