and remembered much oft thereupon the ensamples of three bishops. For when Ambrose was at his end, he was prayed that he should get longer space of his life by his prayers. He answered: 'I have not lived so that I am ashamed to live among you, and I am not afraid to die, for I have a good Lord'; which answer Augustin praised marvellously. And also he said of another bishop, that it was said to him that he was yet much necessary to the church, and that he should pray to God for the deliverance of his sickness: and he said: 'If I die never, well: if ever, wherefore not now?'[1] And of another bishop, that when he was in grevious sickness and prayed that God would send him health, a youngling appeared to him, and looked sternly on him, and said to him by disdain: ’Thou doubtest to suffer, thou wiliest not to die; what shall I do to thee?'
He would never have that any woman should dwell with him, neither his own sisters, nor the daughters of his brother, which served God together. For he said, though of his sister nor of his nieces might none evil suspicion grow, nevertheless because that such persons might not be without other that served them, and also other might come to them, and of such might the thoughts be moved to temptations, or might be defamed by evil suspicion of men. He would never speak alone with any woman but if some secret demanded it. He gave never no goods to his kin, nor to his cousins, nor he recked whether they abounded or were needy. He would gladlier hear causes of unknown men than of his friends, for
- ↑ Si nunquam, bene; si aliquando, quare non modo?
