CHAPTER IX.
A PIECE OF MONEY AND A SONG.
| “Tis but a Judas coin, though it be gold; The price of love forsworn, ’tis full of fears And griefs for those who dare to hold; And leaves a stain, only washed clean with tears.” “Behold and listen while the fair Breaks in sweet sounds the willing air; She raised her voice so high, and sang so clear, At every close she made the attending throng Replied, and bore the burthen of the song; So just, so small, yet in so sweet a note, It seemed the music melted in the throat.” ––Dryden. |
The piece of money left by Pyn might have been a curse; no one would touch it. While the women stood in groups talking of poor John Penelles and Denas, the men held an informal meeting around the table on which it lay.
“This be the communion table,” said Jacob Trenager; “some one ought to take the money off it. And I think it be best to carry the gold to the superintendent; he will tell us what to do with it;” and, after some objections, Jacob took charge of the sinful coin, and the next morning he went up the cliff to St. Penfer with it.
The preacher heard the story with an intense 162 interest. “Jacob,” he answered, “I suppose there be none so poor in your village as to feel it might do them good?”
“Man, nor woman, nor child, would buy a loaf with it, sir; none of us men would let them. If Denas Penelles have gone out of the way, sir, she be a fisher’s daughter, and the man and the money that beguiled her be hateful to all of us.”
“Your chapel––is it not very poor?”