The History of Richard Raynal, Solitary

en-at-arms, and sustained their blows, and when he had looked about it, at the little narrow window high up upon the wall, and the water that dripped here and

r there be two kinds of souls, the full and the empty. Those that be full have enough to occu

was to be his pillow, first girding up his kirtle that it might not be fouled, he sought to unite himself with all that he s

cell would grow dark early, for his window looked eastwards, and was a very little one, he made haste to say the rest of his office from the book that he had with him. But he said it slowly, as the Carthusians use, sucking the s

saw that the strip of sky was becoming green with ev

and water for supper, on a wooden plate and in a gr

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chard did; it was his custom when he w

portions here and two there, and the fifth in the middle. Then he blessed the food, looking upon it a great while, and seeing with the eyes of his soul his Saviour's body stretched upon the rood. Then he began to eat, dipping each morsel into its proper wound, s

ed I have found it so myself, when I have had patience to do so with it. [Sir John makes here a few rather trite remarks upon holy bread and ashes and upon various methods of d

or Master Richard, and the first cam

place to keep him awake, for all the floor was strewn with rotten rags and straw and bones, as it were a kennel. His wounds, besides, had n

ly dressed, and in half-armour, with his sword at his side. He had a heavy, hairy face, and as Master Richard sat up on his blanket he perceived that the man was little bett

e King's officer, and stood awaiting what should

rth, pulling him roughly, although he went willingly, as well he was

ere out changing guard. The door into the court was wide at first, and the sweet air streamed in, refreshing Master Richard like wine after the stench that was in his nostrils, and making him think

began

hly, "my lord King is at

u. What is it that you

re were the passion he was to undergo? And if the officer cou

thority," he said

on that? You shall see m

other" said Master Richard softly, "but not

fficer, smiling like an angry dog. "Very we

ter Richard, "save give the mes

ld Master Richard laughed with him. (The other two men were gone to the ot

would advise you, sir, not to play the fool with me. We know very well

th his wounds and the bad air, and the strangeness of the position. He knew

teach you to smile!"-and he struck the table wi

said Master Richard. "I

the arm, and Master Richar

clearly (for just now

ind him swam like im

a little bottle in h

on it and asked

y Quinte Essence" s

then!" cries the man

enc

d of blood" sai

he bottle down ag

Christian man would have such a thing. Say paternoster." [Thi

..." began Ma

priests have told me the same of themselves, but it seems to me very strange that a man should not at any time be able to say paternoster. Whether it was that Master Richard was sick, or that the officer's f

ugh his nostrils heavily. Master Richard felt himself smiling again, and presently fell to laughing, and as

er Richard presently, "to think

ewhat, he perceived that the two

, and he did so, with the tears of that

had a great hangman's whip of leath

authority for you and me. Shall I bid them begin, or wi

see how he would bear himself. He might have cried out for mercy, or told a false tale as men so often have done, but he did neither of these things. The laughter a

too often," he said, "to

ore strip

button at his throat, and threw back the kirtle, knotting the sleeves ab

arned for the sting and thrill of cold water on a cold day. When he was telling me, I understood better how it was that the holy martyrs

e had given himself. At last Master Richard faced about again; and again, as he looked upon the solemn face of the man, he began to laugh. It seemed a marvellous jest, he though

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enant standing behind it, and the wall behind him with the weapons upon it, grew white and frosted to the young man's eyes, and began to toss up and down, a

ay, and was carried ba

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had sworn to his fellows that he could find out the truth by a pretence of it, thinking Mas

ut for mercy. And I hold that he

on of Master Richard:

: interderunt arcum rem amaram: ut

they have bent their bow a bitter thing, to