Saint jFrancis of <^nniuu 173 



fa61or being once taken, both whofe eyes 

 were to be plucked from him, he, that is, 

 Brother Simon, through compaliion went 

 forth fervently to the Prior ; and in full 

 Council, and with many tears and devout 

 prayers, he entreated that from him might 

 be plucked out one eye, and from the male- 

 fadlor another, to the end that the latter 

 might not be deprived of both. But the 

 Prior and Council, feeing the great fervor 

 of the brotherly love of this Friar, did par- 

 don both the one and the other. The faid 

 Brother Simon being once at prayer within 

 a wood, and feeling much confolation in his 

 own foul, a band of crows began to con- 

 found him with their chatter, at which he 

 commanded them in the name of Jefus 

 that they fliould depart and return again 

 no more ; and the faid birds, departing 

 thence, were thenceforth feen no more, 

 neither were they heard either there or in 

 all the region round about. And this mira- 

 cle was known to all the territory of Fermo, 

 wherein the faid Convent flood. 



