s Avarice._]

Sylvester was the first priest who joined Francis. Though a priest, he
was possessed of very little true religion, and was inclined to be
somewhat avaricious. When Francis was rebuilding St. Damian, Sylvester
had sold him some stones, for which he had been well paid. Now, he
happened to be among the crowd in the market-place when Bernardo was
distributing his fortune, and it occurred to him that he would get
some of it for himself. So going up to Francis, he said,

"Brother, you did not pay me very well for the stones which you bought
of me."

Francis, who had not a spark of avarice in his nature, handed him a
handful of coins without stopping to count them, saying,

"Here, are you sufficiently paid now?"

"It is enough, my brother," said Sylvester, taking the money and
moving off.

But from that hour he never knew a moment's peace. His action haunted
him, he could neither sleep by night nor rest by day. The difference
between Francis and Bernardo and himself came vividly before him, he
repented of his sin, and as soon as ever his affairs would
permit--about a year later--he joined Francis.

There are some historians who declare that Ginepro was mad. The
majority, however, dispute this, and say that what looked like madness
was simply zeal--zeal, perhaps untempered with discretion. Ginepro was
devoted, self-sacrificing and faithful. He mourned over his mistakes,
and was always ready to acknowledge himself in the wrong. It was with
the greatest difficulty that he was taught that he mustn't give away
anything, and everything he could lay hands on. When he saw anyone
poor or ill-clothed, he would immediately take off his clothes and
hand them over. He was at last strictly forbidden to do this. A few
days later, he met a poor man who begged from him.

"I have nothing," said Ginepro, in great compassion, "which I could
give thee but my tunic, and I am under orders not to give that away.
But if thou wilt take it off my back I will not resist thee."

No sooner said than done, and Ginepro returned home tunicless. When
questioned he said--

"A good man took it off my back and went away with it."

It was necessary to clear everything portable out of Ginepro's way,
because whatever he could lay his hands on he gave to the poor.

[Sidenote: _Almost a Murder._]

His great humility on one occasion nearly led him to the gallows.
There was a cruel tyrant named Nicolas, a nobleman living near
Viterbo, whom