.Saint jFPttncisi of '^uninL 45 



was at hand, Saint Francis faid to Brother 

 Leo : " My beloved, we liave no breviary 

 from which to fay Matins, but in order that 

 we may fpend the time duly in praifing 

 God, I will recite and do you refpond as 

 I fliall teach you ; and beware left you 

 change the words diverfely from that which 

 I fhall teach you. I will fay thus : * O 

 Brother Francis, fo much evil haft thou 

 done, and fo many fins haft thou commit- 

 ted in this world, that thou art worthy of 

 Hell-fire.' And you. Brother Leo, muft re- 

 fpond : * Verily, verily thou art deferving of 

 the hotteft fires of Hell.'" And Brother 

 Leo, with the fimplicity of the dove, re- 

 plied, **I am ready. Father; begin, in the 

 name of God." Then Saint Francis began 

 to fay, *' O Brother Francis, fo much evil 

 haft thou done, and fo many fins haft thou 

 committed in this world, that thou art 

 worthy of Hell-fire." And Brother Leo 

 replied, ** The Lord fliall work for thee 

 fuch miracles that thou fhalt go ftraight to 

 Paradife." Then faid Saint Francis, '' Say 

 not fo. Brother Leo ; but when I fay, 

 ' Brother Francis, thou haft finned griev- 

 oufly againft God, and art worthy to be 

 curfed of God,' you muft make anfwer thus : 



'Verily 



