Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/233

 Cathedra is  interpreted  'Bishop's  throne'  in  English;

and Saint  Peter  was  raised  on  that  day

to his  bishop's  throne  in  the  city  of  Antioch.

This throne  he  occupied  fully  seven  years;

and afterwards  went  by  God's  command

to the  great  city  of  Rome,  and  dwelt  therein

five and  twenty  years,  and  shewed  many  miracles

to the  Roman  people,  until  he  converted  them  to  the  faith.

He left  Antioch  because  he  was  an  Apostle,

and had  to  go  everywhere  and  establish  Christianity.

Then he  occupied  in  Rome  his  second  episcopal  see,

until the  wicked  Nero  hung  him  on  a  rood.

Now will  we  tell  you  some  of  Peter's  miracles

to his  honour,  and  your  edification;

but it  is  not  our  task  to  tell  all  his  miracles.

We said  erewhile  how  his  shadow  healed

all the  sick  over  whom  it  glided,

wheresoever he  went,  and  they  all  rose  up

sound before  him,  who  aforetime  lay  in  the  mire.

Now will  we  also  tell  you  how  on  a  certain  day  he  went

to God's  temple  with  the  evangelist  John.

Then lay  there  a  cripple,  lame  from  childhood,

who was  daily  carried  to  the  'Beautiful'  Gate,

that he  might  receive  alms  from  those  entering.

Then looked  he  towards  Peter,  desiring  an  alms,

and Peter  said,  'I  have  neither  silver  nor  gold,

I give  thee  that  I  have:  arise,  in  the  Lord's  name,

whole on  thy  feet,'  and  took  his  right  hand

and lifted  him  up;  and  he  leapt  up  immediately,

trying his  power  of  motion,  whether  he  could  walk.