"This maid, whom you term beautiful, is mine on one condition," said he; "and as I can now in a very short time comply with that condition, I claim her as my own. I will therefore give her to the man among you who tells me the best tale. She shall be his, fully and freely, to do with her as seemeth him good. And the man among you who tells the worst shall, if need require it, be blooded and flayed in this same chamber for food to his associates." Charlie's blood ran cold within him at this proposal. He almost thought he felt the flaying knife and the teeth of the ravenous half-famished eaters; and when the Master called out, "Approve, or not approve?" Charlie was the first to call out, "O! Not! not, not!" He was seconded by Tam Craik, but all the rest voted on the other side; so that they were left in the minority, and the matter was finally decided to be precisely as the Master had proposed. The poet stretched himself, so eager was he to begin; for his heart yearned within him to win the beautiful Delany. Gibbie was also uplifted, and sure of victory; but Tam and Charlie were both quite hopeless and cast down. CHAPTER V. And I said unto him, Can'st thou tell unto thy servant what is the meaning of this? _Esdras._ The friar having volunteered a tale, the priority was unanimously awarded to him: So, after the watches were set and all quiet, he began the following singular narrative, without further ceremony: The Friar's Tale. CHAPTER I. 1. In the days of the years of my pilgrimage, it chanced to me that I sojourned in the great kingdom that is toward the south. 2. And I passed through the city that lieth on the river of the hills, unto the house of Galli the scribe, who was a good man and a just. 3. And he had one only daughter, who was unto him as a treasure and an heritage, for her mother had been led unto her people before the maid could distinguish between her right hand and her left. 4. And the maiden was fair to look upon; 5. For her neck was as polished ivory, and her chin like the ripened peach basking on a wall that looketh toward the south. 6. Her lips also were like the honey-comb; her teeth were rows of pearl, and her breath was as sweet smelling incense, and myrrh, and cassia. 7. Her eyes were brighter than the dew of heaven, and her hair was like the beams of the moon streaming through the white clouds that are in the firmament of air. 8. And I loved the maiden exceedingly; and my heart burned within me; and I became as a dead man. 9. And I wist not what to do, or what would become of me; for the vows of the Lord were on me that I could not wed; and I said, Woe is me, for I am undone! 10. And I went in unto her, and communed with her of my great love; and when she had hearkened to my voice, she laughed me to scorn.