LXVIII—QUEEN ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY.MONTALEMBERT.
MONTALEMBERT.
1. Generosity to the poor, particularly that exercised by princes, was one of the most remarkable features of the age in which she lived; but we perceive that, in her, charity did not proceed from rank, still less from the desire of acquiring praises or purely human gratitude, but from an interior and heavenly inspiration. From her cradle, she could not bear the sight of a poor person without feeling her heart pierced with grief, and now that her husband had granted her full liberty in all that concerned the honor of God and the good of her neighbor, she unreservedly abandoned herself to her natural inclination to solace[495]the suffering members of Christ.
2. This was her ruling thought each hour and moment: to the use of the poor she dedicated[496]all that she retrenched from the superfluities[497]usually required by her sex and rank. Yet, notwithstanding the resources which the charity of her husband placed at her disposal, she gave away so quickly all that she possessed, that it often happened that she would despoil[498]herself of her clothes in order to have the means of assisting the unfortunate.
3. Elizabeth loved to carry secretly to the poor, not alone money, but provisions and other matters which she destined for them. She went thus laden, by the winding and rugged paths that led from the castle to the city, and to cabins of the neighboring valleys.
4. One day, when accompanied by one of her favorite maidens, as she descended by a rude little path (still pointed out) and carried under her mantle, bread, meat, eggs, and other food to distribute to the poor, she suddenly encountered her husband, who was returning from hunting. Astonished to see her thus toiling on under the weight of her burden, he said to her, “Let us see what you carry,” and at the same time drew open the mantle which she held closely clasped to her bosom; but beneath it were only red and white roses, the most beautiful he had ever seen—and this astonished him, as it was no longer the season of flowers.
5. Seeing that Elizabeth was troubled, he sought to console her by his caresses; but he ceased suddenly, on seeing over her head a luminous[499]appearance in the form of a crucifix. He then desired her to continue her route without being disturbed by him, and he returned to Wartbourg, meditating with recollection onwhat God did for her, and carrying with him one of these wonderful roses, which he preserved all his life.
6. At the spot where this meeting took place, he erected a pillar, surmounted by a cross, to consecrate forever the remembrance of that which he had seen hovering over the head of his wife. Among the unfortunate who particularly attracted her compassion, those who occupied the greatest part in her heart were the lepers;[500]the mysterious and special character of their malady rendered them, throughout the middle ages, objects of a solicitude and affection mingled with fear.
[495]Solˊ-ace, to give comfort to.[496]Dedˊ-i-cate, to devote.[497]Su-per-fluˊ-i-ties, things not needed.[498]De-spoilˊ. to stop, to rob.[499]Luˊ-mi-nous, bright, shining.[500]Lepˊ-ers, persons infested with leprosy.
[495]Solˊ-ace, to give comfort to.
[495]Solˊ-ace, to give comfort to.
[496]Dedˊ-i-cate, to devote.
[496]Dedˊ-i-cate, to devote.
[497]Su-per-fluˊ-i-ties, things not needed.
[497]Su-per-fluˊ-i-ties, things not needed.
[498]De-spoilˊ. to stop, to rob.
[498]De-spoilˊ. to stop, to rob.
[499]Luˊ-mi-nous, bright, shining.
[499]Luˊ-mi-nous, bright, shining.
[500]Lepˊ-ers, persons infested with leprosy.
[500]Lepˊ-ers, persons infested with leprosy.