Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/321

 that their  error  may  not  secretly  harm  any  one.

The holy  George  was  in  heathen  days

a rich  noble  under  the  cruel  emperor,

who was  called  Datian,  in  the  province  Cappadocia.

Then Datian  bade  men  gather  the  heathen

to his  devil-worship,  as  an  insult  to  his  Lord,

and, with  many  threats,  frightened  the  people

so that  they  offered  their  sacrifices  to  the  false  gods  with  him.

When the  holy  man  saw  the  error  of  the  heathen,

how they  sacrificed  to  the  devils,  and  dishonoured  their  Lord,

then he  distributed  his  property  fearlessly  in  alms

to poor  men,  to  the  Saviour's  praise,

and became  emboldened  through  Christ,  and  said  to  the  emperor,

Omnes dii  gentium  demonia,  dominus  autem  caelos  fecit

'All the  gods  of  the  heathen  are  cruel  devils,

and our  Lord  verily  wrought  the  Heavens '  [Ps. xcvi. ].

Thy gods. Emperor, are  golden  and  silvern,

stone and  wooden,  the  handiwork  of  unbelieving  men,

and ye  set  guards  over  them  to  watch  them  against  thieves.'

So then  Datian  became  fiendishly  angered

against the  holy  man,  and  bade  him  say

of what  city  he  was,  and  what  was  his  name.

Then George  answered  that  impious  man,  and  said,

'I am  verily  a  Christian,  and  I  serve  Christ,

"George" I  am  called,  and  I  hold  authority

in my  country,  which  is  called  Cappadocia,

and it  liketh  me  better  to  forego  now

this transitory  honour,  and  to  minister  to  the  kingdom

of the  glorious  God  in  holy  service.'

Then said  Datian,  'Thou  errest,  George,

Approach now  first  [of  all],  and  offer  thy  sacrifice