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the morning of the next day Mulruana rose from his bed, and it is likely
that it was the whisper of an angel he heard, because he remembered that
it was not right for him to pay such heed to a girl and to forget his
prayers. He bowed his knees and began to pray strongly and earnestly,
and made a firm resolve that he would not think more about the girl, and
that he would not listen to her music. But, after all, he did not succeed
in obtaining a complete victory over his thoughts concerning the young
woman, and consequently he was between two notions until the evening came.
hen the
night was well dark the Adversary came again in the shape of the girl,
and she even more beautiful and more lovely than she was before, and asked
the man for a night's lodging. He remembered his vow and the resolve he
had made that day in the morning, and he refused her, and threat- ened
her that she should not come again to trouble him, and he drove her away
with rough sharp words, and with a stern, churlish countenance, as though
there were a great anger on him. He went into his hut and the girl remained
near the hut outside, and she weeping and lamenting and shedding tears.
hen Mulruana
saw the girl weeping and keening piteously he conceived a great pity for
her, and compassion for her came to him, and desire, and he did not free
his heart from those evil inclinations, since he had not made his prayers
on that day with a heart as pure as had been his wont, and he listened
willingly and gladly. It was not long until he came out, himself, in spite
of his vow and his good resolutions, and invited the pretended woman to
come into his hut. Small delay she made in going in!
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