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

with him went brother Pacifico, that in the world was called the King of Verse and the Courtly Doctor of Singers. Now the church was deserted. Wherefore said the Blessed Francis to the Blessed Pacifico: “Go back to the hospital of the lepers, for I am minded to remain here alone to-night, and tomorrow early in the morning come back to me.” Now whilst he abode there alone and had said Compline and other prayers, he was fain to rest and to go to sleep, but could not. And his spirit began to be afraid and to feel devilish suggestions, and forthwith he went out of the church and did cross himself, saying: “On behalf of God Almighty, I bid you devils that you exercise upon my body all that it hath been given unto you to do by the Lord Jesus Christ, forasmuch as all things I am ready to undergo! For since the greatest enemy I have is mine own body, you do avenge me of mine adversary and most bitter foe!” And straightway those suggestions did cease altogether, and going back to the place where he had laid him down, he went to sleep in peace.