Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/147

 He met  with  some  merry  guests  at  the  house;

he hung  the  dust  on  a  high  post,

and sat  with  the  revellers  rejoicing  together.

There was  a  great  fire  made  in  the  midst  of  the  guests,

and the  sparks  wound  towards  the  roof  quickly,

until the  house  suddenly  became  all  on  fire,

and the  revellers  fled  frightened  away.

The house  was  entirely  consumed  except  the  one  post

whereon the  holy  dust  was  hung.

The post  alone  remained  whole,  together  with  the  dust,

and they  greatly  wondered  at  the  holy  man's  merits,

that the  fire  could  not  consume  the  mould.

And many  men  afterward  sought  the  place,

fetching thence  their  cure,  and  (some)  for  each  of  their  friends.

His fame  spread  widely  throughout  those  lands

and also  to  Ireland,  and  also  southward  to  Frankland  [Germany],

even as  a  certain  mass-priest  told  concerning  one  man.

The priest  related  that  there  was  in  Ireland  a  learned  man

who took  no  heed  of  his  doctrine,  and  he  cared  little

about his  soul's  needs,  or  his  Creator's  commands,

but passed  his  life  in  foolish  works

until he  became  sick,  and  was  brought  [near]  to  his  end.

Then he  called  the  priest  who  afterwards  thus  made  it  known,

and said  to  him  forthwith  with  sorrowful  voice,

' Now  I  must  die  a  wretched  death,

and go  to  hell  for  wicked  deeds;

now would  I  make  amends,  if  I  might  remain

and turn  to  God  and  to  good  ways,

and change  all  my  life  to  God's  will;

and I  know  that  I  am  not  worthy  of  the  respite,

except some  Saint  intercede  for  me  to  the  Saviour  Christ.

Now it  is  told  us  that  a  certain  holy  king