Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/357

 almsdeeds and  other  unnumbered  good  works;  and. that a  man should not  love  father  and  mother  and  other  worldly  things  before God; and  told  him  the  apostolic  saying  that  '  tribulation  worketh patience,' and he  shall  thus  be  tried. And she  said  yet  again, 'believe me,  God  will  not  despise  thee;  and  if  thy  daughter  were fallen into  any  loss,  then  would  God  show  it  thee,  that  she  should not be  lost. But trust  in  God  that  she  hath  chosen  for  herself some good  counsel. Lay aside  thy  great  torment;  Agapitus  my master  hath  related  to  me  concerning  thee,  how  sorely  thou  art afflicted about  thy  daughter,  and  how  thou  hast  besought  the  aid of the  abbot  and  his  brothers. Now will  I  myself  also,  though I be  weak  and  sinful,  pray  God  that  He  will  give  thee  endurance and patience,  and  grant  thee  that  which  is  best  for  thee  and  fittest for her. Frequently have  I  desired  to  see  thee  that  thou  mightest find some  comfort  by  means  of  me,  humble  as  I  am  ';  and  she  then said to  him:  'go  now,  my  lord.'  Then  Paphnutius  was  much strengthened by  her  exhortation,  and  departed  from  her,  and  went to the  abbot,  and  said  to  him;  '  my  mind  is  strengthened  by  help of this  brother;  I  am  as  blithe  as  if  I  had  found  my  daughter.' And he  commended  himself  to  the  abbot  and  to  the  brothers  for their prayers,  and  went  home  praising  God. Then Smaragdus fulfilled, in  that  unknown  state,  eight  and  thirty  years,  and  fell into a  sickness,  and  therein  likewise  died. Then came  Paphnutius again to  the  minster,  and  after  speech  with  the  abbot  and  the brothers, he  prayed  that  he  might  go  to  Smaragdus;  then  the  abbot bade them  conduct  him  thither. So Paphnutius  sat  beside  him being thus  sick;  and,  weeping,  said  to  him:  '  Woe  is  me! where are now  thy  promises  which  thou  didst  promise  me,  that  I  might yet see  my  daughter? Lo now! we had  some  comfort  by  thy means, and  thou  wilt  leave  us! Woe is  me! who shall  now comfort my  old  age;  to  whom  shall  I  go  that  will  succour  me? My sorrow  is  doubled. Now is  it  for  eight  and  thirty  years  that my daughter  hath  been  lost  to  me;  and  no  revelation  hath  come to me,  though  I  have  earnestly  yearned  for  it;  unendurable  sorrow holdeth me;  in  what  may  I  henceforth  hope,  or  what  comfort  can I receive? Mourning thus  on  every  account,  I  shall  go  down  to