From 'Lives of Distinguished Men and Great Captains'

He never failed to say and keep up his paternosters every morning,

whether he remained in the house, or mounted his horse and went out to

the field to join the army. It was a common saying among the soldiers

that one must "beware the paternosters of the Constable." For as

disorders were very frequent, he would say, while mumbling and muttering

his paternosters all the time, "Go and fetch that fellow and hang me him

up to this tree;" "Out with a file of harquebusiers here before me this

instant, for the execution of this man!" "Burn me this village

instantly!" "Cut me to pieces at once all these villain peasants, who

have dared to hold this church against the king!" All this without ever

ceasing from his paternosters till he had finished them--thinking that

he would have done very wrong to put them off to another time; so

conscientious was he!

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Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 06 · 第 24 / 262 题