Blanquerna

OF DILIGENCE

Blanquerna went from one place to another in the forest, seeking the spot which he so greatly desired. His mind ceased not to love, nor his soul to remember, nor his mouth to praise the Name of God. While Blanquerna journeyed in this wise through the foreft, he saw a man on horseback riding towards him with great speed. This man carried a goodly quantity of money. Blanquerna greeted him, and enquired of him why he went with such great speed. And he answered, saying that he was the minister of a king who had sent him to a certain city to make ready for him a lodging and to buy those things whereof the king had need for his honour in a great court that he purposed to hold with many noble barons. Blanquerna enquired of him many things, but the minister would not tarry with him left he should be delayed in his journey, neither would he answer those things that were asked of him.

2. All that day Blanquerna journeyed till after the hour of none, when he ate of his bread and of some raw herbs that were growing near a fountain. While Blanquerna was eating, a squire came by upon a palfrey, which he rode with great speed. This squire came from the court and was going to a city wherein had been elefted a bishop; and, since the election had been confirmed by the Pope, he went to bear felicitations1 to the chapter of the city and to the kinsfolk of the bishop. The squire gave his palfrey to drink at the fountain which was before Blanquerna. While the palfrey drank, the squire related to Blanquerna his errand as aforesaid ; but in such haftc was the squire that he could scarce make Blanquerna to understand these words nor would he allow the palfrey to drink his fill at the fountain.

' P: “.o bear the news.” ^

blanquerna

3 Blanquerna ended his meal, and fell on his knees to give thanks to God. While Blanquerna praised God at the hour of none according to his wont, he saw a merchant, who had been robbed and gripped of all that he had, approaching him on foot, weeping, and lamenting bitterly, and saying these words : “ Alas, unhappy one 1 How long haft thou laboured in many lands, how much hunger, thirft, heat, cold and fear haft thou borne to gain that which now thou haft loft 1 Miserable wretch 1 What wilt thou do ? And how will thy wife and thy children fare ? Now art thou robbed, and all that thou didft possess is taken from thee. Wilt thou make outcry concerning them that have robbed thee ? Thou art in peril of death left the robbers kill thee, for thou journeyeft often and art ever in their hands.” “Fair friend 1” said Blanquerna: “Whither goeft thou? And who has brought thee into this same great sadness that thy disconsolate appearance signifies ? ” The merchant related to Blanquerna how he had been robbed by a knight who had a caftlc near the place through the which he was passing, and how he was going to make outcry againft that knight who had robbed him, and how he had loft all that for the which he had ever laboured.

4. After the merchant had been gone from Blanquerna a little space, there came on foot another man in great hafte, laden with geese and hens which he was carrying on his back. Blanquerna asked him if in all that foreft he knew of no place wherein he might dwell, provided only that it should be upon a hill and a fountain should be there and wild fruit growing, to the end that he might lead therein the life of a hermit. But that man answered not his words, for so intent was he upon a lawsuit wherein he was engaged thought that Blanquerna was asking him

ing his eftate and his

journey. Therefore spake he t

m these words: “ Sir 1 ” said that

OF DILIGENCE

the which town I have a lawsuit againfl my brother. For I demand of him a vineyard that my father has bequeathed to me in his will. And these things that thou seeft I bear as a present for the judge and for the advocates upon either side, and further I bear them money which I have borrowed at an exceeding great rate of interest. I pray thee for God’s sake that thou aid and counsel me if thou knoweft aught of the law.”

5. For long did Blanquerna marvel at the surpassing great desire of that man to gain the vineyard, and he was mindful of the words of Faith and Truth and Under¬ standing and Devotion, and of the wondrous diligence which he had seen in the persons aforementioned. So Blanquerna fell on his knees, and his heart was moved to devotion, and his eyes to weeping and tears, and he spake these words : “ Oh Strange will, contrary both to order and to nature, wherein is defedt of courtesy and wisdom 1 Whence comeft thou, that makeft the honour and know¬ ledge of God to be forgotten, and wilt not give devotion to them that fear to bear trials and death to the end that God may be honoured, and the erring led into the life of salvation 1 Foolish art thou, O will ; small thanks haft thou to thy Creator, and little doff thou fear the pains of hell, whereby thou shalt never attain thy desire. Where is that good thing wherewith thou canft be rewarded by the minister of the king or by the squire or by the merchant or by the countryman ? Foolish one 1 How is it that thou rememberefl not the salvation that thou canfl have in this world ? Or why feareft thou not to lose in this world that which is irrecoverable in the next?" Greatly was the countryman amazed at the words which Blanquerna spake, and leaving Blanquerna he returned to his former cogita-

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