Blanquerna

On the morrow, after Mass, Evaft sent word to his kinsfolk and friends that they should come and do honour to his son Blanquerna and give him conduft upon his way. And when all were assembled Evaft recounted to them how that the Divine blessing had caused his son Blanquerna to be enamoured of the life of a hermit, so that he would fain depart to contemplate God in ruftic places and in regions uninhabited by man. Great marvel had they all at these words, and prayed Blanquerna that he would remain rather than sadden Evaft and Aloma by leaving them, saying that after the death of Evaft they would make Blanquerna to be among their rulers and chief men even as they had made Evaft. But Evaft said to them that it was no longer fitting to speak of that matter, for so surely had Blanquerna re¬ ceived the Divine inspiration that he would for naught on earth desift from his journey.

a. “ My lord Evaft 1” said Blanquerna, “For the avoiding of vainglory, and that men may not count as vain¬ glorious the honour that ye and these worthy men would do me, and because I am unworthy to receive such honour, it would be well, if it please thee, that I should take leave in thy house of thyself and of Aloma and of these other

worthy men, and go upon my journey secretly with the blessing of God." “ Blanquerna I” said Evaft, “By reason of the vain words of men, it is unseemly to refrain trom giving a good example, the which thou doft give us rr TS “nd SerV‘n6 God “d » despising this , ■ , y lfe' tdore Profit W1*l ensue from the good example

that Jymly s^yaVeAndhtt 7 ha™ ^ aUght

farther from LngV"!dt7?ri‘ Vart t

68 * h m the time to come thou wilt

COND UCT EVAST & ALOMA GAVE BLANQ UERNA not consent, for any temptation of the devil, to leave thy hermitage.”

3. So Evaft and Aloma, and a great company of people, followed Blanquerna, and great was the fame of Blanquerna throughout the city. Many blessings had he of the people; many a sinner was conviaed of his sin, and many a virtuous man desired to multiply his good works in honouring and serving God. Many, moreover, had great pity for EvaSl and Aloma because they would see Blanquerna no more, and many lamented that he would have to endure a life of penance and trials in abundance in the solitary places wherein he would find none of those things which are needful for the support of bodily life.

4. Fair and white and ruddy was Blanquerna; right good was he to look upon, for nature had given him every quality which in the human body is goodly and pleasant to the eyes. Young was he in years, yet was his soul full of virtue. In his heart night and day dwelt remembrance and love of the Divine dominion. The holy purpose which his will so fer¬ vently desired filled all that saw him with fire and the love of God; devotion and piety brought tears from their hearts even to their eyes, and from their eyes the tears flowed

5. When Blanquerna and they that gave him conduft were without the city, Blanquerna prayed his father and his mother and the other persons that they would return. But Aloma answered, and said that she would in no wise leave Blanquerna before they came to the forefl into the which Blanquerna was to enter. Evaft and all the reft were of the self-same mind, so they followed Blanquerna one and all. And while they followed him, Evaft enquired of Blan¬ querna what was the chiefeft of the reasons for the which he had conceived the desire to be a hermit and to forsake the world. “ My lord! ’’ said Blanquerna, “ Through the will of God it has come to pass that ye have caused me to be inftrufted in theology and in other sciences whereby I

blanquerna

have had knowledge of God, Who is revealed by the repre¬ sentation of the working of His v.rtue .» the creatures; and 'nee this world is a hindrance to the contemplation of God Id the consideration of His high virtue, therefore this world do I forsake. That which I have learned I take with me to my mountain dwelling, and I will be a hermit that

I may not be hindered m loving, Knowing, praising ana blessing God with the aid of that which I have learned in the world. This, my lord, is the chiefeft reason for the which I leave the world. Other reasons are there in plenty ; and among them is this, that I see in the world scarce any man doing his duty m honouring, loving and knowing God, or in rendering Him thanks for the good which he has re¬ ceived, seeing that all the world has gone after vanities, after evil, falsehood and error. Wherefore I had rather be among the wild beafts and the trees and the birds, which are sinless, than among so many men that know not God and have blame as touching the benefits that they have received of Him.”

6. When Blanquerna had ended these words, Aloma begged him that he would make her a gift. Blanquerna asked of her what gift she would have. “ My son 1 ” answered Aloma, “ I ask not of thee as a gift that thou shouldft desift from thy journey, but rather a gift that thou canft grant me.” “Ah, Aloma, mother and lady mine 1 ” said Blanquerna, “ Well knoweft thou that there is naught that has remained in my possession, save to follow the will of Him Who has made me to love the contemplation of His glories. Therefore if the gift which thou craveft be in accordance with the will of God, let all that I can give thee be thine.” “ Son 1 ” said Aloma, “ I ask of thee that thou

promise to return for a time to me before thy death or mine, after which thou canft return to thy hermitage; or if thou wj t not come to me, make me to know by a messenger the

Son y,hab'tati°n’ and 1 wi" “me to be with thee for so long as thou haft thanks and pleasure of my company.”

OF THE FAREWELL

Blanquerna answered: “ Well knoweft thou, Aloma, that I have no certain knowledge either of my life or of thine. Wherefore, if I should promise to come to thee, and after¬ wards died, then mighteft thou think that I had not been true to thee; and if I returned to thee, then would the sorrow caused thee by my departure be renewed. No messenger could I send to thee, for all my life is to be lived alone, with company of no man; wherefore that which thou doft ask have I no power to give thee, according to the manner wherein the Divine Will has ordained me to obey His commandments.”

7. “ Son 1 ” said Aloma, “ What is the place where thou wilt build thy dwelling ? And to what parts wilt thou go?” “ Mother! ” said Blanquerna, “I cannot certify thee of those things that I know not. I muff wander through forefts and over high mountains, to seek some place wherein is water and wild herbs wherewith I may suftain my body. Where the country is to be, and the place and the surroundings, let all be in the hand of God, for in Him is my hope, and in Him do I truft to direft me to a fitting place, where I may love Him and know Him all the days of my life, and pray for thee and for Evaft my lord and father.”