Page:Margaret of Angoulême, Queen of Navarre (Robinson 1886).djvu/172

Rh passion, and His martyrdom. The thought of this so fills me with delight, that I take up my Psalter, and, as humbly as I can, I sing in my heart and say with my mouth the beautiful canticles and psalms which the Spirit of God composed in the heart of David, and of other writers. And the contentment that I find therein so eases me, that all the evils which my days may bring appear to me as benedictions; seeing that in faith I keep in my heart even Him who hath borne them all for me. Likewise, before supper time, I retire and pasture my soul in some holy lesson; and then, at night, I recollect my doings of the day, and ask forgiveness for my faults, and praise God for His mercies. And in His love and fear and peace, I take my rest assured against all evils. There, my children, you behold the pastime which, for long enough, has sufficed me, who, having questioned all things, have found in none of them contentment for the spirit. Haply, if every morning you would read the Scriptures for an hour, and afterwards say your prayers devoutly during Mass, you would find in this desert the beauty which is in every place; for he who knows God, sees all things fair in Him; and, afar from Him, there is but ugliness."

But this proposal fills Hircan and the others with dismay. Imagine Nomerfide, who would die without a pastime, and Longarine, who is afraid to sorrow for her husband, lest she should ruin her manners; imagine the dashing Saffredant, the cynical Hircan, the sentimental Simontault, giving a fortnight to devout meditation! Hircan ventures to remonstrate. He bids us remember that they are not yet so mortified but that they need some amusement and corporal exercise. They are willing to study the Scriptures; but at