Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/243

 and drave  out  all  the  multitude,

and stretched  himself  upon  the  soulless  body

some time  in  prayers;  and  anon  he  revived

and with  fervent  zeal  rose  up,

and took  Martin's  right  hand  and  stood  beside  him,

and stepped  forth  with  him  in  sight  of  the  people.

VII. At that  same  time  the  people  of  Tours

were desirous  that  Martin  should  be

consecrated as  bishop  of  their  city;

but Martin  would  go  no  whither  out  of  the  monastery

until one  of  his  neighbours  sought  his  feet,

saying that  his  wife  lay  grievously  afflicted;

and with  difficulty  prevailed  upon  him  to  go  out.

And the  citizens  watched  when  he  came  out,

and immediately  seized  him  and  led  him  to  the  city

called Tours,  that  he  might  be  consecrated.

Then cried  all  the  multitude  and  said  unanimously

that Martin  was  worthy  of  the  dignity,

and an  auspicious  priest  for  such  an  episcopal  office.

There were  other  bishops  (present)  from  various  cities

at the  election,  and  some  of  them  objected

that Martin  was  not  worthy  of  so  great  a  dignity

on account  of  his  mean  raiment;    and  there  in  particular

one of  the  bishops  called  Defensor  made  objection;

but he  was  put  to  shame  by  a  divine  attestation;

for they  had  to  read  some  lesson  before  him,

but the  lector  was  shut  out;    then  a  certain  priest  caught  up

a psalter  hastily,  and  read  before  them

what he  first  found,  which  was  this  verse  [Ps. viii. 2]; —

' Out   of  the   mouth    of  the    unspeaking  and   of  sucklings    Thou

hast perfected  Thy  praise,  O  Lord,  because  of  Thine  enemies;  that

Thou mightest  overthrow  the  enemy  and  the  Defender.'

As soon  as  this  verse  was  read  before  them,