Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/433

 and came  to  the  martyr,  and  went  with  him.

So then  it  fell  out  that  the  unbelieving  judge

sat unfed  in  the  town  until  evening,

without any  meal,  fasting  against  his  will.

Lo! then Alban  would  hasten  to  death,

and went  to  the  stream  when  he  could  not  go  over  the  bridge,

and looked  up  to  heaven,  praying  to  the  Saviour,

and the  stream  thereupon  dried  up  before  him,

and made  a  broad  way  for  him,  even  as  he  had  desired  of  God.

Then the  executioner,  who  was  to  kill  him,

was touched  by  that  miracle,  and  threw  away  his  sword,

and ran  quickly,  as  soon  as  they  had  come  over  the  stream,  loo

and fell  at  his  feet  with  full  faith,

desiring to  die  with  him  rather  than  to  slay  him.

He was  then  united,  with  resolute  faith,

to the  holy  man  whom  he  was  to  have  beheaded;

and the  sword  lay  there  shining  before  them,

and not  one  of  them  would  readily  slay  him.

Then was  there  nigh  at  hand  to  the  holy  man

a pleasant  hill,  adorned  with  plants,

with all  fairness,  and  eke  full  smooth.

Then went  Alban  quickly thither,

and straightway  prayed  God  that  He  would  give  him  water

upon the  hill,  and  He  did  so.

Then ran  the  well-spring  at  Alban's  feet,

that men  might  understand  his  power  with  God,

when the  stream  ran  from  the  steep  hill.

He was  then  beheaded  for  the  Saviour's  name,

upon the  hill,  and  departed  to  his  Lord

by victorious  martyrdom,  and  with  true  faith;