noon
As we went he worked his shoulders , ` Wow but the brethren laid on . And what means yon piece of monk 's cant , I wonder ? ' So I told him the words meant ` the monastery is in want of a miracle , ' but the application thereof was dark to me . ` Dark , ' cried he , ` dark as noon . Why , it means they are going to work the miracle , my miracle , and gather all the grain I sowed . Therefore these blows on their benefactor 's shoulders ; therefore is he that wrought their scurry miracle driven forth with stripes and threats . Oh , cozening knaves ! '