Some  Hves  of  the  Saint  assign  to  this  period  his
meeting  one  day  an  officer  of  noble  family,  but  meanly
apparelled,  on  whom  he  immediately  bestowed  his  own
rich  suit.  Whether  tliis  was  the  soldier  whose  fortimea
he  was  about  to  follow  under  the  banner  of  the  Count
de  Brienne,  or  another  as  poor,  does  not  cleiirly  ap-


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24  THE  iiPE  or

pear;  but  it  ia  certain  that,  consequent  on  this  act  of
generosity,  his  niore  immediate  intercourse  with  the
spiritaa]  world  commenced.  That  night,  in  a  dream,
he  beheld  a  sumptuous  palace,  containing  piles  of
armor,  each  marked  with  the  sign  of  the  cross.  It
was  made  known  to  him  that  these  were  for  his  sol-
diers. ThinMng  only  of  earthly  warfare,  he  enter-
tained bright  visions  of  mihtary  honors  and  future
greatness;  and  joyously  departed  on  his  expedition,
saying  to  hia  friends,  as  he  bade  them  farewell,  "  Of  a
surety,  I  shall  become  a  great  prince."  Prophetac
words,  though  in  a  sense  far  other  than  he  intended.
