Page:The Way of a Virgin.djvu/48

Rh forgot to conceal the ring, which rested upon his belly.

There chanced to pass in a carriage a lord and his wife. The lord saw, not far from the road, a peasant aslumbering, and upon his belly glittered a ring, as it were a live coal in the sun. He stopped the horses, saying to his lackey:

"Approach the peasant, take the ring, and bring it to me."

Straightway the lackey ran to the peasant, and carried back the ring to the lord. And these went on their way.

The lord admired the ring.

"Look thou, my dear loved one," said he to his wife. "What a superb ring! Behold! I put it upon my finger." And he passed it down his whole finger.

Straightway his yard reached out, o'erturned the coachman from his box seat, struck one of the mares right beneath the tail, pushed aside the animal, and caused the carriage to go ahead of it.

The lady beheld what misfortune had befallen, was greatly affrighted, and cried with all her force to the lackey, saying:

"Run most swiftly to the peasant and lead him hither!"

The lackey sped amain to the peasant and aroused him, saying:

"Come swiftly, my little peasant, to my master!"

The peasant sought his ring.

"A curse on thee! Thou hast taken my ring!"