" And he, laughing, replies
to them: "Gentlemen, receive my thanks and gratitude for the
concern you feel for me: it comes from your love and kind hearts.
I know full well that you would not like to see any mishap come
to me; but I have faith and confidence in God, that He will
protect me to the end. I fear the bridge and stream no more than
I fear this dry land; so I intend to prepare and make the
dangerous attempt to cross. I would rather die than turn back
now." The others have nothing more to say; but each weeps with
pity and heaves a sigh. Meanwhile he prepares, as best he may,
to cross the stream, and he does a very marvellous thing in
removing the armour from his feet and hands. He will be in a
sorry state when he reaches the other side. He is going to
support himself with his bare hands and feet upon the sword,
which was sharper than a scythe, for he had not kept on his feet
either sole or upper or hose. But he felt no fear of wounds upon
his hands or feet; he preferred to maim himself rather than to
fall from the bridge and be plunged in the water from which he
could never escape. In accordance with this determination, he
passes over with great pain and agony, being wounded in the
hands, knees, and feet. But even this suffering is sweet to him:
for Love, who conducts and leads him on, assuages and relieves
the pain.
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