Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/347

 suffer thou  not  that  any  man  defile  thy  body,  neither  give  thou thy beauty  to  any  shame;  but  wed  thyself  to  Christ,  who  for  these transitory things  can  give  thee  the  heavenly  kingdom. But go now  to  a  minster  secretly,  and  lay  aside  thy  worldly  garments  and clothe thyself  with  the  monastic  habit;  thus  mayest  thou  most easily escape. Then this  speech  pleased  her,  and  she  thereupon said (to  him):  'but  who  may  shear  me? (Verily), I  would  not that any  one  should  (do  it  who)  hath  not  faith  in  God.'  (The brother  said  to  her):  '  look  now,  thy  father  is  going  with  me to  the  minster,  and  will  be  there  three  days  or  four;  then  send thou meanwhile  after  one  of  our  brothers;  any  one  will  blithely come to  thee.'  In  the  midst  of  this  came  home  Paphnutius,  and  as soon  as  he  saw  the  monk,  he  asked  him  why  he  had  come. Then he told  him  that  it  was  the  abbot's  ordination-day,  and  that he was  to  come  to  him  with  him  to  receive  his  benediction. Then Paphnutius  was  greatly  rejoiced,  and  (at  once)  went  with him (the  brother)  to  the  minster.

Meanwhile Euphrosyne  sent  a  servant  (one  whom  she  knew  to  be very  faithful,  and  said  to  him,  '  go  to  Theodosius'  minster,  and  go into  the  church,  and)  whatsoever  monk  (thou  shalt  find)  in  the church, bring  him  to  me.'  Then  (it  happened),  by  God's  mercy, (that) he  met  one  of  the  monks  outside  the  minster;  and  then  the servant prayed  him  to  come  with  him  to  Euphrosyne;  and  when  he came  to  her,  she  saluted  him,  and  said;  'pray  for  me.'  Then  he  prayed for her  and  blessed  her,  and  sat  beside  her. Then she  said  to  him, 'Sir, I  have  a  Christian  father  who  is  a  true  servant  of  God,  and (he) hath  great  possessions;  and  his  consort  my  mother  is  departed from this  life;  now  desireth  my  father,  for  his  vain  riches,  to  give  me