<Sa(nt iFrancis of ^nniuL 135 



as is fpokcn by the mouth of the Prophet : 

 * I will take the i\ony heart out of their 

 flelh, and will give them a heart of flelh.' " 

 Then Brother Rufus, feeing that Saint 

 Francis had related to him in due order 

 all the manner of his temptation, ftung 

 by his words, began to weep very fore 

 and to adore Saint Francis, and humbly 

 to acknowledge his fin, in that he had 

 hidden his temptation. And thus he was 

 left much comforted and confoled by the 

 admonitions of the Holy Father, and 

 quite changed for the better. Then fi- 

 nally Saint Francis faid to him : " Go, fon, 

 and confefs your fm, nor give over your 

 wonted prayers : and know of a certainty 

 that this temptation fhall be of great ufe 

 and comfort to you, and in a brief fpace 

 you fhall fo prove it." Brother Rufus re- 

 turned again to his cell in the foreft ; and 

 praying there with many tears, lo ! the 

 enemy came again in the femblance of 

 Chrift, that is in his outward feeming, and 

 faid to him : " O Brother Rufus, did I not 

 tell you to put not your faith in the fon of 

 Peter Bernardone, and that you fhould not 

 weary yourfelf with tears and prayers, fince 

 you are damned ? What avails it to affli6t 



yourfelf 



