Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/345

 'Blessed are  these  men  who  in  this  world  are  like  unto  the  angels, and by  such  means  shall  obtain  everlasting  life.'     And  she  became observant of  this. Then on  the  third  day  said  Paphnutius  to  the abbot,  'Come,  father,  that  thy  handmaid  may  salute  thee,  and receive thy  blessing;  because  we  desire  to  go  home.'     When  the abbot came,  she  fell  at  his  feet,  and  said,  '  father,  pray  for  me, that God   may  beget  my  soul   unto    Himself.'     Then    the    abbot extended his  hand  and  blessed  her,  and  said;  'Lord  God,  Thou  who knewest Adam  ere  he  was  created,  vouchsafe  to  have  care  of  this Thine handmaid,  and  that  she  may  be  a  partaker  of  the  heavenly kingdom.'    So    after  these  words  they   returned    home. It   was Paphnutius' custom  that,  as  often  as  any  monk  came  to  him,  he brought  him  into  his  house,  and  prayed  that  he  would  bless  his daughter. Then  it  befell,  in  about  the   course   of  a  year,    that it was  the  abbot's   ordination-day. Then  he  sent  a  brother  to Paphnutius,  and  invited  him  to  the  solemnity. When the  monk came   to   his   hall,    he    did   not   find    him   at    home;    but    when Euphrosyne   knew  the   monk  was  there,   she   called   him  to  her and said;    '  tell  me,  brother,  for  true  charity,  how  many  are  there of you  in  the  minster? '    Then  said  he;    'three  hundred  monks and   two    and    fifty.'      Then    again    she    asked    and    said,'  If any  one  desire  to  turn  in  thither,  will  your  abbot  receive  him?' ' Yea,'  quoth   he,    '  but  with  all   (joy    will    he    receive  him),   the rather for  the  Lord's   voice  who    thus  said;    "him   that  cometh to  Me,  I  will    not   drive   him    from    Me." '    '  Sing  ye   all,'  said she,   'in    one    church,    and    fast    ye    all    alike?'      The    brother said,  'we  all   sing  in  common  together   but   each  of  us  fasteth according as  he  hath  leisure,  so  that  none  of  us  be  contrary  to holy  living,  but  do  willingly  that  which  he   doeth.'     When   she had enquired  about  all  their  manner  of  living,  then  said  she  (to  the brother),  '  I  would  turn  to  such  a  life,  but  I  fear  to  be  disobedient to my  father,  who  for  his  vain  (and  transitory)  riches  desireth  to join    me    to  a  husband.'     The    brother    said  (to  her),  '  O  sister!