Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/359

 hell.' Then  Smaragdus,  seeing  that  he  would  receive  no  comfort, said to  him:  'Wherefore  art  thou  thus  grievously  troubled  and wilt kill  thyself? Sayest thou  that  the  Lord's  hand  is  weak,  or that  anything  is  hard  for  Him  1  Put  an  end  to  thy  affliction,  and remember how  God  revealed  to  Jacob  the  patriarch  his  son  Joseph, whom he  likewise  bewept  as  if  he  were  dead. But I  pray  thee  that thou leave  me  not  for  three  days.'  So  Paphnutius  [remained]  for the space  of  three  days,  thus  saying:  'perchance  God  hath  revealed to him  something  concerning  me.'  And  then,  on  the  third  day, said he  to  him,  '  I  have  waited,  brother,  these  three  days.'  When Smaragdus, who  before  was  hight  Euphrosyne,  perceived  that  the day of  her  departure  had  come,  then  said  she  to  him;  '  God Almighty hath  well  ordered  my  poor  life  and  fulfilled  my  desire, that I  might  manfully  end  the  course  of  my  life. It was  not  by my  own  might,  but  through  the  assistance  of  Him  who  preserved me from  the  snares  of  the  fiend;  and  now,  my  course  being  ended, the glorious  crown  of  righteousness  is  kept  for  me. Be no longer  careful  about  thy  daughter  Euphrosyne. Verily I,  miserable one,  am  she  herself;  and  thou  art  Paphnutius  my  father. Lo! now thou  hast  seen  me,  and  thy  desire  is  fulfilled;  but  let not anyone  know  this,  neither  suffer  thou  that  any  man  wash  and prepare my  body,  save  thyself. Moreover, I  told  the  abbot  that I had  great  possessions,  and  I  promised  him  that  I  [would]  bring them in  hither  if  I  continued  here;  now  perform  thou  that  which I promised;  for  this  place  is  worthy;  and  pray  for  me.'  This said, she  gave  up  her  spirit. When Paphnutius  heard  these  words, and saw  that  she  was  departed,  then  all  his  limbs  trembled,  so  that he fell  on  the  earth  as  if  he  were  dead. Then ran  Agapitus  thither, and saw  Smaragdus  dying,  and  Paphnutius  half  alive  lying  on  the earth. Then he  threw  water  on  him,  and  lifted  him  up  and  said: ' What  is  come  to  thee,  my  lord? ' Then  said  he,  '  Let  me  here die; verily  I  have  seen  God's  miracle  to-day.'  And  he  therewith arose, and  fell  upon  her,  weeping  and  thus  saying;  '  Woe  is  me, my sweetest  child! wherefore wouldest  thou  not  make  thyself  known