enjoyed, and of the snare laid for him in his late converse with
the king; how he had given a good answer, but the king had taken
his words amiss, and by his change of countenance betrayed the
anger lurking within his heart.

The sick beggar-man considered and said, "Be it known unto thee,
most noble sir, that the king harboureth against thee the
suspicion, that thou wouldest usurp his kingdom, and he spake, as
he spake, to sound thee. Arise therefore, and crop thy hair.
Doff these thy fine garments, and don an hair-shirt, and at
daybreak present thyself before the king. And when he asketh
thee, `What meaneth this apparel?' answer him, `It hath to do
with thy communing with me yesterday, O king. Behold, I am ready
to follow thee along the road that thou art eager to travel; for
though luxury be desirable and passing sweet, God forbid that I
embrace it after thou art gone! Though the path of virtue, which
thou art about to tread, be difficult and rough, yet in thy
company I shall find it easy and pleasant, for as I have shared
with thee this thy prosperity so now will I share thy distresses,
that in the future, as in the past, I may be thy fellow.'" Our
nobleman, approving of the sick man's saying, did as he said.
When the king saw and heard him, he was delighted, and beyond
measure gratified by his devotion towards him. He saw that the
accusations against his senator were false, and promoted him to
more honour and to a greater enjoyment of his confidence. But
against the monks he again raged above measure, declaring that
this was of their teaching, that men should abstain from the
pleasures of life, and rock themselves in visionary hopes.

Another day, when he was gone a-hunting, he espied two monks