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Show THE VAUDOIS 'l'E.&.Cl-UJR. . . Valdcnscs and heretics di,;;;eminatcd , 'l'hc manner m w\uch tl~·~h~lic gentry, was IJy carrying with their principles ~mong ~~~ ·n·,ticles of dress. IJnving e ntered the them a b~x of u m.kc~st:d d;s Josed of some of their goods, they canhouses~~ ~he gently: a . h~H.I commodities fon·morc va\uaLlcthan tiously _mttn~alcd tl~atv~;:ywhich they wou\J show, if.thcy could he thcsc---tncsttmableje\ ..' The would then gi,cthc1rpurchascrs a protected from the clclg) · y rc deluded into heresy.'--· bible or tcstnment; and thereby mnn)~w;258 See Reiner 1t& Saccho's Boo!.-, A. . . 'OH, lady fair, these silks of mine are beautiful and The n.c rhaerset -we b o f the Indian loom, which Beauty's self might wear; . . . And those pearIs are Jlurc 'a s thy o.w n faJr neck, With whose radiant light they vte ; . I have brought them with me a weary way ,-will my gentle lauy buy 1' And the lady smiled on the .worn old man through the dark and clustenng curls, . . Which veiled her brow as she bent to view IllS Silks and glittering pearls; 95 And she placed their price in the old man's hand, and lightly turned away,- But she paused at the wanderer's earnest call,-' My gentle lady, stay!' 'Oh, lady fair, I have yet a gem which a purer lustre Oings Than the diamond nash of the jewelled crown on the lofty brow of kings- A wonde rful pearl of exceeding price whose virtue shall not decay, Whose light shall he as a spell to thee, and a blessing on thy way! ' The lady glanced at the mirroring steel where her form of grace was seen, Where her eye shone clear, and her dark locks waved their clnsping penrls between; Bring forth thy pearl of cxceediug worth, thou traveller g rJy ancl old- Aud name the price of thy precious gem, and my pages shall count thy gold. The cloud went off from the pilgrim's brow, as a small and meagre book, Unchased with gold or diamond gem, from his folding robe he took : Here, lady fair, is the pearl of price-may it prove as such to thee ! Nay-keep thy gold- I ask it not, fo>· tlte word of God is free! |