In truth, I could not
help but weep a little out of pity for her. "Nay, nay," said the Angel,
"keep thy tears for a more worthy occasion; these voices are only what
Hypocrisy has taught, and these mourning weeds were fashioned in her
great school. Not one of these weep sincerely; the widow, even before
the body had left the house, let in another husband to her heart; were
she rid of the expenses connected with the corpse she would not care a
straw if his soul were at the bottom of hell; nor do his own kindred care
any more than she: for when it went hardest with him, instead of giving
him good counsel and earnestly praying for mercy upon him, they were
talking of his property, his will or his pedigree; or what a handsome
robust man he was, and such talk; and now this wailing {21a} on the part
of some is for mere ceremony and custom, on the part of others for
company's sake or for pay."
Scarcely had these gone by than another throng came in sight: a most
gallant lord with his lady at his side, slowly advancing in state, to
whom many men of position doffed, and many were on tiptoe with eagerness
to show him obeisance and reverence.
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