多少人把他们所有的忧虑都归结于符咒和咒语，秘密的咒语和祈祷!我永远不能相信这些，嘲笑那些愚蠢的欺骗。然而，对于美丽的美人来说，这是千真万确的，在她们看来，这些话是神圣的美德;在爱情里，魔法和魔法的奇迹都在起作用。我现在的目的是要利用这些，讲一个我相信会讨人喜欢的故事，讲的是圣朱利安向雷诺·德阿斯特的祈祷产生了好处，带来了好运。如果他忽略了重复咒语，那么他就会发现他的现金账目不对，肯定会度过一个悲惨的夜晚。有一天，他来到威廉的城堡。有三个人，他很欣赏他们的长相，觉得周围都是这样诚实的人，像他们这样的人在周围是找不到的;三个人毫不怀疑有什么不对，他们恭顺地、流利地向他敬礼，恭顺地向他敬礼，并问道(这是更好的欺骗时间)他们是否可以陪他一起走;这将是莫大的荣幸，而且刻不容缓; Besides, in travelling 'tis safer found, And far more pleasant, when the party's round; So many robbers through the province range, (Continued they) 'tis wonderfully strange, The prince should not these villains more restrain; But there:--bad MEN will somewhere still remain. TO their proposal Reynold soon agreed, And they resolved together to proceed. When 'bout a league the travellers had moved, Discussing freely, as they all approved, The conversation turned on spells and prayer, Their pow'r o'er worms of earth, or birds of air; To charm the wolf, or guard from thunder's roar, And many wonderful achievements more; Besides the cures a prayer would oft produce; To man and beast it proves of sov'reign use, Far greater than from doctors e'er you'll view, Who, with their Latin, make so much ado. IN turn, the three pretended knowledge great, And mystick facts affected to relate, While Reynold silently attention paid To all the words the honest fellows said:-- Possess you not, said one, some secret prayer To bring you aid, when dangers round you stare? To this our Reynold seriously replied, Myself, on secret spells, I do not pride; But still some WORDS I have that I repeat, Each morn I travel, that I may not meet A horrid lodging where I stop at night; 'Tis called SAINT JULIAN'S PRAYER that I recite, And truly I have found, that when I fail To say this prayer, I've reason to bewail. But rarely I neglect so good a thing, That ills averts, and may such blessings bring. And have you clearly said it, sir, to day? Cried one of those he met upon his way. Yes, Reynold answered. Well, replied the Wight; I'll wage, I'm better lodged than you to-night. 'TWAS very cold, and darkness 'gan to peep; The place was distant yet, where they might sleep. Perhaps, said Reynold, 'tis your usual care, In travelling, to say, like me, this prayer. Not so, the other cried, to you I vow, Invoking saints is not my practice now; But should I lose, thenceforth I'll them address.-- Said Reynold, readily I acquiesce; My life I'd venture, should you to an inn, For, in the town, I've neither friend nor kin, And, if you like, we'll this exception make. The other answered: Well, the bet I'll take; Your horse and coat against my purse you wage, And, sure of gaining, readily engage. Our Wight might then have thoroughly perceived, His horse was lost--no chance to be relieved. BESIDE a wood, as on the party moved, The one, who betting had so much approved, Now changed his tone, and in a surly way, Exclaimed:--Alight--you'll find it time to pray; Let me apprize you, distant is the place, And much you'll need Saint Julian's special grace. Come off, I tell you:--instantly they took His purse, horse, clothes, and all their hands could hook E'en seized his boots, and said with subtle sneer, Your feet, by walking, won't the worse appear; Then sought a diff'rent road by rapid flight, And, presently the knaves were out of sight; While Reynold still with stockings, drawers, and shirt, But wet to skin, and covered o'er with dirt: (The wind north-east in front--as cold as clay In doleful dumps proceeded on his way, And justly feared, that spite of faith and prayer, He now should meet, at night, with wretched fare. HOWEVER, some pleasing hopes he still had yet, That, from his cloak-bag, he some clothes might get; For, we should note, a servant he had brought, Who in the neighbourhood a farrier sought. To set a shoe upon his horse, and then Should join his master on the road agen; But that, as we shall find, was n