Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/475

 that he  would  help  the  man  through  the  great  Swithhun ;

he cried  eke  to  Swithhun,  thus  saying  in  his  lamentation,

' Oh  thou  holy  Swithhun,  pray  to  Jesus

that He  may  grant  life  to  this  sick  servant,

and I  will  be  for  this  the  faithfuller  to  the  living  God

all my  days,  if  He  does  this  through  thee.'

Then the  servant  arose,  made  whole  through  St. Swithhun.

The lord  rejoiced  thereat,  and  with  faith  praised  God.

A certain  old  thane  in  the  Isle  of  "Wight  was  also  afflicted,

so that  he  lay  bedridden  some  nine  years,

and could  not  leave  the  bed  unless  he  were  carried,

To him  came  in  a  dream  two  shining  saints,

and bade  him  quickly  run  with  them.

Then quoth  the  sick  man,  '  How  can  I  run  with  you

when I  have  not  arisen  from  this  bed  alone,

without some  man's  help,  now  for  nine  years? '

Then said  the  saints,  '  Thou  shalt  come  to  that  place,

if   thou  goest    with    us    now,    where    thou    shalt    receive    thy health.'

He was  then  very  glad,  and  desired  to  go  with  them;

but when  he  could  not  journey  with  them,

then flew  they  through  the  air,  and  bare  the  sick  man

until they  came  to  a  solitary  field,  brightly  blooming,

and there  was  a  church,  of  shining  gold

and of  precious  stones,  standing  in  the  field;

and St.  Swithhun,  in  shining  eucharistic  vestments,

stood before  the  altar,  as  if  about  to  say  mass.

Then said  Swithhun  straightway  to  the  sick  man,

'I tell  thee,  brother,  that  henceforth  thou  must  not

do evil  to  any  man,  nor  curse  any  man,

nor §peak  evil  of  any  man,  nor  be  malicious,

nor consent  to  manslayers,  nor  connive  at  wicked

robbers and  thieves,  nor  join  in  evil  deeds,

but rather  help,  as  best  thou  canst,

needy men  with  thine  own  goods,

and thou  thyself  shalt  be  healed  by  the  power  of  God.'