Blanquerna

or COUNSEL

Blanquerna considered deeply the words which had been spoken to him and that which had come to pass concerning the temptation of the brother that was dead. While Blan¬ querna considered on this wise the Abbot and all the monks prayed that he would become one of them. Narpan also, weeping, spake to Blanquerna these words : “ Beloved friend Blanquerna 1 Whereof doSt thou think, and where¬ fore obeyeSt thou not the prayers of the Lord Abbot and of all this community, and, above all, thine own under¬ standing, which will make thee to have remorse if thou give not to these servants of God intelligence whereby they may have of Him better knowledge. For the higher rises the understanding to have knowledge of God, the more truly is the will prepared to rise to an exceeding great love of God and of His servants. Wherefore, if thou wilt devote thyself to the service of this monastery, I will devote myself to thee, and will be thy companion and servant, and thou wilt bring profit to thyself and to all the reSt ; but if thou

OF COUNSEL

livefl alone in a hermitage, to thyself alone will be the profit.”

2. Blanquerna answered him: “ Wrong would be done to a contemplative man, who remains in solitude for the love of God, if his prayers profited not others but himself only. Wherefore have I fallen to considering this thing after another manner, to wit, through the remembrance of my mind that diverse wills are like unto sheep and muS be subjeft to the enlightened and exalted understanding which is as their paStor; and this knowledge makes me to think upon devotion,1 and consider the harm which those disciples of Understanding had because they had no de¬ votion.” Thus did Blanquerna speak to the Lord Abbot and to all the community, and he said that in all things a man should take deliberation and counsel, ere he should pass from one purpose to another, and that he himself should take counsel with the seven virtues, who many times had counselled him well. The Abbot and all the monks prayed to God that, in the counsel and agreement that Blanquerna had resolved to take, their rights and their needs might both be had in remembrance.

3. All that day and all that night were the thoughts of Blanquerna fixed upon other things, for man should ever think upon certain other things for a space before he takes with himself counsel; for the understanding begins to return to its power again concerning that which a man proposes to it, and hence the understanding comprehends it the more clearly having come to the matter twice. On the day following, after Mass, Blanquerna betook himself to prayer ; and, when his prayer was ended, he gave him¬ self to thought, and had remembrance of each of the virtues one by one, and remained in that thought until the hour of none. After dinner Blanquerna went to the garden for recreation to divert his mind, and after this recreation he slept, that his meat might be the better digested, and that

1 Lit. Jo capito/ de devocid. . The reference is to Chap. XLV above.

BLANQUERNA

that night he might the better keep vigil to consider these matters. At vesper time he desired not to keep vigil, and he slept, that in the morning he might return yet again to his thought, and this the more especially since in the morn¬ ing hours the imagination has greatest agreement with the understanding.

4. At the hour of matins, Blanquerna rose, and went into the garden to gaze upon the heavens and the Stars, that he might have the greater devotion, and he knelt upon the ground and made the sign of the Cross, and lifted up his hands and his eyes to the heavens with affeftion of will, and prayed to God that it might please Him to remember His servant and to enlighten him concerning those aftions which were the moSt pleasing to Him. And by the will of God it came to pass that Blanquerna resolved to become a monk, because he reflefted that he could do greater service to God in the monastery than in the hermitage. And Blan¬ querna was Strengthened in his purpose, and remembered that whensoever he had considered that matter he had con¬ ceived this same resolve, and that none of the virtues had opposed themselves to it ; and Hope gave him consolation and truSt that the time would come in the which he should be a hermit and live the life he so greatly desired; and Prudence demonstrated to him that the life which he would lead in the monastery would by its nature give him increase of holiness in his life as a hermit.

J. When Blanquerna had ended his devotions he went to the chapter-house, wherein he found the Lord Abbot and all the monks who were speaking with Narpan concerning the holy life of Blanquerna. Blanquerna knelt to the Abbot and the monks, and made his submission to the Order, and to all its commandments, without exception soever. Great was the joy of the Abbot and of all the reSt ; and Blanquerna and Narpan received the habit and the benedidtion of the Abbot with great honour, and made the vows which pertain to that Order.

OF THE ORDERING OF STUDIES