Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/37

 from the  place  where  I   stood  I  beheld  the  likeness  of  the  holy Mother of  God  standing  there;  and  I  eagerly  spake  to  her,  without turning away  from  beholding  her,  and  saying:  "Oh!  thou  glorious lady,  who  according  to  the  birth  of  the  flesh  didst  bear  the  true God,  well  I  wot  that  it  is  not  fitting  nor  meet  that  I,  who  am so  grievous  a   sinner,  should  behold  thy  form,  and  should  pray  with  looks  that  have  been  so  repeatedly  polluted.     Thou  wast  ever known  as  a  virgin,  keeping  thy  body  pure  and  undefiled;  wherefore indeed  it  is  very  right  that  I  who  am  so  foul  should  be  separated and  cast  out  from  thy  pure  virginity.     Nevertheless,  inasmuch  as  I  have  heard  that  the  God  whom  thyself  barest  was  made  man  for that  very  reason,  that  He  might  call  sinners  to  repentance,  assist  me now,  who  am  desolate  and  deprived  of  any  help.     Permit  me  and give  me  leave  to  open  the  entrance  of  thy  holy  church,  that  I  may not be  exiled  from  the  sight  of  the  precious  Rood  on  which  the Saviour of  all  the  earth  was  fastened,  whom  thou,  a  virgin,  didst conceive and,  still  a  virgin,  didst  bear,  who  poured  out   His  own blood  for  my  redemption. But command  now,  O  glorious  lady, that for  me,  unworthy  though  I  be,  the  doors  may  be  unclosed  to let  me  greet  the  divine  Rood,  and  I  will  give  myself  up  to  thee  and choose thee  for  my  protector  against  thine  own  Son;  and  I  promise you both  that  I  will  never  hereafter  pollute  my  body  with  the dire lust  of  evil  fornication;    but,  as  soon  as  I  see  the  Rood  of  thy Son, O  holy  virgin,  I  will  thereupon  forsake  this  world  and  its  deeds with all  things  that  are  therein;   and  will  afterwards  go  whithersoever thou  dost  advise  me  to  go  for  my  protection."    Thus  saying,  I  was  led  by  the  fervour   of  belief,  and  touched  with  faith,  and being  made  bold  by  the  pity  of  the  worthy  mother  of  God,  I  stirred myself  from  the  place  where  I  said  this  prayer,  and  again  mingled with  those  who  were  entering.     After  this  there  was  nothing  to