Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/187

 The youth  was  angered,  and  inwardly  blinded

after the  maiden's  speech,  who  had  spurned  him  with  words.

He straightway  fell  ill,  and  drew  sighs

from the  depths  of  his  breast,  lying  on  his  bed.

Then leeches  enquired  why  he  was  lying  there,

and made  known  to  the  father  the  youth's  mental  disorder.

Then the  father  sent  straightway  to  the  maiden

the same  errand  which  his  son  had  before  announced;

but Agnes  refused,  saying  that  she  would  not

by any  marriage,  ever   stain

the noble  troth  of  the  first  bridegroom.

Then it  seemed  to  the  Prefect  shameful  in  his  mind

that she  should  account  another  before  his  son.

He strictly  questioned,  nevertheless,  with  great  threatening

who this  bridegroom  was  of  whom  Agnes  boasted.

It was  then  told  him  that  she  had  been  a  Christian

from early  childhood,  and  so  filled  with  delusion

that she  accounted  Christ  as  being  her  bridegroom.

Lo! then Sempronius,  with  a  loud  voice,

bade fetch  her  home  to  his  judgment-seat,

and first,  apart,  with  persuasive  words

flattered the  maiden,  and  after  that  intimidated  her.

But the  virgin  of  God  could  not  be  allured

by any  flattery  from  her  beloved  Lord,

neither was  she  afraid  because  of  his  threatening.

Then Sempronius  saw  her  true  constancy,

and told  her  friends  that  she  would  be  accused

for her  Christianity,  which  the  Emperor  abhorred.

After this  in  the  morning  the  wicked  judge  bade

fetch the  blessed  Agnes  to  him,

and told  her  repeatedly  how  his  son  loved  her,

but he  had  little  success,  though  he  spake  very  much.

He sat  there  on  his  judgment-seat,  vexed  in  mind,

and promised  to  the  maiden  manifold  punishments,

unless she  would  renounce  the  true  Saviour.