Meantime the learned son predicts from certain appearances the approaching end of his father. _Actum Philocrate, de patris salute, uti Plane recenti ex lotio prejudico, Nam cerulea si tendit ad nigredinem Urina mortem proximam denunciat._ He has been called on, he says, too late, _Sero meam medentis admisit manum._ The brothers begin to dispute about their inheritance, and declare law against each other; but they suspend the dispute when Hieronymus the Priest arrives, that they may look after him lest he should prevail upon the dying to dispose of too large a part of his property in charitable purposes. _Id cautum oportet maximè. Novimus enim Quàm tum sibi, tum cæteris quibus favent, Legata larga extorqueat id hominum genus, Cum morte ditem terminandum viderint._ Virtue arrives at this time with his sister Faith; they follow Hieronymus into the chamber into which Hecastus has been borne; and as they go in up comes Satan to the door, and takes his seat there to draw up a bill of indictment against the dying man, he must do it carefully, he says, that there may be no flaw in it. _Causam meam scripturus absolutius Adversum Hecastum, hic paululum desedero; Ne si quid insit falsitatis maximis Facinoribus, res tota veniat in gravem Fœdamque controversiam. Abstinete vos, Quotquot theatro adestis, à petulantiâ, Nisi si velitis et hos cachinnos scribier._ Then he begins to draw up the indictment, speaking as he writes, _Primum omnium superbus est et arrogans,— Superbus est et arrogans,—et arrogans;— Tum in ædibus,—tum in ædibus; tum in vestibus,— Tum in vestibus. Jam reliqua tacitus scripsero, Loquaculi ne exaudiant et deferant._ While Satan is thus employed at the door, the priest Hieronymus within is questioning the patient concerning his religion. Hecastus possesses a very sound and firm historical belief. But this the Priest tells him is not enough, for the Devils themselves believe and tremble, and he will not admit Faith into the chamber till Hecastus be better instructed in the true nature of a saving belief. _Credis quod omnia quæ patravit Filius Dei unicus, tibi redimendo gesserit? Tibi natus est? tibi vixerit? tibi mortuus Sit? tibi sepultus? et tibi surrexerit? Mortemque tibi devicerit?_ Hecastus confesses in reply that he is a most miserable sinner, unworthy of forgiveness, and having brought him into this state of penitence the Priest calls Fides in. Then says Fides, _Hæc tria quidem, cognitio nempe criminis, Horror gehennæ, et pœnitentia, læta sunt Veræ salutis omnium primordia, Jam perge, ut in Deum excites fiduciam._ When this trust has been given him, and he has declared his full belief, he confesses that still he is in fear, —_est quod adhuc parit mihi scrupulum; Mors horrida, atque aspectus atri Dæmonis, Queis terribilius (inquiunt) nil hominibus, Post paululum quos adfuturos arbitros._