. He was visiting at San Severino when
he met Francis.

A house of "Poor Ladies" had just been founded in this place, and
Francis was preaching in their chapel. Some friends of Pacificus had
relatives among the "Poor Ladies," and as they were going to visit
them they asked him to come along too. He went, and as Francis was
preaching they stopped to hear him. The tone, and the eloquence of the
preacher, arrested Pacificus, and he could not hide his emotion as one
truth after another struck his conscience. Francis perceiving that one
hearer at least was touched by his words, turned the point of his
discourse straight at him. The longer Pacificus listened, the more he
was convinced not only that the hand of the Lord was upon him, but
that a great work was required of him. As soon as the sermon was over,
he asked to speak with Francis. That conversation completely won
Pacificus. Francis spoke to him of the judgments of God, and the
vanities of the world.

"Enough of words," cried the Poet, "let us have deeds! Withdraw me, I
pray you, from men, and restore me to the supreme Emperor."

Francis was always a lover of decision, and the next day he gave him
the habit, and took him on to Assisi with him. Ever after this the
poet was known as Pacificus, in memory of the peace of Christ that
that day flowed into his soul. His life was beautiful in its
simplicity. His historian writes, "he seemed rather to forget what he
had been, than have to make any violent effort to force himself to a
new life." In other words, his life "was hid with Christ in God."

This conversion of Pacificus attracted a great deal of attention and
did much towards advertising the Franciscans all over Europe.

[Sidenote: _Professor Pepoli._]

Professor Pepoli filled an important chair in the Bologna University.
He was converted through the preaching of Francis in Bologna. Of this
preaching an eye witness writes:--

"I, Thomas, Archdeacon of the Cathedral Church, studying at Bologna,
saw Francis preach in the square, where nearly the whole town was
assembled. He spoke first of angels, and men, and devils. He explained
the spiritual natures with such exactitude and eloquence that his
hearers were astonished that such words could come from the mouth of
so simple a man. Nor did he follow the usual course of preachers. His
discourse resembles rather those harangues that are made by popular
orators. At the conclusion he spake only of the extinction of hatred