III
HOW TWO OLD MEN SHOWED THE BLESSED FRANCIS WHERE THE MIGHT FIND THE LADY POVERTY
And the Blessed Francis, being come out of the City, made haste to reach a certain field, in which, from afar off, he saw two old men sitting, full of a heavy sorrow, the one of whom was saying: To whom shall I look save to ♦Isa. lxvi. 2.♦ some Poor Little Man, contrite of Heart, and who fears my Words? And the other: For we brought nothing into ♦1 Tim. vi. 7, 8.♦ this World, and it is certain we can carry nothing out of it. But having food and a covering to our Bodies, let us be therewith content.
And when the Blessed Francis had come up with them, he said unto them: Tell me, I beseech you, where the Lady Poverty dwells, where she ♦Cant. i. 6.♦ feeds her flock, where she takes her rest at noon, for I languish for the Love of her. But they answered him, saying: O good Brother, we have sat here for a Time, and Times, ♦Dan. xii. 7.♦ and half a Time, and have often seen her pass this way, ♦Apoc. xii. 14.♦ and many were they who sought her. Many were they, once upon a time, who walked in her train, but oft she would return alone and desolate, unadorned by jewels or fine raiment, unescorted by any following. And she would weep bitterly, saying: The ♦Cant. i. 5.♦ Sons of my Mother have fought against me. But we did answer and say: Have ♦Cant. i. 3.♦ patience, for the Righteous love thee. And now, O Brother, ascend the great and high Mountain whereon the Lord hath placed her. For she dwelleth in the Holy ♦Ps. lxxxvi. 1, 2.♦ Mountains, because God hath loved her more than all the tents of Jacob. Giants have failed to follow her footsteps, and the Eagle to fly to the summit of her Hill. Poverty is the one thing despised of all men, for it is not found in the ♦Job xxviii. 13.♦ land of them that live in delights. Wherefore she is hid ♦Job xxviii. 21, 23.♦ from the eyes of the Living, and the fowls of the air know her not. But God understandeth her way; He knoweth her Dwelling-place. If therefore, O Brother, thou wouldst ascend unto her, put off the Garments of thy Pleasures, ♦Heb. xii. 1.♦ and lay aside every weight and the Sin which besets thee, for unless thou art free from these trammels, thou canst not attain unto her who is placed at so great a height. But because My Lady is gracious, she is easily seen by those who love her, and found by those who seek her. To meditate upon her, Brother, is ♦Wisdom vi. 16.♦ perfect Understanding, and whoso watcheth for her shall speedily be secure. Take with thee trusty Companions that thou may’st profit by their Counsel, and be sustained by their Help in the way, for woe ♦Eccl. iv. 10.♦ to him that is alone; when he falleth he shall have none to raise him up. But do you uphold one another.