THE MARRIAGE OF ST. CUTHBURGA. 175 



The fourth Chapter. 



Meanwhile the king and all his folk were feasting in the royal hall 

 with great joy and gladness, and the chief men of the whole province 

 with the elders and the young men were rejoicing merrily and happily 

 in that great occasion with common consent and goodwill. And when 

 now the whole day had passed in such pleasure and gladness, and the 

 night coming on summoned them to the rest of sleep, the king, full of 

 happiness and joy, enters the chamber adorned with begemmed 

 hangings and royal wealth, desirous of having the accustomed inter- 

 course with his bride after the manner of men. When they were alone 

 in the chamber, the blessed Cuthburga, thinking this the fitting time 

 for her to speak, is said thus to have addressed the king her spouse : 

 " O most beloved of men, and dearest to me of all mortals, although 

 thou art endowed with excellence of understanding and art skilled in 

 knowledge of letters beyond kings of the present day, do not be 

 indignant, I beseech thee, if thy bride and handmaid speaks to thee. 

 For it is written, ' Ye suffer fools gladly though ye yourselves are 

 wise,' And in another place, ' Let every man be swift to hear.' 

 Wherefore, if I shall say anything perchance that thou knowest to be 

 necessary for the salvation of thy majesty, be not slow freely to give 

 assent to my words. It is natural and proper for all God's creatures 

 to love their Creator above all things, and the whole scheme of reason 

 demands that we should prefer the better not only to things which are 

 bad, but also to those which are good. God, then, who is good above 

 ail things, it can necessarily be inferred, is to be desired above all 

 things. But the Scripture saith ' No man can serve two masters.' 

 What masters ? God and the world. Afterwards it is written : 

 ' Whosoever willeth to be a friend of this world shall be accounted 

 the enemy of God.' Wherefore Paul admonishes us, saying in his 

 Epistle to Timothy his disciple ' Charge them that are rich in this 

 world not to put their trust in the uncertainty of riches.' And in 

 another place, ' Take not care for the flesh in its desires.' What then ? 

 Let us be in this world ' as though having nothing and yet possessing 

 all things,' and let us ' use this world as though using it not.' ' Let us 

 serve the Lord in fear,' persevering in chastity of body and in purity of 

 heart ; let us pollute our body with no corruption of the flesh that we 

 may deserve to be made the shrine of the Holy Ghost. 



The fifth Chapter. 



Hearing these things the king marvelled at so great a wisdom of 

 speech in that blessed virgin, and is said to have made this reply 

 " All that thou hast spoken, my sweetest bride, I know that thou 

 hast said with the utmost truth, and no reason can avail to refute it. 



