basin and spill it upon the stone, thou shalt see
such a storm come up that not a beast will remain within this wood;
every doe, star, deer, boar, and bird will issue forth. For thou shalt
see such lightning-bolts descend, such blowing of gales and crashing
of trees, such torrents fail, such thunder and lightning, that, if thou
canst escape from them without trouble and mischance, thou wilt be more
fortunate than ever any knight was yet.' I left the fellow then, after
he had pointed our the way. It must have been after nine o'clock and
might have been drawing on toward noon, when I espied the tree and the
chapel. I can truly say that this tree was the finest pine that ever
grew on earth. I do not believe that it ever rained so hard that a
drop of water could penetrate it, but would rather drip from the outer
branches. From the tree I saw the basin hanging, [36] of the finest gold
that was ever for sale in any fair. As for the spring, you may take my
word that it was boiling like hot water. The stone was of emerald, with
holes in it like a cask, and there were four rubies underneath, more
radiant and red than is the morning sun when it rises in the east.
Now not one word will I say which is not true. I wished to see the
marvellous appearing of the tempest and the storm; but therein I was not
wise, for I would gladly have repented, if I could, when I had sprinkled
the perforated stone with the water from the basin. But I fear I poured
too much, for straightway I saw the heavens so break loose that from
more than fourteen directions the lightning blinded my eyes, and all at
once the clouds let fall snow and rain and hail. The storm was so fierce
and terrible that a hundred times I thought I should be killed by the
bolts which fell about me and by the trees which were rent apart. Know
that I was in great distress until the uproar was appeased. But God gave
me such comfort that the storm did not continue long, and all the winds
died down again. The winds dared not blow against God's will. And when
I saw the air clear and serene I was filled with joy again. For I have
observed that joy quickly causes trouble to be forgot. As soon as the
storm was completely past, I saw so many birds gathered in the pine tree
(if any one will believe my words) that not a branch or twig was to be
seen which was not entirely covered with birds. [37] The tree was all
the more lovely then, for all the birds sang in harmony, yet the note of
each was