by Charles Swan
APPLICATION.
My beloved, the Saracens and Jews, the rich and powerful, and, finally, the perfect among men, are typified by the three companions. The bread represents the kingdom of heaven.
* “This apologue is in Alphonsus.”—WARTON.
TALE CVII.
OF REMEMBERING DEATH, AND FORGETTING THINGS TEMPORAL.
THERE was an image in the city of Rome standing in an erect posture, with the dexter hand outstretched; and upon the middle finger was written, “STRIKE HERE.” The image stood a long time in this manner, and no one understood what the inscription signified. It was much wondered at, and commented on; but this was all, for they invariably departed as wise as they came. At last, a certain subtle clerk, hearing of the image, felt anxious to see it; and when he had done so, he observed the super- scription, “Strike here” He noticed that when the sun shone upon the image, the outstretched finger was discernible in the lengthened shadow. After a little consideration he took a spade, and where the shadow ceased, dug to the depth of about three feet. This brought him to a number of steps, which led into a subterranean cavity. Not a little exhilarated with his discovery, the clerk prosecuted the adventure. Descending the steps, he entered the hall of a magnificent palace, in which he perceived a king and a queen and many nobles seated at table, and the hall itself filled with men. They were all habited in costly apparel, and kept the most rigid silence. Looking about, he beheld in one comer of the place a polished stone, called a carbuncle, by the single aid of which the hall was lighted. In the opposite comer stood a man armed with a bow and arrow, in the act of taking aim at the precious stone. Upon his brow was inscribed, “I am what I am: my shaft is inevitable; least of all can yon luminous carbuncle escape its stroke.” The clerk, amazed at what he saw, entered the bed-chamber, and found a multitude of beautiful women arrayed in purple garments, but not a sound escaped them. From thence he proceeded to the stables, and observed a number of horses and asses in their stalls. He touched them, but they were nothing but stone. He visited all the various buildings of the palace, and whatsoever his heart desired was to be found there. Returning to the hall, he thought of making good his retreat. “I have seen wonders to-day,” said he to himself, “but nobody will credit the relation, unless I carry back with me some incontrovertible testimony.” Casting his eyes upon the highest table, he beheld a quantity of golden cups and beautiful knives, which he approached, and laid his hands upon one of each, designing to carry them away. But no sooner had he placed them in his bosom, than the archer struck the carbuncle with the arrow, and shivered it into a thousand atoms. Instantly, the whole building was enveloped in thick darkness, and the clerk, in utter consternation, sought his way back. But being unable, in consequence of the darkness, to discover it, he perished in the greatest misery, amid the mysterious statues of the palace. (10)
APPLICATION.
My beloved, the image is the devil; the clerk is any covetous man, who sacrifices himself to the cupidity of his desires. The steps by which he descends are the passions. The archer is death, the carbuncle is human life, and the cup and knife are worldly possessions.
TALE CVIII.
OF CONSTANCY IN ADHERING TO PROMISES.
