Chapter V. Of a brother the secrets of whose heart he knew

31. At the time when S. Francis was returning from beyond the sea, having brother

Leonard of Assisi as his companion, it chanced that,¹ being weary with the journey, he was riding for a while on an ass. His companion was walking behind, and being not a little tired, yielded a little to mortal weakness, and began to say to himself: "This man's parents and mine were not wont to play together as equals. But now he is riding, and I on foot am driving his ass! "While this thought was passing through his mind the holy man dismounted forthwith, saying: "No, brother, it is not meet that I should ride and thou be walking, because in the world thou wast nobler and mightier than I". Brother Leonard was abashed; he turned red, and knew that the holy man had seen through him; he fell at his feet, and, bathed in tears, laid bare his thought, and asked for pardon.