IV
Other isolated houses along the roads, by the fords or the bridges, on sacred spots, on the cliffs by the sea, had also much to do with travellers, those of the hermits. Such holy men would tell the way, help to cross a river, sometimes give shelter, sometimes absolution.[156] One shrives passers-by in that gem of mediæval French stories, “Le chevalier au barisel”; another, in the “Roman de Renard,” being favoured with a visit from no less a person than the hero of the romance. Led by a peasant through the pathless wood, Master Reynard reaches the secluded spot; the mallet was hanging before the door, and the peasant having given with it a loud knock the hermit hastened to draw the bolt: {141}
Tant ont erré par le bocage
Qu’ils sont venu à l’ermitage.
Le maillet trovèrent pendant
A la porte par de devant.
Li vileins hurte durement
Et l’ermite vint erraument (promptly),
Li fermai oste de la roille (bolt).[157]
