Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/105

 understanding religiously,  concerning  the  resurrection  of  us  all.

Excepting he  believed  that  they,  after  long  delay,

would  arise  from  death,  they  who  there  were  slain,

otherwise he  offered  in  vain  his  offering.

But he  verily  considered  that  they  that  with  true  religion

in death  shall  decease,  that  they  with  the  Lord  shall  have

the happiest  gift  in  the  true  life.

It is  a  holy  thought,  and  religious  to  pray

for  those  who   are    departed,    that    they   may  be  released    from sins.

VI. It saith  in  the  Second  Book  of  Maccabees  thus;

that Timotheus,  who  before  fled  at  the  ford  from  Judas,

that he  again  gathered  a  second  army  to  him,

and wished  with  weapons  to  subdue  the  Jews,  R

and came  then  with  an  army,  ready  to  fight;

and Machabeus  the  bold  cried  to  God,

and his  fellows  also,  praying  for  help.

They went  then  from  the  city,  emboldened  by  God,

and they  fought  together  firmly  with  weapons.

Lo! then wonderfully  came  five  angels  from  heaven,

riding on  horses  with  golden  apparel,

and twain  of  the  angels  on  both  sides  of  Judas

were fighting,  and  eke  defended  him;

and they  all  five  fought  on  the  side  of  Judas,

shooting their  arrows  and  fiery  lightnings

on the  heathen  people,  till  they,  lying-down,  died,

twenty thousand  men,  and  six  hundred  [horsemen]  slain.

Timotheus then  fled,  seized  with  fright,

into a  town;    and  after  him  went

Judas with  assistance,  and  fought  without