on
of rendering evil for evil? This is what they will tolerate on no
account. Thus Lessius observes (De Just., liv. ii., c. 9, d. 12, n.
79), that, 'If a man has received a blow on the face, he must on no
account have an intention to avenge himself; but he may lawfully
have an intention to avert infamy, and may, with that view, repel
the insult immediately, even at the point of the sword--_etiam cum
gladio_.' So far are we from permitting any one to cherish the
design of taking vengeance on his enemies, that our fathers will
not allow any even to _wish their death_--by a movement of hatred.
'If your enemy is disposed to injure you,' says Escobar, 'you have
no right to wish his death, by a movement of hatred; though you
may, with a view to save yourself from harm.' So legitimate,
indeed, is this wish, with such an intention, that our great
Hurtado de Mendoza says that 'we may _pray God_ to visit with
speedy death those who are bent on persecuting us, if there is no
other way of escaping from it.'" (In his book, De Spe, vol. ii., d.
15, sec. 4, 48.)

"May it please your reverence," said I, "the Church has forgotten
to insert a petition to that effect among her prayers."

"They have not put every thing into the prayers that one may
lawfully ask of God," answered the monk. "Besides, in the present
case, the thing was impossible, for this same opinion is of more
recent standing than the Breviary. You are not a good chronologist,
friend. But, not to wander from the point, let me request your
attention to the following passage, cited by Diana from Gaspar
Hurtado (De Sub. Pecc., diff. 9; Diana, p. 5; tr. 14, r. 99), one
of Escobar's four-and-twenty fathers: 'An incumbent may, without
any mortal sin, desire the decease of a life-renter on his
benefice, and a son that of his father, and rejoice when it
happens; provided always it is for the sake of the profit that is
to accrue from the event, and not from personal aversion.'"

"Good," cried I. "That is certainly a very happy hit, and I can
easily see that the doctrine admits of a wide application. But yet
there are certain cases, the solution of which, though of great
importance for gentlemen, might present still greater
difficulties."

"Propose such, if you please, that we may see," said the m