human
H'm, h'm, murmured the pilgrim to himself.
gpt
Seems better fitted to be a boudoir saint than a builder of bridges.
human
Good morrow, he cried to the poor priest, who now looked up wearily from his task, pressing a lean hand to his brow,
gpt
I do the work of my Master, wheresoever it leads me.
human
And do you hold the building of bridges in greater repute than the saying of Aves, or is it mayhap that you wish to become a famous _pontiff_?
gpt
Nay, but I find the land overflowing with those who will say 'Hail Marys' from Matin to Vespers, but I do not find over many ready to cut stones and repair the highways.
human
Why not get down and help us? asked one burly fellow of the traveller.
gpt
Wot you that the Bishop hath granted sixty days' indulgence to all who do the pious work of repairing roads or bridges?
human
Water will freeze in May, he answered,
gpt
he pointed significantly to the vernicle sewed conspicuously in his cap to show that he had but lately returned from a pilgrimage to Rome,
human
he said,
gpt
I have seen somewhat of the world at the same time, and I have taken it leisurely and without toil, and, moreover, the Roman ladies are beautiful and complaisant. Then, catching sight of the scorn in the eyes of the poor priest, he hastened to add,
human
Besides, I am bent upon more important business, for what would the people do were I to fail them?
gpt
Fail them in what? indignantly asked Robert Annys--for the bridge repairer was he.
human
To my mind you fail them indeed if you scorn to help them in keeping in repair the one means they have of communicating with one another, of hearing of one another and keeping up the bonds of fellowship.
gpt
Well, replied the other, good-humoredly,
human
I do my share in keeping the roads in repair--thou in one way, I in another.
gpt
How now, exclaimed Annys, fiercely;
human
I do not jest.
gpt
Nor I. Nothing is simpler. Take a man who hath been ordered to make a pilgrimage to Rome, or even let us say Canterbury, I pardon him his pilgrimage at the expense of a few shillings, and by my help he hath at once saved his immortal soul and the road which he would have worn by his feet.
human
And you thereby have lined your pouch with the shillings,