Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/261

 and entered  into  him,  and  he  therewith  raged  exceedingly,

and began  to  tear  those  whom  he  could  reach.

Then the  household  fled  and  the  people  likewise.

But Martin  went  towards  the  madman,

and bade  him  straightway  stand;    and  he  stood  there  yawning

and endeavoured  with  his  mouth  to  bite  Martin.

Then Martin  put  his  own  fingers  on  the  mouth

of the  madman,  and  bade  him  gnaw  them

if he  had  any  power;    but  he  withdrew  his  jaws

from the  holy  hand,  as  if  from  hot  iron.

Then the  holy  man  cast  out  the  hateful  devil

from the  afflicted  man,  but  he  could  not  go  out

through the  mouth  which  Martin  had  touched,

but foully  went  out  at  his  nether  end.

XVII. During the  time  the  bishop  lived  in  the  city,

it was  reported  throughout  the  town  that  there  would  come  to  it

(some one)  with  an  invading  army  to  harry  the  city.

Then all  the  citizens  became  wondrously  terrified

for dread  of  the  army. Then Martin  bade  men  straightway

bring to  him  a  possessed  man,  and  he  was  brought  to  him.

Then the  holy  man  bade  the  possessed  say

if it  were  true  about  the  invading  army.

Then the  devil  confessed,  by  the  mouth  of  the  afflicted,

that there  were  sixteen  devils  who  made  this  rumour,

and sowed  it  amongst  the  people,  in  order  that  they  might  thus,

by means  of  that  terror,  expel  Martin  from  the  city;

and it  was  all  false  about  the  invading  army.

When   the    foul    spirit    had    said    this,    they    were    freed    from anxiety.

XVIII. Martin on  one  occasion  journeyed  with  a  great  multitude

to the  city  of  Paris,  and  as  he  came  within  the  gate

there was  there  a  leper  wondrously  diseased,

horrible to  all  men;    but  Martin  kissed  him,

and gave  him  his  blessing,  and  immediately  he  became  whole,