Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/231

 nevertheless  she  died  not,  but  continued  in  prayer

as long  as  she  desired,  and  said  to  the  people,

'I tell  you  of  a  verity  that  peace  is  granted

to God's  congregation,  and  the  furious  emperor

Diocletian is  deposed  from  his  empire,

and Maximian  the  evil-doer  is  dead.

Even as  the  city  of  Catana  within  its  walls

has the  powerful  intercessions  of  my  sister  Agatha,

so am  I  allotted  by  Almighty  God

now to  this  city  of  Syracuse,

to intercede  for  you,  if  ye  receive  the  faith.'

Whilst she  thus  spake,  the  wicked  Pascliasius

was bound  with  chains,  and  led  before  the  virgin.

He had  previously  been  accused,  for  his  cruel  deeds,

to the  Roman  people,  who  governed  all  the  land.

He was  then  brought  in  bonds  to  Rome,

and the  senators  commanded  him  to  be  beheaded,

when he  could  not  excuse  his  evil  deeds.

The blessed  Lucy  remained  in  the  same  place

where she  was  struck  down,  until  priests  came

and houselled  her  with  the  holy  mysteries,

and she  departed  to  Christ  as  they  were  saying  'Amen.'

Then the  people  reared  a  church  on  the  spot  where  she  lay,

and hallowed  it  in  her  name,  to  the  Saviour's  glory,

who ever  reigneth  as  God  throughout  eternity. Amen.

We commemorate  in  the  calendar  'Cathedra  Sancti  Petri'

seven days  before  the  month  which  we  call  March,

Now there  are  some  men  who  know  not  what  this  name  signifieth.