Page:Goldenlegendlive00jaco.djvu/266

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252
S. Clare

she should eat somewhat. Then as she stood tofore her with a candle burning, S. Clare came again to her estate, and her seemed she was come from another world. And she said: 'Fair daughter, what need is of a candle, is it not yet day?'And she answered: 'Right, dear fair mother, the night is passed and the day is gone, and that other night is come.' 'Fair daughter,' said S. Clare, 'this sleep that I have made be blessed, for I have much desired it, and God hath given to me; but beware that thou say it never to creature as long as I live.'

When our Lord knew and apperceived how well and how much this holy Clare loved him, and the right great love that she had to the very cross for the love of him, he so illumined and privileged her in such manner that she had power to make tokens and miracles by the cross. For when she made the sign of the very cross upon them that were sick, anon the malady fled away. And so many miracles God showed for her of which I shall tell you some. First, of a friar that was out of his wit. On a time it happed S. Francis sent to S. Clare a friar named Steven, and was all mad from himself, that she should make upon him the sign of the cross. For he knew well that she was a woman of great perfection, and he honoured her much for the virtue that was in her. And she, that was obeissant and good daughter of obedience, blessed the friar by the commandment of S. Francis, and made him to sleep a little, and after, she took him by the hand and he arose all whole, and went to S. Francis clean delivered of all his malady.