Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/303

 Afterward when  the  holy  man  came  and  the  work  stood  whole,

he chid  the  mass-priest,  and  he  said  to  him  in  answer

that not  easily  could  an  armed  multitude

break in  pieces  such  a  work  of  such  wondrous  weight;

neither could  priests  who  were  but  weak,

nor infirm  monks  break  in  pieces  so  great  a  work.

Then Martin  turned  to  his  wonted  aid,

and watched  all  that  night  alone  in  his  prayers,

and soon  after  in  the  morning  there  was  so  great  a  storm

that all  that  enormous  work  was  overturned  from  the  foundations.

XLVI. He desired  also  to  overthrow  a  wondrous  pillar

of immense  weight  on  which  the  temple  stood,

but he  had  not  the  strength  to  crush  it;

then again  he  turned  to  his  wonted  prayers,

and there  came  visibly,  as  it  were  another  pillar

from above  out  of  heaven,  and  struck  the  other,

though it  was  exceeding  great,  so  that  it  was  all  (ground)  to  dust.

It might  seem  a  small  thing  that  heavenly  might

should serve  the  holy  man  invisibly,

unless human  eyes  should  also  perceive

that heavenly  might  did  service  to  the  holy  Martin.

XL VII. A certain  woman  was  grievously  afflicted  with  an  issue

of blood;

then she  touched  his  garment,  even  as  we  read  in  the  gospel

concerning another  woman,  and  she  immediately  became  whole.

XLVIII. The holy  Martin  was  once  standing  with  his  monks

on the  river-shore,  and  behold  there  swam

a water-snake  towards  them. Then said  the  holy  man;

'I command  thee  in  God's  name,  that  thou  turn  back.'

And the  evil  worm  instantly,  according  to  his  word,

returned to  the  other  bank,  and  they  all  wondered  thereat;

and then  Martin  said  with  great  sadness;

'Adders hear  me,  but  men  will  not  hear  me.'