Blanquerna

OF WATCHING

In the presence of all the sifters the abbess spake these words : “ Mindful am I inwardly of how I once was wont to look upon my lady the abbess, (to whom God grant for¬ giveness) and to hide certain matters that she might have no knowledge thereof. Wherefore, in order that at all hours of the day your souls may fear the juftice of the order, I desire, after taking counsel with you, to make a new eftablishment in this convent, to wit, that each week we make secret cledtion of one sifter who shall be a spy, to keep watch over all that ye do, and that none of you shall know which is she, to the end that each of you may fear the other as though she were my own presence. And in

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chapter that sifter shall recount all that she has seen you do that is evil or contrary to our order."

1. “ Further, I will ordain that we set spies in the city who may observe if any of our sifters enter therein for reasons of need, and take note of their behaviour and of the places whither they go; left of them or of any of you they hear dishonourable words or aught whereby sin may be imputed to us.”

3. “ And I would not only that there be watchers set over you, but also that there be one set over me, that I may be the better kept from every error. Therefore I desire that three sifters be chosen each week and that these make secret eleftion of one that shall take note of all that I do and that I know not which is she that keeps watch over me. And I desire that in chapter she accuse me before all the sifters if she have seen me do aught that is unseemly or contrary to my order; and before all things it is good that I do penance for this and sue for pardon.” All the sifters found that which the abbess said to be good, and they confirmed all things soever that she was pleased to ordain.

4. For long years did the abbess Natana dwell in that convent, following all the ordinances aforesaid ; and through her holy life and doftrine were found therein many good sifters. Moreover, many a lady in the city took good ex¬ ample from her, and many more convents followed the rules and cuftoms which she established.

ENDED, BT THE GRACE AND HELP OF GOD, IS THE BOOK OF THE ORDER OF WOMEN

■ WC nCedS return to BIanquerna, whom we left

in the toreft, about to seek a place wherein he might adore, contemplate, love and have knowledge of God

OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Part the Second CHAPTER XUI

For the whole of that day, after he had parted from EvaSt and Aloma, Blanquerna journeyed through the foreSI. At nightfall he came to a fair meadow, wherein was a beautiful fountain, beneath a tall tree. There did Blanquerna take his reft, and he slept all that night. Before dawn he began his prayers according as he was wont; and through the Strangeness and solitariness of the place, and the heavens and the Stars, his soul was highly exalted in the contempla¬ tion of God. When he heard the wild beaSts roaming through the foreSt, his prayer was disturbed through his fears, but by hope and fortitude his mind was Strengthened to truSt in the sovereign aid of God.

2. Until sunrise Blanquerna remained in prayer. After it was day he set out afresh, and journeyed until sunset, when he came to a place wherein was a great multitude of trees. In that place was a fair palace right nobly builded. Blanquerna came to the door of the palace, over the which were inscribed in letters of gold and silver these words: “ Thou shalt not have Strange gods. Thou shalt not for¬ swear thyself. Thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath day. Thou shalt honour thy father and thy mother. Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not commit fornication. Thou shalt not Steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s possessions. These are the ten command¬ ments that dwell in this palace. They have been exiled in this foreSt ; they are despised, disobeyed and forgotten by those that are in the world. In this palace they weep and

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lament and bewail the honour that they were wont to have in the world, that God might have the glory and men come to everlafting salvation.”

3. Greatly did Blanquerna marvel when he had read the words that were written above the portal, so he knocked at the door with intent to enter therein to see the ten com¬ mandments. The door was opened by a comely youth. Blanquerna was fain to enter, but the youth forbade him, and said that no man might enter the palace who was dis¬ obedient to the ten commandments. Blanquerna answered and said that he had caft all things else from his mind, and had given his whole soul to the service of God, the Lord and Creator of all good things. Then he related to the youth his ftory, The youth closed the door, saying that ere he could give him leave to enter the palace, he muft ask it of the ten commandments. So the youth begged leave of the ten commandments, relating to them the ftory of Blanquerna. And this Story pleased them, and they com¬ manded that Blanquerna should have leave to enter and should be brought before them.

