Sayfa 1048 / 1118

We have here related, if not the very words, at least the sense

of that which he uttered; but we cannot describe the accent which

accompanied them. It was that of a man who called it a privilege

to serve the afflicted, because he really considered it such; who

confessed not to have worthily exercised this privilege, because

he truly felt his deficiency; who asked pardon, because he was

persuaded he had need of it. But his hearers, who had beheld

these capuchins only occupied in serving them, who had beheld so

many of them die in the service, and he who now spoke in the name

of all, always the first in toil as he was the first in

authority, his hearers could only answer him with tears. The good

friar then took a cross which rested against a pillar, and

holding it up before him, took off his sandals, passing through

the crowd, which opened respectfully to give him a passage, and

placed himself at their head.