No More Learning

HOSTESS. You are kindly welcome, dear guests.

AN OFFICER. (To another. ) Ha, there's drinking going on
here; we shall get something here. (To the Monks. )
Who are you?

VARLAAM. We--are two old clerics, humble monks; we are
going from village to village, and collecting Christian
alms for the monastery.

OFFICER. (To GREGORY. ) And thou?

MISSAIL. Our comrade.

GREGORY.
A layman from the suburb; I have conducted the
old men as far as the frontier; from here I am going to
my own home.

MISSAIL. So you have changed your mind?

GREGORY. (Sotto voce. ) Be silent.

OFFICER. Hostess, bring some more wine, and we will
drink here a little and talk a little with these old men.

2ND OFFICER. (Sotto voce. ) Yon lad, it appears, is poor;
there's nothing to be got out of him; on the other hand
the old men--

1ST OFFICER. Be silent; we shall come to them presently.
--Well, my fathers, how are you getting on?

VARLAAM. Badly, my sons, badly! The Christians have
now turned stingy; they love their money; they hide
their money.