Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/223

 house. Earnestly the  emperor  saw  this  wonderful  spectacle,  that the lioness  touched  them  not;  then  bade  he  fetch  a  brazen  ox  and heat it  and  put  the  saints  therein. Then came  thither  countless folk, both  of  Christians  and  heathens,  to  this  spectacle;  for  they desired  to    see    how    the    saints    would   suffer. Then  besought Eustace that  they  would  allow  them  time  to  commend  themselves to God,  and  they  stretched  up  their  hands  to  God,  saying,  '  Lord God, Creator  of  all  creatures,  visible  and  invisible,  Thou  Who  to all  art  invisible  in  Thy  Majesty,  by  us  verily  Thou  wast  seen  as Thy  will  was;  hear  us  now,  dear  Lord,  praying  to  Thee;  behold now our  desire  is  fulfilled,  that  we  might  come  together,  and  merit to receive  the  fellowship  of  the  saints,  even  as  the  three  youths who were  tried  by  fire  and  yet  denied  Thee  not. Let us  now. Lord, end  (our  lives)  by  this  fire;  and  give  to  those  who  on  earth shall be  mindful  of  us  the  meed  in  Heaven  of  Thy  Glory  with  us; and give  them  sufficiency  on  earth;  and  if  they,  either  on  the  sea or on  the  land,  are  endangered,  and  they  call  on  Thee  through  our name, may  they  be  delivered  from  every  danger;  and  if  they  fall into sins,  and  they  then  adjure  Thee  by  our  humility,  give  them, Lord,   forgiveness    of  their   sins;    and   to    all    those    who    make memorial of  us,  and  glorify  Thee,  give  them  aid  and  help  them; grant. Lord, that  this  fire's  heat  may  be  turned  to  wet  dew,  and let us  end  (our  lives)  in  it;  and  may  it  please  Thee,  as  to  our bodies,  that  they  be   not  separated,  but  let   them   be    here  laid together.'

When they  had  said  this,  then  came  a  voice  from  heaven  thus speaking: '  It   shall  be  as  ye  pray,  and  much  more,  because  ye were  striving  in  good  life,  and  ye  were  enduring  manifold  temptations, and  nevertheless  were  not  overcome. Come now  in  peace, and receive  the  crown  of  glory  of  your  victory;  and,  in  exchange for these  transitory  evils,  enjoy  the  eternal  goods  to  ages  of  ages.' When the   blessed  saints  heard  this,  then  gave  they  themselves to the  fire,  and  straightway  the  heat  of  the  fire  cooled,  and  they then praised  the  glorious  and  laudable  Trinity,  and  sung  a  psalm to God,  and  gave  up  their  souls  in  peace  to  Christ;  and  the  fire touched them  not,   not  even  a  hair  of  their  heads. Verily after