Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/365

 spake to  her  bridegroom  and  thus  allured  him  to  God.

' Oh  thou,  my  dear  husband,  I  say  to  thee  with  love,

I have  God's  angel  who  holdeth  me  in  love,

and if  thou  pollute  me  he  will  quickly  turn  to  thee

and will  slay  thee  in  anger,  that  thou  wilt  soon  cease  to  live.

If then  thou  lovest  me,  and  without  evil  continuest

in pure  virginity,  then  Christ  will  love  thee,

and will  manifest  His  grace  to  thyself  even  as  to  me.'

Then the  youth  was  afraid,  and  said  to  the  maiden,

'Cause that  I  myself  see  the  angel,

if thou  wilt  that  I  should  believe  thy  words  concerning  this;

and if  another  man  is  more  familiar  with  thee  than  I,

him will  I  slay,  and  thee  together  with  him.'

Then said  Caecilia,   'If  thou  believest  in  Christ

and wilt  be  baptized  from  former  sins,

thou mayest  soon  see  the  shining  angel.'

Then again  Valerian  answered  the  maiden,

'Who might  now  baptize  me  thus  suddenly,

that I  might  see  the  shining  angel? '

The woman  then  instructed  the  youth  so  long  a  while

that at  last  he  believed  on  the  living  God,

and went  to  the  pope  who  was  full  nigh  at  hand,

called Urban,  and  besought  baptism  of  him.

Then the  pope  rejoiced  that  he  had  bowed  to  God,

and prayed  Almighty  God,  of  His  clemency,

to direct  the  youth  that  he  might  become  a  believer.

Lo then! suddenly before  their  sight

came God's  angel  with  a  golden  writing,

and Valerian  fell  affrighted  to  the  earth.

Then the  angel  raised  him,  and  bade  him  read

the golden  letters  which  God  had  sent  to  him.

In the  writing  were  set  these  words,

Unus deus,  una  fides,  unum  baptisma: 

' There  is  one  Almighty  God,  and  one  Faith,