“How is this, love? you have kept but poorly the promise you gave
last evening to our confessor that you would not come here before two
o’clock.”
The Friar, who was more eager for action than for contemplation, and
who, moreover, was fearful of being recognised, gave more thought to
satisfying the wicked desires that had long poisoned his heart than to
giving her any reply; whereat the lady wondered greatly. When the friar
found the husband’s hour drawing near, he rose from the lady’s side and
returned with all speed to his own chamber.
Then, just as the frenzy of lust had robbed him of sleep, so now the
fear that always follows upon wickedness would not suffer him to rest.
Accordingly, he went to the porter of the house and said to him--
“Friend, your master has charged me to go without delay and offer up
prayers for him at our convent, where he is accustomed to perform his
devotions. Wherefore, I pray you, give me my horse and open the door
without letting any one be the wiser; for the mission is both pressing
and secret.”
The porter knew that obedience to the Friar was service acceptable to
his master, and so he opened the door secretly and let him out.
Just at that time the gentleman awoke. Finding that it was close on the
hour which the good father had appointed him for visiting his wife, he
got up in his bedgown and repaired swiftly to that bed whither by God’s
ordinance, and without need of the license of man, it was lawful for him
to go.
When his wife heard him speaking beside her, she was greatly astonished,
and, not knowing what had occurred, said to him--
“Nay, sir, is it possible that, after your promise to the good father to
be heedful of your own health and of mine, you not only come before the
hour appointed, but even return a second time? Think on it, sir, I pray
you.”
On hearing this, the gentleman was so much disconcerted that he could
not conceal it, and said to her--
“What do these words mean? I know of a truth that I have not lain with
you for three weeks, and yet you rebuke me for coming too often. If you
continue to talk in this way, you will make me think that my company is
irksome to you, and will drive me, contrary to my wont and will, to seek
elsewhere that pleasure which, by the law of God, I should have with
you.”