After leaving this plain of sighs the three companions come to a forest they cross in a day's riding, emerging from the woods as evening falls. This time it is the blaze of color around the sinking sun that inspires the artist. The great disk is still visible but enveloped in the golden mist. The horizon is dipped in flames, and against this background some clouds are only dark while others are rimmed in red or gold. This is the one painting which shows dark clouds in the sky, where they set off the play of light most effectively. Only the upper part of Cueur's lance and the rim of the chapel's roof are still gilded by the sunlight. Everything else is in deep shadow, spreading forward from the dark, distant mountains on the horizon. The red of Cueur's saddle, Generosity's tunic, and the heart on the helmet is subdued; even Desire's white garb is grayed over, here. All three are exhausted from their long ride. Generosity's stallion is relieving himself in the discreet dusk.
The chapel they are facing is part of a hermitage. The hermit inside has just finished his evening prayers and kindly agrees to let them stay the night, but warns them that he already has one guest, a noble lady, whose permission he must obtain before accepting additional guests. The lady turns out to be none other than Hope. They greet each other with delight and recount their separate adventures. The hermit prepares a meal for them, provides for the horses, and gives them bedding for the night. In the morning the hermit reads them the Mass of the Holy Ghost, at their joint request. Again Cueur asks Hope for advice and again she gives it, then vanishes as suddenly as she did before. ..
.....Continued...
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