Versified Life of Saint Francis
Henri d' Avranches
Tenth Book: The Effect of His Speaking Upon Wise Man and Pope; His Prediction Concerning A Future Pope, His Lightening the Loads of the Burdened, His Pity for a Sheep, and His Rescue of Some Pitiable Lambs.
 [1232-1239] Henri d' Avranches, "The Effect of His Speaking Upon Wise Man and Pope; His Prediction Concerning A Future Pope, His Lightening the Loads of the Burdened, His Pity for a Sheep, and His Rescue of Some Pitiable Lambs," Tenth Book in The Versified Life of Saint Francis, reprinted in Francis of Assisi, Early Documents: The Saint (New York, New City Press: 1999; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks: Online Preview).
His devotion was such that the dishonored are honored,
The burdened relieved; he would pity not alone humans
But even dumb beasts in any wretched condition.
So ,while in the Ancona region, accompanied
By Paul who was over the brothers in those parts,
He is going through woods and over rivers, ravines and fields,
Till in a flock of she-goats, surrounded by ill-smelling
He-goats, he spies this sheep, and calling, Paul says:
Paul, look; do you see how it walks among she- and he-goats?
Even so did Jesus go among the scribes and Pharisees.
Hence I wish we'd pay the price and lead her out
Of this foul flock." Paul agrees. But the pair
Can lay their hands on nothing whatever to pay
With save their poor tunics. But then a traveler
Who happened to pass paid the price of the sheep they want to buy.
Into the city they go: a surprise for the bishop:
As to why two sensible men like these should want
To go around like two fools, a sheep behind them.
After leaving the city, a hospitable house, called
San Severino, received them; it is an abode fit for those
Ladies that dedicate to God their chaste bodies and gracious
Souls.
Francis gives them the sheep to be tenderly care for.
All joy to accept it, they keep it for a long spell;
And a tunic made from its wool they sent on to Francis.
At a chapter held in Assisi, a minister comes in to say:
"Father, you are to have this, it is from your daughters;
A tunic made from the wool of that sheep you had." Francis takes it as am most acceptable present, telling
The brothers of what happened. Happy are the brothers
That they very simplicity of their father resulted in such great fruit. (Saint, 501)
Nor was this the only case of Francis's piety:
He shows it every time he sees a wretched animal
Whose pain he might dispel through prayer or payment.
From countless example I choose but one:
Once gain we find in in the company of the aforesaid friar
In the same Marches of Ancon, where he meets a man
Carrying two small lambs; they are hanging downwards
By their weight, tough shackles binding their tender little
Feet, and are opening their mouths in that piteous bleating
Nature gave them the cry of pain in every sound they make.
Francis, seeing their dreadful state and fearing the worst
of fates for them, asks the man that was carrying them
Why he should be inflicting hurt on the poor things.
He replies: "I'm off to the market and I'll well them
To the butcher for slaughter." "Don't do that," cries Francis,
"But be mild creatures, do no harm to the harmless.
If you're willing to spare the, whatever your bidder would
Give you to kill them, I'll give you as much so they'll not
Have to die." It was kindly devotion praying for lambs
In misery. And so not to waste his words on the air,
Taking off his cloak he gives it to the countryman,
With strict instructions and asking for solemn promises
That he release the lambs from bonds and give them a rearing. (Saint, 501)
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