II
HOW THE BLESSED FRANCIS MADE DILIGENT SEARCH FOR THE LADY POVERTY
HOW THE BLESSED FRANCIS MADE DILIGENT SEARCH FOR THE LADY POVERTY
Wherefore the Blessed Francis, as a true Follower and Disciple of the Saviour, gave himself up from the beginning of his Conversion with all his Heart, with all his Strength, and with all his Mind, to seek and to find, to have and to hold the Lady Poverty, dreading no Adversity, fearing no Evil, sparing no labour, shunning no suffering of the body, so only that he might come unto her to whom the Lord had given the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Like an eager explorer he began to go about the highways and by-ways of the City, diligently seeking♦Cant. iii. 2.♦her whom his Soul did love. He asked of those who stood about, he questioned those who met him, saying: Saw ye her♦Cant. iii. 3.♦whom my Soul loveth? But his speech was dark to them as an alien tongue, and, not understanding him, they answered: We know not what thou sayest: speak to us in our own tongue, and we will answer thee. For there was not at that time any word or sign in the language, by which the Children of Adam could discourse together of Poverty. They hated her then as they hate her now, nor could they speak with patience to one who sought her. So they answered him that this thing was unknown to them, and that they had no knowledge of what he sought. Then, said the Blessed Francis, I will go unto the Great and the Wise, and ask them, for they know the Ways of the Lord♦Jer. v. 5.♦and the Judgments of God. But these only answered him yet more roughly, saying: What is this new doctrine which thou bringest to our♦Acts xvii. 20.♦ears? May that Poverty which thou seekest always abide with thee, and with thy children, and with thy seed after thee. As for us, we had rather enjoy the delights of life and abound in riches, for the span of our♦Wisdom ii. 1.♦Life is short and tedious, and in the end of a man there is no remedy. Therefore we know nothing better than to eat and♦Luke xii. 19.♦drink and be merry while there is still time.
But the Blessed Francis, hearing these things, marvelled in his Heart and gave Thanks to God, saying: Blessed art♦Matt. xi. 25.♦Thou, O Lord God, Who hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent, and revealed them unto Babes. Even so, Father, for so it hath seemed good in Thy Sight. O God, the Author and Ruler♦Eccli. xxiii. 1.♦of my being, deliver me not over to their Counsels, nor suffer me to fall into their iniquity, but give me Thy Grace, so that I may find what I seek, for I am Thy servant,♦Ps. cxv. 16.♦and the Son of Thy Handmaid.