Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/311

 Then said  the  holy  man  to  the  weeping  brethren;

'It befitteth  not  a  Christian  man  save  that  he  die  in  dust;

if I  set  you  any  other  example,  then  I  should  sin.'

He released  not  his  unconquered  spirit  from  prayers,

but he  never  ceased  his  prayers  with  open  eyes

and uplifted  hands. Then the  priests  wished

that he  should  lie  on  the  other  side,  and  so  rest  himself.

Then the  saint  replied,  '  Suffer,  I  pray,

that I  may  look  upon  heaven  rather  than  upon  earth,

and that  my  spirit  may  be  sent  on  its  journey  to  the  Lord.'

Then he  saw  the  devil  standing  close  at  hand,

and he  began,  undismayed,  to  ask  him;

'Why standeth  thou  here,  thou  cruel  beast?

thou wilt  find  nothing  in  me,  thou  evil  one.

I shall  be  received  into  Abraham's  dwelling.'

And after  these  words  the  soul  departed

from the  afflicted  body,  happily  to  heaven.

On Sunday  morning  he  departed  when  he  was

eighty-one winters  old,  and  after  Christ's  passion

four hundred  and  twelve  winters  by  computation;

and thereupon  many  men  heard  at  his  departure

very loud  voices  of  angels  singing

sounding upon  high  through  the  heavens,

even as  it  saith  in  books  which  are  written  about  him.

His body  forthwith  appeared  in  glory,

brighter than  glass,  whiter  than  milk,

and his  countenance  shone  more  than  light,

then already  glorified  for  the  future  resurrection.

Alas! what lament  of  the  true  and  faithful