Methought that I then banished thee my realm ?" "Not so, Count and Seigneur," answered the ecclesiastic, with a grave but arch smile on his lip; "let me remind thee, that to speed me back to my native land thou didst graciously send me a horse, halting on three legs, and all lame on the fourth.

Thus mounted, I met thee on my road.

I saluted thee; so did the beast, for his head well nigh touched the ground.

Whereon I did ask thee, in a Latin play of words, to give me at least a quadruped, not a tripod, for my journey.

[65] Gracious, even in ire, and with relenting laugh, was thine answer.