<Saint jFrancts of ^fiuinu iiy 



to his back, fleeping never after Matins. 

 About that time Saint Francis paffcd away 

 from this miferable life. This Man hav- 

 ing then continued the above penitence 

 for many years, behold one night, after 

 Matins, there came to him fuch a tempta- 

 tion to fleep, that in no manner could he 

 hold out againft it and watch, as was his 

 wont. Finally, unable longer to refifb or 

 to pray, he went to his bed to flumber ; 

 and no fooner had he laid his head upon 

 the pillow, than he was rapt in Ecftafy 

 and led in fpirit to a very high mountain, 

 whereon was a moft fteep Precipice, and 

 here and there were rocks fhivered and 

 fplintered and rugged crags amid the 

 rocks: at the fight of this cliff the Soul 

 flood aghaft. And the Angel who led this 

 Brother feized him and caft him over the 

 rugged edge of thofe rocks : and he, ftrik- 

 ing and rebounding from crag to crag and 

 from ftone to ftone, at laft attained the 

 bottom of that precipice, as it feemed, 

 all difmembered and torn ; and lying thus 

 in evil trim upon the ground, he who led 

 him, faid unto him, " Rife, for you have 

 yet another journey to go." The Brother 

 replied, " Mefeems you be a moft cruel and 



ill-advifed 



