Chapter II. How God visited his heart by sickness of body and a vision in the night

3. For in truth while this man in youthful heat was still fervent in sin, while the age of wantonness was urging him frowardly to fulfil the demands of youth, and while, not knowing how to restrain himself, he was stirred by the venom of the Old Serpent, suddenly the vengeance, or rather the unction of God came upon him and strove first to recall his erring senses by the infliction of distress of mind and discomfort of body according to the Prophet's word, "Behold I will hedge thy way with thorns and will compass it with a wall 'V And so, worn by long sickness (as man's stubbornness deserves, which can scarce be amended but by chastisements), he began to muse on other than his wonted thoughts. And when now he was somewhat restored, after he had begun to walk about the house in order to recover his strength, leaning on a stick, one day he went abroad and began to look curiously on the landscape around. But neither the beauty of the fields, the pleasantness of the vineyards, nor anything that is fair to see could in anywise delight him. Wherefore he wondered at the sudden change in himself and began to deem the lovers of such things to be very fools; and from that day he began to despise himself and in some sort to hold in contempt what he had admired and loved before; (4) but not thoroughly nor truly, for he had not yet been loosed from the bonds of vanity nor had¹ he shaken off from his neck the yoke of perverse slavery. For it is very hard to forsake accustomed things, nor is it easy to sap the force of what has once been put into the mind. The mind which has been long secluded goes back to what it has first been taught, and vice by assiduity commonly becomes nature. Accordingly Francis as yet tried to fly from God's hand, and, heedless for a while of his Father's correction, turned his mind, amid the smiles of prosperity, to worldly things; and, ignorant of God's plan, still looked forward to great exploits of worldly glory and vanity. For a certain noble of the city of Assisi was making much ado with warlike preparations, and, puffed up by a gust of vainglory, vowed that he would go to Apulia, to make increased gain of money or honour. On hearing this, Francis, who was heady and not a little adventurous, agreed to go with this noble; being his inferior in birth, but his superior in mettle; poorer in pelf, but more lavish in largess.

5. One night therefore, after Francis had wholly determined to carry out this enterprise, and burning with desire was most eagerly longing to start on the journey, He who had smitten him with the rod of justice visited him in the sweetness of grace by a night vision, and since he coveted glory, drew him on and uplifted him by [showing him] the height of glory. For it seemed to him that he had his house full of warlike weapons, to wit, saddles, shields, lances and other accoutrements; and, greatly rejoicing he wondered in himself what this might be: for he had not been wont to see such things in his house, but rather, bales of cloth to sell. And, as he was not a little astonished at the sudden occurrence, he was told that all these arms were his and his knights'. On awaking, he rose early with gladsome heart, and taking the vision to be a presage of great prosperity, felt sure that his journey to Apulia would be prosperous. For he knew not what he said and had as yet no knowledge of the gift bestowed on him from heaven. Yet he might have seen that his interpretation of this vision was not true, because though the vision bore some resemblance to the facts, his mind was nevertheless not wont to rejoice over such things as these. For he had to do some violence to himself in order that he might accomplish his design and carry out the journey he longed to take.

And indeed mention of arms here at the beginning is very beautifully made, and arms are very fittingly delivered to the knight about to do battle against the strong man armed, that like a second David he may in the name of the Lord God of hosts deliver Israel from the standing reproach of the foe.1