but sorrow for the poor woman when she found her jackanapes gone, that
was great part of her living: and I knew what she would have to bear for
its loss from the man that was her master.

As this was in my mind, the first grey stole into the sky so that I could
see the black branches overhead; and now there awoke the cries of birds,
and soon the wood was full of their sweet jargoning. This put some hope
into my heart; but the morning hours were long, and colder than the
night, to one wet to the bone with the rains. Now, too, I comforted
myself with believing that, arrive what might, I was wholly quit of
Brother Thomas, whereat I rejoiced, like the man in the tale who had sold
his soul to the Enemy, and yet, in the end, escaped his clutches by the
aid of Holy Church. Death was better to me than life with Brother
Thomas, who must assuredly have dragged me with him to the death that
cannot die. Morning must bring travellers, and my groaning might lead
them to my aid. And, indeed, foot-farers did come, and I did groan as
well as I could, but, like the Levite in Scripture, they passed by on the
other side of the way, fearing to meddle with one wounded perchance to
the death, lest they might be charged with his slaying, if he died, or
might anger his enemies, if he lived.

The light was now fully come, and some rays of the blessed sun fell upon
me, whereon I said orisons within myself, commanding my case to the
saints. Devoutly I prayed, that, if I escaped with life, I might be
delivered from the fear of man, and namely of Brother Thomas. It were
better for me to have died by his weapon at first, beside the broken
bridge, than to have lived his slave, going in dread of him, with a
slave's hatred in my heart. So now I prayed for spirit enough to defend
my honour and that of my country, which I had borne to hear reviled
without striking a blow for it. Never again might I dree this extreme