The Wit and Humor of America, Volume IV | Page 3

beneficial
devouring.
"I do require thee," quoth the friar, "to shew me that booke that I may
know the name thereof and discover whereof it treateth."
Then shewed the devil the booke unto the friar, and the friar saw it was
an uncut unique of incalculable value; the height of it was half a cubit
and the breadth of it the fourth part of a cubit and the thickness of it
five barleycorns lacking the space of three horsehairs. This booke
contained, within its divers picturings, symbols and similitudes
wrought with incomparable craft, the same being such as in human
vanity are called proof before letters, and imprinted upon India paper;
also the booke contained written upon its pages, divers names of them
that had possessed it, all these having in their time been mighty and
illustrious personages; but what seemed most delectable unto the friar
was an autographic writing wherein 'twas shewn that the booke
sometime had been given by Venus di Medici to Apollos at Rhodes.
When therefore the Friar Gonsol saw the booke how that it was
intituled and imprinted and adorned and bounden, he knew it to be of
vast worth and he was mightily moved to possess it; therefore he
required of the other (that was the devil) that he give unto him an
option upon the same for the space of seven days hence or until such a
time as he could inquire concerning the booke in Lowndes and other
such like authorities. But the devil, smiling, quoth: "The booke shall be
yours without price provided only you shall bind yourself to do me a
service as I shall hereafter specify and direct."

Now when the Friar Gonsol heard this compact, he knew for a verity
that the devil was indeed the devil, and but that he sorely wanted the
booke he would have driven that impious fiend straightway from his
presence. Howbeit, the devil, promising to visit him again that night,
departed, leaving the friar exceeding heavy in spirit, for he was both
assotted upon the booke to comprehend it and assotted upon the devil
to do violence unto him.
It befell that in his doubtings he came unto the Friar Francis, another
holy man that by continual fastings and devotions had made himself an
ensample of piety unto all men, and to this sanctified brother did the
Friar Gonsol straightway unfold the story of his temptation and speak
fully of the wondrous booke and of its divers many richnesses.
When that he had heard this narration the Friar Francis made answer in
this wise: "Of great subtility surely is the devil that he hath set this
snare for thy feet. Have a care, my brother, that thou fallest not into the
pit which he hath digged for thee! Happy art thou to have come to me
with this thing, elsewise a great mischief might have befallen thee.
Now listen to my words and do as I counsel thee. Have no more to do
with this devil; send him to me, or appoint with him another meeting
and I will go in thy stead."
"Nay, nay," cried the Friar Gonsol, "the saints forefend from thee the
evil temptation provided for my especial proving! I should have been
reckoned a weak and coward vessel were I to send thee in my stead to
bear the mortifications designed for the trying of my virtues."
"But thou art a younger brother than I," reasoned the Friar Francis
softly; "and, firm though thy resolution may be now, thou art more like
than I to be wheedled and bedazzled by these diabolical wiles and
artifices. So let me know where this devil abideth with the booke; I
burn to meet him and to wrest his treasure from his impious
possession."
But the Friar Gonsol shook his head and would not hear unto this
vicarious sacrifice whereon the good Friar Francis had set his heart.

"Ah, I see that thou hast little faith in my strength to combat the fiend,"
quoth the Friar Francis reproachfully. "Thy trust in me should be
greater, for I have done thee full many a kindly office; or, now I do
bethink me, thou art assorted on the booke! Unhappy brother, can it be
that thou dost covet this vain toy, this frivolous bauble, that thou
wouldst seek the devil's companionship anon to compound with
Beelzelub? I charge thee, Brother Gonsol, open thine eyes and see in
what a slippery place thou standest."
Now by these argumentations was the Friar Gonsol mightily
confounded, and he knew not what to do.
"Come, now, hesitate no longer," quoth the Friar Francis, "but tell me
where that devil may be found--I burn to see and to comprehend the
booke--not that I care for the booke, but that I am