Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/307

 Well may  we  think  how  well  it  fared  with  us

when this  island  was  dwelling  in  peace,

and the  monastic  orders  were  held  in  honour,

and the  laity  were  ready  against  their  foes,

so that  our  report  spread  widely  throughout  the  earth.

How was  it  then  afterward  when  men  rejected  monastic  life

and held  God's  services  in  contempt,

but that  pestilence  and  hunger  came  to  us,

and afterward  the  heathen  army  had  us  in  reproach?

Concerning this  spake  the  Almighty  God  to  Moses  in  the  wilderness,

'If ye  walk  in  my  statutes  and  keep  my  commandments,

then will  I  alway  send  you  rain-showers  in  due  time,

and the  earth  shall  yield  you  her  fruits,

and I  will  give  you  peace  and  reconciliation,

that ye  may  enjoy  your  land  without  fear,

and I  will  also  put  the  evil  beasts  far  from  you.

If ye  then  despise  me,  and  cast  away  my  laws,

I will  also  very  speedily  wreak  it  upon  you  j

I will  cause  that  the  heaven  shall  be  to  you  as  hard  as  iron,

and the  earth  underneath  it  as  if  it  were  brass.

Then shall  ye  labour  in  vain,  if  ye  sow  your  land,

then the  earth  shall  yield  you  no  fruits;

and if  ye  even  then  will  not  turn  to  Me,

I will  send  the  sword  to  you,  and  your  enemies  shall  slay  you,

and then  they  shall  cruelly  lay  waste  your  land,

and your  cities  shall  be  broken  down  and  wasted.

I will  also  send  cowardice  into  your  hearts,

so that  none  of  you  dare  withstand  your  enemies."