Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/417

 'God Almighty  hath  said  concerning  thee,'  I  have  anointed  thee  king

over the  people  of  Israel,  that  thou  mayest  exterminate

the offspring  of  Ahab  the  wicked  king,

that I  may  be  avenged  on  the  accursed  Jezebel;

she shall  be  for  meat  to  dogs,  not  buried  in  the  earth.'"

Then Jehu,  the  newly  hallowed  king,

went with  his  forces,  to  accomplish  those  things

which God  had  commanded  him,  amongst  his  brethren.

Then came  against  him  king  Joram,

asked whether  he  came,  thus  boldly,  in  peace

Then answered  Jehu  and  said  to   him  fearlessly,

'Yet thy  mother's  wicked  whoredoms

and many  witchcrafts  are  going  on.'

Then Joram  turned  instantly  away  and  said,

'This is  treachery; '  and  Jehu  shot  him

behind his  back,  so  that  his  heart  burst.

Then he  bade  him  be  cast  out  of  the  way  thus  dead.

Then fled  the  king  of  Judah  who  came  with  the  other,

but Jehu  pursued  him,  and  took  his  life  from  him;

then went  he  to  Jezebel,  who  was  in  the  city

and stood  upon  an  upper  floor  magnificently  adorned,

and had  painted  her  eyes  and  her  face  with  red,

to meet  Jehu,  and  beheld  his  approach.

Then Jehu  looked  up  to  the  shameful  one,

and immediately  commanded  men  to  push  her  over  from  behind;

so she  was  thrown  down  before  the  horses,

and the  horses  trod  her  ignominiously  under  their  feet.

Then Jehu  went  to  sit  at  his  banquet,

and after  his  feast  said  to  his  servants,

'Go to  this  witch  whom  I  bade  men  throw  down,

and bury  her  corpse,  for  her  birth's  sake.'

They went  quickly,  but  she  was  all  devoured,

save only  the  hands  and  the  upper  part  of  the  head,