^aint iFtancfs of ^nniuL Sy 



heard a voice from Heaven, faying, " Fran- 

 cis, anfvver me : Were all the earth gold, 

 and all the feas and fprings and ftrcams 

 precious balm, and all the mountains and 

 hills and rocks precious ftones, and you 

 fliould find another treafure as much 

 more noble than thefe things as gold 

 is more noble than earth, and balm than 

 clear water, and precious ftones than rocks 

 and hills, and with this your affli6tion you 

 were given that far nobler treafure, fhould 

 you not then be content indeed and happy 

 of heart ? " Saint Francis made anfwer, 

 faying, " Lord, I am not worthy of fuch a 

 precious treafure ; " and the voice of God 

 faid unto him, "Rejoice, Francis, and be 

 exceeding glad, for this is the treafure of 

 Life Eternal, which I referved for you, and 

 with which from this time forth I inveft 

 you ; and this your infirmity and afHi6tion 

 is but the pledge and token of that Bleffed 

 Treafure." Then Saint Francis called his 

 Companion, with exceeding great joy at fo 

 glorious a promife, and faid, " Let us fet 

 forth to the Cardinal ;" and comforting firft 

 Saint Clara with holy words, and fhe hum- 

 bly taking leave of them, he took his way 

 towards Rieti. And when he had drawn 



near 



