Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/23

 'It befitteth   thee,  Abbot  Zosimus,  to  pray  and  to  bless,  because thou    art     authorised     by    the     sacerdotal    dignity,    and    thou preachest Christ's  mysteries  with  the  gifts  of  divine  things,  serving at his  holy  altar  for  many  years.'

These words  verily  brought  upon  Zosimus  great  awe  and  fright, and he  trembled,  and  was  suffused  with  drops  of  sweat. Then he began  to  sigh  as  if  utterly  weakened  and  choked  in  his  breath, and thus  said,  '  Oh  thou  spiritual  mother,  reveal  now  who  thou art in  that  appearance,  because  thou  art  verily  God's  handmaiden. Intercede for  me  now,  [thou  who  art]  rendered  dead  to  the  younger portion as  regards  this  world;  herein  appeareth  in  thee  the  divine love most  of  all,  that  thou  hast  named  me  by  name  whom  thou never before  sawest. But because   grace  is   not    discovered   by (personal)  merit,  but  [its]  wont  is  to  be  witnessed  by  the  soul's deeds;  bless  thou  me  for  the  Lord's  sake,  I  pray  thee,  and  give me the  prayer,  never  to  be  taken  away,  of  thy  perfection.'

Then she  began  to  sympathise  with  the  wise  old  man's  steadfastness, and    said,    '  God    be    blessed  who  taketh    care    for   the salvation   of   souls.'     Then    she  gave   Zosimus  [her  blessing,  he] answering, '  Amen.'

Then they  both  arose  from  the  earth. Then began  the  woman again to  speak  to  the  old  man,  and  thus  said:  '  Oh  man,  for what purpose  camest  thou  to  me,  a  sinner? Nevertheless, since the grace  of  the  Holy  Ghost  has  directed  thee  so  that  thou  mayest perform some  small  service  to  the  advantage  of  my  poor  body, tell me  how,  now-a-days,  Christ's  people  are  governed  in  the world, and  how  the  emperor's  [matters  stand];    or  how  the  flock