Of rage in minds that can no farther go,
As high as they have mounted in despite
In their remission do they sink as low,
To our bold baron did it happen so.[2]


[2] Of these lines all that is not in italics belongs to
Mr. Wordsworth: Resolution and Independence.


For his discobolic exploit proved the climax of his rage, and was
succeeded by an immediate sense that he had passed the bounds
of legitimate passion; and he sunk immediately from the very
pinnacle of opposition to the level of implicit acquiescence.
The friar's spirits were not to be marred by such a little incident.
He was half-inclined, at first, to return the baron's compliment;
but his love of Matilda checked him; and when the baron held out his hand,
the friar seized it cordially, and they drowned all recollection
of the affair by pledging each other in a cup of canary.

The friar, having stayed long enough to see every thing replaced
on a friendly footing, rose, and moved to take his leave.
Matilda told him he must come again on the morrow, for she
had a very long confession to make to him. This the friar
promised to do, and departed with the knight.

Sir Ralph, on reaching the abbey, drew his followers together, and led them
to Locksley Castle, which he found in the possession of his lieutenant;
whom he again left there with a sufficient force to hold it in safe
keeping in the king's name, and proceeded to London to report the results