Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/383

THE SERAPHIC FUNERAL. 379 for this many a year. Th. In this sort of slow and consumptive diseases physicians frequently foretell the time of a man's death to a day. Ph. They do so. Th. They told the patient that all the art of man could do towards his preservation had been done for him already : that God, indeed, could do what was beyond the power of physic to effect, but according to human conjecture he had not above three days to live. Ph. Well, what did he do then 1 ? Th. The excellent Eusebius immediately stripping himself stark-naked, puts on the habit of the most holy Francis, has his head shaved, is dressed in an ash-coloured cowl and gown, an hempen knotted girdle, and cut and slashed shoes.

Ph. What, when he was departing this life ? Th. Even so ; and with a dying voice professed that if it should please God to restore him to the health that the physicians despaired of, he would serve under Christ according to the rule of St. Francis; and there were several holy men called in to be witnesses to this profession. In that habit dies the famous man, at the very time that the physicians had foretold he would. There came a great many of the fraternity to assist at his funeral solemnity. Ph. I wish I had been present at this sight. Th. It would have fetched tears from your eyes to have seen with what tender- ness the seraphic fraternity washed the body, fitted the holy habit to it, laid his hands one over another in the form of a cross, uncovered and kissed his naked feet, and according to the precept of the gospel cheei'ed up his countenance with ointment. Ph. What a prodigious humility was this for the seraphic brethren to take upon them the office of washers and bearers ? Th. When this was done, they laid it upon the bier, and according to the doctrine of St. Paul, " bear ye one another's burdens," the brethren took the brother upon their shoulders, and carried him along the highway to the monastery, and there they interred him with the usual songs and ceremonies. As this venerable pomp was passing along the way, I observed a great many people that could not forbear weeping to see a man that used to go in silk and scarlet now wrapped in a Franciscan's habit, girded about with a rope's end, and the whole body disposed in siich a posture as must needs move devotion; for, as I said, his head was laid upon his shoulder, and his arms across, and everything else carried a wonderful appearance of holiness. And then the inarch of the seraphic brethren themselves, with their heads hanging down, their eyes fixed upon the ground, and their mournful looks, so mournful that I can scarce think that in hell itself there can be anything beyond it, drew sighs and tears in abundance from the beholders.

Ph. But had he the five wounds of St. Francis too ] Th. I dare not affirm that for a certainty, but I saw some bluish scars in his hands and feet, and there was a hole in the left side of his gown ; but I did not dare to look too narrowly, for they say many people have been undone by being too curious in these matters. Ph. But did you not see some that laughed too ? Th. Yes, I did take notice of some ; but I believe they were heretics there are too many of them in the world now-a-days. Ph. Well, my Theotimus, to deal honestly with you, if I had been there, in my conscience, I believe I should scarce have been able to forbear laughing too for company. Th. Pray God you have not got a spice of that leaven too ! Ph. Good Theotimus, there is no danger of that ; for I have had a great veneration for St. Francis from