Blanquerna

OF THE MANNER WHEREIN THE ABBESS MADE ORDINANCE CONCERNING THE FIVE CORPORAL SENSES, AND

FIRST, OF HEARING

The abbess caused the bell to be rung that the sifters might assemble in the chapter-house, for she desired to ask counsel of them as touching the manner wherein they might use the sense of hearing in that convent, that the rule of their order should be the better served. While the abbess was in the chapter-house and the sifters were assembled for the chapter, a sifter who in the city begged for the love of God came to the chapter-house and related to the other sifters that she had seen a bride right fair and nobly apparelled, who with great honour was being led to the church. The sifter related these things gladly, and gladly did the other sifters hear her. The abbess perceived in these words the unruliness which results when sifters who beg speak of temporal pleasures to their companions.

BLANQUERNA

2. In the chapter-house was the abbess with the sifters. In the presence of them all the abbess blessed God and said these words : “ Long has my soul rcflefted, and sought how my mother Naftasia and I may give back to God the possessions which He has entrufted to us. Now by the virtue of God is my soul enlightened concerning the manner wherein we may give our riches to this convent, namely, upon this condition, that henceforward no sifter shall go to beg in the city, nor relate any temporal matter which she sees or hears ; for to hear of temporal pleasures makes the vanities of this world to be remembered and desired, and by such desires arc hindered prayers and meditations upon the Passion of Jesus Chrift.”

3. A rule was made that no sifter should leave the con¬

vent without great necessity; and the possessions which the abbess and her mother gave to the convent were so many that they sufficed to satisfy the necessities for which they were wont to beg. These possessions were adminiftered by lay brothers, old and worthy men, already proven in another order. These provided the convent from their adminiftration without entering therein, and if the abbess or any sifter needed any private thing, which they had need to conceal from the friars, there were widows living alone in the city, devout and honeft women, and these attended to their needs.

4. A certain fixed number of sifters were enrolled, and beyond that number thenceforward no more were to be

received. This rule was made that the possessions which the abbess gave to the convent might suffice, and that they might have excuse for refusing requefts to receive too many sifters. If any lady desired to enter the convent, or to send er aughter, she might do so by payment until the death of some sifter; and that payment would cease at the death a sifter whose place on the foundation she could take.

J- Each day the abbess went through the convent to see 'fought could be found that concerned the ordinance of

OF SEEING

hearing. One day the abbess entered the orchard and saw two sifters who were spinning apart, and another who was spinning alone. Then she entered thedormitory, and thence went into the other rooms where the sifters were accuftomed to spin, and she perceived that they span not in one place together. On the next day the abbess convened a chapter, and made a rule that all the sifters should spin in one place, and that one of them should read aloud from some book that was in the mother tongue, that the other sifters might liften. This book was to treat of the Passion of Jesus Chrift, and the lives and martyrdom of the saints,1 both men and women, and of the lives of the Holy Fathers who were dead. In this book also should be the miracles of my lady Saint Mary and of the virgins and martyrs and the other saints ; and this book should be read both at festivals and on other days by each sifter in turn and order. The book was procured, and the ordinance was established in that convent, and likewise in others that took example therefrom.

6. The abbess desired most earneftly that this ordinance should be kept, that by the hearing of this book the minds of the sifters should not think upon vanities nor upon immoderate imaginings which should incline them to sin, and that each of them should grow to love the good lives of the saints departed. For as by seeing fair things the soul is moved to love, even so by hearing pleasing words it is moved to desire.