C. Pama. Creeping, I opine, into widows' houses, and for a pretence making long prayers. C. Wal. Don't quote Scripture here, sir, especially in that gross literal way! The new lights here have taught us that Scripture's saying one thing, is a certain proof that it means another. Except, by the bye, in one text. C. Pama. What's that? C. Wal. 'Ask, and it shall be given you.' C. Pama. Ah! So we are to take nothing literally, that they may take literally everything themselves? C. Wal. Humph! As for your text, see if they do not saddle it on us before the day is out, as glibly as ever you laid it on them. Here comes the lady's tyrant, of whom I told you. [Conrad advances from the Hut.] Con. And what may Count Walter's valour want here? [Count Walter turns his back.] C. Pama. I come, Sir Priest, from Andreas, king renowned Of Hungary, ambassador unworthy Unto the Landgravine, his saintly daughter; And fain would be directed to her presence. Con. That is as I shall choose. But I'll not stop you. I do not build with straw. I'll trust my pupils To worldlings' honeyed tongues, who make long prayers, And enter widows' houses for pretence. There dwells the lady, who has chosen too long The better part, to have it taken from her. Besides that with strange dreams and revelations She has of late been edified. C. Wal. Bah! but they will serve your turn--and hers. Con. What do you mean? C. Wal. When you have cut her off from child and friend, and even Isentrudis and Guta, as I hear, are thrust out by you to starve, and she sits there, shut up like a bear in a hole, to feed on her own substance; if she has not some of these visions to look at, how is she, or any other of your poor self-gorged prisoners, to help fancying herself the only creature on earth?