Blanquerna

OF PENITENCE

Blanquerna journeyed through the forcft remembering and loving his Creator and his God, singing: Gloria in Excelsis Deo. While he journeyed thus, he lighted upon a road along the which he went until the hour of none, when he met a squire coming from another direftion, weeping sorely and giving signs in his countenance of great sadness. Blanquerna enquired of him wherefore he was weeping. The squire answered: “Sir I I weep because my mafter, Narpan by name, whom I served, has withheld from me my wages, and I have left him because I cannot serve him as he desires, for so evil and unruly is he in his cuftoms that no man can suffer his wicked life.”

2. "Fair friend I” said Blanquerna: “Where is this Sir Narpan of whom thou speakefl? ” “ Sir I ” answered

the squire : “ He is near to this place, in an abbey. In that house he has made his dwelling, for he went there to do penance; but the penance wherein he lives is like to the penance of the wolf.” Blanquerna asked the squire what was the penance of the wolf. “ Sir 1” said the squire : “It came to pass once on a time that the wolf entered a yard wherein were many sheep which he killed and devoured. On the next morning, when the mafler of the sheep entered the yard and found that they were dead, he was very wroth againft the shepherd, who had not watched the yard that night, and he killed the shepherd; and when he had killed him he bewailed the death of the shepherd and of the sheep. The wolf, who had beheld the shepherd slain, and heard the grief of the farmer, had contrition of heart and said that it beseemed him to do penance for the harm which he had done to the farmer and because he had been the occasion of the death of the shepherd. Now there was a vineyard near by wherein were many bunches of ripe grapes, which 197

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belonged to the farmer whose sheep he had killed ; so he went there to do penance by eating the grapes daily accord¬ ing to his desire. And in like manner the mailer whom for long I have served does his penance; for in the world he has been a sinner, and has killed many men and com¬ mitted many sins, and he has come to this monastery where he eats and drinks and lies slothfully in bed according to his desire, and dwells in great comfort, so that from his life all the monks of that house have bad example and many of them also have envy of him.”

3. “ Friend 1 ” said Blanquerna, “ Thinkcft thou that if I went to the monastery and dwelt for a space with Narpan I could convert him to a righteous life?” The squire answered ; “ If thou shouldft go to him he would take and do to thee even as was done to the parrot.” Blanquerna besought him to tell him the ftory of the parrot. “ Sir 1 ” said the squire, “ It came to pass in a certain country that two monkeys placed wood upon a glow-worm, thinking that it was a fire, and they blew upon the wood that the fire might kindle. A parrot was in a tree and he said to the monkeys that that which glowed was not a fire but a glow-worm; but they would not liftcn to his words. A crow said to the parrot that it was foolish to attempt the correftion of those who would not receive teaching. But the parrot came down from the tree and placed himself between the monkeys, to the end that they should hear him, so one of them took the parrot and killed him. Even so wilt thou fare if thou seek to corrcft one that will not receive correftion; and by his secret vices wilt thou too be corrupted againft such good habits as thou haft.”

4. Blanquerna said: “ I put my truft in the counsel which the fox gave to the boar.” The squire begged Blan¬ querna to relate to him that ftory. Blanquerna said : “ A fox was journeying through a foreft and he found a boar who was awaiting a lion with whom he had a mind to do

OF PENITENCE

waiting, and the boar related to him that which was in his mind. The fox told the boar, who had only two teeth wherewith to fight the lion, that the lion had many teeth and claws to use againft him; and therefore it seemed to him that the lion would have the better of the battle. The lion came and fought with the boar, whom he killed and devoured, because he had superiority of weapons. And in like manner have I superiority of weapons againft Narpan, for I shall fight him with the aid of the Divine virtues and of the virtues created, while he will have nought but vices wherewith to fight againft me, the which vices have no power againft God and His virtues.”

