heard had opened the eyes of his soul, and he was now seeing for
himself.

Before that any could speak or hinder, Master Richard was on his knees
by the King, and had laid his lips to the white right-hand, seeing as he
did so the red ring on the first finger. My lord cardinal sprang forward
to tear him off, but the King turned his stony eyes; and my lord fell
back.

Then Master Richard knew that he had not given the whole message; and
that our Lord had not intended it at first. The message of the passion
and death was to be first; and the second, second--first the wound, and
then the balm.

So he began to speak; and these were the words as he told them to me.

"My lord King," he said, "Our Lord does not leave us comfortless when He
sends us sorrow. This is a great honour, greater than the crown that
you bear, to bear the crown of thorns. That bitter passion of Christ
that He bore for our salvation is wrought out in the Body which is His
Church, and especially in those members, which, like His sacred hands
and feet, receive the nails into themselves. Happy are those members
that receive the nails; they are the more honourable; it was on His feet
that He went about to do good; and with His hands that He healed and
blessed and gave His precious body; and with His burning heart that He
loves us.

"My lord King; men will name you fool and madman and crowned calf; it is
to their shame that they do so, and to your honour. For so they named
our Saviour. All who set not their minds on this world are accounted