rule which he desires us to approve of is in conformity with the
teachings of the Gospel. For us to say that Gospel perfection contains
anything unreasonable or impossible is to rise up against the author
of the Gospel and blaspheme Jesus Christ."

The force of his words went home, more especially as the rule was
entirely composed of Scripture verses!

Still the Pope hesitated. He could not come to any immediate decision.

"Go my son," he said to Francis, "and pray to God that He may let you
know that what you ask is from Him, and if it is we will grant your
desire."

For several days Francis gave himself up to prayer, and his next
interview with the Pope convinced him that these poor beggars had a
mission from God. He withheld his approval no longer. Embracing
Francis, he said to the little band--

"Go with God's blessing and preach repentance to all, in the way that
He is pleased to inspire you with."

A few days later the little party were on their way home again,
overflowing with joy. For a fortnight they lingered in a little town
called Orte. Some historians say they rested awhile from their
labours, others that they were attacked with fever in crossing the
Campagna. Be that as it may, it was here that Francis endured one of
the severest temptations of his life. The beauty of the scenery, the
delicious quiet, after the anxious time he had just gone through in
Rome, all conspired to make him think that after all perhaps a life
hidden from the world and devoted to prayer and meditation would be
just as acceptable to God as the more laborious one of preaching and
teaching. But he did not remain long under this spell, and in a little
time they were all back in Assisi.

[Sidenote: _The Order Established._]

It was at this point that Francis began first to shine as an orator.
Of course the news of his visit to Rome spread all around, and more
than ever he was an object of interest. The priests of St. George, who
had educated him, asked him to preach in their church. This service
must have been a success, because when the Bishop Guido returned to
Assisi, he asked Francis to preach in the cathedral. Here Francis
surpassed anything he had ever done before, and the large cathedral
was too small to hold the crowds that flocked to hear the young man.
Men and women came in from all the country-side, monks came down from
their mountain monasteries, and learned and simple all agreed that
"never man spake like this man!"