5. When the squire had heard this example, he left Blanquerna and went upon his way. Blanquerna con¬ sidered the peril which might befall the monaftery through the evil life of Narpan, who was feigning penitence therein ; and charity and hope made him go to the monaftery, where he found Narpan, of whom the squire had spoken to him. “Friend I” said Narpan, “Whence comeft thou? Wouldft thou be for a year or more in the service of a mafter ? ” “ Sir 1 ” said Blanquerna, “ I come from this foreft, and I go in search of a sufficient livelihood, and I would fain serve a mafter with whom I can better my fortune, and who may have of me some advantage also. Wherefore, since thou haft enquired concerning my eftate, I pray thee to tell me also of the eftate wherein thou dwelleft in this monaftery.”

6. Narpan answered Blanquerna: “ I am in this mon¬ aftery to do penance for the sins which I have committed in the world, from the which I have fled. My squire has left me, and for this reason I have need of another. Where¬ fore if thou wouldft live with me I will requite thy work in such wise that thou shalt be well recompensed for it.

“ Sir 1 ” said Blanquerna, “ If thou doft penance, and I serve thee, it follows that I also do penance; wherefore I will abide with thee for the space of a year in this form and

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condition, that thou shalt likewise do penance.” Narpan and Blanquerna agreed concerning their undertakings, and Blanquerna served Narpan for eight days according to his will, to the end that Narpan might be moved in his mind to love him and give the better credence to his words, and also that he himself might be the better acquainted with his cuftoms.

7. On the eighth day Narpan commanded Blanquerna to kill a goose from among those which he had in the pasture, and prepare it for dinner. Blanquerna entered the place wherein were the geese, together with a great multi¬ tude of hens and capons, and he found a fox which had entered therein. Blanquerna killed the fox and skinned it wholly, excepting only the tail, and set it to roaft ; and when Narpan came to table Blanquerna set the fox upon a dish before him. Greatly did Narpan marvel, and he en¬ quired of Blanquerna wherefore he had brought the fox and not the goose, for the fox was horrible both to eat and to behold. “ Sir 1 ” said Blanquerna, “ Geese and hens have no enemy as mortal as is the fox; and since thou loveft geese and hens it is fitting that thou shouldft eat their enemy.” Greatly was Narpan displeased with Blanquerna, and he said to him many evil things, because he had coun¬ selled him that he should eat the fox, and had not made ready the goose. “ Sir ! ” said Blanquerna, “ Even as foxes are opposed to geese and hens, even so arc geese and hens and capons and dainty dishes opposed to penance; and as I am bound to thee, to serve thee according to the forms of penance, thou wilt be doing penance if thou doft eat the fox rather than the delightful and delicate meats that thou desireft.”

8. All that day Narpan spent without eating flesh, and was gready wroth with Blanquerna. At night, when he desired to enter his bed, Blanquerna had placed the pillow beneath the mattress, and the mattress beneath the ftraw pallet, and the blankets were beneath the sheets and the

OF PENITENCE

counterpane.1 Narpan enquired of Blanquerna wherefore he had not made the bed according to his wonted fashion. Blanquerna answered that that bed was made according to the work of penance, and that in no other wise could a bed of penance be made. But Narpan was a slothful man, and desired not that the bed should be made after this fashion. When he waited for Blanquerna to kneel and take off his shoes, according as he was wont, Blanquerna said to him that humility was a friend of all those that did penance. On that night Narpan lay in the bed which Blanquerna had made after his own fashion, and he could not sleep, and he thought for a great space upon the sins which he had committed in the world, and upon the words which Blan¬ querna had spoken.

9. At midnight, when the monks rose for matins, and Blanquerna heard the bell, he cried out to Narpan that he should rise for prayer, for the hour of prayer had come. Narpan answered him that he was not wont to rise at such an hour, but Blanquerna desired that he should rise at all hazards, so he took the sheets from him, and gave him firit of all a scapulary of rough and coarse cloth, which Narpan was wont to wear above his under garment. Narpan obeyed Blanquerna, since he had spent the night with his thoughts, and contrition had begun to enter his mind. He clothed himself in this garment, which was of goatskin, and afterwards Blanquerna give him a skirt, which was of white Narbonne cloth, and then he gave him a tunic which was of a fine linen cloth and clothed him with it above the skirt.

