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223 223 Chapter 16 The Priest’s Tale Continued “From the outset and for as long as I was there, I made it my concern to humor the cook, get on his good side, and praise him. He, in return, let me want for nothing that could be had in the monastery. In fact, I spent the greater part of my time in the kitchen. I was also good at cooking dishes he knew nothing of, so I taught him these, and he became exceedingly fond of me. Thus it came to pass that, when the abbot invited someone dear to him to eat with him, or had an urge to eat a certain kind of food on his own, the cook would charge me with preparing it. Because I was as meticulous as possible in doing so, I ended up in his good graces, meaning that I’d sit with him in the evenings and keep him company, acquiring in this way a reputation for righteousness and piety among the monks. I pulled my hood down till it reached the bridge of my nose—and would that custom had allowed it to cover the nose entirely!—and when I walked I kept my head bent toward the ground and cast only brief glances to right and left, and when I ate, drank, slept, walked, or washed my face, I made mention of all of those things, thanking and praising God as I did so. Thus I would say, for example, ‘Today I left my cell, praise be to God!’ or ‘To God be glory!’ (the latter being the monks’ preferred form), or ‘This morning I took a laxative, may this find favor in God’s eyes!’ and other stuff that those who make a show of piety are known to say. Thus the monks ended up believing that I was full of righteousness and virtue. I’d also written out a few hymns in bad Arabic for the abbot, who admired and praised me for my hand, promising to promote me to a rank worthy of me, for he believed I was distinguished from the rest of the monks by my learning and excellence of judgment, a faculty he attributed to my being ghaydār (meaning ‘a suspicious person who ponders a matter and then comes up with a correct interpretation’). 1.16.1 224 224 ��� ����� � ���� � �� � ���� � � � � �� ������ � ��� � �� � � ‫ت‬ �‫ا‬�‫م‬� ْ‫ن‬ � َ ‫ا‬ ‫ة‬ �‫و‬�‫ي‬ �‫ح‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ت‬ �‫و‬�‫م‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫ب‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ه‬‫لل‬‫ا‬ ‫ر‬ َ ّ ‫�د‬ ‫ق‬ � � � ‫م‬ � ‫ث‬ � * ) ‫ب‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫ص‬� �‫ي‬ � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ظ�ن‬ � �� �‫ي‬ �� ‫ظ�ن‬ � �� � ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫�ئ‬ � ّ ‫ي‬ �‫��س‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�‫ه‬� ‫ر‬‫ا‬‫�د‬‫ي‬ � ‫�غ‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬( ‫�ذ�ي�ن‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � � ‫ا‬ * ‫ة‬ ��‫ي‬ �‫ع‬ �‫ر‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ة‬ ��‫م‬�‫د‬��‫خ‬ � � ‫ن‬ �‫و‬��‫ر‬ ‫ش‬ ���‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �‫�ي‬� ‫�ذ�ي�ن‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ي�ن‬ ��‫س‬��‫ي‬ ��‫س‬�� ‫ق‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫�ض‬� � ‫ع‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫ة‬ �‫�د‬‫ي‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫ب‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬‫د‬��‫ل‬��‫ب‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫�ض‬� � ‫ع‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ا‬� ‫ل‬�‫خ‬ � � ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ت‬ �‫ي‬ �‫ع‬ �‫بر‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫و‬�‫ط‬ �� � ‫ل‬��‫ت‬ �‫�خ‬ �‫ي‬ � ‫�ذ�ي�ن‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫�ير‬‫د‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫س‬��‫ا‬�‫ن‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ت‬ �‫و‬�‫ي‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ن‬ �‫و‬�‫ب‬ ��‫ر‬ ‫ش‬ ���‫ي‬ �‫و‬�� ‫ن‬ �‫و‬�‫ل‬��‫ك‬ � �� ‫ا‬�‫ي‬ �� ‫س‬��‫ي‬ ��‫ئ‬ ��‫ر‬ ‫ب‬ � ّ ‫ب‬ ��‫س‬�� ‫ت‬ �� ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ة‬ �‫ور‬��‫ر‬ ‫ض‬ �� � ