Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/337

 who on  that  same  day  arose  from  death,

and ran  together  and  seized  him.

Then straightway  they  knotted  a  rope  about  his  neck,

and dragged  him  through  the  streets,  so  that  the  stones  were

sprinkled with  his  blood,  and  befouled  with  his  flesh,

and the  holy  Mark  greatly  thanked

the Saviour  Christ,  that  he  was  suffering  for  Him.

Then afterward,  at  eventide,  they  put  him  in  prison,

until they  had  considered  how  they  might  kill  him.

Lo! then, at  midnight  there  was  a  great  earthquake,

and God's  angel  flew  suddenly  to  the  prison,

and aroused  the  Evangelist,  and  said  these  words  to  him,

' Thou,  God's  servant,  thy  name  is  written

in the  book  of  life,  and  thy  memorial  faileth  not.

And thou  art  a  companion  of  the  celestial  power

where thou  shalt  ever  live,  and  thy  spirit  shalt  be  in  heaven,

and thy  resting-place  shall  never  be  lost  in  the  world.'

Then the  Saint  stretched  out  his  hands  and  said,

' I  thank  Thee,  Lord,  that  Thou  hast  not  forsaken  me,

but rememberest  me  with  Thy  saints.

I pray  Thee  now,  Jesus  Christ,  receive  my  soul  in  peace,

and suffer  not  that  I  be  separated  from  Thee.'

While he  was  saying  this,  there  came  Christ  Himself  to  him,

in the  same  likeness  in  which  He  had  lived  in  the  world,

and gave  him  the  greeting  of  peace,  and  said  to  him  these  words,

Pax tibi,  Marce,  noster  euangelista,

'Peace be  with  thee,  Mark,  our  Evangelist.'

And Mark  said  to  Him,  'My  Lord  Jesus';

and the  Saviour  straightway  departed  to  heaven.