in that time I will
not speak.

In those days he composed the Song of the Sun, and oftentimes sang it,
and in many a village and market-place was it sung by the brethren
going two by two in their labour for souls. A mighty hymn of praise to
the Lord God most high and omnipotent was this Song of the Sun; for in
this manner it was that St. Francis sang:

"Praised be Thou, my Lord; by all Thy creatures praised; and chiefly
praised by Brother Sun who gives us light of day.

"Through him Thou shinest; fair is he, brilliant with glittering fire;
and he through heaven bears, Most High, symbol and sense of thee.

"Praised by Sister Moon be Thou; and praised by all the Stars. These
hast Thou made, and Thou hast made them precious and beautiful and
bright.

"Praised by Brother Wind be Thou; by Air, and Cloud that lives in air,
and all the Weathers of the world, whereby their keep Thou dost provide
for all the creatures Thou hast made.

"Praised by Sister Water, Lord, be Thou; the lowly water, precious,
pure, the gracious handmaiden.

"Praised by Brother Fire, by whom Thou makest light for us i' the dark;
and fair is he and jocund, sturdy and strong.

"Praised by our Sister Mother-Earth, which keeps us and sustains, and
gives forth plenteous fruit, and grass, and coloured flowers.

"Praised be Thou, Lord my God, by those who for Thy love forgive, and
for Thy love endure; blessed in their patience they; by Thee shall they
be crowned."

As he drew nigh to his end at St. Mary of the Angels, he cried out,
"Welcome, Sister Death!" and when his brethren, as he had bidden them,
sang once more the Song of the Sun, he added another verse:

"Praised by our Sister Death be Thou--that bodily death which no man
may escape. Alas for those who die in mortal sin, but happy they
conforming to Thy will; for these the second death shall nowise hurt."

In the tenth month, on the fourth day of the month, in the
forty-and-fifth year of his age, having recited the Psalm, "I cried
unto Thee, O Lord, and said: Thou art my hope and my portion in the
land of the living," St. Francis died very joyfully. At the fall of
the night he died, and while still the brethren were gazing upon his
face there dropped down on the thatch of the cell in which he lay larks
innumerable, and most sweetly they sang, as though they rejoiced at the
release of their holy kinsman.

He was buried at the great church at Assisi; but though it is thought
he l