Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/333

 and carried  the  holy  head  home  with  them,

thanking the  Almighty  for  all  His  wonders;

but the  wolf  followed  forth  with  the  head

until they  came  to  the  town,  as  if  he  were  tame,

and then  turned  back  again  unto  the  wood.

Then the  country-people  afterward  laid  the  head

by the  holy  body,  and  buried  him

as they  best  might  in  such  haste,

and full  soon  built  a  church  over  him

Then again,  after  a  space,  after  many  years,

when the  harrying  had  ceased,  and  peace  was  restored

to the  oppressed  people,  then  they  came  together,

and built  a  church  worthily  to  the  saint,

because that  frequently  miracles  were  done  at  his  burial-place,

even at  the  bede-house  where  he  was  buried.

Then desired  they  to  carry  the  holy  body

with popular  honour,  and  to  lay  it  within  the  church.

Then there  was  a  great  wonder,  that  he  was  all  as  whole

as if he  were  alive,  with  clean  body,  '

and his  neck  was  healed  which  before  was  cut  through,

and there  was  as  it  were  a  silken  thread  about  his  neck,  all  red,

as if  to  show  men  how  he  was  slain.

Also the  wounds,  which  the  bloodthirsty  heathen

had made  in  his  body  by  their  repeated  shots,

were healed  by  the  heavenly  God;

and so  he  lieth  uncorrupt  until  this  present  day,