Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/197

 and  Christianity  revived  after  that  destruction.

Afterward, after  some  space,  the  Christian  folk

took and  built  a  great  minster  over  the  Martyrs'  bodies,

where they  all  three  lie,  in  especial  veneration.

There are  many  wonders  wrought  frequently

through the  holy  martyrs,  to  the  comfort  of  men;

there the  blind  receive,  through  their  prayers,  sight,

and the  deaf  hearing,  and  the  halt  power  of  motion,

and the  mad  are  there  made  sane  through  them,

and unnumbered  miracles  are  effected  there  very  often;

to  the    praise   of  the  Almighty   Who   liveth    ever    in    eternity.

AMEN.

In the  reigning  days  [days  of  the  reign]  of  Trajan  the  Emperor there was    a    certain   military  tribune    (who   was)  a  worshipper of idols,  whose  name  was  Placidas;  very  nobly  born  as  to  this world, and  greatly  thriving  in  his  works,  and  excelling  all   in  honour. Truly he  was  greatly  adorned  with  works  of  righteousness and  with  all  good  works;  the  oppressed  he  helped,  and  protected those who  were  condemned;  and  likewise  he  assisted  very  many who   were    unjustly    sentenced   by   evil  judges. The   naked   he   clothed;  and,  as  I  truly  tell,  he  distributed  to  every  necessity  of them   that   had    need  thereof;    and   his   wife  also   practised  the same good  works. Nevertheless they  both  were  as  yet  heathen, because no  man  had  taught  them  the  divine  faith. They had  two sons whom  they  educated  to  imitate  them  in  good  will. He was indeed very  noble  in  righteousness,  and  strong  in  fight,  so  that the heathen  were  much  subdued  by  him. He was  also  well  skilled in   hunting,  and   practised    it   continually   every   day. But  the merciful and  benign   God,  who   always   calleth   to  Himself  those