xii J^refacr* 



men, but alfo animals, birds, infefls, 

 and even inanimate objefts, which he 

 was wont to addrefs as his brothers 

 and fifters, in reference to their com- 

 mon origin with himfelf. Many 

 charming inflances of his friendfliips 

 with fifh, falcons, fwallows, lambs, 

 wolves, hares, pheafants, and graffhop- 

 pers, may be found in thefe " Little 

 Flowers," and in the various Lives of 

 him. 



He was firil to eflablifh the cuftom 

 ftill prevalent in Catholic countries, 

 of reprefenting the Nativity in the 

 ftable at Bethlehem, at Chriflmas 

 time, before the altar. He was alfo 

 among the earlieft of Italian poets; 

 for in thofe days Italian was only 

 the vulgar tongue, Latin or the foft 

 Proven9al being ufed for literary pur- 

 pofes. He improvifed many ardent 

 hymns and fongs, which he taught to 

 his followers, the moft widely known 

 being the " Canticle to the Sun," or 

 " Song of the Creatures," and " Love 

 fets my Heart on Fire/' 



