A THIRTEENTH-CENTURY PARABLE.
125
Between the King of England and of France;
Thou know'st that of our castles greatest chance
Of loss has La Rochelle, there in Poitou,
Lying so near the border. If to you
The King had given La Rochelle to hold,
And unto me—no less true man and bold,
Perhaps—the Castle of Laon to keep,
Far in the heart of France, where I might sleep
All day, all night, unharmed, if so I chose,—
So safe beyond the reach of all our foes
Lies Laon,—when the war is ended, who
Ought from the King to have the most thanks?
You
Who La Rochelle had saved by bloody fights,
Or I, who spent in Laon peaceful nights?
"In faith, Sire, I, who guarded La Rochelle!"
The wondering Master cried.
"So, then, I tell
Thee," said the Bishop, in most gentle tone,
"My heart is like the Castle of Laon.
Temptations, doubts, cannot my soul assail.
Therefore, I say that thou, who dost prevail
Against such foes of Satan's mustering,
Art four times pleasing to the Heavenly King,
Where I am once; and thy good fortress, kept,
Shall win thee glory such as saints have wept
To win! Go, joyful! Put thy sorrow by.
Thou art far dearer to the Lord than I."
Scarce dared the Master trust such words as these;
But silent, grateful, fell upon his knees
Until the Bishop blessed him. Then he went
Away in solemn wonder and content.
Thou know'st that of our castles greatest chance
Of loss has La Rochelle, there in Poitou,
Lying so near the border. If to you
The King had given La Rochelle to hold,
And unto me—no less true man and bold,
Perhaps—the Castle of Laon to keep,
Far in the heart of France, where I might sleep
All day, all night, unharmed, if so I chose,—
So safe beyond the reach of all our foes
Lies Laon,—when the war is ended, who
Ought from the King to have the most thanks?
You
Who La Rochelle had saved by bloody fights,
Or I, who spent in Laon peaceful nights?
"In faith, Sire, I, who guarded La Rochelle!"
The wondering Master cried.
"So, then, I tell
Thee," said the Bishop, in most gentle tone,
"My heart is like the Castle of Laon.
Temptations, doubts, cannot my soul assail.
Therefore, I say that thou, who dost prevail
Against such foes of Satan's mustering,
Art four times pleasing to the Heavenly King,
Where I am once; and thy good fortress, kept,
Shall win thee glory such as saints have wept
To win! Go, joyful! Put thy sorrow by.
Thou art far dearer to the Lord than I."
Scarce dared the Master trust such words as these;
But silent, grateful, fell upon his knees
Until the Bishop blessed him. Then he went
Away in solemn wonder and content.
