Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/283

 XXIX. Martin was  going  with  his  monks  one  day

towards the  church  in  winter-time;

then came  there  towards  him  a  poor  man  half  naked,

begging earnestly  that  he  would  give  him  some  clothing.

Then Martin  bade  his  archdeacon  straightway

that he  should  without  delay  clothe  the  poor  man,

and went  after  his  wont  into  the  parlour,

and there  remained  alone  until  he  was  to  say  mass.

But the  archdeacon  would  not  clothe  the  poor  man;

and the  poor  man  stole  in  to  Martin,

and bemoaned  to  him  that  he  was  very  cold.

Then Martin  immediately  unclothed  himself

under his  chasuble  secretly,  and  put  his  own  raiment

on the  poor  man,  and  bade  him  go  out.

Then after  a  little  space  the  archdeacon  came

and said  that  it  was  time  that  he  should  go  into  church

to say  mass  for  the  people  and  do  honour  to  God.

Then Martin  said  to  him  that  he  could  not  go

so soon  to  church  before  the  poor  man  was  clothed,

and the  archdeacon  did  not  perceive  that  he  within  his  chasuble

there sat  naked;   and  said  that  he  did  not  know

where the  poor  man  was. And thereupon  Martin  said,

'Let the  garment  be  brought  quickly  hither  to  me;

it will  be  no  trouble  to  us  to  clothe  a  poor  man.'

Then the  archdeacon  being  angry  went

and brought  a  garment  impatiently  to  him,

mean and  little,  bought  with  little  cost,

and with  great  ire  laid  it  at  his  feet  and  said;

' Here  is  a  garment,  and  here  is  no  poor  man.'

Then the  holy  man  was  not  ruffled  by  his  words,

but bade  him  wait  for  him  there  outside  some  while,

desiring that  he  should  not  know  that  he  was  naked;

then he  clothed  himself  with  the  same  garment,

and went  to  church  and  at  once  said  mass.

At the  very  same  mass  three  of  the  monks,