Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/225

 three  days  came  the  wicked  emperor  to  the  place,  and  bade  men open the  brazen  engine,  that  he  might  see  to  what  those  saints' bodies had  turned. When he  saw  them  sound,  then  weened  he that  they  yet  lived,  and  bade  them  to  be  thrown  out  on  the  earth. Then wondered  all  those  who  were  there,  that  the  fire  had  not touched even  a  hair  of  them,  but  their  bodies  were  whiter  than snow. Then was  the  emperor  afraid,  and  went  thence  to  his  hall; and the  multitude  who  stood  there  cried,  '  Great  and  exalted  is  the God   of  Christian  men  and  the  one  true  God  Jesus  Christ,  and there is  none  other  but  He;  Who  caused  the  fire  not  to  consume  a  single  thread  of  their  hair.'

And the  Christians  took  their  bodies  secretly,  and  buried  them; and built  a  chapel  after  the  persecution  was  stilled;  and  celebrated their memory  on  the  day  of  the  Kalends  of  November. This is  the life of  the  Blessed  martyrs,  and  here  is  the  ending  of  their  glorious strife. Verily all  those  who  are  worthy,  and  glorify  their  memory, and call  them  to  their  assistance,  such  men  shall  obtain  the  good things which  are  promised  to  the  Saints  through  the  grace  of  our Lord Jesus  Christ;  to  Whom  be  glory  and  power  to  ages  of  ages, ever in  eternity. AMEN.

There was  a  certain  wise  writer,  called  Sulpicius,

who desired  to  write  the  miracles  and  mighty  deeds

which the  great  Martin  mightily  performed

in this  world,  and  he  therefore  wrote  concerning  him

the things  which  he  had  learned,  either  from  himself

or from  other  men,  because  the  miracles,

which God  wrought  by  him,  were  known  to  many;