The monastery; The abbot.

THE AB'BOT. 277
"It is a strange instinct," said the Lady; "and from the gravity with
which you mention it, my reverend friend, I would almost say that you
supposed this singular jealousy of my favourite Wolf, was not only well
founded, but justifiable. But perhaps you speak in jest?"
" I seldom jest," answered the preacher; " life was not lent to us to be
expended in that idle mirth which resembles the crackling of thorns under
the pot. I would only have you derive, if it so please you, this lesson from
what I have said, that the best of our feelings, when indulged to excess,
mIty give pain to others. There is but one in which we may indulge to the
utmost limit of vehemence of which our bosom is capable, secure that excess
cannot exist in the greatest intensity to which it can be excited-I mean the
love of our Maker."
"Surely," said the Lady of Avenel, "we are commanded by the same
authority to love our neighbour?"
"Ay, madam," said Warden, " but our love to God is to be unboundedwe are to love him with our whole heart, our whole soul, and our whole
strength. The love which the precept commands us to bear to our neighbour, has affixed to it a direct limit and qualification —we are to love our
neighbour as ourself; as it is elsewhere explained by the great commandment, that we must do unto him as we would that he should do unto us.
Iere there is a limit, and a bound, even to the most praiseworthy of our
affections, so far as they are turned upon sublunary and terrestrial objects.
We are to render to our neighbour, whatever be his rank or degree, that
corresponding portion of affection with which we could rationally expect
we should ourselves be regarded by those standing in the same relation to
us. Hence, neither husband nor wife, neither son nor daughter, neither
friend nor relation, are lawfully to be made the objects of our idolatry.
The Lord our God is a jealous God, and will not endure that we bestow on
the creature that extremity of devotion which He who made us demands as
his own share. I say to you, Lady, that even in the fairest, and purest, and
most honourable feelings of our nature, there is, that original taint of sin
which ought to make us pause and hesitate, ere we indulge them to excess."
"I understand not this, reverend sir," said the Lady; "nor do I guess
what I can have now said or done, to draw down on me an admonition
which has something a taste of reproof."
"Lady,". said Warden, "I crave your pardon, if I have urged aught
beyond the limits of my duty. But consider, whether in the sacred promise
to be not only a protectress, but a mother, to this poor child, your purpose
may meet the wishes of the noble knight your husband. The fondness
which you have lavished on the unfortunate, and, I own, most lovely child,
has met something like a reproof in the bearing of your household dog.Displease not your noble husband. Men, as well as animals, are jealous of
the affections of those they love."
"This is too much, reverend sir," said the Lady of Avenel, greatly
offended. "You have been long our guest, and have received from the
Knight of Avenel and myself that honour and regard which your character
and profession so justly demand. But I am yet to learn that we have at
any time authorized your interference in our family arrangements, or placed
you as a judge of our conduct towards each other. I pray this may be
forborne in future."
"Ladv," replied the preacher, with the boldness peculiar to the clergy
of his persuasion at that time, " when you weary of my admonitions when
I see that my services are no longer acceptable to you, and the noble knight
your husband, I shall know that my Master wills me no'longer to abide
here; and, praying for a continuance of his best blessings on your ramily
I will then, were the season the depth of winter, and the hour midnight,
walk out on yonder waste, and travel forth through these wild mountains,
as lonely and unaided, though far more helpless, than when I first met your
IT