Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/211

 there fifteen  years. His sons  then  were  nurtured  in  another  town; and neither  of  them  knew  that  they  were  brothers. Truly the  heathen ship-master, he  who  took  Eustace's  wife,  led  her  to  his  country; and God's  grace  shielded  her  that  he  defiled  her  not  while  she  was with him,  even  as  she  desired  of  God;  and  after  he  was  dead,  she was his   heir. After this   there  was  made   a  great  invasion  of  the  country  wherein  Eustace  had  been  at  first,  and  they  wasted many of  the   Romans'   lands. Then was  the  emperor  exceeding troubled on  account  of  the  invasion,  and  remembered  Placidas,  and sorely lamented  for  his  sudden  departure;    he  assembled  then  all his army  to  him,  .and  diligently  asked  about  him,  and  commanded that men  should  go  as  widely  as  his  dominion  was,  and  enquire earnestly for  him;  and  he  also  promised  to  those  who  should  find him great  honour  and  benefit. Then went  two  soldiers  who  were named Antiochus  and  Achaius,  who  formerly  were  under  Eustace's hands,  and  went  through  all  the  lands  which  obeyed  Rome  until they came  where  he  dwelt. Then truly  Eustace  beholding  them afar,   recognized    them    by    their    accustomed    gait;    and    being troubled in  his  mind,  he  prayed  and  said — '  Lord  our  God,  Who deliverest from  every  affliction  those  who  hope  in  Thee,  help  me that  I  may  yet  see  Thy  servant  my  spouse,  as  I  now  see  at  hand those who  once  served  me. Of a  surety  I  know  that  my  bairns  on  account  of  my  sins  are  devoured  by  wild  beasts. Grant to  me. Lord, that  I  may  at  least  see  them  in  the  day  of  resurrection,' To him  then,  thus  speaking,  came  a  voice  from  above,  saying  to him;    'Trust,   Eustace;    truly   in    this   present   time    thou    shalt return to  thy  former  dignity,  and  thou  shalt  receive  both  thy  wife and thy  children;  verily,  at  the  resurrection  thou  shalt  see  much greater things,  and  thou  shalt  receive  the  delights  of  the  eternal good things,  and  thy  name  shall  eternally  be  praised.'

Eustace then,  hearing  this,  was  struck  with  great  awe,  so  that he could  not  stand,  but  sat  down;  then  he  arose  up  again,  and looked along  the  way,  and  saw  that  the  men  were  coming  towards him; and  he  knew  them  well,  but  they  did  not  know  him. Then said they  to  him,  'Hail  to  thee,  brother!'  He  answered  them, 'Peace be  with  you,  brothers!'     Then  said  they  again,  'Tell  us.