IV
OF THE FIRST COMPANIONS OF THE BLESSED FRANCIS
And when he had heard these Counsels, the Blessed Francis chose unto himself a few faithful Companions, with whom he set out for the Mountain. And he said unto his brothers: Come ♦Isa. ii. 3.♦ ye, let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, to the House of the Lady Poverty, that she may teach us her Ways, and we will walk in her Paths. And when they beheld the Ascent from every side, and saw how exceeding high and steep it was, they began to say one to another: Who shall ascend this Mountain, and who shall reach unto the Mountain’s top? The which, when Blessed Francis heard, he said unto them: Strait is the Way, and ♦Matt. vii. 14.♦ narrow the Gate, which leadeth unto Life, and few there be that find it. Be strong in the ♦Eph. vi. 10.♦ Lord, and in the power of His Might, and all things difficult will become easy unto us. Lay down the Burden of your own Will, cast away the heavy Weight of your Sins, and gird yourselves like Strong Men. Forget those things ♦Phil. iii. 13.♦ which are behind, and reach forth to those which are before. I say unto you that every ♦Deut. xi. 24.♦ place that your foot shall tread upon shall be yours. For as a Spirit before our face is Christ the Lord, drawing us to the Mountain’s summit by the Bonds of Charity. Wonderful, O Brethren, are the Espousals of Poverty, but we may hope to enjoy her embraces, ♦Lament. i. 1.♦ for the Mistress of Nations is become as a Widow, the Queen of all Virtues is become contemptible. There is none in all the Land who dares call upon her, none who will stand over against us, none who by right can forbid this Blessed Union. All her ♦Lament. i. 2.♦ Friends have despised her, and are become her Enemies.