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫�د‬‫ن‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫س‬��‫ا‬�‫ن‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫و‬�‫ط‬ �� � ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫خ‬ � �‫ي‬ � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ء‬‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫و‬�‫ه‬� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �‫�ه‬‫ر‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ة‬ �‫د‬‫ا‬�‫ع‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ت‬ �‫ن‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫د‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫�ن‬� ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬� ‫ا‬ � ً ‫ل‬ � � ‫�د‬‫ب‬ �� ‫ى‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � َّ‫�ف‬ � � ‫و‬�‫ت‬ �‫م‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫س‬��‫ي‬ ��‫س‬�� ‫ق‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � � �‫م‬� ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫د‬��‫ل‬��‫ب‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ك‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ذ‬ � ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫ن‬�‫ع�ث‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫�ير‬‫د‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ع‬ ‫ر‬‫و‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫م‬�‫ه‬ �‫ي‬ � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ت‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫�د‬‫ب‬ ��‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ب‬ �‫ي‬ �‫ح‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ت‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫م‬ �‫ا‬‫ر‬‫ك‬ � ��‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � �‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫ى‬ � ‫ت‬ �‫��س‬‫ي‬ �� ‫ن‬ �‫ك‬ � �� ‫ل‬�‫ه‬��‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫�ن‬� ‫ا‬�‫ق‬ ��‫ل‬��‫ت‬ �� ‫ت‬ �‫ل‬��‫ص‬� �‫و‬�� ‫ا‬�‫م‬�‫ل‬�� ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ه‬�‫ع‬ �‫م‬� ‫ي�ن‬ ��‫�ن‬ ‫ب‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ة‬ � ‫�ذ‬��‫ل‬� � ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫ه‬‫لل‬‫ا‬ ‫ه‬�‫م‬�‫ر‬‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ��‫�ن‬‫�م‬‫م‬� ‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ج‬ � � ‫ت‬ �‫ل‬��� ‫ا‬ ‫�ض‬� � ‫ع‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫ت‬ �‫ح‬ � * ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫ب‬ �� ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ض‬ �� � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ع‬ ‫ا‬�‫ش‬ ��� ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ة‬ ��‫ف‬ ��‫ع‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫د‬��‫ل‬��‫ت‬ � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ة‬ �‫ا‬‫ر‬‫و‬�‫ت‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬� � ‫و‬� ‫�ق‬ �‫�ت‬� ‫ا‬� ‫م‬� ‫ك‬ �� ‫ى‬ �‫ب‬ �‫ب‬ ��‫س‬��‫ب‬ � ‫ه‬�‫ت‬ ��‫ا‬‫ر‬‫م‬�‫ا‬ ‫م‬ � ‫ح‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ه‬‫لل‬‫ا‬ ‫ح‬ � ‫ف�ت‬ ���‫�ي‬� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ء‬ ‫آ‬ ��‫ج‬ � �‫ر‬ ‫�ده‬‫ن‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫م‬ �‫ي‬ � ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ه‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ن�ز‬��‫م‬� ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫�ن‬� ‫ا‬�‫ع‬ �‫د‬ * ‫و‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ل‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ة‬ ��‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫ل‬�‫خ‬ � � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ب‬ �‫ح‬ � ‫ت‬ � * ‫ه�د‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ة‬ �‫ع�د‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫ق‬ � � � * ‫�د‬‫ق‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ة‬ ��‫ق‬ ��‫ي‬ � ‫ش‬ ���‫ر‬ ‫ة‬ ��‫ل‬��‫ي‬ �‫�م‬‫�ج‬ � ‫ت‬ �‫ن‬��‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � �� ‫و‬�� * ‫ي�ن‬ ��‫�ن‬ ‫ب‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ت‬ �‫�م‬ ‫�ق‬ � � ‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � ) ‫ع‬ � ‫ج‬ � � ‫س‬���‫ل‬��‫ل‬�� ‫ه‬‫ر‬‫ط‬ �� �‫ا‬�‫خ‬ � � ‫�ج‬ �‫ه�ي‬� �‫ي‬ ��‫و‬�� ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫ء‬ ‫آ‬ ��‫س‬�� ‫ن‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫ر‬‫ك‬ � ��‫�ذ‬ �‫ي‬ �� ‫د‬��‫ح‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ه‬‫لل‬‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬�‫ح‬ �‫ب‬ �‫س‬���( * ‫و‬�‫ه‬�‫�ز‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ف‬ ��‫ص‬� � ‫ق‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ا‬�‫ه‬�‫ر‬ ‫ش‬ ���‫ا‬�‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ �‫ي‬ � ‫�غ‬ � ‫ا‬�‫ن‬��‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ت‬ � ‫�ج‬ �‫و‬�� ‫�ز‬ ‫ل‬� � ‫ا�ز‬ � ‫�غ‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬�� َّ‫�ن‬‫ع‬ � ‫م‬ � ‫ث‬ � * ‫ة‬ � َ ‫د‬��ِ‫ج‬ � �‫و‬�� ‫ش‬ ���‫ي‬ ��‫ع‬ � ‫م‬ � ‫ع‬ �‫�ن‬�‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ة‬ �‫م�د‬� ‫�ده‬‫ن‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫ل‬�‫ي‬ ��‫م‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫ء‬‫ا‬�‫س‬�� ‫ن‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ع‬ � ‫ب‬ �‫ط‬ �� � ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ى‬ � ‫ت‬ �‫ب‬ ��‫ن‬ ��‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �� ِ ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �‫�ت‬� ‫م‬ � ‫�ل‬ � ‫و‬�� * ‫ى‬ � ‫�ت‬� ‫د‬‫و‬�� ‫ا‬‫ر‬ ُ ‫م‬� ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ت‬ �‫ب‬��‫ا‬�‫ج‬ � �‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ �‫ي‬ � ‫ض‬ �� �‫ا‬‫ر‬‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ء‬ ‫آ‬ ��‫س‬�� ‫ن‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � �‫د‬��‫ح‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ه‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫ت‬ �‫ر‬ ‫�ذ‬ �‫ت‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ك‬‫ا‬‫ر‬‫د‬‫ا‬ ‫ا‬�‫م‬�‫و‬�� * ‫ى‬ � ‫ص‬� � َ‫ق‬ ��‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫ء‬‫ا‬�‫ن‬ � ‫�غ‬ � ‫س�ت‬��‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ّ ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫و‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ * ‫ة‬ �‫ر‬‫و‬�‫ص‬� � ‫�ن‬‫��س‬‫ح‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ٍ ‫ح‬ � ‫ى‬ � ‫ن‬�‫ع�ي‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ي‬ �‫�ن‬�‫د‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ت‬ � ‫�ز‬ ‫ر‬‫ب‬ �� ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫د‬‫ا‬‫و‬� ِ‫س‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬� � ‫و‬�‫ط‬ �� �‫و‬�� * ‫د‬‫ا‬�‫س‬��ِ ‫و‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ب‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ل‬� � ‫و‬� ‫�ق‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫ت‬ �‫م‬�‫ا‬‫د‬ ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ّ ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � َّ‫ض�ن‬ ��� �‫و‬�‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ت‬ �‫ل‬�� ‫ق‬ � � �‫و‬�� * ‫ة‬ �‫ر‬‫ي‬ �� ‫ث‬ �‫ك‬ � � �‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ّ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫ش‬ ���‫م‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫�ن‬‫م‬�‫�ير‬‫د‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ت‬ �‫ي‬ � ‫�ق‬ � � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ت‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫س‬�� ‫ن‬ �‫و‬�� * ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � � �‫�ئ‬‫ا‬�‫ح‬ � ‫ت‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫ك‬ � �� ‫م‬ �‫ا‬�‫ي‬ ��‫ا‬ ‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬� ‫ى‬ � ‫ن‬�‫�ت‬‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ل‬�‫�ك‬ � �� * ‫ة‬ ��‫ن‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫�ذ‬ �‫م‬� ‫ده‬‫ر‬‫ا‬‫و‬� ‫ش‬ ���‫و‬�� * ‫ة‬ ��‫ن‬ �‫ك‬ � � �‫�م‬‫م‬� ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ظ‬ � �� � ‫ح‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ة‬ ��‫ص‬� �‫ر‬ ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ة‬ �‫ر‬‫م‬� ‫ر‬ َ ‫ب‬ �� َ‫�غ‬ � ‫م‬ �‫و‬�‫ي‬ �� ‫ل‬�‫�ك‬ � �� ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ع‬ �‫م‬� ‫ى‬ � ‫�ت‬� ‫ا‬ ّ‫�ذ‬��‫ل‬� � ‫م‬ � َ ‫س‬�� ‫ق‬ �� ُ ‫�ت‬� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫س‬�� ‫ف‬ ��‫�ن‬� ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ت‬ � ‫ض‬ �� �‫ر‬ ‫ف‬ � � � ‫م‬ � ‫ث‬ � * ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � � �‫�س‬�‫ا‬�‫ن‬��‫و‬�� ‫ا‬�‫خ‬ � �‫ا‬�ّ ‫ب‬ �‫ط‬ �� �‫و‬�� ‫ب‬ �‫س‬��‫ح‬ �‫ب‬ � * ‫بر‬ �‫ا‬�‫غ‬ � �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫�ز‬ّ ‫ي‬ ��‫ح‬ � ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ا‬� ‫ض‬ �� �‫ي‬ ��‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬‫و‬�‫ه‬�‫و‬�� * ‫ر‬ ‫ض‬ �� �‫ا‬�‫ح‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬��‫ع‬ �‫و‬�� * ‫ة‬ � َ ّ ‫ر‬‫ح‬ �‫ب‬ � ‫�ج‬ �‫و‬�� ‫ت�ز‬ ��‫م‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫ب‬ � ‫أ‬ �‫د‬�‫ك‬ � �� ‫ة‬ ��‫ي‬ �‫�ن‬� ‫ا‬ ‫ذ‬ � ‫ل‬� ‫ج‬ �� �‫ر‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � �� ‫و‬�� * ‫م�د‬�‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫ت‬ � ‫غ‬ � �‫ل‬��‫ب‬ �� ‫ى‬ � ‫ت‬ �‫ح‬ � * ‫ع�دد‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫ت‬ � ‫أ‬ �‫�د‬‫ب‬ � ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ر‬‫د‬‫ا‬‫و‬� ‫ب‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ث‬ �‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬‫و‬� ‫ب‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ر‬‫م‬�‫ا‬ ‫ه‬�‫ل‬��‫غ‬ � � ‫ش‬ ��� ‫�ن‬‫ع‬ � ‫ه‬� ‫ق‬ � � �‫و‬�‫ع‬�‫�ي‬� ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫و‬�� * ‫ظ�ن‬ � �� � ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫�ئ‬ � ‫س‬��‫ي‬ � ‫ك�ن‬ � � �‫�ي‬ ‫م‬ � ‫ل‬ �� ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ة‬ ��‫م‬�‫ي‬ � ‫ق‬ ��‫ت‬ �‫�س‬�‫م‬� ‫ة‬ ��‫م‬�‫ي‬ � ‫ش‬ ���‫و‬�� * ‫ة‬ ��‫م‬�‫ي‬ �‫ل‬��‫س‬�� * ‫ب‬ � ‫�ج‬ � ‫ع‬ �‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫�ن‬‫م‬�‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫ص‬� � ‫ت‬ �‫ا‬ ّ ‫ر‬‫م��س‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫س‬�� ‫�ؤ‬ �‫ك‬ � �� ‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ �‫�ن‬�‫ا‬‫د‬ ‫ت‬ �‫ا‬ ّ‫�ذ‬��‫ل‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ف‬ � � �‫و‬�‫ط‬ �� � ُ ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫ن‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ك‬‫ر‬ ‫ت‬ �� ‫ف‬ � � � * ّ‫�ن‬‫ع‬ � 2،16،1 3،16،1 4،16،1 [3.14.142.115] Project MUSE (2024-04-20 03:37 GMT) 225 225 The Priest’s Tale Continued “Then God, Lord of Death and Life, decreed that one of those priests who service the laity in certain far-off parts (meaning that they eat and drink in people’s houses instead of at the monastery and mingle with their congregants , against the custom of monks, who mix with people only when they have to) should die, causing the abbot to send me to that country to adopt the same position as the deceased (meaning to substitute for him, not to be buried along with him). On my arrival, my congregation received me generouslyandwithopenarms ,whileIdemonstratedgod-fearingnessandchastity to them and my virtues became well known among them. A merchant, one to whom God had denied the pleasure of children, even invited me into his home and asked me to lodge with him, in the hope that, by virtue of my presence , God would ‘open his wife’s womb,’ as it says in the Old Testament,233 and children be born to him. This wife was beautiful, slender of figure, and well-endowed of chest, fond of dissolute pleasure, revelry, and zest (God be praised—the mere thought of women produces the urge to write in rhymed prose!), so I stayed with him a while, living in the most luxurious style. “Then it occurred to me to flirt with his wife and to pursue her, be her close companion and woo her. She responded to my enticements, paying no attention to the tip of my nose, for it is in women’s nature to incline to what’s close, ignoring what’s far away (and I’m sure you’re aware of what one woman said, concerning ‘long converse and closeness in bed.’)234 The world now appeared to my eyes at its best, I forgot the many hardships that, at the monastery , I’d had to digest, and I said to myself, ‘So long as my good fortune persists and its currents serve, I shall...

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