cSaint iFtancis of ^nninu 171 



fpace, until it went out of itfelf. The faid 

 Brother Simon when he took his feat at 

 table, before ever he partook of bodily 

 food, took for himfelf and did break the 

 fpiritual food, difcourfnig of God. By his 

 devout converfation he once converted a 

 young man of San Severino, who was in 

 his time a moft vain and worldly youth, 

 and was of noble blood and very delicate 

 of his body : and Brother Simon, receiving 

 the young man into the Order, retained his 

 fecular garb in his keeping ; and he fo- 

 journed with Brother Simon to be taught 

 of him the meet obfervances. Wherefore 

 the Demon, who labors to diftort all good, 

 befet him with fuch fore defire and ardent 

 temptation to fm, that in no manner could 

 he refift; wherefore he went forth to Brother 

 Simon and faid to him : " Give me again 

 my raiment which I wore in the world, for- 

 afmuch as I can no longer ftand up againft 

 temptation." And Brother Simon, having 

 much compaffion for him, faid to him, '* Sit 

 here, my fon, a little fpace with me." And 

 he began to talk with him of God in fuch 

 manner that every temptation departed 

 from him ; and yet again the temptation 

 returned, and he again entreated that his 



raiment 



