Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/191

 but the  Saint  was,  in  these  short  torments,

to imitate  his  Lord,  and  suffer  death  for  Him,

even as  Christ  Himself  did. Who gave  Himself  for  us.

Afterwards Sisinnius  bade  scourge  the  mass-priest,

and also  the  deacon,  Dionysius'  companions,

and then  commanded  them  to  be  led,  in  chains,  together

to a  lightless  prison,  for  their  fidelity.

He bade  scourge  them  again,  and  afterward  stretched

the bishop  on  an  iron  bed,  and  placed  burning  coals

under his  naked  body,  as  they  did  to  Laurence;

but the  Saint  prayed  on  that  bed  to  God.

Then the  savage  prefect  commanded  men  to  cast  him  to  beasts

which were  an-hungered,  that  they  might  devour  the  holy  man;

but the  fierce  beasts,  as  soon  as  they  came  to  him,

lay at  his  feet  as  if  they  were  affrighted.

Then the  judge  bade  men  throw  the  Lord's  servant

into a  burning  oven,  but  his  prayers  extinguished

all the  flame,  and  he  was  left  there  sound.

Yet the  bloodthirsty  judge  commanded  men  to  make  a  cross,

and bade  men  hang  the  bishop  ignominiously  thereon;

and he,  so  hanging,  preached  the  Saviour

to all  bystanders,  even  as  Andrew  did.

Then after   that   the  judge   commanded   men   to  take   him  from the  cross.

and to  take  them  all  three  to  the  lightless  dungeon,

and many  other  Christians  to  the  house  of  execution;

whereupon the  bishop  blithely  allured

the Christians  by  teaching,  in  the  dungeon,  to  God,

and celebrated  mass  in  presence  of  them  all. Then, as  he  was dividing

the holy  housel,  there  came  a  heavenly  light

over all  the  multitude,  such  as  they  had  never  before  seen.

There came  likewise  the  Saviour  with  the  heavenly  light,