Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/439

 but they  will  be  revealed,  often  against  his  will,

at least  at  Doomsday,  when  nothing  shall  be  secret,

and he  shall  have  eternal  punishment,  because  his  caution  availed him  nothing.

The robber  will  be  slain  now,  and  ignominiously  punished,

and his  miserable  soul  afterwards  shall  journey  to  hell

to the  everlasting  torments,  in  swart  chains.

We ween  nevertheless  that  the  Allruling  Saviour

will compassionate  the  wicked  robber,

if he,  with  all  his  heart  and  inward  lamentation,

crieth to  the  Almighty  God,  and  beseecheth  His  mercy

before the  sharp  sword  may  sway  to  his  neck ;

and if  he  bemoaneth  his  sins  more  than  his  [loss  of]  life,

and, with  weeping,  desireth  the  Almighty's  compassion.

But the  false  devil,  who  deceived  the  robber,

and ever  seduced  him  until  his  life's  end,

will in  no  wise  easily  permit  him,  at  his  ending,

to turn  then,  with  true  repentance,

and with  inward  weeping,  to  the  benevolent  Saviour;

but will  try  with  all  his  craft  to  draw  him  away  from  Christ.

So likewise  will  traitors  perish,  in  the  end,

even as  books  verily  tell  us  everywhere.

There was  a  certain  councillor,  wise  in  speech,  hight  Ahitophel,

with David  the  king  who  was  pleasing  to  God,

at the  time  when  Absalom,  his  own  son,

began to  war  against  his  father,  desiring  to  drive

him out  of  his  kingdom,  and  kill  him,  if  he  could.

Then this  Ahitophel  was  with  Absalom  in  council,

and advised  him  straightway  how  he  might  ensnare

his own  father,  while  he  was  in  flight;