“The image with the golden cloak,” continued Lathom, “represents the good man in power and authority, who fears not the evil man, encourages virtue, and eradicates vice. ‘He is proud; he is a tyrant,’ cry the people; ‘we will not have this man to reign over us.’ But, says the old monk, ‘The end of these men is according to the law of the Lord, for they perish miserably.’”
“The old priest’s moral has so well satisfied me, that I am sorry that our evening is come to a close,” said Herbert.
“Well—it must be so; but come,” replied Lathom, “you shall have an enigma to discover. An emperor found a sarcophagus on which were three circles with these words: ‘I have expended—I have given—I have kept—I have possessed—I do possess—I have lost—I am punished.’ Whilst on the front of the chest was written: ‘What I have expended I have; what I gave away I have.’ Read me this inscription.”
“Read it, read it,” remarked Thompson, with a smile; “‘it is very easy to say, Read it, read it,’ as Liston used to say; ‘but do it, do it’—that is a different matter. Well! it is a good night-cap at the worst.”
CHAPTER VII.
Curiosities of the Gesta—Byrkes’ Epitaph—The Lay of the Little Bird—Of the Burdens of this Life—Ancient Fairs—Winchester—Modern Continental Fairs—Russia—Nischnei-Novgorod.
“We confess ourselves conquered,” said Herbert, when the next evening was come; “your old monk’s learning is too recondite for us.”
“First, then, comes ‘I have expended’: what?—my life—in judgment, in advice, in authority. ‘I have given’—equipments to my servants and warriors, charity to the needy. ‘I have kept’—exact justice. ‘I have possessed’—a generous and true heart. ‘I do possess’—a hand to bestow, to protect, to punish. ‘I have lost’—my folly, the friendship of my foes, the desires of the flesh. ‘I am punished’—for my sins.”