sang in the vilest fashion. Then might one hear
two melodies, this fellow's songs, which he sang without thought for the
troubles of my lord and the lamentation wherewith we servants lamented
our mistress. But we suffered not this stranger to see our tears, for so
my lord had commanded. Surely this is a grievous thing that I must
entertain this stranger, who surely is some thief or robber. And
meanwhile they have taken my mistress to her grave, and I followed not
after her, nor reached my hand to her, that was as a mother to all that
dwell in this place."

When the man had so spoken, Hercules came forth from the guest-chamber,
crowned with myrtle, having his face flushed with wine. And he cried to
the servant, saying, "Ho, there! why lookest thou so solemn and full of
care? Thou shouldst not scowl on thy guest after this fashion, being
full of some sorrow that concerns thee not nearly. Come hither, and I
will teach thee to be wiser. Knowest thou what manner of thing the life
of a man is? I trow not. Hearken therefore. There is not a man who
knoweth what a day may bring forth. Therefore I say to thee: Make glad
thy heart; eat, drink, count the day that now is to be thine own, but
all else to be doubtful. As for all other things, let them be, and
hearken to my words. Put away this great grief that lieth upon thee, and
enter into this chamber, and drink with me. Right soon shall the
tinkling of the wine as it falleth into the cup ease thee of these
gloomy thoughts. As thou art a man, be wise after the fashion of a man;
for to them that are of a gloomy countenance, life, if only I judge
rightly, is not life but trouble only."

Then the servant answered, "All this I know; but we have fared so ill in
this house that mirth and laughter ill beseem us."

"But they tell me that this dead woman was a stranger. Why shouldst thou
be so troubled, seeing that they who rule this house yet live."

"How sayest thou that they live? Thou knowest not what trouble we
endure."

"I know it, unless thy lord strangely deceived me."

"My lord is given to hospitality."

"And should it hinder him that there is some stranger dead in the
house?"

"A stranger, sayest thou? 'Tis passing strange to call her thus."

"Hath thy lord then suffered some sorrow that he told me not?"

"Even so, or I had not loathed to see thee at thy revels. Thou seest
this shaven hair and these black robes."

"What then? who is dead? One of thy lord's children, o