CHAPTER IV.
Modern Conversions of the Old Tales—The Three Black Crows—King Lear—The Emperor of Rome and his Three Daughters—The Merchant of Venice—The Three Caskets.
“What a mine must these tales of the old monks have been to writers of every age,” said Herbert, as the friends returned to their old book for the fourth evening.
“The purloiners of gems from their writings have been innumerable, and of all ages. Gower, Lydgate, Chaucer, Shakspeare, of olden days; and in our own times, Parnell, Schiller, Scott, and Southey have been indebted to the didactic fictions of the old monks for many a good plot and many an effective incident.”
“As the old monks themselves were indebted to the earlier legends of other lands, the traditions of their own convent, or the meagre pages of an old chronicle.”
“Even the veteran joker, Mr. Joe Miller, has been indebted to the Gesta for one of his standard tales,” said Lathom; “The Three Black Crows dates back to the middle ages.”
“The moral, however, was hardly so polite as that now attached to the story; for the monk boldly headed his tale with this inscription:
“‘Of women who not only betray secrets and lie fearfully.’”
“‘Of women who not only betray secrets and lie fearfully.’”
“‘Of women who not only betray secrets and lie fearfully.’”
“‘Of women who not only betray secrets and lie fearfully.’”
“Pray let us hear the original Joe Miller,” said Thompson.
“Here then you have,” replied Lathom, “the original—
“Tale that will raise the question, I suppose,What can the meaning be of three black crows?”
“Tale that will raise the question, I suppose,What can the meaning be of three black crows?”
“Tale that will raise the question, I suppose,What can the meaning be of three black crows?”
“Tale that will raise the question, I suppose,
What can the meaning be of three black crows?”