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can only act in the stationary waters of a lake； being neutralised by the
rapid transition of those of a stream。〃
〃And why is the trout shyer for that？〃 asked Sir Ralph。
〃Do you not see？〃 said brother Michael。 〃The virtues of both lovers
diffuse themselves through the lake。 The infusion of masculine valour
makes the fish active and sanguineous： the infusion of maiden modesty
makes him coy and hard to win： and you shall find through life； the fish
which is most easily hooked is not the best worth dishing。 But yonder
are the towers of Arlingford。〃
The little friar stopped。 He seemed suddenly struck with an awful
thought； which caused a momentary pallescence in his rosy complexion；
and after a brief hesitation； he turned his galloway； and told his
companions he should give them good day。
〃Why； what is in the wind now； brother Peter？〃 said Friar Michael。
〃The lady Matilda；〃 said the little friar； 〃can draw the long…bow。 She
must bear no goodwill to Sir Ralph； and if she should espy him from her
tower； she may testify her recognition with a cloth…yard shaft。 She is not so
infallible a markswoman； but that she might shoot at a crow and kill a
pigeon。 She might peradventure miss the knight； and hit me； who never
did her any harm。〃
〃Tut； tut； man；〃 said brother Michael； 〃there is no such fear。〃
〃Mass；〃 said the little friar； 〃but there is such a fear； and very strong
too。 You who have it not may keep your way； and I who have it shall
take mine。 I am not just now in the vein for being picked off at a long
shot。〃 And saying these words； he spurred up his four…footed better half；
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and galloped off as nimbly as if he had had an arrow singing behind him。
〃Is this lady Matilda； then； so very terrible a damsel？〃 said Sir Ralph
to brother Michael。
〃By no means；〃 said the friar。 〃She has certainly a high spirit； but it
is the wing of the eagle； without his beak or his claw。 She is as gentle as
magnanimous； but it is the gentleness of the summer wind； which；
however lightly it wave the tuft of the pine； carries with it the intimation
of a power； that； if roused to its extremity； could make it bend to the dust。〃
〃From the warmth of your panegyric； ghostly father；〃 said the knight；
〃I should almost suspect you were in love with the damsel。〃
〃So I am；〃 said the friar； 〃and I care not who knows it； but all in the
way of honesty； master soldier。 I am； as it were； her spiritual lover； and
were she a damsel errant； I would be her ghostly esquire； her friar militant。
I would buckle me in armour of proof； and the devil might thresh me black
with an iron flail； before I would knock under in her cause。 Though they
be not yet one canonically； thanks to your soldiership； the earl is her liege
lord； and she is his liege lady。 I am her father confessor and ghostly
director： I have taken on me to show her the way to the next world； and
how can I do that if I lose sight of her in this？ seeing that this is but the
road to the other； and has so many circumvolutions and ramifications of
byeways and beaten paths （all more thickly set than the true one with
finger…posts and milestones； not one of which tells truth）； that a traveller
has need of some one who knows the way； or the odds go hard against him
that he will ever see the face of Saint Peter。〃
〃But there must surely be some reason；〃 said Sir Ralph； 〃for father
Peter's apprehension。〃
〃None；〃 said brother Michael； 〃but the apprehension itself； fear being
its own father； and most prolific in self…propagation。 The lady did； it is true；
once signalize her displeasure against our little brother； for reprimanding
her in that she would go hunting a…mornings instead of attending matins。
She cut short the thread of his eloquence by sportively drawing her bow…
string and loosing an arrow over his head； he waddled off with singular
speed； and was in much awe of her for many months。 I thought he had
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forgotten it： but let that pass。 In truth； she would have had little of her
lover's company； if she had liked the chaunt of the choristers better than
the cry of the hounds： yet I know not； for they were companions from the
cradle； and reciprocally fashioned each other to the love of the fern and the
foxglove。 Had either been less sylvan； the other might have been more
saintly； but they will now never hear matins but those of the lark； nor
reverence vaulted aisle but that of the greenwood canopy。 They are twin
plants of the forest； and are identified with its growth。
For the slender beech and the sapling oak； That grow by the
shadowy rill； You may cut down both at a single stroke； You may
cut down which you will。
But this you must know； that as long as they grow Whatever
change may be； You never can teach either oak or beech To be
aught but a greenwood tree。〃
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CHAPTER III
Inflamed wrath in glowing breast。BUTLER。
The knight and the friar arriving at Arlingford Castle； and leaving
their horses in the care of lady Matilda's groom； with whom the friar was
in great favour； were ushered into a stately apartment； where they found
the baron alone； flourishing an enormous carving…knife over a brother
baronof beef with as much vehemence of action as if he were cutting
down an enemy。 The baron was a gentleman of a fierce and choleric
temperament： he was lineally descended from the redoubtable Fierabras of
Normandy； who came over to England with the Conqueror； and who； in
the battle of Hastings； killed with his own hand four…and…twenty Saxon
cavaliers all on a row。 The very excess of the baron's internal rage on the
preceding day had smothered its external manifestation： he was so
equally angry with both parties； that he knew not on which to vent his
wrath。 He was enraged with the earl for having brought himself into such a
dilemma without his privily； and