Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/331

 until they  came  to  the  place  of  execution,

and the  martyr  asked  leave  that  he  might  pray

to Almighty  God,  and  commend  his  spirit.

Then he  thanked  God  for  all  His  mercies,

that He  had  shielded  him  against  the  deceitful  devil,

and had  given  him  victory  through  the  true  faith.

He prayed  likewise  for  all  Christian  folk,

and that  God  would  give  rain  to  the  earth,

because the  heat  was  then  wasting  the  land.

After this  prayer  he  crossed  himself,

and bade  his  slayer  to  kill  him.

When he  was  slain,  there  came  straightway  thither

the people  of  his  own  country,  believers  in  God,

who took  his  body,  and  brought  it  to  the  city,

wherein he  had  suffered,  and  there  buried  him

with great  honour,  to  the  praise  of  the  Almighty.

Then the  Lord  sent  rain-showers,

and watered  the  earth,  which  before  was  burned  up,

even as  George  had  prayed,  before  he  bowed  to  the  death.

Lo, then,  Datian  was  suddenly  slain

by fire  from  heaven,  and  his  companions  together,

as he  was  going  homeward  with  his  high  thanes,

and he  went  to  hell  before  he  reached  his  house;

and the  holy  George  journeyed  to  Christ,

with whom  he  ever  dwelleth  in  glory. Amen.