Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/188

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My beloved, the knight is a prelate; the amputation of the servant's foot is the cutting off rebellion from the church. The hermit is a prudent confessor. The angel is a pure conscience. The poor man is Christ.

the reign of the emperor Maximian, there were two knights; of whom, one feared God and loved justice, while the other was covetous and rich, and more studious of pleasing the world than his Maker. Contiguous to this person's lands, the just knight had a piece of ground, which his avaricious neighbour ardently desired to possess. He offered