“I have heard,” said Hircan, “that such as under pretext of a commission from the King do cruel and tyrannous deeds, receive a double punishment for having screened their own injustice behind the justice of the Crown. In the same way, we see that although hypocrites prosper for a time beneath the cloak of God and holiness, yet, when the Lord God lifts His cloak, they find themselves exposed and bare, and then their foul and abominable nakedness is deemed all the more hideous for having had so honourable a covering.” “Nothing can be pleasanter,” said Nomerfide, “than to speak forth frankly the thoughts that are in the heart.” “Yes, for profit’s sake,” (6) replied Longarine. “I have no doubt that you give your opinion according to your temper.” 6 This sentence is rather obscure in the MSS., and we have adopted the reading suggested by M. Frank. M. Lacroix, however, was of opinion that the sentence should run, “Yes, for mirth’s sake.”--M. “I will tell you what it is,” said Nomerfide. “I find that fools, when they are not put to death, live longer than wise folk, and the only reason that I know for this, is that they do not conceal their passions. If they be angry, they strike; if they be merry, they laugh: whereas those that aim at wisdom conceal their imperfections with such exceeding care that they end by thoroughly corrupting their hearts.” “I think you are right,” said Geburon, “and that hypocrisy, whether towards God, man or Nature, is the cause of all our ills.” “It would be a glorious thing,” said Parlamente, “if our hearts were so filled with faith in Him, who is all virtue and all joy, that we could freely show them to every one.” “That will come to pass,” said Hircan, “when all the flesh has left our bones.” “Yet,” said Oisille, “the Spirit of God, which is stronger than Death, is able to mortify our hearts without changing or destroying the body.” “Madam,” returned Saffredent, “you speak of a gift of God that is not as yet common among mankind.” “It is common,” said Oisille, “among those that have faith, but as this is a matter not to be understood by such as are fleshly minded, let us see to whom Simontault will give his vote.” “I will give it,” said Simontault, “to Nomerfide, for, since her heart is merry, her words cannot be sad.” “Truly,” said Nomerfide, “since you desire to laugh, I will give you reason to do so. That you may learn how hurtful are ignorance and fear, and how the lack of comprehension is often the cause of much woe, I will tell you what happened to two Grey Friars, who, through failing to understand the words of a butcher, thought that they were about to die.” [Illustration: 037.jpg Tailpiece] [Illustration: 039a.jpg The Grey Friar imploring the Butcher to Spare his Life] [The Grey Friar imploring the Butcher to Spare his Life] [Illustration: 039.jpg Page Image] _TALE XXXIV_.