THE GOLDEN LEGEND. -No. I. A LAY OF ST. NICHOLAS. "Statim sacerdoti apparuit diabolus in specie puellæ pulchritudinis miræ, et ecce Divus, fide catholica et cruce et aqua benedicta armatus, venit, et aspersit aquam in nomine sanctæ et individuæ Trinitatis, quam, quasi ardentem, diabolus, nequaquam sustinere valens, mugitibus fugit." "LORD ABBOT! Lord Abbot! I'd fain confess; Many a grief doth my heart oppress, ROGER HOVEDEN. On bended knee spake the beautiful Maid; "There is Mess Michael, and Holy Mess John, And hard by doth dwell, in St. Catherine's cell, "-Oh, I will have none of Ambrose or John, And I come of old Plantaganet's line. I am a Damsel of high degree; And the Compte of Eu, and the Lord of Ponthieu, "Counts a many, and Dukes a few, A suitoring came to my father's Hall; "Dukes a many, and Counts a few, I would have wedded right cheerfulie; "So hither I fly, in lowly guise, From their gilded domes and their princely halls; Or within some Convent's peaceful walls!" "Holy Church denieth all search 'Midst her sanctified ewes and her saintly rams; "Then lay, Fair Daughter, thy fears aside, For here this day shalt thou dine with me!""Now naye, now naye," the fair maiden cried; "In sooth, Lord Abbot, that scarce may be ! |