Chapter XXX That he held it a theft not to give to one more needy Onceon a time, when he was coming back from Siena, he met with
Complete three-work composite: CCEL Fioretti; Salter 1904 Life and Miracles; Evans 1899 / Goretti 2025 Mirror
Chapter XXX That he held it a theft not to give to one more needy Onceon a time, when he was coming back from Siena, he met with
a certain poor man, and saith he to his companion, “Needs must
we render up this mantle to this poor man, whose own it is; for we only received the same as a loan until such time as we should find one poorer than ourselves.” But the companion, having regard to the pious father’s own necessity, stoutly maintained that he ought not to provide for another and neglect himself. Unto whom said St. Francis: “No mind have I to be a thief, for it would be imputed to us as a theft were we not to give it to one more needy.” Whereupon the pious father gave the mantle as a present to the poor man.