Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/225

 Thy holy  faith  has  helped  thy  mother,

and lo! she is  entirely  healed  by  Christ;

and even  as  this  town  is  renowned  through  me,  by  Christ's  favour,

so shall  Syracuse  be  renowned  through  thee,

because thou  didst  yield  thyself  to  Christ,  in  thy  pure  virginity,

as a  pleasant  habitation;'    and  then  Lucy  awoke.

She rose  then  trembling  because  of  that  bright  vision,

and said  to  her  mother,  'thou  art  mightily  healed.

Now I  pray  thee,  by  that  same  One  who  healed  thee  by  prayers,

that thou  never  name  to  me  any  bridegroom,

nor expect  of  my  body  any  mortal  fruit.

but,   as   for   the   property   that   thou   wouldst    give   me   for   my pollution,

give it  me  for  my  chastity,  as  I  am  going  to  Christ.'

Then said  the  mother,  'thou  knowest  my  wealth,

and I  have  kept  now  for  nine  years  against  all  losses

thy father's  property,  and  have  increased  it  further.

First close  mine  eyes  (in  death),  and  then  dispose  of  the  property

lo! how thou  mayst  please,  my  dear  daughter.'

Then said  Lucy,  '  listen  to  my  counsel;

thou canst  take  away  nothing  with  thee  out  of  this  life,

and that  which  thou  wilt  give  at  death  for  the  Lord's  name

thou wilt  give  because  thou  canst  not  take  it  away  with  thee.

But give  now,  in  thy  time  of  health,  to  the  true  Saviour

whatever thou  intendest  to  dispose  of  at  thy  death.'

Thus Lucy  frequently  exhorted  her  mother,

until she  sold  the  shining  gems,

and even  her  landed  property  for  ready  money,

and afterwards  distributed  it  to  the  poor  and  to  strangers,

to widows  and  exiles,  and  wise  servants  of  God.

This came  to  the  ears  of  the  nobly-born  youth

who was  wooing  Lucy,  who  was  named  Paschasius,

an impious  idolater,  who  enticed  the  holy  maid

to make  offerings  to  devils;    but  the  Lord's  virgin  said,

'A pure  offering  is  this,  and  acceptable  to  God,

that one  should  visit  widows,  and  comfort  exiles,