46 ^5e Hittlc jFlotocrs of 



* Verily, verily thou art worthy of a place 

 among the Accurfecl.'" And Brother Leo 

 replied, "I am ready, Father." Then Saint 

 Francis, with many tears and groans and 

 much beating of his breaft, cried aloud, 

 " O Lord my God, Lord of heaven and of 

 earth, I have committed fuch fms againfl 

 Thee, and fuch iniquities, that I am worthy 

 to be curfed of Thee." And Brother Leo 

 made anfwer, " O Brother Francis, God fhall 

 do fuch things for thee that thou fhalt be 

 Angularly bleffed among the bleffed." And 

 Saint Francis marvelling that Brother Leo 

 anfwered ever the contrary of that which 

 he had charged him, effayed once more, 

 faying, " Why anfwer you not as I bid you ? 

 I charge you by your holy vow of obe- 

 dience that you make anfwer as I fliall 

 dire6l you. I will fay thus : * O wretched 

 Brother Francis, doft thou think that God 

 will have mercy upon thee, who haft com- 

 mitted fuch great fms againft the Father of 

 all Mercies and the God of Confolation that 

 thou art no more worthy to find favor in 

 His fight ^ ' And you. Brother Leo, flieep 

 of my flock, muft make anfwer, ' In no 

 manner art thou worthy to find favor in 

 His fight.' " But fo foon as Saint Francis 



faid, 