IN the reign of a certain emperor, there were two thieves who bound themselves by an oath never to quit one another on any emergency, even though death were the alternative. They afterwards committed many depredations, and were, on some occasions, guilty of murder. It happened that one of them, being caught in some theft, was imprisoned and placed in fetters. His companion, understanding what had chanced, hastened to him, and said, “My friend, by the engagement which we have formed, I adjure you to tell me what I can do to serve you.” “It appears,” answered the other, “that I must die, having been taken in the fact for which I am sentenced. But I will show you how to oblige me. Obtain permission to remain in my place, while I hasten to arrange my affairs, and provide for my wife and children. Having done this, I will return in due time and liberate you.” “My friend,” answered the first, “I will readily comply with your wishes.” He went therefore to the judge, and spoke thus: “My lord, my friend has been thrown into prison, and condemned to death. It seems that there is no chance for him.; let it please you, then, to permit him to return home to arrange the affairs of his family, and I, in the mean time, will become his surety, and remain in prison.” “On such a day,” replied the judge, “he, with some others, will be executed; if, upon that day, he return not before a certain hour, look you to it: your death is inevitable.” “My lord”, answered the man, “I am prepared for the worst.” “Let him go, then: I consent to your wishes.” The judge ordered the substitute to be ironed, and placed in prison in the room of his friend, who immediately set out to his family. So long, however, did he postpone his return, that the day of execution arrived, and his pledge was unredeemed. The latter, therefore, was brought, with many others, to the seat of judgment. “Where is your friend?” said the judge; “he has not arrived to make good his word.” “I hope the best, my lord,” replied the other; “I do not think he will fail me.” Some time passed over, and still he came not; and the prisoner was at length conducted to the cross. “You must attribute your death to yourself,” said the judge; “do not charge it upon me. You have rashly trusted to your friend, and he has deceived you.” “My lord,” replied he, “defer the crucifixion but for a moment, and suffer me to play upon an instrument three times before my death.” “Play!” exclaimed the judge; “of what nature is that playing?” “I will shout, my lord.” “As you please.” Accordingly he began to vociferate. He shouted loudly once, twice, and at the third shout he distinguished, at some distance, a man running toward them with surprising velocity. “My lord! my lord! there is a man coming; stay the execution—perhaps it is my friend, and I shall yet be liberated!” The judge waited, and the person they looked for made his appearance. “I am the man you expect,” he exclaimed. “I have arranged my affairs, and meanwhile my friend has been in peril of death for me; let him now freely depart, for I am ready to suffer death for my crimes.” The judge regarded him for a few moments with attention, and then said, “My friend, tell me whence it comes that you are so faithful to one another?” “My lord,” he replied, “from our youth up we have been friends, and ever pledged ourselves to be faithful. For this reason he put himself in my place till I had settled my affairs.” “Well,” said the judge, “because of this remarkable instance of fidelity, I pardon you. Remain with me, and I will provide all things necessary for your well-being.” They returned thanks to the judge, and promised equal fidelity to him. He then received them to favour; and all praised the judge who showed them this mercy.*
APPLICATION.
My beloved, the emperor is God; the two thieves, soul and body, which are united in sin. The thief who is taken is the body captured by its lusts. The first shout typifies contrition, the second confession, and the third satisfaction.
* This appears to be the classical story of Damon and Pythias, with a few inconsiderable variations. From hence, or from similar stories, may probably have arisen the proverbial saying of “Honour among thieves.”
TALE CIX.
OF THE AVARICIOUS PURSUIT OF RICHES, WHICH LEADS TO HELL.
A CERTAIN carpenter residing in a city near the sea, very covetous and very wicked, collected a large sum of money, and placed it in the trunk of a tree,† which he placed by his fireside, that no one might have any suspicion that it held money. It happened once that, while all his household slept, the sea overflowed its boundaries, broke down that side of the building where the log was situated, and carried it away. It floated many miles, and reached, at length, a city in which there lived a person who kept open house. Arising early in the morning, he perceived the trunk. of a tree in the water, and brought it to land, thinking it was nothing but a bit of timber thrown away by some one. He was a liberal, kind-hearted man, and a great benefactor to the poor. It one day chanced that he entertained some pilgrims in his house
; and the weather being extremely cold, he cut up the log for firewood. When he had struck two or three blows with the axe, he heard a rattling sound; and cleaving it in twain, the gold pieces rolled out in every direction. Greatly rejoiced at the discovery, he reposited them in a secure place, until he should ascertain who was the owner.
Now, the carpenter, bitterly lamenting the loss of his money, travelled from place to place in pursuit of it. He came, by accident, to the house of the hospitable man, who had found the trunk. He failed not to mention the object of his search; and the host, understanding that the money was his, said to himself, “I will prove, if God will, that the money should be returned to him.” Accordingly, he made three cakes, the first of which he filled with earth; the second, with the bones of dead men; and in the third, he put a quantity of the gold which he had discovered in the trunk. “Friend,” said he, addressing the carpenter, “we will eat three cakes, composed of the best meat in the house. Choose which you will have.” The carpenter did as he was directed; he took the cakes and weighed them in his hand, one after another, and finding that with the earth weigh heaviest, he chose it. “And if I want more, my worthy host,” added he, “I will have that,” laying his hand upon the cake containing the bones. “You may keep the third cake yourself.” “I see clearly,” murmured the host, “I see very clearly that God does not will the money to be restored to this wretched man.” Calling, therefore, the poor and infirm, the blind and the lame, and opening the cake of gold in the presence of the carpenter, to whom he spoke, “Thou miserable varlet, this is thine own gold. But thou preferredst the cake of earth, and dead men’s bones. I am persuaded, therefore, that God wills not that I return thee thy money”—without delay, he distributed the whole amongst the paupers, and drove the carpenter away in great tribulation. (11)
APPLICATION.
