Blanquerna

Fair was the day, and the sun illumined the whole wood through the which Blanquerna journeyed. On a high hill he espied a knight, mounted upon his horse and clad in full armour. That knight was cunning in the interpretation of auguries, and had come to seek omens which should signify the truth to him concerning a combat wherein he desired to engage againft another knight that was his mortal enemy. While the knight watched to see if he might not espy an eagle or a crow or a sparrow-hawk or any other bird from the which he could learn the thing that he desired to know, Blanquerna ascended the hill to enquire of the knight if he knew of any place which would accord with the life that he desired to lead.

2. When Blanquerna reached the knight they saluted each other in right friendly fashion. Each of them enquired concerning the other’s eState, and related the reason for the which he had come to that place. When Blanquerna had learned the reason of the coming of the knight, he spake to him these words: “ Sir Knight! Art thou as strong and noble of mind as is signified by the goodly fashioning of thy body and of thy horse and of thy armour ? Thou seemeft to me right well able to defend thyself againft another knight.” “ Friend 1 ” said the knight, “lam Strong of person, and full well armed, and I feel within me no fault

which inclines me to evil-doing or deception ; and by the grace of God I have long held the order of knighthood; w ere ore it seems to me that I cannot be vanquished or overcome by any single knight.”

■ li Slr knight! ” said Blanquerna. “ All that is done ‘"this world comes to pass bv the aftinn to

occasion and fortune.! Occasion is that which has

1 For the use of these terms, cf. p. 4, above.

OF AUGURIES

regard to the things to come according to the knowledge of discretion and reason through enlightened understand¬ ing or the enlightenment of faith ; but fortune is a thing which comes to pass without occasion or prevision whatso¬ ever. I ask thee, then, which of the two is Wronger, whether occasion or fortune.” “ Fair friend ! ” said the knight, " Stronger of a certainty is occasion, which accords with reason and intention, than fortune, which accords with the matter itself without deliberation of reason and discretion and intention.” Blanquerna answered the knight saying " that he had spoken well ; but that his aftions were contrary to his words, forasmuch as he was watching for omens ; for the birds which go flying through the air fly by occasion to the end that they may catch their meat, but their flight is a matter of fortune with respeft to the angle at the which they pass a man as they fly. Wherefore a knight that does battle with another, having firSt sought fortune from the birds, is neither as Strong nor as wise according to the art of war as is he that does battle by the arbitration of reason, and the discretion of his understanding, which signifies to him the things that are to come according to the circum¬ stances of war. By these words mayeSt thou learn that thine enemy is Stronger againSt thee if he follow that which reason demonstrates to him than art thou againSt him if thou be guided by that which the birds chance to do, wherein is no necessity of reason which can use its virtue; the more so because such a usage is displeasing to God and is contrary to hope, fortitude and juStice ; wherefore thou haSt the worse of thy battle.”

4. Long mused the knight upon the words which Blan¬ querna spake ; and through the merits of Blanquerna and the working of reason the knight took knowledge of his errors, and spake these words: “ Many a time has it come to pass that reason has showed me how I should make certain attacks and perform Stratagems of battle; but, be¬ cause I believed in omens more than in my understanding, 173

B LAN QUERN A

therefore have I forsaken that which reason diftated to me, and followed the omens, which have caused me to aft jn contrary wise to reason and intelleft. Blessed therefore be God, Who has sent to me through thee this knowledge I From this time forth no auguries nor omens shall have me in their power.”

5. “ Sir Knight 1 ” said Blanquerna, “ Another law of battle has God made, namely that since reason diftates and demonstrates how a man may do harm to his enemy, reason should therefore take thought if it accords with charity, hope, juftice, prudence and fortitude; for all these virtues are the sifters of reason, and reason may not have effeft in her thoughts if she be opposed to her sifters. Wherefore it behoves thee to have in mind the agreement that is between reason and the virtues aforesaid.” Greatly did the words of Blanquerna please the knight, and he said to Blanquerna that he would indeed think after this manner, as he had never yet done at any time soever in his life.

6. Long did the knight consider if in battle he had used charity, juftice and hope; and his conscience recalled to him the malice and the enmity which he had borne to his foe, and how he had set his hope on auguries, and how pride and vainglory had been in his mind in the ftead of fortitude. Therefore, when the knight had thought for long upon these things, and upon many more whereby he had knowledge of his errors, then praised he and blessed God, and repented him of his faults. Commending himself to the care and service of reason and her sifters, he spake to Blanquerna in these words: “ Blessed be God, Who has given me fortitude whereby in my mind I have vanquished my enemies. Never have I fought a fight that was so full of profit and of pleasure. Through the enemies whom I

ave vanquished m my mind I will vanquish my enemies rn the mind of that knight whose mortal foe I have for so long been Alas! What battle is well fought and won, 174 Wlt C ju^ce> Pat‘ence, humility and fortitude

OF VALOUR

to overcome and vanquish malice, ill will, pride, evil doing and deception ? ” When the knight had ended these words, Blanquerna took his leave of him and continued upon his journey.