Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/447

 even now  in  our  days,  that  Æthelthryth  should  remain

a pure  maiden,  though  she  had  a  husband,

as whilom  in  the  old  days  it  formerly  befell,

through the  (grace  of  the)  same  God,  who  continueth  ever

with His  chosen  saints,  even  as  He  Himself  hath  promised.

Æthelthryth desired  to  forsake  all  worldly  things,

and earnestly  besought  the  king  that  she  might  serve  Christ

in the  monastic  life,  as  her  disposition  prompted  her.

Then the  king  permitted  her,  though  it  was  rather  long  (first),

to do  that  which  she  desired,  and  then  bishop  Wilfrid

gave her  the  nun's  veil,  and  she  lived  afterwards  in  a  convent  [at

Coldingham]

about twelve  months;    and  she  was  then  again  instituted

as abbess  in  the  monastery  of  Ely,

and  [set]  over  many  nuns,  whom  she  trained  as  a  mother

by her  good  example  in  the  religious  life.

It is  written  of  her  that  she  well  ordered  her  own  life,

fasting  save  for  one  meal    in    the    day  unless    it  were    a    feast-day,

and she  greatly  loved   solitary  prayer,

and wore  woollen  garments. She would  seldom

bathe her  body  save  at  high  festivals,

and then  she  would  first  bathe  all  the  rest

who were  in  the  convent,  and  would  wait  upon  them

with menial  service,  and  then  wash  herself  (last).

Then in  the  eighth  year  after  she  was  made  abbess,

she was  grievously  afflicted,  as  she  had  herself  foretold;

for a  large  tumour  grew  on  her  throat

just under  her  chin-bone,  and  she  earnestly  thanked  God

in that  she  suffered  a  pain  in  her  neck,

saying:   'I  know  verily  that  I  am  well  deserving

that my  neck  should  be  afflicted  with  so  great  a  malady,