Nugo. The sister of the girl there yesterday gave birth to twins.
Grac. What is there wonderful in that? A woman living in Salt Street at the Helmeted Lion six days ago had a triplet.
Nugo. Pliny says that there have been as many as seven at a birth.
Turd. Who of you has heard of the wife of the Count of Holland who is said to have had at a birth as many children as there are days in the year, owing to the curse of a certain beggar?
Grac. What was the story of this beggar?
Turd. This beggar was laden with children and begged an alms of the countess. But when she saw so many children, she drove the beggar away by her reproaches, calling her a harlot. She said she could not possibly have had from one man so great a family. The innocent beggar prayed the gods that as they knew she was chaste and pure, they would give the countess from her husband at one birth as many children as there are days in the year. So it happened, and the numerous posterity is shown[33] in a certain town in that island to-day.
Grac. I will rather believe this than investigate it.
Nugo. All things are possible with God.
Grac. And, moreover, easy of accomplishment.