10. When Narpan had risen and clothed himself, Blan¬ querna went with him to the chapel to be in contemplation and prayer. But Narpan said to Blanquerna that he had great shame that the Abbot and the monks should see him thus clothed. Blanquerna answered that shame and virtue

1 i.t. to give a superficial appearance of comfort to a bed which was

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accorded well with penitence, and that God had blessed those that had patience and humility whensoever they were scorned and reproved for doing works of penitence.

11. Narpan and Blanquerna remained in the chapel till it was day and the monks were ready to enter the chapter. After satisfaftion had been made, and discipline was ended, they said Mass, which is said the more worthily when satisfa&ion has been made in chapter. When the monks entered the chapter and the Lord Abbot enquired of Narpan wherefore he went so Srangely clothed and rose so early, Narpan answered that his squire had clothed him thus and had wakened him, and that from thenceforward he desired to be obedient to Blanquerna in all that he counselled him. Blanquerna said to the Abbot that he desired to repeat in chapter certain words of Narpan in the presence of the whole community. So the Abbot and Narpan and Blan¬ querna entered the chapter, and all the monks marvelled at the garments which Narpan wore.

12. When all were in chapter, Blanquerna rose and spake these words: “Three things agree with penance: contrition of heart, confession with the mouth, and satisfaftion for the sins which a man has committed. In con¬ trition it is seemly to weep and repent, and to remember and grieve for the sins which a man has committed, and to truft in the mercy of God, and to fear and love His justice. In confession it is seemly that a man should confess his sins and desire nevermore to return to them. In satisfa&ion it is seemly that a man return that which he has wrongfully held, that he afflia his body with vigils and prayers, coarse meats, a hard bed, rough garments of humility, and other things like unto these. Wherefore, since these three things aforesaid accord with penitence, and there is a bond and agreement between Narpan and me that I serve him accord¬ ing to penitence, therefore, in presence of all, I demand of Narpan that the relationship which is between us be preserved.”

OF PENITENCE

13. When Blanquerna had ended his words, Narpan said, in the presence of all, that he had been for long in a ftate of blindness, being ignorant of the conditions which accord with penitence, and that God had sent to him Blan¬ querna who had enlightened the eyes of his soul, and that, from that time forward, for all the days of his life, he desired to serve God and to do penance in every manner which should be pleasing and agreeable to Blanquerna. The Abbot and all the monks praised and blessed God, Who had thus shown forth His virtue in the words of Narpan and Blanquerna.

14. Narpan and Blanquerna went apart from the reft into the chamber of Narpan. Blanquerna was not unmind¬ ful of his journey, and he desired to continue his search for a hermitage ; and therefore he spake to Narpan concerning that which was in his mind, and prayed him that he would free him from the promise by the which he had bound himself to serve him for the space of a year; and that, since Narpan had recognised his sins, he would return to him his bond and loose him from his covenant. Right displeased was Narpan when he heard that Blanquerna desired to leave him, and with devotion and contrition of heart he answered Blanquerna, weeping, saying these words :

1 J. “ Enlightened am I by Divine inspiration, and moved to devotion by contrition, confession and satisfaction. If my evil cuftoms seek to reclaim me, who will help me? If I remain without a mafter, who will bring me up to love, serve and honour God, Who is worthy of such great honour and before Whom I have so greatly sinned? I beg of Juftice that the agreement that is between us, and the promise which thou haft made me, be kept. If I obey my mafter, why will my mafter become an enemy to me in leaving me ? I desire to be the companion and servant of Blanquerna, and not his mafter according to our agreement. With my lord and mafter Blanquerna I would fain go to his hermitage ; but I muft needs remain in this monaftery

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to make satisfaftion to the Lord Abbot and all the monks who for so long have served me. I muft needs give a good example, that in my amendment of life the monastery may have some profit.”

1 6. So devout and full of reason were the words of Narpan, and with such piety were they uttered, that Blanquerna was moved thereby to devotion and tears, and there came to him thoughts of contrition; and he considered how he might remain all that year with Narpan to keep him in his worthy estate of life, that both of them together might give good example to all the monks of that com¬ munity. So on that day Blanquerna confirmed to Narpan the promise which he had made to him, and both of them made undertaking to wear hair cloth next to the skin and to remain as companions for the whole year in that mon¬ astery, giving glory and praise to God and doing penance. Great was the joy of Narpan and of the Abbot and of all the monks, when Blanquerna repented him of the intention which he had had to depart from them.

