Twirling his ears about, and seemed to wait, Just as he found him waiting in the wood; And told the Prior that, to alleviate The daily labors of the brotherhood, The owner, being a man of means and thrift, 'Bestowed him on the convent as a gift. And thereupon the Prior for many days Hoping that some safe issue he might find; But stood in fear of what the world would say, If he accepted presents of this kind, Employing beasts of burden for the packs That lazy monks should carry on their backs. Then, to avoid all scandal of the sort, And stop the mouth of cavil, he decreed That he would cut the tedious matter short, And sell the ass with all convenient speed, Thus saving the expense of his support, And hoarding something for a time of need. So he despatched him to the neighboring Fair, And freed himself from cumber and from care. It happened now by chance, as some might say, And nearer came, and saw that it was he, The ass, who felt this breathing in his ear, Did not turn round to look, but shook his head, As if he were not pleased these words to hear, And contradicted all that had been said. And this made Gilbert cry in voice more clear, "I know you well; your hair is russet-red; Do not deny it; for you are the same Franciscan friar, and Timothy by name." The ass, though now the secret had come out, When Gilbert tried to make the matter plain, And flouted him and mocked him all day long With laughter and with jibes and scraps of song. "If this be Brother Timothy," they cried, 66 Buy him, and feed him on the tenderest grass; Thou canst not do too much for one so tried As to be twice transformed into an ass." So simple Gilbert bought him, and untied His halter, and o'er mountain and morass He led him homeward, talking as he went Of good behavior and a mind content. The children saw them coming, and advanced, Shouting with joy, and hung about his neck, — Not Gilbert's, but the ass's, round him danced, And wove green garlands wherewithal to deck His sacred person; for again it chanced Their childish feelings, without rein or check, Could not discriminate in any way A donkey from a friar of Orders Gray. "O Brother Timothy," the children said, "You have come back to us just as before; And patted him upon the neck and face, Thenceforward and forever he was known His many vices need not here be told; So Brother Timothy went back once more Came labors manifold and trials sore; And as his toils increased his food grew less, Until at last the great consoler, Death, Ended his many sufferings with his breath. Great was the lamentation when he died; The old man still remembered the event INTERLUDE. "SIGNOR LUIGI," said the Jew, "But this I will not now discuss; I leave the theme, that we may thus With something in a different vein, Thus saying, from his lips he blew THE SPANISH JEW'S SECOND TALE. SCANDERBEG. Written February 4, 1873. THE battle is fought and won In the darkness of the night |