who durst speak to me, nor a laic who durst bring me food except
by stealth.

Such resting and welcoming found Brother Samson, with his worn
soles, and strong heart! He sits silent, revolving many
thoughts, at the foot of St. Edmund's Shrine. In the wide Earth,
if it be not Saint Edmund, what friend or refuge has he? Our
Lord Abbot, hearing of him, sent the proper officer to lead him
down to prison, clap 'foot-gyves on him' there. Another poor
official furtively brought him a cup of wine; bade him "be
comforted in the Lord." Samson utters no complaint; obeys in
silence. 'Our Lord Abbot, taking counsel of it, banished me to
Acre, and there I had to stay long.'

Our Lord Abbot next tried Samson with promotions; made him
Subsacristan, made him Librarian, which he liked best of all,
being passionately fond of Books: Samson, with many thoughts in
him, again obeyed in silence; discharged his offices to
perfection, but never thanked our Lord Abbot,--seemed rather as
if looking into him, with those clear eyes of his. Whereupon
Abbot Hugo said, _Se nunquam vidisse,_ he had never seen such a
man; whom no severity would break to complain, and no kindness
soften into smiles or thanks:--a questionable kind of man!


In this way, not without troubles, but still in an erect clear-
standing manner, has Brother Samson reached his forty-seventh
year; and his ruddy beard is getting slightly grizzled. He is
endeavouring, in these days, to have various broken things
thatched in; nay perhaps to have the Choir itself completed, for