Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/175

 whilst  still  in  this  life,   because  they  desired  the  (life)  eternal.

Then was  there  long  life,  and  mild  weather,

health of  body,  during  long-lasting  peace,

fruitfulness on  earth,  and  sufficiency  in  riches.

But nevertheless  the  saints  despised  all  that,

and entirely  desired  the  eternal  life.

Behold now,  this  earth  is  too  much  harassed,

and with  many  distresses  evilly  oppressed;

and nevertheless  we  love  its  distresses  still;

and for  this  deceitful  life  we  labour  and  toil,

and for  the  future  life  we  toil  little,

wherein we  shall  ever  have  whatsoever  we  earn  here.

Once this  earth  drew  men  away  from  God

by its  fairness,  and  now  it  helpeth  us  to  God,

because it  is  filled  with  many  distresses.

Let us  therefore  now  turn  our  wills  to  God,

and our  contemplation  to  the  eternal  life,

that we  afterward  may  dwell  there  for  ever;

even as  Christ  Himself  promised  to  them  that  love  Him.

To whom  is  glory  and  worship  for  ever  and  ever. AMEN.

Paul, the  doctor  of  the  Gentiles,  as  he  journeyed  through  the  land

preaching the  faith,  even  as  the  Saviour  commanded  him,

came on  a  certain  day  to  a  great  city

hight Athens,  illustrious  and  great,

the capital  city  of  the  Greeks,  dwelling  in  heathenism.

There was  Dionysius,  the  noble   martyr,

the leader  of  the  heathen  in  their  unbelief,

until that  Paul  converted  him  from  error  to  right.