Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/62

50 so sjT. Mary confided his wicked ptirpofie to a skilled magician named Magnus, and asked his assistance. Magnus said, " Show me the house where these women live, and be under no further anxiety; to-morrow night I will bring Mary to you." Anthe- mius spent many hours in impatient expectation ; Mary came not. In the morning he went to the magician to complain of his disappointment. '^ I quite forgot you last night," said Magnus, "but be comforted; to-night without foil Mary shall be yours." Again Anthemius waited in sleepless eager- ness. Mary came not. In the morning he again went to the magician and said, Mary to my house, compel her and her mother at least to admit me to talk with them." " Be quiet," said the wizard, "I had some very important business last night, I was not able to attend to your affairs, but to-night, I promise you the girl shall come to you whether she will or not." Magnus then went to the widow's house and stationed two devils in it, with orders to take Mary to Anthe- mius and with threats of vengeance in case of disobedience. The devils dis- turbed the good women with evil dreams. Presently the mother awoke and made the sign of the cross and said, " Arise, daughter, let us go to church, for I dreamed that that wicked man had caught you and wanted to take you away from me ; as I held you fast and he would not leave you, I saw priests coming with a crowd of people and the archbishop, and we got safely into the temple of God and gave Him thanks. Therefore, let us now go and place ourselves under the protection of the Lord and his saints." Mary also had been disturbed by dreams of her dreaded lover, so she willingly got up to accompany her mother to church. When thoy came to the end of one street and were just going to turn into the next, the two devils got between them, and one taking the form of the mother, said to the daughter, " Come this way, my child." Mary, thinking she was following her mother, let him lead her to the house of Anthemius, and when he had placed her beside the bed he left her. The other demon took the form of the daughter and went with the mother into the church. Anthemius, when he saw that Mary indeed stood beside him, exclaimed, " How is this ? How many times have I entreated you to come to me and you always refused; and now at last you have come of your own free will ! " Mary trembled and called upon God to help her. Anthemius showed her quan- tities of silver and gold, rich furniture and costly apparel, saying that all these should be hers and she and her mother should have as many servants as they could order about, if she would only promise to be his wife ; but if she would not, she should not go safely away from where she stood. Mary fell at his feet and said, *'My lord, as I am in your power and can by no means escape, I will tell you the whole truth. Wo are poor women and we have no alms to give, no money wherewith to do works of mercy, but we offer to God our prayeis and vigils and my virginity tha^ we may find mercy in the last day. My mother says that if I marry I shall have to leave her and shall fall into sin and misery and be condemned by the judgment of God, so we wish to live together piously and enter together into the Eingdom of Heaven. This is why we never would listen to your persuasions ; but now, as you offer to let my mother be with mo, I am willing to be your servant ; only I pray you do me no harm ; I will go and try and persuade my mother to come, and if she will not consent, I will give myself up to you." Anthemius consented to lot her go away and leave the matter undecided for fifteen days. Mary went to the church where her mother was praying for her, much disturbed by her disappearance. She told her all that had happened and they prayed for help. Meanwhile, Anthemius thought over all that had happened and wondered beyond measure at the power of Magnus, who had compelled Mary against her will to come to him. He thought a man with such power was to be envied above all others, and resolved to offer him all his possessions if he would give him this power in return, for then he might have and might do whatever he chose.
 * ' If it is too difficult for you to bring