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that are wrought by magic of Mahound out of seasand and the air by a warlock with his breath that he blares into them like to bubbles。 And full fair cheer and rich was on the board that no wight could devise a fuller ne richer。 And there was a vat of silver that was moved by craft to open in the which lay strange fishes withouten heads though misbelieving men nie that this be possible thing without they see it natheless they are so。 And these fishes lie in an oily water brought there from Portugal land because of the fatness that therein is like to the juices of the olive press。 And also it was marvel to see in that castle how by magic they make a post out of fecund wheat kidneys out of Chaldee that by aid of certain angry spirits that they do into it swells up wondrously like to a vast mountain。 And they teach the serpents there to entwine themselves up on long sticks out of the ground and of the scales of these serpents they brew out a brewage like to mead。
And the learning knight let pour for childe Leopold a draught and halp thereto the while all they that were there drank every each。 And childe Leopold did up his beaver for to pleasure him and took apertly somewhat in amity for he never drank no manner of mead which he then put by and anon full privily he voided the more part in his neighbour glass and his neighbour wist not of his wile。 And he sat down in that castle with them for to rest him there awhile。 Thanked be Almighty God。
This meanwhile this good sister stood by the door and begged them at the reverence of Jesu our alther liege lord to leave their wassailing for there was above one quick with child a gentle dame； whose time hied fast。 Sir Leopold heard on the upfloor cry on high and he wondered what cry that it was whether of child or woman and I marvel； said he； that it be not e or now。 Meseems it dureth overlong。 And he was ware and saw a franklin that hight Lenehan on that side the table that was older than any of the tother and for that they both were knights virtuous in the one emprise and eke by cause that he was elder he spoke to him full gently。 But； said he； or it be long too she will bring forth by God His bounty and have joy of her childing for she hath waited marvellous long。 And the franklin that had drunken said； Expecting each moment to be her next。 Also he took the cup that stood tofore him for him needed never none asking nor desiring of him to drink and； Now drink； said he； fully delectably； and he quaffed as far as he might to their both's health for he was a passing good man of his lustiness。 And sir Leopold that was the goodliest guest that ever sat in scholars' hall and that was the meekest man and the kindest that ever laid husbandly hand under hen and that was the very truest knight of the world one that ever did minion service to lady gentle pledged him courtly in the cup。 Woman's woe with wonder pondering。
Now let us speak of that fellowship that was there to the intent to be drunken an they might。 There was a sort of scholars along either side the board； that is to wit； Dixon yclept junior of saint Mary Merciable's with other his fellows Lynch and Madden； scholars of medicine； and the franklin that high！ Lenehan and one from Alba Longa； one Crotthers； and young Stephen that had mien of a frere that was at head of the board and Costello that men clepen Punch Costello all long of a mastery of him erewhile gested （and of all them； reserved young Stephen； he was the most drunken that demanded still of more mead） and beside the meek sir Leopold。 But on young Malachi they waited for that he promised to have e and such as intended to no goodness said how he had broke his avow。 And sir Leopold sat with them for he bore fast friendship to sir Simon and to this his son young Stephen and for that his languor becalmed him there after longest wanderings insomuch as they feasted him for that time in the honourablest manner。 Ruth red him； love led on with will to wander； loth to leave。
For they were right witty scholars。 And he heard their aresouns each gen other as touching birth and righteousness； young Madden maintaining that put such case it were hard the wife to die （for so it had fallen out a matter of some year agone with a woman of Eblana in Horne's house that now was trespassed out of this world and the self night next before her death all leeches and pothecaries had taken counsel of her case）。 And they said farther she should live because in the beginning they said the woman should bring forth in pain and wherefore they that were of this imagination affirmed how young Madden had said truth for he had conscience to let her die。 And not few and of these was young Lynch were in doubt that the world was now right evil governed as it was never other howbeit the mean people believed it otherwise but the law nor his judges did provide no remedy。 A redress God grant。 This was scant said but all cried with one acclaim nay； by our Virgin Mother； the wife should live and the babe to die。 In colour whereof they waxed hot upon that head what with argument and what for their drinking but the franklin Lenehan was prompt each when to pour them ale so that at the least way mirth might not lack。 Then young Madden showed all the whole affair and when he said how that she was dead and how for holy religion sake by rede of palmer and bedesman and for a vow he had made to Saint Ultan of Arbraccan her goodman husband would not let her death whereby they were all wondrous grieved。 To whom young Stephen had these words following； Murmur； sirs； is eke oft among lay folk。 Both babe and parent now glorify their Maker； the one in limbo gloom； the other in purge fire。 But； gramercy； what of those Godpossibled souls that we nightly unpossibilise； which is the sin against the Holy Ghost； Very God； Lord and Giver of Life？ For； sirs； he said； our lust is brief。 We are means to those small creatures within us and nature has other ends than we。 Then said Dixon junior to Punch Costello wist he what ends。 But he had overmuch drunken and the best word he could have of him was that he would ever dishonest a woman whoso she were or wife or maid or leman if it so fortuned him to be delivered of his spleen of lustihead。 Whereat Crotthers of Alba Longa sang young Malachi's praise of that beast the unicorn how once in the millennium he eth by his horn the other all this while pricked forward with their jibes wherewith they did malice him； witnessing all and several by saint Foutinus his engines that he was able to do any manner of thing that lay in man to do。 Thereat laughed they all right jocundly only young Stephen and sir Leopold which never durst laugh too open by reason of a strange humour which he would not bewray and also ford that he rued for her that bare whoso she might be or wheresoever。 Then spoke young Stephen orgulous of mother Church that would cast him out of her bosom； of law of canons； of Lilith； patron of abortions； of bigness wrought by wind of seeds of brightness or by potency of vampires mouth to mouth or； as Virgilius saith； by the influence of the occident or by the reek of moonflower or an she lie with a woman which her man has but lain with effectu secuto； or peradventure in her bath according to the opinions of Averroes and Moses Maimonides。 He said also how at the end of the second month a human soul was infused and how in all our holy mother foldeth ever souls for God's greater glory whereas that earthly mother which was but a dam to bring forth beastly should die by canon for so saith he that holdeth the fisherman's seal； even that blessed Peter on which rock was holy church for all ages founded。 All they bachelors then asked of sir Leopold would he in like case so jeopard her person as risk life to save life。 A wariness of mind he would answer as fitted all and； laying hand to jaw； he said dissembling； as his wont was； that as it was informed him； who had ever loved the art of physic as might a layman； and agreeing also with his experience of so seldom seen an accident it was good for that Mother Church belike at one blow had birth and death pence and in such sort deliverly he scaped their questions。 That is truth； pardy； said Dixon； and； or I err； a pregnant word。 Which hearing young Stephen was a marv