1st Monk. Catch him a fat fly—my hand shaketh.
2d Monk. If one of your new-lights were here, now, he’d pluck him for a fiend, as Dominic did the live sparrow in chapel.
1st Monk. There will be precious offerings made to-day, of which our house will get its share.
2d Monk. Not we; she always favoured the Franciscans most.
1st Monk. ’Twas but fair—they were her kith and kin.
She lately put on the habit of their third minors.
2d Monk. So have half the fine gentlemen and ladies in Europe. There’s one of your new inventions, now, for letting grand folks serve God and mammon at once, and emptying honest monasteries, where men give up all for the Gospel’s sake. And now these Pharisees of Franciscans will go off with full pockets—
1st Monk. While we poor publicans—
2d Monk. Shall not come home all of us justified, I think.
1st Monk. How? Is there scandal among us?
2d Monk. Ask not—ask not. Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise. Of all sins, avoid that same gossiping.