Айвенго

Chapter 35

           Whatsayourstatutes,andhowdoourbrethrenobservethem?Theyshouldwearnovainorworldlyornament,nocrestupontheirhelmet,nogolduponstirruporbridle-bit;yetwhonowgoprankedoutsoproudlyandsogailyasthepoorsoldiersoftheTemple?Theyareforbiddenbyourstatutestotakeonebirdbymeansofanother,toshootbeastswithboworarblast,tohallootoahunting-horn,ortospurthehorseaftergame.Butnow,athuntingandhawking,andeachidlesportofwoodandriver,whosopromptastheTemplarsinallthesefondvanities?Theyareforbiddentoread,savewhattheirSuperiorpermitted,orlistentowhatisread,savesuchholythingsasmayberecitedaloudduringthehoursofrefaction;butlo!theirearsareatthecommandofidleminstrels,andtheireyesstudyemptyromaunts.Theywerecommandedtoextirpatemagicandheresy.Lo!theyarechargedwithstudyingtheaccursedcabalisticalsecretsoftheJews,andthemagicofthePaynimSaracens.Simplenessofdietwasprescribedtothem,roots,pottage,gruels,eatingfleshbutthricea-week,becausetheaccustomedfeedingonfleshisadishonourablecorruptionofthebody;andbehold,theirtablesgroanunderdelicatefare!Theirdrinkwastobewater,andnow,todrinklikeaTemplar,istheboastofeachjollybooncompanion!Thisverygarden,filledasitiswithcuriousherbsandtreessentfromtheEasternclimes,betterbecomestheharemofanunbelievingEmir,thantheplotwhichChristianMonksshoulddevotetoraisetheirhomelypot-herbs.

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