TALE XCII.
OF CHRIST, WHO DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE.
A certain king had a wife named Cornelia. It happened that, under a wall in one of the king's castles, two serpents were discovered; one male, and the other female. The king, hearing of this, interrogated his learned men as to the signification; and they assured him that they were hidden there to predict the death of a man or woman. They further declared that if the male were killed, a man should die; if the female, a woman and a wife. "If this be so," said the king, "kill the male serpent, and let the female live; for a man ought more willingly to die himself than permit the death of his wife." And he gave this reason for it: "If my wife live, she may bring forth many sons who may succeed to my throne; but if she should die, the kingdom would want an heir."
APPLICATION.
My beloved, the king is Christ; the wife, our human nature, for which He gave himself to death.
TALE XCIII.
OF THE INHERITANCE AND JOY OF A FAITHFUL SOUL.
A certain powerful lord sent his two sons to study, that they might, by their own assiduity, obtain a livelihood. After some time he sent letters to them, to command their return to their own country; and they returned accordingly. One of the brothers rejoiced at this, and was received with equal pleasure. He was, moreover, put in possession of a fair inheritance. But the other was much distressed at his recall. When his mother ran out to meet him, she