eward for all his good
deed." Needful it is therefore that a man do what good he can, and do
not pride himself thereof in thought or in word; for he has not the
doing of a good deed of himself, nor of his own desiring. The fourth
that snatches from a man his reward for a good deed (is) when he does it
with the intent to be holden better than others, or to lessen the good
deed of others, or to outdo it if he can. Of such, S. Gregory tells a
tale in his dialogues: That once on a time the holy Bishop Fortunatus,
chased the fiend out of a man in one evening; and the fiend, when he was
chased out, put on the likeness of a pilgrim, and went through the city
where the Bishop lived, weeping and yelling like a poor wretch, who was
anxious for lodging that night, and thus he said; "Lo, what your Bishop,
whom ye consider so good, has done to me: he came to the house where I
had taken my lodging, and put me out by force: and now like a poor
wretch, of lodging am I desirous; over all, I seek lodging, and none
will have ruth on me." A man of that city who heard him, took him into
his house, and set him by the fire and eased him, as he wished. When
the man had inquired of him of far-off things, as men do to pilgrims,
the fiend leaped at the child in the cradle, and wrung its neck in two,
and cast it into the fire, and vanished away. Of this S. Gregory speaks
and says, "Many deeds seem good, and are not good, because they are not
done with a good will. And this man harboured the pilgrim for no pity of
him, but because he spake evil of the Bishop, and in order that he" (the
man) "should be held better and of more pity than the Bishop." Yet a
good deed is lost, if a man covet by it to have of man, riches, or
position, or honours or any worldly good. Yet through sin defiling, the
good deed is lost; and here-unto accords Holy Writ that says, "who
sinneth in one thing, loses many good things," which is, "he that in a
deadly thing sins, he loses many goods," save he amend him with shrift,
and do penance therefor.

SECOND PART OF THE BOOK.

The second part of this book teaches man to do his good work with
freedom of spirit, in place and in time, as falls to each work: not
compelled thereto, nor to do it with anger, nor with a dead heart. For
Holy Writ says: "GOD loves a cheerful giver," or GOD loves him who gives
Him aught with a glad heart: and certainly the works that turn out to
the praise of God, and the health of man's soul, lik