Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/353

 where he  occupied  himself  in  fastings  and  vigils  day  and  night, serving God  in  purity  of  heart;  so  that  his  master  greatly  wondered thereat, and  related  to  his  brethren  his  way  of  life. But Paphnutius her father,  when  he  came  home,  went  very  quickly  into  the  bower wherein his  daughter  was  wont  to  be;  and  when  that  he  found her not  there  he  became  very  uneasy,  and  began  to  question  of  all, both slaves  and  free-men,  (what)  had  been  done  with  his  daughter Euphrosyne? Then said  they:  '  at  night  we  saw  her,  but  we  knew not in  the  morning  where  she  had  gone  to;  but  we  supposed  that her bridegroom  who  was  betrothed  to  her  had  taken  her  there.' Then he  sent  to  the  bridegroom  and  enquired  for  her  there,  but she was  not  there. When her  bridegroom  heard  that  she  was  lost, he became  greatly  troubled  and  came  to  Paphnutius,  and  found him, on  account  of  his  sadness,  lying  on  the  earth. Then said some, '  Perchance  some  one  hath  deceived  her  and  taken  her  away.' Then he  sent  riding  men  through  all  the  land  of  Alexandria  and Egypt, and  they  sought  amongst  travellers  in  ships,  and  in  women's convents,  and  in  deserts  and  in  caves,  and  at  the  houses  of  all their intimate  friends  and  neighbours;  and  when  they  nowhere found her,  they  bewept  her  as  if  she  were  dead. The father-in-law bemoaned his  daughter-in-law,  and  the  bridegroom  his  bride. The father bewept  his  daughter,  and  said:  '  woe  is  me! my sweetest bairn, woe  is  me! the light  of  mine  eyes  and  the  comfort  of  my life! Who hath  bereaved  me  of  my  treasures  or  scattered  my goods  1  Who  hath  cut  away  my  vineyard,  or  who  hath  quenched my lamp  1  Who  hath  deprived  me  of  my  hope,  or  who  hath  polluted the beauty  of  my  daughter? What wolf  hath  seized  my  lamb,  or what  place  on  sea  or  on  land  hath  hid  so  royal  a  countenance  1 She was  the  consoler  of  the  mourning  and  the  rest  of  the  wearied. Oh thou  earth! swallow thou  never  my  blood  ere  I  see  what  hath been done  with  Euphrosyne  my  daughter! ' Hearing  these  words, they all  began  to  weep,  and  great  lamenting  was  throughout  all the city. When Paphnutius  could  have  no  patience,  nor  receive any comfort,  then  went  he  to  the  abbot  and  fell  at  his  feet,  and said, '  I  pray  thee  that  thou  wilt  not  cease  to  entreat  for  me  that I may  find  the  toil  of  thy  prayer;  verily  I  know  not  whither  my