but small; I fear me we shall, in the end, look but ghastly confessors."

"It may be," remarked another, "that our holy father the prior, will absolve us from the interdict, seeing that we belong not to the ejected; but are as the weapon that inflicteth, and not the body which suffers."

"And inasmuch as we are that weapon, good brother," answered father Nicholas, "and as fasting sharpeneth the appetite, so must we fast and pray to hold ourselves in readiness, keenness of hunger reminding us of the edge we must carry on our spiritual weapons."

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"Nathless, holy brother," replied another, on this point I differ with thee, as I consider hunger a besetting sin, which can only be kept down by good sirloins, and smoking haunches, even as we keep down our spiritual enemies by prayer."

"And for which reason," said another, "I would abolish all fasts, whereby we should leave the mind more at liberty to commune with heaven, as the thoughts would not then wander to earthly objects, seeing that hunger perisheth with the body, and can form no part of the soul. Whereas it is too ready to mingle in

our devotions, being the roaring lion which seek eth whatsoever it may devour; and knowing that it cannot be kept down, it should be appeased, at all times and seasons; for then the soul is left at ease to pursue its meditations."

"Nay, in this matter you err greatly," answered father Nicholas, "inasmuch as the body can only be mortified by fasting and penance, while the food that perisheth provoketh slothfulness and slumber; even as our brother Clement slept over his matins, after partaking too freely of the flask and venison."

"There thou errest, good brother," answered friar Clement, a burly monk, whose sleek countenance bespoke him a stranger to abstinence. "I tell thee that I did but close mine eyes, thereby turning my thoughts from outward objects; as a substantial meal driveth away for a time all remembrance of the larder."

"And doubless didst mutter thy paternosters through thy nose, good brother," replied father Nicholas, "not wishing such holy things to come in contact with thy palate, after its being polluted with thy morning draught."

"Even so, brother," responded friar Clement, with an arch smile; "as the bee hums loudest

when most busied in search of honey among the flowers."

""Twill be long time, I fear," said one, ❝ere we shall be called upon to give absolution to some deer-stalker, and show him that he is forgiven, by first setting the example in attacking the savoury joint."

"Or creep from our cell," sighed another, "to list some confessional, and strengthen ourselves for the holy work, by discussing the powdered beef and salad, and the newly broached hogshead of oldest ale."

"Woe to the souls that were benefitted by our advice," said a third, "while we sat in the warmest corner, occasionally giving the lily white mutton a turn before the fire; there will be no delicious smell to allure our stay now."

"And those beautiful haunches of venison," said a fourth, "that looked lovely as the arm of the virgin,-widow Wooddove need send no more for masses to be said for the soul of her good man in purgatory; he must abide the penal flame, while, alas! the good joint hangs unroasted."

"Peace, good brothers," said father Nicholas, "I would not that the abbot heard these mur

murings, lest he should doom you to longer fasting than might accord with your rebellious appetites. Remember, that out of the mouth may come much that will bring back nothing, and such thoughts but ill accord with our holy calling."

"Alas!" sighed brother Clement, folding his hands on his portly paunch,-"alas! father Nicholas, there are godless men, who will eat of the fat, and drink of the strong, in spite of all interdicts; and methinks it were sin, that such weight of forbidden food should fall to the share of those who know not the evil they are doing. Better were it, I trow, that in all christian charity we should share their crimes, seeing that we do it with good intent, than suffer them to gorge beyond absolution."

"I will talk over this matter with the holy prior," answered Nicholas, "and relate to thee, what in his opinion seemeth good."

"I fear not," replied Clement, "but that the Holy Father will in all charity accord with us. Inasmuch as the church taketh to herself a share of the sins of her children, rather than see them overwhelmed with too great temptation."

"But thou forgettest, brother, that fasting

purifieth the spirit," said father Nicholas, "and revealeth brighter glimpses of Heaven. And that if even our appetite urgeth us to partake of food with the ungodly, we ought to turn aside from the temptation, and betake us to our cells, and revel in those spiritual visions, which are only called up by fasting, prayer, and due penance."

"There thou art in error, holy brother," answered Friar Clement; "for when the belly is filled, then the mind resteth tranquilly, and revelleth in beatific visions, of lands flowing with milk and honey, and forests filled with herds of goodly harts. But when it is empty, then the mind conjureth up wastes, bogs, moors, and sterile tracts, in which lurk pits and hollowsparched and droughty plains, whereon groweth no green thing. When the body is empty, and the stomach acheth with fasting, then doth enter in evil thoughts and affections, which come not near when it is well garrisoned with food. Even Sathanas ventured not upon temptation until he had called in hunger to his aid."

"But have I not heard thee, when joining in in the holy chaunt, hem, and endeavour to clear