OF PERSEVERANCE

All that year Blanquerna and Narpan continued to live together doing penance; and Blanquerna sang with the monks in the chapel antiphons, proses, hymns and responses, and he expounded to the monks the Scriptures. The Abbot and all the community desired greatly that Blanquerna should become one of them and teach them grammar and theology and the other sciences which he knew, but Blan¬ querna excused himself from being a monk because he de-ired to continue in his former will to lead the life of a

a. Upon a fea£t day it cam< desired to preach; but he feared

to pass that the Abbot ' preach because he knew

OF PERSEVERANCE not Latin nor was skilled in expounding the Scriptures, and he had shame concerning Blanquerna, knowing that he would take cognisance of all the errors in his speech. Now the Abbot and all the monks were in chapter, and Blanquerna and Narpan entered the chapter to hear the Abbot who was to preach. But before the Abbot could begin, the Reward came into the chapter and told the Abbot that a great company of knights and other men had come to honour the festival and that they purposed to dine that day in the monastery. The Abbot commanded that a right worthy feaft should be prepared for them, and that to their beafts should be given oats and all things whereof they had need, for such was the cuftom of that monastery. When the Abbot had said these words, he spake to Blanquerna as follows : “ It had been in my mind to preach, but be¬ cause of my ignorance I find that I myself am not prepared to preach according to the honour of the saint whose festival to-day we celebrate. Therefore I could greatly wish that thou, Blanquerna, wert a monk and might preach to us, and to all those that come to this monastery on days of festival ; for if it be our cuftom to satisfy their bodies with meat by way of alms, we do harm to their souls if we satisfy them not with spiritual meat by sermons and by the word of God.”

3. Blanquerna answered the Abbot, saying: "Per¬ severance is a virtue wherein is demonstrated the perfedtion of the other virtues, for without perfeftion of virtues perseverance can be no virtue. And inasmuch as I have bound myself to continue to be a servant of the virtues, therefore it behoves me to serve perseverance wherein the virtues show forth their works. If then I were to leave the purpose for the which I have forsaken my home, and to take another purpose, I should do injury to charity, fortitude and the other virtues; wherefore I pray the Lord Abbot and all the community to hold me excused.”

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4. “ Blanquerna 1 ” said the Abbot, “ It came to pass once upon a time that a hermit entered a city. The king of that city was dead, and the custom was that the fir it Stranger to enter therein on the third day after the death of the king should be made king in his Stead. By the ordinance of God it came to pass that the hermit entered the city and was made king; but the hermit disputed the eleftion because he desired to continue in his former life. And there was argument between the elettors who had chosen him for king as to whether he could continue in the devotion which was his wont. And the cleftors gave judgment and sentence among themselves, saying that the hermit could more readily be excused in intention and in will from the office of king than he could live apart from people in ruStic spots where he led the life of a hermit, and that in the office of kingship he could the better use forti¬ tude, hope, juftice and the other virtues, and hence would be the better servant of perseverance. Wherefore in like manner our judgment is that thou shouldSl remain and continue with us who are hermits and would fain be thy companions."

S- Blanquerna answered and spake these words; “ Ye may remember, sirs, how Saint John BaptiSt was a hermit, and dwelt alone in the foreSt, eating locuSts and wild honey, and was clothed in the skin of camels; and Jesus ChriSt said that there was not born of woman a greater man than Saint John BaptiSl. Because Saint John BaptiSl remained alone in his hermitage and afflifted himself greatly, there¬ fore God honoured him in His glory according to the word which He spake concerning him.”

6. When Blanquerna had said these words, the Prior said to Blanquerna that Jesus Chrift, Who is a greater Man than Saint John, went about and remained ever in company with the Apoflles, signifying thus that perseverance in company with men when they are together is the nobler virtue, and that perseverance perishes not through the

OF OBEDIENCE

company of other men, for it is not like to perseverance in a man that dwells alone. And therefore, he said, according to juflice and hope, it behoved Blanquerna to obey and fulfil the prayers of the Abbot and of the whole community.