LETTERXVII.

第十七封信

To the LadyJacoba of Settisoli.

致塞蒂索利的雅各伯女士

To the LadyJacoba, handmaid of the Most High, Brother Francis, the little poor one ofJesus Christ, wishes health, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost in Our LordJesus Christ.

致雅各伯女士，至高者的婢女，方济各兄弟，耶稣基督的一个卑微的仆人，祝安康，还有在我们主耶稣基督内的圣神的情谊。

Know, mybeloved, that Christ the Blessed has revealed to me by His grace that the endof my life is close at hand. therefore, thou dost wish to see me alive, hastenas soon as thou hast read this letter to come to St Mary of the Angels, for ifthou come later than Saturday thou wilt not find me in this world. Bring with theea coarse cloth or shroud in which to envelope my body, and some wax tapers formy burial. I also beg thee to bring some of the food thou were accustomed togive me when I was ill in Rome.

你应该知道，我亲爱的人，充满圣宠的基督已藉着祂的恩典启示给我，我生命的尽头已近在咫尺了，因此，倘若你依旧希望看到我还活着，你一读完这封信，就赶快来天使圣玛利亚；如果你在星期六以后来，你就不会在这个世界上再见到我了。拿一块粗布或是裹尸布来包裹我的身体，再为我的安葬准备一些蜡烛。我也请求你带一些，我在罗马生病时，你时常给我吃的那种食物。