Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/343

 if perchance  he  might  find  some  man  of  God  who  might  assist  his desires. Then at  last  he  came  to  a  minster;  the  father  of  this minster was  very  powerful  before  God. So he  paid  in  a  great  sum of money,  and  made  much  friendship  with  the  abbot  and  with  the brothers; and  then  after  a  good  while  he  told  his  desire  to  the abbot. So the  abbot  compassionated  him,  and  prayed  God earnestly that  He  would  give  the  nobleman  the  fruit  of  a  child. Then God  heard  the  prayer  of  them  both,  and  gave  them a daughter. When Paphnutius  had  seen  the  abbot's  great  service, he seldom  left  the  minster;  likewise  he  brought  his  wife  into  the minster, to  the  intent  that  she  might  receive  the  abbot's  blessing, and that  of  the  brethren. When the  child  was  seven  years  old, then they  had  her  baptized,  and  named  her  Euphrosyne;  then  her parents rejoiced  exceedingly  on  her  account,  because  she  was acceptable to  God,  and  fair  in  countenance;  and  when  she  was twelve years  old,  then  her  mother  died. Then the  father  instructed the maiden  in  holy  writings  and  godly  readings,  and  in  all  worldly wisdom; and  she  so  deeply  received  the  lore  that  her  father  greatly wondered thereat. Then sprang  her  fame  and  wisdom  and  learning throughout all  the  town,  because  she  was  adorned  with  virtues, and many  were  attracted  so  that  they  desired  her  in  honourable marriage, and  spake  of  it  to  her  father;  but  he  always  answered, 'God's will  be  done.'  Then  at  last  came  to  him  a  noble  who  was wealthier and  worthier  than  all  the  others,  and  desired  her  for himself. Then the  father  received  his  pledge,  and  promised  her to him. Then after  a  great  while,  when  she  was  eighteen  years old, her  father  took  her  with  him  to  the  place  where  he  usually went, and  paid  in  there  a  great  sum  of  money,  and  said  to  the abbot; '  I  have  brought  hither  the  fruit  of  thy  prayers,  my daughter,  that  thou  mayest  give  her  thy  blessing,  because  I  wish to give  her  to  a  husband.'  Then  the  abbot  bade  take  her  to  the parlour, and  spake  a  long  while  with  her,  and  taught  her  purity and patience,  and  to  have  the  fear  of  God;  and  she  abode  there seven days,  and  devoutly  listened  to  the  brothers'  canticles,  and beheld their  conversation;  and  greatly  wondering  at  all  this  said,