Chapter L. Of a vision relating to Poverty

82. It pleases me here to relate a vision of the Saint which is worthy of record. One night at the end of long prayer he at last gradually fell asleep. That holy soul was brought into the sanctuary of God, and in a dream he saw among other things a Lady who was of this fashion: Her head appeared of gold, her bosom and arms of silver, her belly of crystal, and the parts thence downward of iron. She was of lofty stature, and her frame was subtly and symmetrically compacted by rule. But this Lady of noble form was covered by a foul mantle. When he arose in the morning the blessed father rehearsed the vision to the holy man brother Pacifico, but did not declare its meaning. Though many have expounded it at their pleasure I think it not unadvisable to keep to the interpretation of the said Pacifico, which the Holy Ghost suggested to him as he heard it. "This Lady of noble form" (he said) "is the beauteous soul of S. Francis. The golden head is contemplation of things eternal and wisdom therein: the silver bosom and arms are the utterances of the Lord pondered in the heart and fulfilled in action: the crystal by its hardness indicates sobriety and by its brightness chastity: the iron is stedfast perseverance; but take the foul mantle to be the frail despised body wherewith the precious soul is covered." Many, however, [also] having the spirit of God, understand by this Lady, Poverty, as being the father's bride. The reward of glory (they say) made her golden, the heralding of fame made her of silver; the profession, one outwardly and inwardly and void of treasure-chests, made her crystalline; and final perseverance made her of iron; but for this illustrious Lady the judgment of brutish men wove a foul mantle. Many adapt this oracle to the Religion, following Daniel in tracing a succession of periods.

But that the vision refers to the father is especially clear from the fact that he himself, avoiding arrogance, absolutely refused to expound it: and surely if it had dropped down in reference to the Order he would not have passed it by in dumb silence.