Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/198

186 the disputed fortress, he promoted him to great honours.

My beloved, the king is Christ; the poor man who was raised to honour is Adam, appointed the Seneschal of a castle, that is, of Paradise. The first and bravest knight is the rich and powerful of the world, whom the arrow of pride spiritually slays. The second knight denotes the wise or prudent of this world, and they are slain by the arrow of avarice. The third knight is any Christian who loves God with all his heart; and who, in his simplicity, is often a match for the more cunning of mankind.