But I disagree with you," the Bishop interposed, his pale, ascetic face betraying by a faint glow the intensity of his feelings.
The average man IS selfish," the Bishop affirmed valiantly.
So the holy men came to the church; the Bishop and the Prior jesting and laughing between themselves about certain fair dames, their words more befitting the lips of laymen, methinks, than holy clerks.
Truly, good Lord Bishop, many a knight and burgher, clerk and layman, have danced to my music, willy-nilly, and most times greatly against their will; such is the magic of my harping.
At which words the Duke, disdaining not a little, answered the
Bishop and said that he would keep such mastery there though he said 'Nay.
Already were the guests beginning to assemble, when the
Bishop, back in the vestry, saw a minstrel clad in green walk up boldly to the door and peer within.
I am told,' said
Bishop magnate to Horse Guards, 'that Mr Merdle has made another enormous hit.
The
bishop looked anxiously at the man sobbing in the ingle-nook.
Yes, Father," laughed the great fellow, "for the sake of Holy Church I did indeed confiscate that temptation completely, and if you must needs have proof in order to absolve me from my sins, come with me now and you shall sample the excellent discrimination which the
Bishop of Norwich displays in the selection of his temptations.
From the "Master of Sentences," he had passed to the "Capitularies of Charlemagne;" and he had devoured in succession, in his appetite for science, decretals upon decretals, those of Theodore,
Bishop of Hispalus; those of Bouchard,
Bishop of Worms; those of Yves,
Bishop of Chartres; next the decretal of Gratian, which succeeded the capitularies of Charlemagne; then the collection of Gregory IX.
Oh," said Bazin, without hesitation, "now that monseigneur is a
bishop, I shall soon have my orders, or at least my dispensations.
Say nothing about it, old comrade," replied the
bishop, who perceived how strained the cord was and how dangerous it would have been to break it; "say nothing about it.
