Lewis.  I would speak to him—­
And learn his secret.—­We’ll await him here.

[Enter Conrad.]

Con.  Peace to you, reverend and war-worn knight,
And you, fair youth, upon whose swarthy lip
Blooms the rich promise of a noble manhood. 
Methinks, if simple monks may read your thoughts,
That with no envious or distasteful eyes
Ye watch the labours of God’s poor elect.

Wal.  Why—­we were saying, how you cunning rooks
Pitch as by instinct on the fattest fallows.

Con.  For He who feeds the ravens, promiseth
Our bread and water sure, and leads us on
By peaceful streams in pastures green to lie,
Beneath our Shepherd’s eye.

Lewis.  In such a nook, now,
To nestle from this noisy world—­

Con.  And drop
The burden of thyself upon the threshold.

Lewis.  Think what rich dreams may haunt those lowly roofs!

Con.  Rich dreams,—­and more; their dreams will find fulfilment—­
Their discipline breeds strength—­’Tis we alone
Can join the patience of the labouring ox
Unto the eagle’s foresight,—­not a fancy
Of ours, but grows in time to mighty deeds;
Victories in heavenly warfare:  but yours, yours, Sir,
Oh, choke them, choke the panting hopes of youth,
Ere they be born, and wither in slow pains,
Cast by for the next bauble!

Lewis.  ’Tis too true! 
I dread no toil; toil is the true knight’s pastime—­
Faith fails, the will intense and fixed, so easy
To thee, cut off from life and love, whose powers
In one close channel must condense their stream: 
But I, to whom this life blooms rich and busy,
Whose heart goes out a-Maying all the year
In this new Eden—­in my fitful thought
What skill is there, to turn my faith to sight—­
To pierce blank Heaven, like some trained falconer
After his game, beyond all human ken?

Wal.  And walk into the bog beneath your feet.

Con.  And change it to firm land by magic step! 
Build there cloud-cleaving spires, beneath whose shade
Great cities rise for vassals; to call forth
From plough and loom the rank unlettered hinds,
And make them saints and heroes—­send them forth
To sway with heavenly craft the spirit of princes;
Change nations’ destinies, and conquer worlds
With love, more mighty than the sword; what, Count? 
Art thou ambitious? practical? we monks
Can teach you somewhat there too.

Lewis.  Be it so;
But love you have forsworn; and what were life
Without that chivalry, which bends man’s knees
Before God’s image and his glory, best
Revealed in woman’s beauty?