Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/219

 and the  stone  wall  fell  upon  the  foolish  counsellor,

so that  he  was  all  crushed  to  pieces,  and  another  man  with  him ;

very rightly  so,  because  they  had  been  advisers

of the  wicked  judge  to  his  evil  deeds.

Likewise the  city  stood  all  shaking

by reason  of  the  earthquake,  and  all  the  citizens  ran

together to  the  wicked  judge,  asking  with  clamour

why he  had  so  cruelly  tortured  the  virgin  of  God '?

Then fled  Quintianus  affrighted  because  of  the  tumult,

and also  the  earthquake  exceedingly  terrified  him;

nevertheless he  bade  men  bring  her  into  the  prison.

Lo then! Agatha cried  inwardly

with outstretched  hands  to  the  Saviour  thus:

'Thou my  Lord,  who  hast  created  me  in  human  form,

and ever  from  childhood  hast  shielded  me  until  now;

Thou who  hast  turned  away  earthly  love  from  me,

Thou who  didst  cause  me  to  overcome  the  murderer's  torments,

sharp iron,  and  fire,  and  the  slitting  claws,

who gavest  me  patience  in  the  torments;

I pray  Thee,  Lord,  that  Thou  wilt  now  take

my spirit  unto  Thee,  for  it  is  now  time

that I  should  leave  this  world,  and  should  so  come

to Thy  sweet  mercy,  my  dear  Lord.'

After this  prayer  within  the  dungeon

she gave  up  her  spirit,  and  departed  to  God.

Then came  the  citizens,  and  buried  her  body

with great  honour  in  an  entirely  new  coffin.

Then came  there  an  angel  of  God,  walking  like  a  man,

close at  whose  feet  followed  many  shining  youths,

and set  a  marble  stone  at  the  maiden's  head

within the  coffin,  inscribed  with  these  words,

Mentem   sanctam    spontaneam,    honorem    deo,    et    patrie   liherationem.

That is  in  English,  '  A  mind  spontaneously  holy,  an   honour  to

the benevolent  God,  and  deliverance  to  her  country.'