Chapter CXXIX. Of the pheasant

170. A nobleman of the territory of Siena sent pheasant to blessed Francis, who was ill. He received it joyfully, not because he desired to eat it, but in the manner in which he was always wont to rejoice in such creatures for love of the Creator; and he said to the pheasant: "Praised be our Creator, brother pheasant! "and, turning to the brethren, "Let us try now whether brother pheasant will stay with us or go to his usual haunts which are better suited to him". So one of the brethren at the Saint's bidding carried the pheasant and put it in a vineyard far off, but the bird hastened back forthwith to the father's cell. Again S. Francis ordered it to be taken farther away, but it again returned as fast as possible to the cell door, and came in, almost forcing its way under the tunics of the brethren who were at the door. So the Saint ordered the pheasant to be carefully fed, embracing it and caressing it with sweet words. When a certain physician, very devoted to the Saint of God, saw this, he asked the brethren to let him have the pheasant, not to eat, but to take charge of, out of reverence for the Saint. In short, he took the bird home with him; but the pheasant on being separated from S. Francis altogether refused to eat, as long as he was away from him, just as if a wrong had been done him. The physician was astonished, and immediately carried the pheasant back to the Saint, telling him in order all that had happened. As soon as the bird was put down on the ground and saw its father, it put away its sadness and began to eat joyfully.