Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/273

 and said  openly  what  the  sin  of  each  of  them  had  been.

Then Martin  answered  the  wicked  devil,

and said  that  the  old  sins  might  be  blotted  out

by their  conversion  and  better  life,

and through  God's  mercy  they  might  be  absolved

from their  sins  when  they  ceased  from  evil.

Then the  devil  cried  and  retorted  upon  him,

that the  wicked  were  not  worthy  of  any  mercy,

and, when  they  once  relapsed,  that  they  ought  not  afterward

to have  any  mercy  from  the  Lord.

Then Martin  spake  again  to  the  wicked  one  thus:

'If thou,  miserable  one,  wouldst  in  this  last  time

cease from  the  persecution  of  men  and  repent  of  thy  deeds,

I am  confident  in  God  that  I  might  promise  thee  mercy.'

Behold how  he  manifested  in  his  fervent  love

holy boldness  concerning  God's  clemency,

although he  could  not  bring  forth  the  performance  thereof.

XXV. Again on  one  occasion  after  this  came  the  wily  devil

to the  holy  man  where  he  was  in  his  prayers,

clothed in  purple  and  with  kingly  raiment,

with a  golden  diadem  and  with  shoes  of  cloth  of  gold,

and with  a  blithe  countenance  in  great  brightness.

Then neither  of  them  spake  word  to  other

for a  long  while,  and  then  after  a  long  time

the devil  spake  first  to  the  Lord's  servant:

'Acknowledge now,  Martin,  him  whom  thou  seest;

I am  Christ  who  have  come  down  to  this  world,

and I  desired  first  to  manifest  myself  to  thee.'

Then Martin  was  silent,  and  the  cunning  one  spake  again:

'Why doubtest  thou,  Martin?'    Believe,  I  am  Christ.'

Then perceived  the  saintly  man,  by  the  Holy  Ghost,

that it  was  the  same  devil  and  not  his  Lord,  and  said:

'Our Lord  said  not  that  He  would  come  to  us

with a  diadem  or  clothed  with  purple;

and I  believe  not  that  He  will  come  to  us