Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

why eight pennies?" said the Emperor. Every day through the year," returned the carpenter," I am bound to repay two pennies which I borrowed in my youth; two I lend; two I lose; and two I spend."-" For what reason do you this?" asked the Emperor.

[ocr errors]

My lord," he replied, " listen to me. I am bound, each day, to repay two pennies to my father; for, when I was a boy, my father expended upon me daily, the like sum. Now he is poor, and needs my assistance, and therefore, I return what I borrowed formerly. Two other pennies I lend to my son, who is pursuing his studies; in order, that if by any chance, I should fall into poverty, he may restore the loan, just as I have done to his grandfather. Again, I lose two pennies every day on my wife; for she is contradictious, wilful, and passionate, Now, because of this disposition, I account whatsoever is given to her, entirely lost. Lastly, two other pennies I expend upon myself in meat and drink. I cannot do with less; nor can I obtain them without unremitting labor. You now know the truth; and, I pray you, judge dispassion

ror,

ately and truly."—" Friend," said the Empe"thou hast answered well. Go, and labor earnestly in thy calling." Soon after this, the Emperor died, and Focus the carpenter, on account of his singular wisdom, was elected in his stead, by the unanimous choice of the whole nation. He governed as wisely as he had lived; and at his death, his picture, bearing on the head eight pennies, was reposited among the effigies of the deceased Emperors.

APPLICATION.

My beloved, the Emperor is God, who appointed Sunday as a day of rest. By Virgil is typified the Holy Spirit, which ordains a preacher to declare men's virtues and vices. Focus is any good Christian who labors diligently in his vocation, and performs faithfully every relative duty.

[blocks in formation]

TALE LVIII.

OF CONFESSION.

A CERTAIN king, named Asmodeus, established an ordinance, by which every malefactor taken and brought before the judge, should distinctly declare three truths, against which no exception could be taken; or else be capitally condemned. If, however, he did this, his life and property should be safe. It chanced that a certain soldier transgressed the law and fled. He hid himself in a forest, and there committed many atrocities, despoiling and slaying whomsoever he could lay his hands upon. When the judge of the district ascertained his haunt, he ordered the forest to be surrounded, and the soldier to be seized, and brought bound to the seat of judg

manner.

[ocr errors]

ment. "You know the law," said the judge. “I do," returned the other: "if I declare three unquestionable truths, I shall be free; but if not, I must die." "True," replied the judge: "take then advantage of the law's clemency, or undergo the punishment it awards, without delay."" Cause silence to be kept," said the soldier undauntedly. His wish being complied with, he proceeded in the following "The first truth is this. I protest before ye all, that from my youth up, I have been a bad man." The judge, hearing this, said to the by-standers, He says true?" They answered," Else, he had not now been in this situation."-" Go on, then," said the judge: "what is the second truth ?"-" I like not," exclaimed he, "the dangerous situation in which I stand."-" Certainly," said the judge," we may credit thee. Now then for the third truth, and thou hast saved thy life."-"Why," he replied, "if I once get out of this confounded place, I will never willingly re-enter it."-"Amen," said the judge, "thy wit hath preserved thee; go in peace." And thus he was saved.

APPLICATION.

My beloved, the Emperor is Christ. The soldier is any sinner; the judge is a wise confessor. If the sinner confess the truth in such a manner as not even demons can object, he shall be saved-that is, if he confess, and repent.

TALE LIX.

OF TOO MUCH PRIDE; AND HOW THE PROUD ARE FREQUENTLY COMPELLED TO ENDURE SOME NOTABLE HUMILIATION.

WHEN Jovinian was emperor, he possessed very great power; and as he lay in bed reflecting upon the extent of his dominions, his heart was elated to an extraordinary degree.

« AnteriorContinuar »