Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/297

 XL. Some shipmen  were  rowing  on  the  Tyrrhene  sea,

as one  goeth  to  Rome,  and  there  suddenly  came

such a  great  storm  to  them  that  they  had  no  hope  of  life.

There was  in  the  vessel  an  Egyptian  merchant,

unbaptized as  yet,  but  he  with  firm  confidence  said;

'O thou  God  of  Martin! protect us  now!'

And the  sea  straightway  became  exceeding  smooth,

all its  roughness  ceasing,  and  they  went  joyfully  on  their  way.

XLI. There was  a  certain  barbarous  count  called  Avitianus,

savage in  his  deeds,  who  bound  many  men

and brought  them  in  chains  to  the  city  of  Tours,

intending afterward  in  the  morning  to  kill  them  cruelly

in the  presence  of  the  citizens,  and  it  became  known  to  the  bishop.

Then the  holy  man  considered  how  he  might  help  them,

and went  alone  at  midnight  to  his  gates,

and when  he  could  not  get  in  he  waited  there  outside.

Then the  count  was  suddenly  awaked  by  God's  angel,

who said  to  him  sternly,  '  Liest  thou  and  restest  thyself,

and God's  servant  lieth  at  thy  gates?'

And thereupon  he  arose  terrified,  and  said  to  his  men

that Martin  was  without  his  gates,

and bade  them  go  to,  and  undo  the  gates,

that the  servant  of  God  might  no  longer  suffer  such  insult.

Then they  went  out  to  the  inner  gate,

and told  their  lord  that  they  saw  no  one  there,

and said  that  he  must  have  been  deceived  in  sleep.

Then Avitianus  went  back  to  his  bed

and was  again  awfully  aroused  from  sleep,

and shouted  to  his  men  and  said,  that  Martin  was  standing

before his  gates,  and  therefore  he  could

have no  rest,  neither  of  mind  nor  of  body.

Then they  still  delayed,  but  he  went  himself