ng in a man's face what is passing in his
heart.
_Hermit_. So much the worse for yourself. You will have little
enjoyment in company.
_Devil_. Ho, ho! you know that? (_Looking at Faustus_.)
_Hermit_. It is a vile world in which we live, and woe for you if
thousands did not hasten into solitude to avert by their prayers the
anger of incensed Heaven from the heads of sinners.
_Faustus_. Reverend brother, you own yourself that you are paid for your
prayers; and, believe me, it is much easier to pray than work.
_Devil_. Listen once more. You have a twist of the mouth which tells me
you are a hypocrite; and your eyes, which revolve in so narrow a circle,
and which are generally cast downward, tell me that you are convinced
they would betray the feelings of your heart, were you to raise them.
The hermit lifted his eyes towards the heavens, prayed with clasped
hands, and said, "Thus does the righteous man reply to the scoffer."
_Faustus_. Enough. Come, brother, and bear us company in our repast.
But the hermit remained inflexible. Faustus looked scornfully on the
Devil, who merely smiled and shook his head. Suddenly the door opened,
and a young female pilgrim rushed in almost breathless. When she had
recovered from her fear, she related how she had been pursued by a
knight, from whom she had the good fortune to escape by reaching the cell
of the pious hermit. She was received in a friendly manner; and,
unclasping her long mantle, she exhibited such beauty as would have made
the victory over the flesh no easy matter for the holy Anthony himself.
She placed herself by the side of Leviathan, ate sparingly of the meal,
and the Devil began to--
* * * * *
The hermit was at first shocked, and at last confused; and he had
scarcely power to struggle with the temptation. The pilgrim tore
herself, ashamed and angry, from the arms of Leviathan, to seek
protection by the side of the hermit, which he could not refuse her.
The Devil and Faustus now pretended to be intoxicated and overwhelmed
with sleep; but before they took repose the Devil placed, in the presence
of the hermit, a weighty purse of money under the straw, and deposited
his own rich rings and those of Faustus in a casket, which the latter
laid close beside him. On the table they placed their swords and
daggers, and then flung themselves down and soon snored.
The pilgrim softly approached the table, and pou
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