Page:The Chronicle of Clemendy.pdf/63

 curious, of Medulla Quadripartiti—the marrow of the Quadripartitum which as you know is the Institutes of Astrology. In the meantime the Prior had paid a visit to the Baron in his castle, and had talked very kindly to the brave honest knight, explaining to him that one of the canons was making a very fine clock for the Priory Church, and that it was necessary that this clock should be provided with a tower. Just then pretty Eva or Maud or Isabella came in, and the Prior's affair was done in no time, and the campanile as good as built, for the Prior was a very holy man and a great favourite with the ladies, his penitents. To be short the tower was built at the Baron's charges, and the clock set up in it, and then and not till then did Dom. Maria lead forth Sir Jenkin, whom he had concealed in his laboratory, for he had worked on this figure with great ingenuity, and thought even better of it than of his wheel, which to be sure did nothing but go round somewhat leisurely. And when the Prior, the Sub-prior, the canons, and the monks saw this admirable statue, so artificially perfected with helmet, coif, hauberk, condiéres, baldrick, and chausses, and marked how the face was enamelled to the life, they knew not exactly what to say; some cried "miles ad vivum," and others "admirabile," only the sub-prior muttered something to himself about "sollers hominem ponere" and "plane perfectum est," but then he knew rather twotoo [sic] much and afterwards came to grief. Then Dom. Maria expounded his great work to them, and showed that he could easily link it to his clock and make it strike the hours and even play