Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/363

 both wives  and  possessions,  and  lived  in  chastity,

for His  fair  promises,  and  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven.

Again, after  His  resurrection  and  ascension  into  Heaven,

when the  faith  was  increasing,  and  men  laid  aside  devil-worship,

then were  the  holy  martyrs  so  greatly  inspired

that they  chose  rather  to  die  than  to  deny  God,

and laid  down  their  lives  rather  than  their  faith,

and were  slain  for  the  true  faith,

many thousand  martyrs  by  various  tortures,

and they  have  the  eternal  mirth  in  return  for  their  martyrdom.

The wicked  devil,  who  is  ever  (employed)  about  evil,

stirred up  persecution  by  impious  murderers,

and desired  by  slaughter  to  overcome  the  Christians,

and put  down  God's  faith,  if  so  he  might,

but the  more  men  slew,  the  more  believed,

through the  mighty  wonders  which  the  martyrs  wrought.

Afterward, when  God  gave  peace  to  His  church,

then desired  the  devil  to  mar  the  true  faith  by  heresy,

and sowed  heresy  in  presumptuous  men.

One of  those  was  Arius,  who  began  that  evil,

but his  bowels  gushed  out  at  the  draught.

Many there  were  beside  who  diversely  erred,

until the  holy  Fathers  quenched  their  evil,

and formulated  the  true  faith  by  God's  help,

even as  the  Saviour  taught  it  to  His  holy  apostles.

Then were  there  holy  bishops,  frugal  in  their  manners,

and wise  mass-priests  who  lived  in  chastity,

and many  monks  of  excellent  conduct,

and pure  maidens  who  served  Christ

in spiritual  service,  for  their  Lord's  love;