Page:The Way of a Virgin.djvu/234

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Quoting from Mérard de Saint-Just, (Sspiègleries Joyeusetés), Poggio's translator gives a variant in verse of the foregoing story. We reproduce it in less ambitious English prose:—

"Pierre the Red, wrapped in his bed-clothes, felt himself stimulated by the burning flame of the god of love, and he invited his wife to come straightway to his arms. It chanced that she was praying, and she made reply: 'Wait a while.' And whilst her Paters and her Agnus' and her Aves were accomplished, Pierre's ardour had had time to grow cold. She entered the bed, but the chilled husband maintained his pretence. She drew near him; he did not budge. 'Beloved, what dost wish? I have said my prayers.'—'Good,' quoth Pierre the Red. 'But I have grown soft.'"