Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/155

 assist either  of  them,  forthwith  he  should  be  seized

and should  be  cast  into  the  river  with  broken  legs.

They then  went  both  on  the  bridge  together,

and the  believing  (faithful)  emperor  killed  the  enemy  of  God,

Cosdrue's son,  and  he  afterwards  wielded

all his  kingdom,  and  rode  to  Cosdrue.

Then all  the  army  joyfully  submitted  to  Eraclius,

and he  received  them  and  persuaded  them  to  baptism;

and no   one  would   make  known   to  Cosdrue   the  battle  (which had  lately  taken  place),

because he  was  hateful  to  all  his  people.

Then Eraclius  went  up  to  the  steep  upper-floor,

and quickly  said  to  the  impious  Cosdrue  these  words:

'Life I  will  grant  thee  if  thou  wilt  forthwith  believe

now on  Jesus  Christ,  and  wilt  promise  that  thou  wilt

submit to  be  baptized,  and  I  will  be  thy  friend,

and I  will  let  thee  have  this  land  in  thy  possession;

but if  thou  dost  otherwise,  thou  shalt  be  put  to  death.'

Then would  not  Cosdrue  believe  on  Christ;

and Eraclius  forthwith  drew  out  his  sword

and beheaded  him,  and  commanded  him  to  be  buried.

He then  took  his  younger  son,  a  boy  of  ten  years  old,

and baptized  him,  and  gave  up  to  him  the  kingdom,

and then  delivered  to  his  (own)  army  the  high  steeple,

with all  the  silver;    but  he  himself  took

the gold  and  the  gems  into  God's  church.

Then he  carried  the  rood,  with  a  procession  of  the  people,

again to  Jerusalem,  eagerly  and  joyfully.

Riding quickly,  they  came  at  last

to the  aforesaid  city;    and  the  emperor  sat

on a  royal  horse,  as  was  most  pleasing  to  him.

But when  he  would  enter  (the  city),  then  was  the  gate  closed,