Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/489

 She arose  then  immediately,  whole,  from  the  bed,

and said  that  there  was  no  God  but  Jesus,  of  Whom  he  preached.

Then wondered  the  nobleman  at  his  wife's  health,

and they  all  said  that  He  is  the  true  God,

Who doeth  such  marvels,  and  Who  hath  power  in  battle

to give  the  victory  to  those  who  truly  love  Him.

He was  then  baptized,  with  his  wife  and  children,

and all  his  household,  in  the  name  of  Jesus,

and many  of  the  heathen  accepted  the  faith.

Apollinaris then  dwelt  there  with  him

in the  city  of  Ravenna,  and  preached  the  faith,

and baptized  a  great  multitude  of  the  people.

Many also,  after  they  were  baptized,

entrusted   their    children    to    the     teaching     of    the     righteous preacher,

and God's  faith  there  waxed,  and  heathenism  waned.

So the  holy  bishop  then  remained  in  that  city

twelve full  years,  and  baptized  the  people,

and often  he  said  mass,  and  ordained  mass-priests,

and deacons,  and  clerks,  and  daily  with  them

celebrated God's  praise  with  spiritual  hymns.

In that  city  was  a  certain  noble,  named  Bonifacius,

who became  suddenly  dumb;    so  his  wife  thereupon  sent

to the  holy  bishop,  and  entreated  his  visitation.

Lo! then the  bishop  went  to  his  house,

and there  was  a  woman  in  his  house  who  was  mad,

and the  devil  cried,  and  said  through  the  possessed  one

to the  holy  bishop,  'I  will  cause  men  to  bind  thee

hands and  feet,  and  so  drag  thee  hence

out of  this  city;'  and  the  bishop  answered,

'Hold thy  peace,  thou  devil,  and  depart  out  of  her,

and speak  thou  never  again  through  any  man.'

Then immediately  the  devil  came  out  of  the  possessed,

and the  bishop  went  where  Bonifacius  lay

dumb upon  his  bed,  and  prayed  for  him  thus,