Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/205

 hast forsaken  him,  and  he  will  hasten  to  do  every  evil  concerning thee. It behoveth  thee  verily  to   suffer  many  things  that  thou mayest receive  a  crown  of  glory. Behold! thou wast  until  now exalted   in    this    world's   riches    and    transitory   works;    now   it befitteth  thee  to  be  humbled  from  thine  high  vanity  that  thou mayest afterward   be  exalted  in  spiritual  riches. Let not  thy courage fail,  neither  look  thou  back  to  thy  former  glory;  but  even as  thou  hast  desired  to  please  men  and  the  mortal  king  by  thy victorious fight,  so  likewise  it  behoveth  thee  to  hasten  that  thou mayest keep  thy  troth  with  Me,  the  immortal  King,  and  at  this time to  be  tried  by  sufferings  and   labour,  even   as  my  beloved servant  Job,   and  (be)  the  devil's   vanquisher  through  patience. Beware however  that  no   cursing  and   murmuring   arise   in  thy thought. Verily when  thou  shalt  be  humbled  I  will  come  to  thee, and will  bring  thee  again  to  thine  own  glory  and  honour.'

Then after  this  speech  Christ  ascended  to  heaven,  and  said  to Eustace;  '  Whether  is  dearer  to  thee  to  receive  temptations  now, or nearer  thy  end? ' Then  said  Eustace,  '  I  beseech  (thee)  Lord Jesus, unless  it  be  unallowable  to  overcome  the  things  which  are predestined by  Thee  for  us,  let  us  receive  the  temptation  now,  and give us  patience  to  endure,  lest  the  accursed  fiend  provoke  us  to say  and  think  anything  against  Thy  will.'

The Lord  said  to  him;   '  Eustace,  strive;    verily  My  grace  is  with  you  and  shall  keep  your  souls.'

Then Eustace  returned  home,  and  related  to  his  wife  all  that was said  to  him  by  the  Lord,  and  they  bowed  their  knees,  and besought God,  saying,  '  Lord  Jesus,  be  it  as  Thy  will  may  be.' Then it  happened  after  a  few  days  that  his  household  was  attacked by a  mortal  disease  and  died,  both  his  male  and  female  servants. Then Eustace  perceived  that  the  aforesaid  trial  was  then upon him,  and  thankfully  received  it,  and  besought  his  wife not to  faint  nor  be  too  sorry. Then again  after  a  little  space all his  horses  and  beasts  of  every  kind  were  dead,  and  he joyfully  received  those  trials,  and   secretly  went  away  with  his