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| Chapter XIV.
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Chapter XIV.
“We found another
equally remarkable man living in a small hut, capable only of
containing a single person. Concerning him we were told that a she-wolf
was accustomed to stand near him at dinner; and that the beast could by
no means be easily deceived so as to fail to be with him at the regular
hour when he took refreshment. It was also said that the wolf waited at
the door until he offered her the bread which remained over his own
humble dinner; that she was accustomed to lick his hand, and then, her
duty being, as it were, fulfilled, and her respects paid to him, she
took her departure. But it so happened that that holy man, while he
escorted a brother who had paid him a visit, on his way home, was a
pretty long time away, and only returned under night.102
| 102 “sub nocte”:
this may be used for the usual classical form “sub
noctem,” towards evening. |
In the meanwhile, the beast made its appearance at the usual dinner
time. Having entered the vacant cell and perceived that its benefactor
was absent, it began to search round the hut with some curiosity to
discover, if possible, the inhabitant. Now it so happened that a basket
of palm-twigs was hanging close at hand with five loaves of bread in
it. Taking one of these, the beast devoured it, and then, having
committed this evil deed, went its way. The recluse on his return found
the basket in a state of disorder, and the number of loaves less than
it should have been.
He is
aware of the loss of his household goods, and observes near the
threshold some fragments of the loaf which had been stolen. Considering
all this, he had little doubt as to the author of the theft.
Accordingly, when on the following days the beast did not, in its usual
way, make its appearance (undoubtedly hesitating from a consciousness
of its audacious deed to come to him on whom it had inflicted injury),
the recluse was deeply grieved at being deprived of the happiness he
had enjoyed in its society. At last, being brought back through his
prayers, it appeared to him as usual at dinner time, after the lapse of
seven days. But to make clear to every one the shame it felt, through
regret for what had been done, not daring to draw very near, and with
its eyes, from profound self-abasement, cast upon the earth, it seemed,
as was plain to the intelligence of every one, to beg in a sort of way,
for pardon. The recluse, pitying its confusion, bade it come close to
him, and then, with a kindly hand, stroked its head; while, by giving
it two loaves instead of the usual one, he restored the guilty creature
to its former position; and, laying aside its misery on thus having
obtained forgiveness, it betook itself anew to its former habits.
Behold, I beg of you, even in this case, the power of Christ, to whom
all is wise that is irrational, and to whom all is mild that is by
nature savage. A wolf discharges duty; a wolf acknowledges the crime of
theft; a wolf is confounded with a sense of shame: when called for, it
presents itself; it offers its head to be stroked; and it has a
perception of the pardon granted to it, just as if it had a feeling of
shame on account of its misconduct,—this is thy power, O
Christ—these, O Christ, are thy marvelous works. For in truth,
whatever things thy servants do in thy name are thy doings; and in this
only we find cause for deepest grief that, while wild beasts
acknowledge thy majesty, intelligent beings fail to do thee
reverence.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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