Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/125

 that he  should  fetch  the  treasure  by  spoliation.

He came  then  with  a  host,  and  would  obtahi  the  treasure;

and the  priest  Onias  said  that  it  was

the livelihood  of  widows  and  of  needy  men,

the almsgivings  of  good  men,  to  the  praise  of  the  Almighty.

And the  priests  fell  before  the  altar

praying the  Almighty  God,  that  he  would  help  his  servants.

Heliodorus then  intended  to  take  the  treasures,

but there  was  seen  a  manifest  wonder  of  God,

so that  his  comrades  fell  down  without  strength,

and overcome  with  fright,  suddenly,  through  God's  power.

And there  came  riding  a  terrible  rider,

and with  him  journied  two  shining  angels,

with wonderful  appearance,  as  he  was  himself  adorned.

And the  heavenly  horse,  that  the  archangel  sat  on,

soon threw  down  the  venturous  Heliodorus,

and the  two  angels  tartly  [i. e. severely]  beat  him,

standing on  both  sides  of  him,  till  he  lay  still,

without hope  of  his  life;    he,  who  before,  with  threatening

and with  much  splendour,  pressed  into  the  temple.

He lay  then  dumb,  as  beaten  unto  death,

and his  friends  then  prayed  the  aforesaid  Onias,

that he  would  intercede  for  his  life  with  the  living  God,

in the  danger  that  he  was  fallen  into.

Onias then  went,  and  offered  for  him  sacrifice,

before Almiglity  God,  in  the  ancient  manner,

and prayed  that  He  would  compassionate  the  man's  folly.

And the  angels  meanwhile  addressed  Heliodorus,

said that  he  ought  the  priest  Onias