CHAPTER LXXXIX. THE ORDEAL

The day now arrived when Spes was to make oath. She invited all her
friends and relations, and appeared in the finest clothes that she
possessed, with many a fine lady in her train. It was raining heavily
and the roads were flooded; on the way to the church there was a swamp
to be passed. When Spes came with her company to the swamp there was a
great crowd on the high road, and a multitude of poor people asking for
alms, for all who knew her thought it a duty to give her a greeting and
wish her well because of the kindnesses which they had often received
from her.

Amongst these poor people there was a beggar very large of stature and
with a long beard. The women halted at the swamp; being people of high
rank they did not like to cross the dirty slough. The big beggar, seeing
that Spes was better dressed than the other ladies, said to her: "Good
lady, have the condescension to allow me to carry you over the swamp. It
is the duty of us gaberlunzies to serve you in whatever way we can."

"How can you carry me," she said, "when you can scarcely carry
yourself?"

"Nevertheless, it would be a great condescension. I cannot offer you
more than I have, and you will prosper the better in other things for
having had no pride with a poor man."

"Know then for a surety," she said, "that if you carry me not properly
the skin shall be flayed from your back."

"Gladly will I venture upon that," he said, and waded out into the
stream. She pretended to dislike very much being carried by him;
nevertheless, she got upon his back. He staggered along very slowly,
using two crutches, and when they reached the middle he was reeling in
every direction. She told him to pull himself together. "If you drop me
here," she said, "it shall be the worst journey that you ever made."

The poor wretch gathered up all his strength and still went on. By dint
of a valiant effort he had all but reached the shore when he struck his
foot against something and fell forwards, projecting her on to the bank
while he himself fell into the mire up to his armpits. There as he lay
he put out his hands, not on her clothes, but on her legs. She sprang up
cursing and said she always suffered ill from low vagabonds. "It would
only be right that you should have a good beating," she said, "were I
not ashamed to beat such a miserable creature as you are."

He said: "Unequal is the lot of man. I thought to earn some benefit and
to rece