Blanquerna

OF TEMPTATION

Greatly was Blanquerna displeased because he had per¬ force to leave his journey to accompany the damsel whom the knight had commended to him; but charity and forti¬ tude made him to go with the damsel towards the precindls of the caftle. Now while Blanquerna journeyed with the damsel, he felt within his mind temptation of carnal pleasure by reason of the surpassing loveliness of the damsel and the solitude wherein they were both together in the foreft. But as soon as Blanquerna felt temptation, he remembered the means1 whereby man mortifies all temptation, — to wit, God and His Passion, and the glory of Heaven, and the pains of Hell ; and he fell to prayer, and begged the aid of the seven virtues that were in his company, and remembered the vileness and the abomination that is in the working of luft, and desired to have the nobler working that is in the virtues when they unite each with the others againft the vices.

2. Many times was Blanquerna tempted by luff, for so long as he went with the damsel, and incontinently he gave himself to prayer, as is related above, and mortified the temptation. By the work of the evil spirit it came to pass 1 medicine.”

OF TEMPTATION likewise that the damsel was tempted to sin with Blanquerna, and she had not the means1 of Blanquerna where¬ with to fight temptation ; wherefore she spake these words : “ Fair sir ! I am in thy power, and thy words have delivered me from the hands of the knight. No other reward can I give thee beyond this, that thou mayeft command my person and do therewith all thy pleasure.”

3. Blanquerna felt within himself his temptation in¬ creased through the words that the damsel spake, and he turned again to remembrance of God and the virtues, according to his cuftom. While Blanquerna considered thus in fortitude and in nobility of mind, through the light and inspiration of Divine wisdom, he remembered and comprehended how that God forsook many sinners, that they might be the occasion whereby juft men should increase their virtues; wherefore Blanquerna perceived how that the damsel was forsaken by the grace of God, that he himself might have greater occasion of virtue, and be the ftronger againft temptation and luft, to the end that by greater fortitude he might have greater merit. So Blan¬ querna kneeled upon his knees, and adored and blessed God Who gave him so many occasions whereby he could greatly exalt His virtues. While Blanquerna adored and blessed God, it came to his will by the Divine Virtue that he should inftruft the maiden as to how she should meet temptation whensoever she should be tempted by luft or other sin.

4. “ Damsel 1 ” said Blanquerna. “ It is the nature of understanding to make that which is much remembered greatly to be loved or hated; wherefore whensoever man is tempted in any wise to sin, he muft have much remem¬ brance of the vileness and abomination of sin and the evils which follow therefrom ; for even as a man has the greater remembrance after this manner, even so does the under¬ standing make the will to love the sin no longer. Another manner is there of mortifying temptation, to wit, that a

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blanquerna

man should have remembrance of God, and of His good¬ ness, greatness, power, wisdom, love, perfeftion, justice, and of how He has had great love to man, and of how He has prepared great glory for him, and of how noble a thing it is to use faith, hope, charity, justice, prudence, fortitude and temperance. The third manner is that a man should forget the sin and all the circumftances of his temptation ; for by his forgetting sin is the will mortified as to the love thereof; wherefore he muft have remembrance of other things. After these three manners aforesaid may every temptation be mortified." The damsel took knowledge that Blanquerna spake these words to her because he knew of that concerning the which she was tempted, and she praised and blessed God, because He had given such virtue to Blanquerna againft temptation ; and whensoever there came to her temptation concerning him, she used the doftrine which he had given her ; by the which doftrine she mortified the temptation and accustomed her soul to the use of the

j. Long did Blanquerna and the damsel journey through the foreft, even until the damsel was wearied with walking, and desired to reft beneath a tree, under the shade whereof she fell asleep. While the damsel slept, Blanquerna re¬ mained in prayer, and contemplated the Divine blessing. Now, as Blanquerna was at prayer, he heard a voice that lamented and wept and gave signs of great diftress and sorrow. Blanquerna went towards the diredlion whence that voice came and found the squire who had been wounded by the knight, the which squire was returning in great diftress.

6. “ Fair friend ! ” said Blanquerna, “ What aileth thee? And what needeft thou to repair the injury that has been done to thee that thou mayeft have consolation ? ”

Sir 1 ” said the squire, “ Diftressed am I and angered because I cannot fulfil the errand on the which I have been sait. he squire recounted to Blanquerna how he had

OF TEMPTATION

followed the knight that he might take the damsel from him, and how the knight had wounded him and borne away the damsel. “ Fair friend 1 ” said Blanquerna, “ Reason counsels thee to take comfort, since thou haft done all that was within thy power; for even so much thank oughteft thou to receive as though thou hadft recovered the damsel.” “ Sir ! ” answered the squire, “ It is of the nature of charity that no man should take comfort for doing that which was within his power, if he brings not to fulfilment the thing which he desires; and because I desire to serve the lady who has bred me, and through my fault my desire has not been brought to fulfilment, therefore in her diftress it is fitting that I have diftress, albeit I have done that which was within my power.”

7. Deeply did Blanquerna consider the words of the squire, the which words signified great perfection of charity and fortitude, and as he considered, even so did he re¬ member how through defied of charity certain men who desired to give example of the Catholic Faith held them¬ selves excused, insomuch as they did that which was within their power and could not bring to fulfilment that thing which they so greatly desired; through the which defeft of fulfilment they should the rather be in diftress for the dishonour which God has of those that know Him not and of those that honour Him not according as they know Him. While Blanquerna was considering thus, he said to the youth : “ Fair friend I See thou there, beneath yonder tree, the damsel whom thou seekeft; and since thou haft perfeft charity, God wills that that which is in thy mind be brought to pass, and that thou have the merit concerning that thing for the which thou haft laboured.” Then the squire drew near to the tree, and beheld the damsel sleeping, the which damsel awakened and returned with the squire to the caftle ; and they both took leave very courteously of Blanquerna.

8. Blanquerna set forth once more upon his journey, and, as he journeyed, he considered with much searching

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B LAN QUERN A

of heart how he might find a place wherein to serve God as he desired. For two days Blanqucrna went through the foreSt without finding aught that he might eat. On the third day he was in great distress by reason of his hunger; and the greater was the digress of his hunger, the greater was his hope and truSt in God, that He would fortify him againSt hunger and temptation, whereby the demon might cause him else to sin againSt hope and patience, by means of impatience and despair. While Blanquerna with the help of the virtues Strove thus with all his might againSt temptation and hunger, Prudence came to the aid of her servant, and enlightened the eyes of his mind ; so that he considered how great affe&ion and exaltation in prayer fortify the body through the influence of devotion. As Blanquerna considered thus, he endeavoured with all his powers to pray and to contemplate God and to use his virtues that he might have fruition of God1 ; and by the virtue of God and the nature of the understanding which should comprehend God and the will which should love Him, the eyes of Blanquerna were in tears and his heart was in charity and devotion ; and so highly was Blanquerna enraptured2 in his prayer, that he felt neither hunger nor thirft nor suffering, but his body was in great bliss, taking virtue and Strength from his prayer. In such wise did Blanquerna adore God, and journey through the foreSt, neither eating nor drinking ; and whensoever he fel t hunger, even then adored he God according as is written above, and God sent him virtue and Strength whereby his soul con¬ tinually had devotion, and his body was Strengthened and sustained.3

3 This passage constitutes one prayer in Blanquerna.

OF PENITENCE