Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/183



Ambrose, Bishop  of  Milan,

found [written]  in  old  books  concerning  the  blessed  Agnes,

how she  endured  cruel  persecution  in  the  city  of  Rome,

and in  girlhood  suffered  martyrdom.

Then wrote  Ambrose  concerning  the  maiden  thus.

At that  time  there  was  a  noble  maiden

called Agnes,  believing  in  the  Saviour,

in the  city  of  Rome,  gentle  and  wise,

a child  in  years,  but  old  in  mind.

She contended  through  faith  with  the  fiendlike  rulers.

and in  her  thirteenth  year  lost  mortality,

and found  eternal  life,  for  that  she  loved  Christ.

She was  fair  in  countenance,  and  fairer  in  faith.

When she  returned  from  school,  a  youth  wooed  her,

son of  Sempronius,  who  was  set  over  the  city

[to rule]  as  prefect,  and  who  was  an  idolator.

Then straightway  his  kinsmen  offered  to  the  maiden

costly robes,  and  promised  [her]  yet  costlier  ones,

but the  blessed  Agnes  despised  it  all,

and recked  no  more  of  the  treasures  than  of  a  reeking  dunghill.

Then the  youth  brought  to  the  pure  maiden

precious gems  and  worldly  ornaments,

and promised  her  riches  if  she  would  [have]  him.

Then Agnes  answered  the  youth  fearlessly,

'Depart thou  from  me,  thou  fuel  of  sin,

food of  crime,  and  nourishment  of  death,

depart from  me  ! I have  another  lover,