SAINT ROBERT OF ENARESBOROUGH. 83 



it is doubtful who " The Earl " was to whom the saint 

 applied : — 



" At Robertus rursum ivit, 

 "Vaccam. unam expetivit, 

 Comes quidem accersivit, 

 Et libenter tribuit. 



" Hie, ut miser, mendicavit, 

 Quibus sibi sociavit, 

 Pane, potu, prece, pavit 

 Ac sanare studuit. 



" Dux donabat tunc Roberto 

 Vaccam feram in deserto, 

 Quam deduxit in aperto 

 Mansuetam moribus. 



" Domum duxit, dictse gentes 

 Obstupescunt intuentes : 

 Horum movebantur mentes, 

 In interioribus." 



" But good Robert went again, 

 Asking a cow them to sustain ; 

 Sent the Earl bis wish to obtain, 



And pledged her then and there. 



" Piteous saint, and mendicant, 

 For his brethren ill in want, 

 Meat, drink, prayer, were never scant, 

 Nor for their health his care. 



" Gave the Earl, thereon to Robert, 

 One fierce wild one in the desert, 

 Her he brought out, and naught was hurt, 

 She gentle as she should be. 



" Home he led her, the said peers 

 "Were astonished, eyes and ears, 

 Minds were moved with sudden fears, 

 As awed as they should be." 



G 2 



