Page 237

C.x.

semfloit si que de randoi[t?] elle venoit jusques au cha
stel. Et de tant que len les levoit plus hault tant plus
croissoit la mer si que tout le chasteau fust noye se tan
tost ne fussent remiz en leur lieu. Mais lors quilz y
estoient rassiz tantost la mer se rabaissoit et se remet
toit comme paravant estoit. Et che a len mainteffoiz
esprouve et ancores en dure la vertu comme dient ceulx
qui celle part ont este. Virgille fust moult saige et
soubtil et plain de grant engien. Car a son povoir il
volt prouver tous les usaiges des clercs tant que possi
ble lui fut den savoir. il fut homme de petite stature
ung pau courbe avoit le doz par droitte nature et aloit
la teste baissant et regardant devers terre. Moult fist
virgilles de grans merveilles que les escoutans tendro
ient a mensonges lors que ilz les orroient racompter
Car ilz ne pourroient penser ne cuidier que ung aul
tre scevist faire chose dont aulcunement ne se sceussent
entremettre. Et quant ilz oient parler de telz materez
ou daultres qui meismes voient a leurs yeulx et dont
ilz ne scevent riens tantost dient que cest a layde de
lennemy quilz besonguent en telle maniere comme

110

would overflow and swell until it reached the castle.
And the higher they lifted the bones, the higher the sea
would rise, so that the whole castle would have been drowned
if they had not put them back in their place. But when they
were put back, immediately the sea level would fall and
it would go back to the way it was before. And this has been
proved many times, and the virtue [of the bones] endures, as
those who live in those parts tell it. Virgil was very wise and
subtle and full of great ingenuity. For as much as he could,
he wanted to prove all the usages of the scholars that he knew
of, as much as was possible. He was a man of short stature,
with a back that was naturally a bit bent, and he went about
with his head down, looking at the earth. Virgil did many
great marvels, which listeners took for lies when they
heard them told. For they could not think nor believe that this one person
knew how to do things that no one else knew how to engage in.
And when they heard speak of such matters, or of others
that they saw with their own eyes, about which they knew nothing,
they would immediately say that such things were done with the
help of the Enemy, for they act like

C.x.

semfloit si que de randoi[t?] elle venoit jusques au cha
stel. Et de tant que len les levoit plus hault tant plus
croissoit la mer si que tout le chasteau fust noye se tan
tost ne fussent remiz en leur lieu. Mais lors quilz y
estoient rassiz tantost la mer se rabaissoit et se remet
toit comme paravant estoit. Et che a len mainteffoiz
esprouve et ancores en dure la vertu comme dient ceulx
qui celle part ont este. Virgille fust moult saige et
soubtil et plain de grant engien. Car a son povoir il
volt prouver tous les usaiges des clercs tant que possi
ble lui fut den savoir. il fut homme de petite stature
ung pau courbe avoit le doz par droitte nature et aloit
la teste baissant et regardant devers terre. Moult fist
virgilles de grans merveilles que les escoutans tendro
ient a mensonges lors que ilz les orroient racompter
Car ilz ne pourroient penser ne cuidier que ung aul
tre scevist faire chose dont aulcunement ne se sceussent
entremettre. Et quant ilz oient parler de telz materez
ou daultres qui meismes voient a leurs yeulx et dont
ilz ne scevent riens tantost dient que cest a layde de
lennemy quilz besonguent en telle maniere comme

110

would overflow and swell until it reached the castle.
And the higher they lifted the bones, the higher the sea
would rise, so that the whole castle would have been drowned
if they had not put them back in their place. But when they
were put back, immediately the sea level would fall and
it would go back to the way it was before. And this has been
proved many times, and the virtue [of the bones] endures, as
those who live in those parts tell it. Virgil was very wise and
subtle and full of great ingenuity. For as much has he could,
he wanted to prove all the usages of the clerics that he knew
of, as much as was possible. He was a man of short stature,
with a back that was naturally a bit bent, and he went about
with his head down, looking at the earth. Virgil did many
great marvels, which listeners for lies when they
heard them told. For they could not think nor believe that this one person
knew how to do things that no one else knew how to engage in.
And when they heard speak of such matters, or of others
that they saw with their own eyes, about which they knew nothing,
they would immediately say that such things were done with the
help of the Enemy, for they act like