4. Blanquerna entered a great and beautiful hall wherein were written the names of those that are disobedient to the ten commandments. In that hall were ten chairs of gold and ivory fairly carven, in the which sat the ten command¬ ments in eftate of great honour. Right nobly were they clad in silks and gold; great beards had they and long hair, and in appearance were as aged men. Each one held upon his knees a book, and wept and bewailed very bitterly, saying these words:

5. Alas, thou that art despised of men 1 ” said the first commandment. ' Dead are they that have loved thee, by whom thou haft been served with all honour. Many are t e men in this world who believe in idols and make ftrange gods of the sun and the moon and the ftars. To love one’s son one s caftle or oneself more than the Moft High is to make a god above Him that is Sovereign Good over all good

OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS things. Alas 1 where are they that love God above all things ? And who is he that to honour God will give him¬ self up to death and to suffer all trials ? The more do I think upon the multitude of men that arc in the world, and the fewer men do I find who love God in truth, the greater grows my pain and the more are my griefs increased. Such sinners are had in remembrance by the mercy of God, Who preserves them and grants them these temporal possessions. But who is he that remembers the great juftice of God ? Or that gives thanks to God according as is meet ? ” When the firfl commandment had said these words, he read in his book, and wept, and as he read he bewailed himself and was sorrowful and full of grief.

6. Greatly did Blanquerna marvel at the grief which the firfl commandment suffered, and he enquired of him what he was reading in that book. “ Beloved son 1 ” said the firft commandment, “ In this book is written the great glory of the bliss of Heaven and the great pain to be suffered by them that are disobedient unto me. In this book are written the names of all that are obedient unto me and of all that are disobedient, and since the number of the dis¬ obedient is greater far than the number of the obedient, and there is no error or wrong in me whereby I merit dis¬ obedience, and those that disobey me moft are they to whom God has granted the moSt of worldly honours, there¬ fore now my disconsolateness and my grief grow greater whensoever I read in this book.”

7- While the firfl commandment spake with Blanquerna, the second commandment wept and lamented so bitterly that Blanquerna gave ear to his words, and looked upon his tears, which moved him to pity and to contrition of mind. “ Oh, neglefted wretch 1 ” said the second com¬ mandment, “ To swear falsely by God is to despise thy Lord, and thereby is honour done to the creature above the lofty dominion of the Creator. God loves a single soul more than all the riches of this world; and a perjurer loves

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that for the which he perjures himself more than God or the eternal glory which he may win.

8. In like manner did the third commandment weep and lament, saying these words: “ God commanded the Jews to keep the Sabbath, and the Son of God incarnate ordained that Christians should keep holy the Lord’s Day. But the Jews, who are blasphemers of our Lord Jesus ChriSt, and live in error, keep the Sabbath better than do Christians the Lord’s Day : who then shall comfort my soul because of this sin ? And men and women commit more sins on days of festival in eating and drinking and using vanities than on any other days of the week: who then is he that is obedient unto me ? ”

9. The fourth commandment likewise lifted up his voice and wept, saying: “ God is the Father of all creatures by creation and grace; mother of all men is the Mercy and Justice of God: and I am the commandment which tells how a man should honour his father and his mother. Who is obedient to me, in honouring God as his Creator ? And who is he that truSts in His Mercy ? And who fears and loves the Justice of God ? ”

10. The fifth commandment could scarce contain him¬ self as he gave utterance to these words : “ Dead is charity in him that kills his neighbour; by his sin he destroys his soul when he is disobedient unto me. More deeply am I disobeyed as to spiritual than as to physical death ; more is an earthly lord feared for his justice than is the God of Heaven. Dishonoured and despised am I by those that disobey me. Sad is my soul when it sees them travelling along those paths by the which they go to everlaSting torments.”

