Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/161



There was  a  very  holy  abbot  named  Maurus;

who from  his  early  youth  was  confided

to Saint  Benedict  for  instruction,  though  he  was  of  noble  birth.

He throve  well  in  learning,  and  was  very  obedient

to Saint  Benedict  in  all  his  commands,

and served  God  Almighty  in  all  goodness,

and gave  moreover  a  good  example  to  his  brethren

in all  holy  observances,  and  therefore  was  he  dear

to his  master  Benedict,  whom  he  rejoiced  by  his  works.

We have  said  aforetime  in  another  place,

how this  same  Maurus,  through  God's  might,  walked

upon running  water  on  a  wide  pool,

when Benedict  bade  him  help  the  boy,

who had  fallen  into  the  stream,  as  he  was  fetching  water.

On a  certain  occasion  Saint  Maurus  was  going homewards to  the  monastery  with  his  brethren,

while Benedict  was  with  a  pious  man,

because his  wife  was  vexed  with  madness ;

and Maurus  met  there,  before  he  came  to  the  monastery,

a dumb  boy,  who  was  also  a  cripple,

but the  father  and  mother  carried  him  thither.

Then they  both  fell  with  flowing  tears

at Maurus'  feet,  and  embraced  his  knees,

entreating him  in  God's  name  to  heal  their  child.

But Maurus  did  not  wish  to  grant  this  to  the  couple ;

and said  that  the  deed  was  not  becoming  to  him,

until the  brethren  earnestly  besought  him

to pray  for  the  healing  of  the  halting  boy.

So then  Maurus  looked  up  straightway  to  Heaven,  and  said,