very eye of a chosen
one lifted on these children of Belial was sufficient to dismay and put
them to flight. I walked aside to my friend, who stood at a distance
looking on, and he said to me: "What thinkest thou now?" and I answered
in the words of the venal prophet, "Lo, now, if I had a sword into mine
hand I would even kill him."

"Wherefore lackest thou it?" said he. "Dost thou not see that they
tremble at thy presence, knowing that the avenger of blood is among
them."

My heart was lifted up on hearing this, and again I strode into the
midst of them, and, eyeing them with threatening looks, they were so
much confounded that they abandoned their sinful pastime, and fled
everyone to his house!

This was a palpable victory gained over the wicked, and I thereby knew
that the hand of the Lord was with me. My companion also exulted, and
said: "Did not I tell thee? Behold thou dost not know one half of thy
might, or of the great things thou art destined to do. Come with me and
I will show thee more than this, for these young men cannot subsist
without the exercises of sin. I listened to their councils, and I know
where they will meet again."

Accordingly he led me a little farther to the south, and we walked
aside till by degrees we saw some people begin to assemble; and in a
short time we perceived the same group stripping off their clothes to
make them more expert in the practice of madness and folly. Their game
was begun before we approached, and so also were the oaths and cursing.
I put my hands in my pockets, and walked with dignity and energy into
the midst of them. It was enough. Terror and astonishment seized them.
A few of them cried out against me, but their voices were soon hushed
amid the murmurs of fear. One of them, in the name of the rest, then
came and besought of me to grant them liberty to amuse themselves; but
I refused peremptorily, dared the whole multitude so much as to touch
me with one of their fingers, and dismissed them in the name of the
Lord.

Again they all fled and dispersed at my eye, and I went home in
triumph, escorted by my friend, and some well-meaning young Christians,
who, however, had not learned to deport themselves with soberness and
humility. But my ascendancy over my enemies was great indeed; for
wherever I appeared I was hailed with approbation, and, wherever my
guilty brother made his appearance, he was hooted and held in derision,
till he was forced to hide his disgrace