Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/497

 six miles  from  Ravenna,  and  lie  there  sustained  him

four years  with  food;    and  the  Christians  sought  him,

and listened  earnestly  to  his  teaching  with  faith ;

and all  the  sick  who  oft  came  to  him

were healed,  and  returned  home  in  sound  health.

Then sent  the  idolaters,  with  enraged  mind,

a message  to  the  emperor,  [praying]  that  he  would  command  to  kill

the holy  bishop,  lest  their  worship  should  be

altogether extinguished  by  the  Lord's  preacher.

And forthwith  the  Emperor  sent  them  this  writing:

'If any  man  presumptuously  blaspheme  our  gods,

let him  make  atonement  to  them,  or  let  him  be  driven

away from  the  city,  because  it  is  not  right

that we  should  avenge  our  gods,  but  they  will  avenge  themselves

if they  be  provoked. Fare ye  well.'

Then the  governor  of  the  city  sent  to  fetch  the  bishop  to  him,

and asked  him  straightway,  of  what  religion  he  might  be,

as if  he  said,  '  Whether  art  thou,  Christian  or  heathen? '

The   judge    was    called    Demosthenes,    and    he    was    the    devil's worshipper.

Then said  the  holy  man  to  the  heathen  judge,

'I am  verily  a  Christian,  and  St.  Peter  instructed  me,

and sent  me  hither  to  this  happy  city,

that through  the  name  of  Jesus  salvation  should  come  to  you.'

Demosthenes then  answered  the  venerable  Saint,

'What needs  there  so  long  delay,  behold,  now  is  the  time

that thou  must  forsake  thy  folly,  and  offer  sacrifice  to  the  gods.'

Apollinaris answered  him,  '  I  will  offer  myself

for my  spiritual  children,  whom  I  have  here  begotten  to  God;

and whosoever  will  not  pray  to  the  heavenly  God,

he shall  be  eternally  condemned  to  the  everlasting  fire ;

and those  who  believe  in  God,  and  are  baptized  in  faith,

those shall  have  the  eternal  rest,  and  unchangeable   riches.'

Upon this,  Demosthenes  became  fiendishly  incensed  in  heart,

and delivered  the  Saint  to  a  certain  centurion,

to keep  in  prison,  until  he  should  kill  him.