My beloved, the carpenter is any worldly-minded man; the trunk of the tree denotes the human heart, filled with the riches of this life. The host is a wise confessor. The cake of earth is the world; that of the bones of dead men is the flesh; and that of gold is the kingdom of heaven.
† Truncus. Warton calls it a chest.
TALE CX.
OF THE MIRACULOUS RECALL OF SINNERS, AND OF THE CONSOLATIONS WHICH PIETY OFFERS TO THE DISTRESSED.
IN the reign of Trajan there lived a knight named Placidus,* who was commander-in-chief of the emperor’s armies. He was of a very merciful disposition, but a worshipper of idols. His wife also participated in the same feelings, and adhered to the same religious rites. They had two sons, educated in all the magnificence of their age and station; and from the general kindness and goodness of their hearts, they merited a revelation of the way of truth. As he was one day following the chase, he discovered a herd of deer, amongst which was one remarkable for the beauty and magnitude of its form. Separating itself from the rest, it plunged into the thicker part of the brake. While the hunters, therefore, occupied themselves with the remainder of the herd, Placidus gave his attention to the noble animal in question, and followed the course it had taken with all the celerity in his power. While he was giving all his strength to the pursuit, the stag at length scaled a lofty precipice, and Placidus, approaching as near to it as he could, considered by what means it might be secured. But as he regarded it with fixed attention, there appeared, impressed upon the centre of the brow, the form of the cross, which glittered with greater splendour than a meridian sun. Upon this cross an image of Jesus Christ was suspended (12); and as formerly hap-pended to the ass of Balaam, utterance was supplied to the stag, which thus addressed the hunter: “Why dost thou persecute me, Placidus ? For thy sake have I assumed the shape of this animal: I am Christ whom thou ignorantly worshippest. Thine alms have gone up before Me, and therefore I come, that as thou hast hunted this stag, so may I hunt thee.” Some indeed assert that the image, hanging between the deer’s antlers, said these things. However that may be, Placidus, filled with terror, fell from his horse; and in about an hour returning to himself, arose from the earth and said, “Declare what Thou sayest, that I may believe in Thee.” “I am Christ, O Placidus! I created heaven and earth; I caused the light to arise, and divided it from the darkness. I appointed days, and seasons, and years. I formed man out of the dust of the earth; and I became incarnate for the salvation of mankind. I was crucified, and buried; and on the third day I rose again.” When Placidus heard this, he fell again upon the earth, and exclaimed, “I believe, O Lord, that Thou art He that made all things; and that Thou art He who bringest back the wanderer.” The Lord answered, “If thou believest this, go into the city and be baptized.”
“Wouldst Thou, O Lord, that I impart what has befallen me to my wife and children, that they also may believe?”
“Do so; tell them that they also may be cleansed from their iniquities. And do you, on the morrow, return hither, where I will appear again, and show you more fully of the future.”
Placidus, therefore, departed to his own home, and communicated all that had passed to his wife. But she, too, had had a revelation; and in like manner had been enjoined to believe in Christ, together with her children. So they hastened at midnight to the bishop of the city of Rome, where they were entertained and baptized with great joy. Placidus was called Eustacius, and his wife, Theosbyta; the two sons, Theosbytus and Agapetus. In the morning Eustacius, according to custom, went out to hunt, and coming with his attendants near the place, he dispersed them, as if for the purpose of discovering the prey. Immediately the vision of yesterday reappeared, and prostrating himself, he said, “I implore Thee, O Lord, to make clear what Thou didst promise to Thy servant.”
