But, still rowing away, she said to
them--
"I should be doubly foolish if, after escaping out of your hands, I were
to put myself into them again."
When she had come to the village, she went to call her husband and the
ministers of justice that they might go and take these fierce wolves,
from whose fangs she had by the grace of God escaped. They set out
accompanied by many people, for there was no one, big or little, but
wished to share in the pleasure of this chase.
When the poor brethren saw such a large company approaching, they hid
themselves each in his island, even as Adam did when he perceived his
nakedness in the presence of God.(2) Shame set their sin clearly before
them, and the fear of punishment made them tremble so that they were
half dead. Nevertheless, they were taken prisoners amid the mockings and
hootings of men and women.
Some said, "These good fathers preach chastity to us and then rob our
wives of theirs." (3)
2 See _Genesis_ iii. 8-10.
3 The editions of 1558 and 1560 here contain this
additional phrase: "They do not dare to touch money with
bare hands, and yet they willingly finger the thighs of our
wives, which are more dangerous.
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