Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/253

 and the  tree  while  falling  bent  towards  Martin.

Then Martin,  undismayed,  made  towards  the  falling  tree

the sign  of  the  cross,  and  therewith  it  turned  backward,

as if  some  sudden  impulse  had  thrust  it  backward,

so that  it  very  nearly  fell  on  the   greater  part

of the  people  who  stood  there  carelessly.

Then cried  out  the  heathen  with  extreme  astonishment,

and the  monks  wept  for  the  wonderful  joy;

and they  all  called  upon  the  name  of  Christ  with  praise,

and all  the  people  inclined  to  the  faith.

So greatly  were  they  converted  by  that  miracle,

that through  all  that  land  they  reared  with  faith

churches and  monasteries;    and  Martin  always,

wheresoever he  overthrew  idolatry,  built  churches.

XI. At one  time  also  the  holy  man  overthrew  an  idol,

and straightway  he  set  fire  to  the  devil's  temple

so that  it  fell  crackling  with  broad  flame.

Then the  fire  turned  forward  with  the  wind

towards one  of  the  houses  which  stood  nearest  thereto;

but Martin  with  haste  climbed  up  on  to  the  house,

and set  himself  opposite  the  roaring  fire.

Then might  he  who  was  at  hand  see  a  miracle,

how the  wind  and  the  flame  strove  between  them;

the wind  blew  the  flame,  but  it  turned  backwards,

avoided the  holy  man  who  was  on  the  house,

and burned  that  only  which  it  was  commanded  to  do.

XII. Again in  a  certain  town  which  was  called  Levroux

the holy  Martin  desired  to  overthrow  a  temple

which was  an  exceeding  rich  house  dedicated  to  the  devils;

then the  heathen  refused  this  to  the  holy  man

and drave  him  thence,  grievously  troubled.