Λ.Ι. 1225.] ΤΕΜΓΤΛΤΙ0Χ3 OF Λ VIIWÎIN. own will chose a liΓ«; of poverty, took on herself the .1ΐΊ-«· of holy preaching, clothed herstdf in rough garments, had a mat o)) a pallet to lie upon and a stone for a pillow, and piini-hii.g the flesh by continual watching* and fastings, she in urgent prayer employed herself in the contemplation of heavenly things. At length when she had for many years, in all perfection and sanctity of life, studied to please God and to preach the gospel of peace through cities and castles, and especially to the female sex, the enemy of the human race became envious of her perfection, and for seven months surrounded her with so many and great temptations, that, unless she had been supported by divine assistance, she would have lost all the virtuous aspirations of her former life; for day and night tho devil brought back to her mind the abundant possessions of her parents which she had left, the produce of the fruitful vineyards, the pleasant meadows adorned with various kinds of flowers, the delightful sound of the gushing fountains and pleasantly murmuring rivulets, the loft ν trees of the forests, fertility in offspring, the embraces of a husband and the enjoyments of love, the soft beds of the rich, the mirili of jesters, the splendour of rings and jewels, and the sweet taste of fish, poultry, and venison. Amidst these ami other similar temptations the girl was almost in despair and frequently indulged in divers reflections, as to whether she should return to what she had left, or persevere in the pursuit of religion, and in this state of torture both of body and mind she passed days and nights ; but the merciful Clod, who does not permit those1 that trust in him to be tempted beyond endurance, restored to the girl the eye of reason, that she might discover how great and how full of can' are all temporal things and the pleasures above-mentioned, what disgrace in carnal intercourse, with how much toil temporal wealth is gained and with what sorrow it is lost, of how much importance virgin purity is with God, who wished his own mother to be productive and yet to π main in virginity, the reward which follows good works, the pleasure there is in holy and dh'me contemplation, the union of the inhabitants of heaven, how sweet and delectable is the enjoyment of holy spirits to reign with Christ, where cold affects not. where hunger and thirst ufllict no one, and where none ave oppressed by ang» r, quarrels, vain glory, envy, pi idc, animosity, a\arici',