1st Monk. Do you hear that shout? There is the procession returning from the tomb.
2d Monk. Hark to the tramp of the horse-hoofs! A gallant show, I’ll warrant!
1st Monk. Time was, now, when we were young bloods together in the world, such a roll as that would have set our hearts beating against their cages!
2d Monk. Ay, ay. We have seen sport in our day; we have paraded and curvetted, eh? and heard scabbards jingle? We know the sly touch of the heel, that set him on his hind legs before the right window. Vanitas vanitatum—omnia vanitas! Here comes Gerard, Conrad’s chaplain, with our dinner.
[Gerard enters across the court.]
1st Monk. A kindly youth and a godly, but—reformation-bitten, like the rest.
2d Monk. Never care. Boys must take the reigning madness in religion, as they do the measles—once for all.
1st Monk. Once too often for him. His face is too, too like Abel’s in the chapel-window. Ut sis vitalis metuo, puer!
Ger. Hail, fathers. I have asked permission of the prior to minister your refection, and bring you thereby the first news of the pageant.
1st Monk. Blessings on thee for a good boy. Give us the trenchers, and open thy mouth while we open ours.