Chapter CXV. Of those who set a good or bad example: of the example of a certain good brother: and of the behaviour of the brethren of old time

155. He used to declare that the Lesser Brethren had been sent by God in these latest times to display examples of light to those who were wrapped in the darkness of sin. He would say that he was filled with the sweetest perfumes and anointed with the efficacy of precious ointment when he heard the exploits of holy brethren in distant parts of the world. It happened that a brother named Barbaro had once said an abusive word to another brother in the presence of a nobleman of the island of Cyprus; but on seeing that the brother had been somewhat wounded by this attack, he took some asses' dung, and, fired by revenge against himself, put it into his mouth and chewed it, saying: "Let the tongue which has poured forth the venom of anger against my brother feed on dung". When the knight saw this he was struck with amazement, and departed greatly edified: and from that time placed himself and his goods at the free disposal of the brethren. And all the brethren without fail observed this custom, that if ever one of them spoke an angry word to another, he fell on the ground straightway and caressed the foot of the offended brother, even against the latter's will, with blessed kisses. In such things the Saint exulted, I mean when he heard of his sons bringing forth of themselves examples of holiness: and he heaped blessings most worthy of all acceptance on such brethren as should lead sinners to the love of Christ by word or deed. He would have his sons correspond by a true resemblance to the zeal for souls wherewith himself was perfectly filled.