ANTHONY: Forsooth, the party who told it to me swore that he knew
it for a truth. And he is, I promise you, such as I reckon for
right honest and of substantial truth.
Now, here she forbore not, as shameful an intent as she had, to
make someone of her counsel--and yet, I remember, another too,
whom she trusted with the money that should procure her
canonization. And here I believe that her temptation came not of
fear but of high malice and pride. And then was she so glad in
that pleasant device that, as I told you, she took it for no
tribulation. And therefore comforting of her could have no place.
But if men should give her anything toward her help, it must have
been, as I told you, good counsel.
And therefore, as I said, this kind of temptation to a man's own
destruction, which requireth counsel, and is outside tribulation,
was outside of our matter, which is to treat of comfort in
tribulation.
XVI
But lest you might reject both these examples, thinking they were
but feigned tales, I shall put you in remembrance of one which I
reckon you yourself have read in the Conferences of Cassian. And
if you have not, there you may soon find it. For I myself have
half forgotten the thing, it is so long since I read it.
But thus much I remember: He telleth there of one who was many
days a very special holy man in his living, and, among the other
virtuous monks and anchorites that lived there in the wilderness,
was marvellously much esteemed.
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