APPLICATION. My beloved, the king is our Lord Jesus Christ. The daughter is the human soul. To measure the elements, is to subdue the lusts of the flesh. The fiery horse is any sinner, whom repentance changes. The fire in the bosom is luxury, pride, avarice, &c. and the stone is a true and lively faith in Christ. TALE LXXI. OF AN ETERNAL RECOMPENCE. A KING made a great feast, and despatched messengers with invitations, in which the guests were promised not only a magnificent entertainment, but considerable wealth. When the messengers had gone through town and country, executing every where the commands of their king, it happened that there dwelt in a certain city two men, of whom one was valiant and robustly made, but blind; while the other was lame and feeble, but his sight was excellent. Said the blind man to the lame, "My friend, our's is a hard case; for it is spread far and near that the king gives a great feast, at which every man will receive not only abundance of food but much wealth; and thou art lame, while I am blind: how then shall we get to the feast?" "Take my counsel," replied the lame man," and we will obtain a share both of the dinner and wealth." "Verily," answered the other, "I will follow any counsel that may benefit me.” "Well then," returned the blind man, "thou art stout of heart, and robust of body, and therefore, thou shalt carry me on thy back who am lame and weak. My eyes shall be as thine; and thus, for the loan of thy legs, I will lend thee my eyes; by means of which we shall reach the festival and secure the reward." "Be it as thou hast said," replied he of the legs; "get upon my back immediately." He did so; the lame man pointed the way, and the other carried him. They arrived at the feast, and received the same recompence as the rest. (66) APPLICATION. My beloved, the king is our Lord Jesus Christ, who prepared the feast of eternal life. The blind man is the powerful of this world, who are blind to their future safety. The lame man is any devout person, who has nothing in common with the man of the world, but sees the kingdom which is to come *. * The latter part of this moralization recommends "fideliter viris ecclesiasticis decimas dare. Si hæc feceritis nos viri religiosi tenemur vobis viam salutis ostendere quomodo poteritis ad vitam eternam pervenire." The monks never forgot this-" If you pay us, we will shew you the way; else, find it out yourself." Such was the burden of their song. TALE LXXII. OF THE DESTRUCTION OF UNGRATEFUL MEN. A CERTAIN king had an only son, whom he ardently loved. When the boy arrived at man's estate, day after day he solicited his father to resign the kingdom, and deliver to himself the sovereign power. "My dear son," said the king, "if I were satisfied that you would treat me honourably and kindly during the remainder of my life, I should have no objection to relinquish the throne to you." The son answered, " My lord, I will bind myself by an oath before all the noblemen of the empire, to do in every respect, as a son ought to do. Be confident that I will shew greater honour to you than to myself." The old king trusted to his assurances, and resigned the supreme command. But no sooner was he crowned, and seated on the throne of his ancestors, than his heart underwent a total change. For a few years he gave due honour to his indulgent parent, but after that entirely neglected him. This unexpected and unmerited treatment, naturally exasperated the old king, and he began to complain to the wise men of the empire, that his son had broken the contract. They, therefore, having always loved the father, reproved the son for his ingratitude. But the new king spurned them from him with fury; imprisoned his father in a castle, and permitted not the smallest access to him. Here he often endured the extremity of hunger, and every other species of wretchedness. It happened that the king himself once passed the night in the same castle; and the father sent to him the following message-" Oh my son, pity thy old father who gave up every thing to thee. I suffer thirst and hunger; and deprived of all comfort-even of wine to cheer me in my infirmity-I draw out my life.” "I know |