The Little Flowers and the Life of St. Francis, with the...

were covered round about by the darkness of their sins. He would say that he was fulfilled of the sweetest smells and anointed with the virtue of precious ointment whensoever he heard the brave deeds of the holy brethren that were scattered about the world.

One day it fell out that a certain brother did fling forth words of insult against another in the presence of a nobleman of the island of Cyprus. But when he that did this perceived that his brother was somewhat troubled thereby, he was forthwith seized with such desire to do vengeance on himself that he took of the dung of an ass and did thrust the same into his own mouth, grinding it with his teeth, and saying: “Eat thou of the dung, thou tongue that didst shed the venom of wrath upon my brother.” But when the nobleman saw him do thus, he was stricken with amazement and went his way greatly edified, and from that time forth did dispose himself and all that he had according to the will of the brethren.

This therefore did all the brethren observe as of wont, that if one of them had uttered a word of injury or offense against another, he did straightway without tarrying prostrate himself on the ground and kiss the foot of him he had offended, and did humbly ask his pardon. The holy father did exult in such things whensoever he heard that his sons did of themselves show forth examples of holiness, and did load those brethren with blessings most worthy of all acceptation that did in word or work bring sinners to the love of Christ, for in the zeal for souls wherewith he himself was wholly fulfilled he would that his sons should show themselves true by their likeness to himself.