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SCENE I.—The outer Court of the Castle. Hermit, Pilgrim, and several Mendicants, discovered standing round the Gateway at the bottom of the Stage.

The rumour of our lady's bounteous alms Spread o'er the country quickly; every morning Adds to the number of those mendicants,— Those slothful pests, who thus beset our gates.

Rail not so bitterly; there are, thou seest, The sick and maim'd and truly miserable, Although some idle vagrants with the crowd Have enter'd cunningly. Dost thou not see Our Hermit is amongst them?

What, comes he too a-begging? Shame upon him! His cot is stored with every dainty thing Our peasant housewives rear, poor simple souls! And prowls he here for more?