11. The sixth commandment said: “I am the com¬ mandment of God againSt fornication; I am ordained of God to combat uncleanness of mind and body, but women dye their eyebrows and their hair, daub colours on their

aces and adorn their garments, to the end that I may be

OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

disobeyed and despised. I have loft my inheritance and my dominion through luft in those to whom I am sent. If luft mine enemy has made me to be dishonoured, sad and disconsolate, then will my sifter Juftice have vengeance on them that have so dishonoured me.”

12. The seventh commandment, weeping, began to speak, and said these words: “ Friendship and love is there between me and charity and juftice. Daily is theft the cause of evil-doing and deception ; I am the commandment which forbids theft, that there may be charity among all men. Juftice punishes thieves, but it makes me not to be obeyed for charity, but rather through fear of itself. The good things are ftolen which God has given to them that are disobedient to me, for they render Him no thanks for the good things that He has given them. The good which is in them, they give and attribute it to themselves. If I endure suffering and grief in this world, they will suffer eternal torments in the world to come for the dishonour which now they show me.”

13. The eighth commandment spake with suffering of heart, and said these words : “ False witness persecutes me daily, and makes those to be disobedient by whom I thought to be honoured. False witness is made concerning the honour of God by him that loves rather the honour of his order than that of his God. To deny Trinity in God, and the Incarnation of the Son of God, is false witness againft the goodness, power, wisdom, love and perfection of God ; to increase evil report and to deny truth are contrary to my will. Daily am I, the commandment, given, and daily am I disobeyed ; false witness has caft me out from mine in¬ heritance, and to it are given the honours that I was wont to have. To love this world rather than the next is false witness given againft the glory of God.”

14. Envy has increased in the world, and the ninth com¬ mandment lamented the harm which envy and luft had done to him, saying these words : “ If thou, Charity, hadft

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such great power againft envy, and if thou, Juftice, didft incontinently punish all them that covet the wives of their neighbours, then should I be honoured and feared by them that hold me in dishonour and despise my virtue. If luft and envy have power againft me, where is the aid that through you I possess ? Let not Charity and Juftice negleft to ftrengthen nobility of mind, that I may be honoured and obeyed in despite of envy and luft. Obedience, my friend 1 Forsake me not for envy and luft which make thee to be displeasing unto God and likewise to me, whensoever thou doft follow luft and envy.”

i 5. Blanquerna was now in the presence of the tenth commandment, who lamented in this wise concerning for¬ titude and hope: “Alas! And who has set me in the wrath and displeasure of fortitude and of hope ? For never in the paft have I failed or deceived them. To covet the riches and the goods of one’s neighbour is to be lightminded and to sin againft hope, and not to hope or truft in the riches or the virtues of God. Too long do Charity and Juftice and Prudence tarry in deftroying my enemies, and in inftalling me once more in the friendship of Hope and Fortitude, the which friendship in former years I en¬ joyed. By those that were wont to aid me am I forgotten ; by mine enemies, despised and dishonoured.” These words and many more spake the ten commandments, and so bitterly did they weep and lament, that Blanquerna could not refrain from tears.

16. For long did Blanquerna weep and remain with the ten commandments, and he enquired of them if there were naught wherein he could aid them or be of avail to fulfil their desires and make their sorrow to cease. And the ten commandments told him that naught could relieve their great sadness save an exceeding devotion and affeftion of the mind in prelates and princes and religious men, to the end that with great fervour and love they should punish all such as wee disobedient to the commandments.

OF FAITH AND OF TRUTH 17. So Blanquerna kneeled to the ten commandments, and begged of them leave and license to continue upon his way, and grace and virtue to keep them every one and with constant mind to be obedient to them in his hermitage. And each of the Ten Commandments blessed Blanquerna, and he left them with cheerful spirit, and went forth to seek the place wherein he might dwell as a hermit all the days of his life.