When you are traveling on horseback, instead of allowing your mind to wander upon vain thoughts, recite your prayers, or, at least, repeat the shortest and best of them all: '_Oh, Lord, have mercy upon us.'_ Never retire at night without falling upon your knees before God in prayer, and never let the sun find you in your bed.

Always go to church at an early hour in the morning to offer to God the homage of your first and freshest thoughts.

This was the custom of my father and of all the pious people who surrounded him.
With the first rays of the sun they praised the Lord, and exclaimed, with fervor, 'Condescend, O Lord, with thy divine light to illumine my soul.'" The faults of Monomaque were those of his age, _non vitia hominis, sed vitia soeculi_; but his virtues were truly Christian, and it can hardly be doubted that, as his earthly crown dropped from his brow, he received a brighter crown in heaven.

The devastations of the barbarians in that day were so awful, burning cities and churches, and massacring women and children, that they were regarded as enemies of the human race, and were pursued with exterminating vengeance.
Monomaque left several children and a third wife.

One of his wives, Gyda, was a daughter of Harold, King of England.