cSaCnt iFranc(s of ^nuini. 119 



came you hither ? " And he anfwered, 

 " Go but a little farther in and you (hall 

 find my wife your Godmother, who will tell 

 you the reafon of our damnation. The 

 Brother going on, lo ! there appeared to 

 him the aforefaid Godmother all fmothered 

 and fhut within a meafure of wheat blazing 

 brightly ; and he afkcd her, " O lucklefs and 

 miferable Godmother, how have you come to 

 fuch cruel torment?" And fhe anfwered, 

 " Forafmuch as in the time of the great 

 Famine, the which Saint Francis foretold, 

 my hufband and I fold falfe meafure of 

 wheat and of barley, and therefore do I burn 

 bound within this meafure." And thefe 

 words fpoken, the Angel which led the 

 Friar haled him out of the Furnace, and 

 then faid to him, " Prepare to take a horrid 

 journey, which is yet to make." And he, 

 lamenting, faid, " O harfheft of guides, 

 who haft no Compaffion ! you fee how I 

 am almoft all burned in that Furnace, and 

 yet you would lead me on a dangerous 

 and horrid journey." And then the Angel 

 touched him and made him whole and 

 ftrong. Forthwith he led him to a bridge, 

 the which could not be croffed without 

 great danger, inafmuch as it was very 



narrow 



