198 The Little Bedesman of Christ

that he might feel in his heart the exceeding
great love for which He was willing to bear
such torture.

Now even while he was praying in this
wise a mighty six-winged Seraph, burning
with light unspeakable, came flying towards
him ; and St. Francis saw that the Seraph
bore within himself the figure of a cross, and
thereon the image of a man crucified. Two
of the six wings of the Seraph were lifted up
over the head of the crucified; and two were
spread for flying; and two veiled the whole
of the body on the cross.

Then as the Seraph drew nigh, the eyes of
Christ the crucified looked into the eyes of
St. Francis, piercing and sweet and terrible ;
and St. Francis could scarce endure the rap-
ture and the agony with which that look con-
sumed him, and transfigured him, and burned
into his body, the similitude of Christ’s Pas-
sion. For straightway his hands and _ his
feet were pierced through and through with
nails; and the heads of the nails were round
and black, and the points were bent backward
and riveted on the further side of hand and
foot; and his right side was opened with the
deep thrust of the spear; and the gash was red