“Blessed art thou, Eustacius, because thou hast received the laver of My grace, and thereby overcome the devil. Now hast thou trod him to dust who beguiled thee. Now will thy fidelity appear; for the devil, whom thou hast deserted, is arming himself against thee in a variety of ways. Much must thou undergo ere thou possessest the crown of victory. Much must thou suffer that thou mayst be humbled, and abandon the deep-seated vanity of this world, and once more be raised by spiritual wealth. Pail not, therefore, nor look back upon thy former condition. Thou must demonstrate thyself another Job; but from the very depth of thy humiliation, I will restore thee to the summit of earthly splendour. Choose, then, whether thou wouldst prefer thy trials now, or at the conclusion of life.” Eustacius replied, “If it become me, O Lord, to be exposed to trials, let them presently approach; but do Thou uphold me, and supply me with patient fortitude.”
“Be bold, Eustacius: My grace shall support your souls.” Saying thus, the Lord ascended into heaven. After which Eustacius returned home to his wife, and explained to her what had been decreed. In a few days a pestilence carried off the whole of their men-servants and maid-servants; and before long the sheep, horses, and cattle also perished. Bobbers plundered their habitation, and despoiled them of every ornament; while he himself, together with his wife and sons, fled naked and in the deepest distress. But devoutly they worshipped God; and, apprehensive of an Egyptian redness (13), went secretly away. Thus were they reduced to utter poverty. The king and the senate, greatly afflicted with their general’s calamities, sought for, but found not the slightest trace of him. In the mean time this unhappy family approached the sea; and finding a ship ready to sail, they embarked in it. The master of the vessel observing that the wife of Eustacius was very beautiful, determined to secure her; and when they had crossed the sea, demanded their passage money, which, as he anticipated, they did not possess. Notwithstanding the vehement and indignant protestations of Eustacius, he seized upon his wife; and, beckoning to the mariners, commanded them to cast the unfortunate husband headlong into the sea. Perceiving, therefore, that all opposition was useless, he took up his two children, and departed with much and heavy sorrow. “Alas for me and for you!” he exclaimed, as he wept over his bereaved offspring; “your poor mother is lost, and in a strange land, in the arms of a strange lord, must lament her fate.” Travelling along, he came to a river,
the water of which ran so high that it appeared hazardous in an eminent degree to cross with both the children at the same time: one, therefore, he placed carefully upon the bank, and then passed over with the other in his arms. This effected, he laid it upon the ground, and returned immediately for the remaining child. But in the midst of the river, accidentally glancing his eye back, he beheld a wolf hastily snatch up the child, and run with it into an adjoining wood. Despairing of saving it, he hastened to the other; but while he was yet at some distance, a huge lion approached the child he had left, and, seizing it, presently disappeared. (14) To follow was useless, for he was in the middle of the water. Giving himself up, therefore, to his desperate situation, he began to lament and to pluck away his hair; and would have cast himself into the stream had not Divine Providence preserved him.
Certain shepherds, however, observing the lion carrying off the child in his teeth, pursued him with dogs; and by the peculiar dispensation of Heaven it was dropped unhurt. As for the other, some ploughmen witnessing the adventure, shouted lustily after the wolf, and succeeded in liberating the poor victim from its jaws. Now, it happened that both the shepherds and ploughmen resided in the same village, and brought up the children amongst them. But Eustacius knew nothing of this, and his affliction was so poignant that he was unable to control his complaints. “Alas!” he would say, “once I flourished like a luxuriant tree, but now I am stripped of my leaves. Once I was encompassed with military ensigns and bands of armed men; now I am a single being in the universe : I have lost all my children, and everything that I possessed. Remember, O Lord, that thou saidst my trials should resemble Job’s; behold, they exceed them. For, although he was destitute, he had a couch, however vile, to repose upon; I, alas! have nothing. He had compassionating friends, while I have savage beasts, who have carried off my sons, for my friends. His wife remained, but mine is forcibly carried off. Assuage my anguish, O Lord! and place a bridle upon my lips, lest I utter foolishness, and be cast away from before Thy face.” “With such words he gave free course to the fulness of his heart; and after much travel entered a village, where he abode. In this place he continued for fifteen years, and tended the lambs of the men of that place as their hired servant.
