Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/413

 fifty of  his  servants;    these  all  fell  on  their  knees,

entreating the  prophet  with  trembling  hearts

that he  would  not  consume  them,  though  they  announced   their errand,

like the  others  who  had  come  to  him  before.

Then God's  angel  bade  him  go

forth with  the  men,  fearlessly  to  the  king.

Then Elijah  went  to  the  sick  king,

and told  [the  king]  himself  that  he  should  die,

because he  had  sent  to  the  shameful  idol

to enquire  concerning  his  healing,  as  if  God  were  not  in  Israel.

So the  king  died  even  as  the  prophet  had  said,

and his  brother  Jehoram  succeeded  to  his  kingdom,

and held  it  evilly  for  eleven  years,

and his  mother  Jezebel  lived  wickedly

in foul  whoredom,  and  in  every  iniquity,

until God's  vengeance  ended  her  cruelty.

In the  meantime  the  prophet  Elijah

was borne  up  to  heaven  hale,  without  death,

and liveth  yet  in  the  body  with  perpetual  strength.

His disciple  Elisha  went  with  him  before  (his  translation);

then said  the  master  Elijah  to  his  disciple,

'Ask me,  lo! what thou  wilt  before  I  be  taken  up

away from  thy  sight,  and  from  this  toil.'

Then said  Elisha  to  the  venerable  prophet,

'I pray  thee,  my  father,  that  I  may  be  filled

with the  prophetic  spirit  which  now  dwelleth  in  thee.'

Then said  Elijah  to  his  disciple,

' Thou  hast  asked  much,  but  thou  shalt,  nevertheless,  be  so,

if thou  canst  see  how  I  journey  hence;

if thou  seest  it  not,  verily  it  shall  not  be.'

Amidst their  speaking  came  a  heavenly  chariot,

as if  all  of  fire,  with  flying  horses,