invented fables, and composed different pieces of poetry, which were
sung in the houses of the nobles. The art of versifying in the vulgar
tongue was uncommon in those times, and was only practised by the
nobility. The Italians imitated the people of Provence, and translated
into their language the best compositions of the _Troubadours_.
The poet of whom we are speaking excelled in this art, and the Emperor
Frederic II had crowned him as the Prince of Poets, which caused him
to be usually called "The King of Verse."

Coming then to see Francis, he passed through the Borough Town of San
Severino, and entered the church of a monastery, where the Servant of
God was preaching on the mystery of the Cross. He listened to him at
first without knowing him; but God disclosed Francis to him in the
course of the sermon, by two shining swords pierced through the Saint
cross-wise, one from the head to the feet, and the other from one hand
to the other through the breast; from this he became aware that the
preacher was the holy man of whom so much was spoken. The first
impression which the vision made upon him was, that he ought to lead
a better life; but the words of the preacher filled him with such
compunction, that he felt as if he had been pierced by the sword of
the spirit which came out of his mouth. He went after the sermon to
renounce in Francis' hands all the vanities of the world, and to embrace
his Institute. Francis, seeing him pass so perfectly from the agitations
of the world to the peace of Jesus Christ, gave him the name of Brother
Pacificus.

St. Bonaventure adds, that he was a man of so much holiness that he
received the additional favor from God of seeing on the forehead of
his Blessed Father a great T, painted in a variety of colors, which
threw a remarkable softness on his countenance. This letter, which