Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/239

 Thrice was  it  thus  cried  to  him,  and  straightway  the  vessel

was drawn  up  to  Heaven  again,  together  with  the  beasts.

We will  now  tell  you  shortly  the  interpretation.

The four-cornered  vessel  with  the  foul  beasts

had for  signification  all  heathen  nations,

who, in  the  four  quarters  of  the  earth,  lived  foully,

but Christ  cleansed  them  by  His  coming  into  the  world;

and therefore  said  the  voice,  crying  to  Peter,

that he  should  feed  himself  with  the  fierce  beasts,

because they  were  cleansed  through  Christ's  passion,

and He  Was  to  turn  them  from  the  likeness  of  the  serpent

by true  doctrine  unto  reason,

and to  the  likeness  of  men  from  that  loathsome  form.

Thrice cried  the  voice  from  the  Holy  Trinity,

Who is  One  Almighty  God,  ever  indivisible.

"While Peter  considered  what  his  vision  should  mean

there cried  three  men,  knocking  at  the  gate,

and asking  of  the  servants,  whether  the  holy  Peter

had his  dwelling  there,  desiring  to  speak  with  him.

Behold then,  the  Holy  Ghost  told  him  of  it  and  said,

'Three men  seek  thee  from  the  city  of  Caesarea,

arise, and  go  with  them,  for  I  have  sent  them,'

Peter thereupon  went  quickly  to  the  men,  is

enquiring for  what  cause  they  asked  for  him.

They said  that  Cornelius  sent  them  to  him;

'He is  a  Centurion,  and  hath  the  fear  of  God,

a very  righteous  man,  as  all  this  province  knows;

to him  came  God's  angel,  and  bade  that  he  should

summon thee  to  him,  and  hear  thy  doctrine.'

So, in  the  early  morning,  went

the blessed  Peter  with  the  messengers