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 above; and, without a fee, he readily engaged his ervices in endeavouring to obtain the fulfilment of the mot oppoite wihes. Nevertheles, diintereted as he was, he wanted none of the necearies of life: on the contrary, the bleing of Heaven poured upon him a profuion of every good thing. But whether a divine call had led Benno from the tumult of the world to his ilent cell, or another Heloia had inpired another Abelard with the deire of a contemplative life, is a ecret which may perhaps be dicloed in the equel.

About the time when Margrave Frederic with the bite fought out his quarrel with the Emperor Albert, and the Swabian army ravaged the land of Autria, age had thinned the locks of the venerable Benno, and bleached the remnant of hair on his forehead; he was bowed toward the ground, and leaned heavy on his taff: his trength would no more uffice to dig his garden in pring; he wihed for a companion and helpmate, but found it diffi-