24 ^i)t aittU JFIotorrs of 



Maximus knew not what to do, neither 

 what anfwer he fliould make to him, inaf- 

 much as faying that Brother Ehas could 

 not come, he fpake falfely ; faying he was 

 vexed in fpirit and wouki not come, he 

 feared left he fhould fet an evil example. 

 And Brother Maximus lingering thus, the 

 young man knocked yet again as before, 

 and in a little time Brother Maximus re- 

 turned to the gate, and faid to the young 

 man, " Why heed you not my counfels in 

 your knocking ? " The young man an- 

 fwered : " Brother Elias comes not unto me ; 

 go therefore and fay to Brother Francis 

 that I am come hither to fpeak with him ; 

 but forafmuch as I would not come againft 

 him in his praying, let him bid Brother 

 Elias come out to me." And then Brother 

 Maximus went in to Saint Francis, who 

 was praying in the thick wood with his face 

 lift up to heaven, and he delivered the 

 young man's meffage and the anfwer of 

 Brother Elias ; and that young man was 

 the Angel of the Lord in the likenefs of a 

 Man. Then Saint Francis, removing not 

 from his place, neither cafting down his 

 eyes, faid to Brother Maximus : " Go, fay 

 unto Brother Elias, by his vow of obedience 



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