Chapter XXXVI. Punishment of a brother for picking up money

66. As two brethren were walking together, they came near a lepers' hospital, and rinding some money on the road, they halted, and discussed what should be done with such dung. One of them, laughing at his brother's conscience, wanted to take the money as an offering for leprous servants of Mammon.1 His companion forbade him, saying that he was misled by false piety, and urging upon the rash brother the words of the Rule, whence it is very clear that money found is to be trampled on like dust. The other hardened his mind against the warning (for he was ever habitually stiff-necked), despised the Rule, bent down, and took the money. But he did not escape God's judgment. Immediately he was deprived of speech; he gnashed with his teeth and could frame no words. And so did punishment proclaim the fool, so did retribution teach the arrogant one to obey the father's laws. At last he threw the fou¹ stuff away, and his polluted lips, washed with the waters of penitence, were unloosed in praise.

There is an old proverb, "Correct a fool and he will be a friend".