Page:The Lady Poverty - a XIII. century allegory (IA ladypovertyxiiic00giovrich).pdf/208

 *ness of soul and body, and not long afterwards I left the world."

The embrace of the leper marked the final abandonment in Francis' soul of the sense of separation between himself, the son of the wealthy Bernardone, and the outcasts of society. Henceforth to Francis, the poor and the outcast were human brethren, worthy of a brother's intimate love and care. In the same moment he cast aside, once for all, his youthful dream of entering