Blanquerna

The Bishop Blanquerna gave a rule to the Canon of Tears whereby he was to weep and suffer all those things for the which tears are fitting, and he gave him an art and a rule

OF TEARS

that it should bring tears to his eyes and make them to weep. It came to pass one day that this Canon passed by a slaughter-house, and he saw therein the Canon of Meek¬ ness, who was gazing at the lambs which he saw the slaughterers bind and slay,1 and he observed that they lamented not but received their death in peace. The Canon of Tears enquired of the Canon of Meekness wherefore he was in that place, and he answered him, saying that he was there to behold the slaughter of the lambs, and to remember thereby his Lord Jesus Chrift, Who suffered Himself to be bound and slain as meekly as did the lambs, that He might save sinners. When the Canon of Tears had heard these words, he said that it behoved him to weep for the death of his Lord Jesus Chrift. So for a great space these two canons were in tears and had devotion together, and oftentimes did they come to that place to weep together, for the comfort which they had from weeping, and for the profit which they brought to many men in that place, the which men had contrition for their sins and wept for the Passion of Jesus Chrift.

2. The Canon of Tears passed by the Synagogue of the Jews, and saw many Jews entering therein that they might pray to God ; so he sat at the door of the Synagogue. The Canon remembered how that the Jews had been the cause of the Passion of Jesus Chrift, and how they dishonoured Him in the world, and believed not in Him but maligned Him daily. While the Canon thought upon these things, and on the damnation whither the Jews through ignorance go, he wept right bitterly, saying these words : “ Ah, Charity and Devotion I How is it that ye go not to honour our Lord among these people who think that they honour Him, yet do Him dishonour? Ah, Pity 1 How is it that thou hafl not mercy upon these people who daily through ignorance journey towards the fire that is everlasting ?

B LAN QUERN A

Many other words spake the Canon, and long did he weep in that place, and many times came he to weep in that place, to the end that Divine grace might enlighten those that had strayed, and give devotion to Christians, that by the virtue of God they might have greater diligence than now they have in enlightening the unbelievers.

3. A certain worthy lady had a husband whom she greatly loved, and he had been in captivity, and with a large sum of money had been redeemed. This lady sold all her possessions and those of her husband that she might

nth her she led four small children. All I ity upon this lady, giving her money, an< 1 her tribulation. When the lady had spok Ims, the Canon of Tears, weeping, spak This lady weeps for her husband, and 1 srment which he suffers in prison. Hei ome to poverty, wherefore she goes with

Mine eyes shed tears because in this city there is none whose business it is to see that these poor women live not by this office.” While the Canon wept thus, the women wept, together with the Canon, and excused themselves, alleging their poverty. So the Canon and the women were all in tears, and they that passed along the Street had pity upon them. While they wept thus, a rich burgess who had no children entered the city riding upon his palfrey, and his wife and his retinue accompanied him; and he heard the words of the Canon and of the women, and through the merits of the Canon God was pleased to inspire the burgess and his wife with Divine grace, so that they received these women as their daughters and took them to their home; and the burgess established a hoStel wherein

Son of God.

6. While the Canon wept thus, the Bishop Blanqu came to the church, where he found the Canon weet

OF AFFLICTION prevent them from looking upon each other ; and he gave as an example the temples of the Saracens and the Jews, saying that if they have this ordinance, albeit they live in error, how much the more should the Christians who follow the true religion have it, and look to it that no dishonour be done to the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar, since this is worthy of such great honour.”

8. Daily went the Canon to the church to weep for sinners, and daily went he through the Streets and wept whensoever he had occasion thereof; and he endeavoured to weep whensoever he perceived that God was not loved, neither known nor obeyed, that the people might have contrition and knowledge thereof, and beg of God forgive¬ ness and devotion. The good which he did, and the evil which came to an end through that which he did, who can recount it ? Of a truth, they that now take their ease will have no more reSt, if they once desire to resemble him.