Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/249

 through holy  prayers,  in  the  Name  of  Jesus.

With her  another  maiden  was  brought  up   named  Felicula  [her foster-sister],

perfect in  God's  fear,  and  in  all  goodness;

but Petronilla  was  very  fair  of  face.

Then came  a  certain  ruler,  who  was  called  Flaccus

with a  great  company  to  Petronilla  the  maiden,

and desired  to  take  her  to  wife  for  her  fair  face.

Then said  the  holy  maiden  to  the  heathen  man,

'Why hast  thou  come  with  weapons,  and  rude  soldiers

unto a  maiden  powerless  for  war*?

but if  thou  wilt  have  me,  bid  come  unto  me

noble matrons,  and  fair  maidens

three days  hence,  and  behold,  I  will  with  these

come to  thy  house,'  and  he  believed  her.

So then  Petronilla  prayed  with  fasting

to the  heavenly  king,  who  had  chosen  her,

during all  that  space,  and  JFelicula  with  her,

until Nicomedes  the  mass-priest  came

on the  third  day,  and  said  mass  for  them,

and the  holy  Petronilla  received  the  housel,

returned to  her  bed,  and  quickly  died.

Then came  the  women  as  they  had  agreed,

and swathed  her  body  until  she  was  buried,

as if  they  had  come  for  the  purpose  of  attending  to  the  woman.

Then Flaccus  turned  his  mind  to  Felicula,

and thus  said  to  her  with  a  threatening  manner,

'Choose thee  now  quickly  one  of  these  two  things.

Either be  my  wife,  or  bow  to  our  gods,

and offer  sacrifice  to  them;'    but  she  answered  him  thus,

'I will  never  be  thy  wife,  because  that  of  my  own  will

I am  dedicated  to  Christ,  neither  will  I  offer  sacrifice

to the  heathen  gods,  because  I  believe  in  Christ.'