Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/159

 O holy  and  winsome  tree;    that  wast  worthy  to  bear

the prize  of  all  middle  earth! Be mindful  of  this  assembly

which is  here  gathered  together  for  the  honour  of  God! '

Then the  emperor  exalted  the  Holy  Rood

in that  same  place  in  which  it  stood  at  first,

before the  impious  king,  Cosdrue,  took  it  therefrom.

On that  day  the  true  Saviour  marvellously  manifested

His power  by  means  of  His  illustrious  cross,

so that  a  dead  man  quickly  arose  on  that  day,

and four  bedridden  ones  were  there  wonderfully  healed,

and ten  lepers,  from  their  lingering  disease,

and many  maniacs  regained  their  senses;

and many  sick  ones  were  there  healed

of various  diseases  at  the  Holy  Rood

for the  honour  of  Christ. And the  emperor  afterwards

bestowed many  goods  there,  and  endowed  God's  churches

with lands  and  sustenance,  and  restored  God's  praise.

He went  then  to  his  royal  seat,  to  Constantinople,

with great  faith  meditating  upon  God's  greatness.

Now is  the  day  called  in  Christian  books

Exaltatio Sancte  Crucis,  that  is,  in  English  speech,

Uplifting of  the  Holy  Rood,

because that  it  was  exalted  with  great  honour

on the  foresaid  day  to  the  praise  of  the  Lord.

It is,  however,  to  wit  that  it  (the  cross)  is  widely  distributed,

by means  of  frequent  sections,  to  every  land.

But the  spiritual  token  (signification)  is  always  with  God,

ever incorruptible,  though  the  tree  be  cut  in  pieces.

The heavenly  sign  of  the  Holy  Rood

is our  banner  against  the  fierce  devil,

when we  bless  ourselves  boldly  through  God

with the  sign  of  the  cross  and  with  right  belief.