CONTENTS

Introduction—
PAGE
[(a)]Editionsxvii
[(b)]Authorship and Datexxviii
[(c)]Translation and Scripture Referencesxlii
The Lady Poverty.
[I.]In Praise of Poverty3
[II.]How the Blessed Francis made diligent search for the Lady Poverty8
[III.]How two old men showed the Blessed Francis where he might find the Lady Poverty14
[IV.]Of the First Companions of the Blessed Francis20
[V.]How the Blessed Francis and his Companions found the Lady Poverty on the Mountain24
[VI.]The Blessed Francis and his Companions, exalting her virtues in divers ways, beseech the Lady Poverty to abide with them forever28
[VII.]The Answer of My Lady Poverty41
[VIII.]Of the Apostles56
[IX.]Of the Successors of the Apostles59
[X.]That Times of Peace are unpropitious to Poverty62
[XI.]Of Persecution65
[XII.]Of the followers of a spurious Poverty70
[XIII.]Of Avarice73
[XIV.]How the Lady Poverty spoke of good Religious77
[XV.]How Avarice took the Name of Discretion80
[XVI.]How Avarice took the Name of Prudence84
[XVII.]How Avarice called in the aid of Sloth89
[XVIII.]Of the Religious who were conquered by Sloth92
[XIX.]How the Lady Poverty sorrowed over certain Religious who were poor in the World, and yet more prone than others to Self-indulgence in Religion99
[XX.]How the Lady Poverty showed the Blessed Francis the Perfect Walk in the Religious Life107
[XXI.]How the Blessed Francis made answer to the Lady Poverty114
[XXII.]How the Lady Poverty gave her consent118
[XXIII.]How the Blessed Francis thanked God for the consent of the Lady Poverty119
[XXIV.]Of the Sojourn of My Lady Poverty with the Brothers121
[XXV.]How My Lady Poverty blessed the Brothers, exhorting them to persevere in the Grace which they had received130
On the Spiritual Significance of Evangelical Poverty, by Father Cuthbert, O.S.F.C141
Appendices—
[I.]A Prayer of the Blessed Francis to obtain Holy Poverty183
[II.]Paradiso. Canto XI. (lines 28-123)200