Chapter III

How for an evil thought that S. Francis had against Brother Bernard, he bade the said Brother Bernard tread three times with his feet upon his mouth and on his throat

The most devout servant of the Crucified, S. Francis, through the rigour of his penances and ceaseless tears, had grown wellnigh blind, and could see but little. On a time amongst others he hied him from the place where he was, and went to a place where Brother Bernard was, for to speak with him of things divine: and coming to the place, he found that he was at prayer in the wood, all lifted up and joined to God. Therewith went S. Francis into the wood and called him. "Come," quoth he, ”and speak unto this blind man; " and Brother Bernard made him no answer; in that being a man of deep contemplation, his mind was fixed on things above and lifted up to God: but seeing that he had grace exceeding rare to speak of God, whereof S. Francis had oftentimes been witness, he desired the more to hold parley with him. So biding some short space, he called the second and the third time after the same fashion; but neither time did Brother Bernard hear him, and therefore made him no answer, nor came unto him; so that S. Francis departed, a little disconsolate and marvelling within himself, and complaining for that Bernard, being called three times, had not come to him. Departing with this thought, S. Francis, when he was gone a little space, said to his companion: " Wait here for me: ” and he went aside into a solitary place hard by and cast himself down in prayer, beseeching God that He would make known unto him wherefore Brother Bernard had made him no answer; and as he prayed, there came a voice from God, which said thus: " O poor little man, wherefore art thou troubled? Should a man leave God for a creature? Brother Bernard, when thou calledst him, was joined unto Me; and could not come to thee thereby nor answer thee; wherefore marvel not that he could not speak to thee; seeing that he was so much lifted out of himself that of thy words he heard not one” Being thus answered of God, S. Francis straightway with great haste returned unto Brother Bernard, humbly to accuse himself of the thought that he had had concerning him. And beholding him coming to- É wards him, Brother Bernard went to meet him and threw himself at his feet: then S. Francis let lift him up and told him with great humility the thought and trouble of mind that he had had concerning him, and how God had answered him therein; wherefore he thuswise made an end: " I command thee by holy obedience that thou do whatever I bid thee." Brother Bernard, fearing that S. Francis might o'erstep the bounds, as was his wont, in what he bade him do, fain would have escaped this obedience, if so he might be without fault; and therefore thus replied: ” Ready am I to work out thy obedience, if thou promise me to do whatsoever I shall bid thee; " and S. Francis promising, Brother Bernard said: “Now tell me, father, what is thy will that I should do." Then spake S. Francis: " I command thee by holy obedience, that for punishment of my presumption and the heat within my heart, when now I throw me on the ground upon my back, thou set one foot upon my throat, and the other on my mouth, and thuswise three times pass over me from side to side, crying shame upon me and contempt, and chief of all bespeak me thus: ' ClodpoU, lie there, thou spawn of Peter Bernardoni, whence cometh such great pride to thee, that art a thing most vile? ' " Hearing the which Brother Bernard, albeit right grievous to him was it in the doing, yet for holy obedience, with what courtesy as best he might, he fulfilled the bidding of S. Francis; and this done, S. Francis said: ” Now do thou command me whatever thou wilt that I should do; since I have promised thee obedience." Said Brother Bernard: " I command thee by holy obedience that, whensoe'er we be together, thou rebuke and correct me harshly for my faults." Whereat S. Francis made mighty marvel: for that Brother Bernard was of such great sanctity that he held him in high reverence, and deemed him not blameworthy in any thing at all, and therefore from that time forth S. Francis took heed to shun his fellowship, by reason of the said obedience, so that no word of correction might ever fall on one whom he knew to be of such great holiness, but when he wished to see him or hear him speak of IO THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF

God, with what speed he might he left him again and was away. Right edifying in very sooth it was to see with what great love and reverence and humbleness S. Francis, the father, bore him and spake with Brother Bernard, his first-born son. To the laud and glory of Jesu Christ and the poor little one, S. Francis. Amen.