.Saint iFrancfs of ^BUinu 17 



the Brother was at prayer in the wood, 

 rapt, and conjoined with God. Then Saint 

 Francis went forth into that wood and 

 called aloud, faying, " Come hither and 

 fpeak to this blind beggar." And Brother 

 Bernard anfwered him not, forafmuch as, 

 being a man greatly given to meditation, 

 his mind was abforbed in the contempla- 

 tion of God ; and he was ftrangely favored 

 in converfe with God, as Saint Francis had 

 ofttimes proven, and therefore did he defire 

 to have fpeech with him. After a certain 

 fpace he called unto him a fecond and 

 even a third time after the fame fafliion ; 

 and never once .did Brother Bernard heed 

 or hear his voice; neither did he make any 

 anfvver, nor came he forth to meet him ; 

 fo that Saint Francis departed no little 

 difconfolate, and marvelling and lamenting 

 in his own mind that Brother Bernard, 

 three times called, came not forth to him. 

 Journeying thence with thefe thoughts, 

 Saint Francis, having gone but a little way, 

 faid unto his companion, "Await me here." 

 And he went afide into a folitary place 

 and fell to praying, befeeching God that 

 He would reveal to him wherefore Brother 

 Bernard made not anfvver unto him. And 



ftandins: 



