The Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Divided into three parts, dialogue wiseThe Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Deuided into three partes, dialogue wise

Hillarius. I do greatly fear least it happen unto them as to the labourer of whom Aesop speaketh off. He rehearseth a fable of a woman who had newly buried her ¹husband, who did go every day to his grave to weep and lament. Now there was a labourer which ploughed in a field which was not far from the Churchyard. Wherefore he seeing that woman, and was in love with her, insomuch that he left his Oxen, and went also unto the grave, and being there set down, did also weep with the woman. When the woman asked him wherefore he so lamented, he answered her: because saith he, that I have buried a fair and an honest woman, for whom I am much sorrowful and sad. But after that I have well wept and lamented, I am eased of my sorrow. And the woman said unto him: Even so is it chanced to me of my husband. Whereupon the labourer answered unto her. For as much then as both of us are fallen into one misfortune, wherefore may we not marry together? For I will love thee, as I loved ⟨image 310⟩my first wife, and thou shalt leve me in like manner as thou diddest love thy first husband. By those words •ee he did put that into the woman's head, in so much that they accorded together. But whilst that he used that deceit and plaid the Fox with the poor woman, there came a thief more wily than he, which stole away his Oxen and carried them away. When he was returned and that he found not his Oxen, he did begin to weep and lament, and to strike his breast very bitterly. The woman also came: and when she had found him weeping and lamenting, she said unto him Doest thou weep yet. And he answered unto her: now I weep earnestly. Before his tears were feigned and did but weep• outwardly, and laughed in his heart as our Priests do at the Funerals and Obsequies of the dead. But I am altogether certain, that there shall be no jesting nor Crocodiles tears, in the burying of their Purgatory. For as soon as he shall be dead, the Mass shall not live long after. And so they shall have two bodies which will bring unto them great sorrow and heaviness. But I believe that they will not bestow so much money about them, for to make their good deeds, as they have gotten and heaped together by their means. But let us suffer them to weep their fill, as well as they have made others weep, & let us singe when they weep.