Page:Of the Tumbler of Our Lady - tr. Kemp-Welch - 1904.djvu/31

Rh they were silent, and thus it likewise happened unto him that ofttimes he himself had to keep silence.

And with such good grace, and for so long time, did he remain silent, that never did he speak the whole day long unless that command was given unto him to speak, so that they oft made merry over it. And he was sore affrighted in their midst, for he knew not what to say, or what to do of all that fell to be done there. And because of this, he was very sad and pensive. And everywhere he saw the monks and the novices each one serving God in such office as he held. He saw the priests at the altars, for such was their office, the deacons at the gospels, and the subdeacons at the epistles. And at the proper time, the acolytes straightway rang the bell at the vigils. One recited a verse, and another a lesson, and the young priests were at the psalter, and the novices at the misereres, and the least experienced were at the paternosters, for in suchwise was their work ordered. And he looked everywhere throughout the offices