only read the text, but also addressed to them such excellent and pious
exhortations that it was impossible to weary of listening to her.

1 "I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come."--St.
Luke xiv. 20.--M.

The reading ended, Parlamente said to her--

"I felt sorry for my slothfulness when I came in, but since my error
has led you to speak to me in such excellent fashion, my laziness has
profited me double, for I have had rest of body by sleeping longer, and
satisfaction of spirit by hearing your godly discourse." "Well," said
Oisille, "let us for penance go to mass and pray Our Lord to give us
both will and power to fulfil His commandments; and then may He command
us according to His own good pleasure."

As she was saying these words, they reached the church, where they
piously heard mass. And afterwards they sat down to table, where Hircan
failed not to laugh at the slothfulness of his wife. After dinner they
withdrew to rest and study their parts, (2) and when the hour was come,
they all found themselves at the wonted spot.

2 Meaning what they had to relate. The French word is
_rolle_ from _rotulus_.--M.

Then Oisille asked Hircan to whom he would give his vote to begin the
day.

"If my wife," said he, "had not begun yesterday, I should have given her
my vote, for although I always thought that she loved me more than any