>>213553926 (OP)
“Brother wolf, thou hast done much evil in this land, destroying
and killing the creatures of God without his permission; yea, not animals only hast thou
destroyed, but thou hast even dared to devour men, made after the image of God; for which
thing thou art worthy of being hanged like a robber and a murderer. All men cry out against
thee, the dogs pursue thee, and all the inhabitants of this city are thy enemies; but I will
make peace between them and thee, O brother wolf, is so be thou no more offend them,
and they shall forgive thee all thy past offences, and neither men nor dogs shall pursue thee
any more.” Having listened to these words, the wolf bowed his head, and, by the movements
of his body, his tail, and his eyes, made signs that he agreed to what St Francis said. On this
St Francis added: “As thou art willing to make this peace, I promise thee that thou shalt be
fed every day by the inhabitants of this land so long as thou shalt live among them; thou
shalt no longer suffer hunger, as it is hunger which has made thee do so much evil; but if I
obtain all this for thee, thou must promise, on thy side, never again to attack any animal or
any human being; dost thou make this promise?” Then the wolf, bowing his head, made a
sign that he consented. Said St Francis again: “Brother wolf, wilt thou pledge thy faith that
I may trust to this thy promise?” and putting out his hand he received the pledge of the wolf;
for the latter lifted up his paw and placed it familiarly in the hand of St Francis, giving him
thereby the only pledge which was in his power.
