Blanquerna

OF THE LEAVE WHICH BLANQUERNA TOOK OF THE POPE AND OF THE CARDINALS

Blanquerna rose early, and secretly sang the Mass of the Holy Spirit. After this the Pope sang a solemn Mass, and preached, and related the good things and the ordinances 404

HOW BLANQUERNA TOOK LEAVE OF THE POPE which Blanquerna had established in the Court, and how he had renounced the Papacy, and was going to do penance upon a high mountain, and how he desired to be in com¬ pany of the trees and of the birds and of the beaSts, and to contemplate the God of glory. Such good matter had the Pope to speak of Blanquerna the hermit, and with such great devotion did he speak of him, that the Cardinals and the people of Rome who were present at the sermon could not refrain from weeping, and all lamented that Blanquerna was to leave them, the more so because he was an old man and desired to torment his body, in solitude, with auSferity of life.

2. While the Pope preached, all the people wept, and a hermit who was upon the walls of Rome spake these words to the Pope : “ Lord and ApoSlolic Father ! There is a great company of hermits in the city of Rome, who dwell near the walls1 and live alone, and oftentimes it comes to pass that we have temptations, and know not how to con¬ template, neither to weep for our sins. Now since Blan¬ querna has appointed many officers to serve God and to order the world, I pray Blanquerna, on behalf of all the hermits of Rome, that he remain with us and be our master and our visitor, and that this be his office ; through the which office he will advantage both himself and us, and will be able to continue in the life of a hermit.”

3. The Pope and the Cardinals begged Blanquerna to remain, and to take upon him this office whereof the hermit spake, for great good would follow therefrom, especially through the good example which he would give to all men. But Blanquerna made excuse for himself, and said that in no wise would he remain among men ; and he took leave of all of them together, praying, supplicating and beseech¬ ing pardon, and begging that, if he had committed any fault against them, they would forgive him and pray for

1 en los murs. Some authorities prefer to read “ on the walls, others, “ in the mountains” {munis), presupposing an error in the teat.

BLANQUERNA

him to the God of glory. When Blanquerna had ended his words, the hermit begged for himself the office which he had desired that Blanquerna should take, and the Pope granted it to him with his grace and his benedi&ion.

4. Blanquerna took the humble clothing which accords with the life of a hermit, and made upon himself the sign whereby is signified our redemption, and kissed the feet and the hands of the Pope, and commended him to God with tears. The Pope kissed him, and commanded that two Cardinals should follow him to the hermitage wherein he was to dwell, and that if in that place there were aught to be prepared which he needed, these two Cardinals should follow him and make it ready for him immediately. The Cardinals followed Blanquerna, and all the people followed him likewise so far as the entrance of the city. Blanquerna prayed the Cardinals that they would return, and all the people with them, and that they would remain within the city ; but the Cardinals would not remain, and went with him even to the cell wherein his habitation had been prepared.

5. Near to that habitation was a fountain wondrous fair, and an ancient church, and a cell that was very comely. Further, about a mile from that church there was a house wherein dwelt a man who would serve Blanquerna and pre¬ pare his food, that Blanquerna might the better have contemplation. This man was a deacon whom Blanquerna greatly loved, and who desired not to leave him, and in company with this deacon Blanquerna desired to remain that he might assift him daily in the Divine office. When Blanquerna was in his hermitage, and had prepared it in such a manner as beseems the life of a hermit, the Cardinals took leave of Blanquerna very courteously, and, commending themselves to his prayers, they returned to Rome.

LIFE OF BLANQUERNA IN HIS HERMITAGE