And slowly he turned back to “her who lay so silent.”
“Farewell, Isabel, Countess of Arundel!” he said almost tenderly. “For the corruptible coronet whereof man deprived thee, God hath given thee an incorruptible crown. For the golden baudekyn that was too mean to to clothe thee,—the robes that are washed white, the pure bright stone (see Note 3) whereof the angels’ robes are fashioned. For the stately barbs which were not worthy to bear thee,—a chariot and horses of fire. And for the delicate cates of royal tables, which were not sweet enough for thee,—the Bread of Life, which whosoever eateth shall never hunger, the Water of Life, which whosoever drinketh shall never thirst.
“‘O retributio! stat brevis actio, vita perennis;
O retributio! caelica mansio stat lue plenis.’”
See Note 4 for a translation.
“How blessed an exchange, how grand a reward! I trust God, but thou seest Him. I believe He hath done well, with thee, as with me, but thou knowest it.”
“‘Jamais soyf n’auras
A l’éternité!’”
Note 1. Baudekyn, the richest variety of this rich silk, in which threads of gold were probably intermingled.
Note 2. Perry-work: goldsmiths’ work, often set with precious stones.
Note 3. In Revelations xv. 6, the most ancient MSS., instead of “pure and white linen,” read “a pure bright stone.”
Note 4: