and said openly what the sin of each of them had been.
Then Martin answered the wicked devil,
and said that the old sins might be blotted out
by their conversion and better life,
and through God's mercy they might be absolved
from their sins when they ceased from evil.
Then the devil cried and retorted upon him,
that the wicked were not worthy of any mercy,
and, when they once relapsed, that they ought not afterward
to have any mercy from the Lord.
Then Martin spake again to the wicked one thus:
'If thou, miserable one, wouldst in this last time
cease from the persecution of men and repent of thy deeds,
I am confident in God that I might promise thee mercy.'
Behold how he manifested in his fervent love
holy boldness concerning God's clemency,
although he could not bring forth the performance thereof.
XXV. Again on one occasion after this came the wily devil
to the holy man where he was in his prayers,
clothed in purple and with kingly raiment,
with a golden diadem and with shoes of cloth of gold,
and with a blithe countenance in great brightness.
Then neither of them spake word to other
for a long while, and then after a long time
the devil spake first to the Lord's servant:
'Acknowledge now, Martin, him whom thou seest;
I am Christ who have come down to this world,
and I desired first to manifest myself to thee.'
Then Martin was silent, and the cunning one spake again:
'Why doubtest thou, Martin?' Believe, I am Christ.'
Then perceived the saintly man, by the Holy Ghost,
that it was the same devil and not his Lord, and said:
'Our Lord said not that He would come to us
with a diadem or clothed with purple;
and I believe not that He will come to us
