A III. THE KNIGHT WHO GREW RUSTY. VERY rich and noble knight lived in riot and revelry, and was proud and hard to the poor. Therefore, as a punishment, God let one side of him grow rusty. His left arm, his left leg, and indeed one half of his body rusted, except his face, which remained as it had been. So the knight drew a glove on his left hand, had it sewn at the wrist, and did not take it off day or night, so that no one might see how very rusty he was. Then he resolved to try and lead a new life. He dismissed his old friends and boon companions, and married a beautiful and religious wife. She had probably heard much evil of the knight; but as his face remained quite free from rust, she only half believed the reports when she was alone and thought about what she had been told. When he was with her, and spoke softly to her, she believed not one word, so she accepted him. Soon after the wedding, she found out why he never took off the glove from his left hand, and a great fear fell upon her. She did not, however, let this appear; but one morning said to her husband, she would go into the forest to pray, in the little chapel that had been built there. Now near this chapel, in a cell, there dwelt an old hermit, who in former days had spent much time at Jerusalem, and was so holy that from far and near people made long pilgrimages to see him. She thought she would consult him, and follow his advice. Having told her tale, the hermit went into the chapel and prayed long and earnestly. When he returned he said to her, "My child, you may indeed release your husband from this curse, but under great difficulties. Should you begin your task, and not have the courage to complete it, you too will grow rusty. Now listen to the conditions. Your husband has done much evil in his time, and has been proud and hard to the poor. If you will beg for him, barefooted and in rags, as the poorest beggar-woman, until you have collected a hundred golden guineas, then take his hand, go with him to the church, and lay the hundred guineas in the poorbox, then God will pardon your husband's sins, the rust will disappear, and he will be as white as ever." "I will do it," said the knight's young wife; "however difficult it may be, and whatever time it may take, I will do it! I will save my husband; for firmly I believe the rust is only outside." Deep into the forest, far away she wandered, and at length came upon an old woman gathering sticks. She wore a dirty torn petticoat, and over it a cloak made up of as many shreds as the Holy Roman Empire in former days. What colour the rags had once been it was impossible to say; for rain and sun had done their work, and not a vestige remained. "Will you give me your petticoat and your cloak, good mother?" said the knight's wife. "I will give you all the money in my pocket, and my silk dress too, if you will, for I want to be very poor." I have seen much of the The old woman looked at her in utter amazement, and said, "With pleasure, my pretty one; if you are in earnest, I will gladly do it. world, and met many people who wanted to be rich, but I never yet came across any one who wanted to be poor. Poverty will ill suit those soft white hands and that sweet little face of yours." But the knight's wife had already begun to take off her dress, and looked so sad and serious that the old woman easily saw she was not joking. So she gave her her petticoat and her cloak, and helped her to put them on; then she asked "What do you mean to do now, my pretty one?" "To beg, good mother," answered the knight's wife. |