Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/371

 'he is  outlawed,  and  lieth  in  concealment

for his  Christianity,  and  if  we  come  to  him,

we shall  be  tortured  if  it  be  betrayed.

And whilst  we  are  seeking,  as  it  is  said,

divinity in  heaven,   we  shall  find  trouble

and loss  of  life  on  earth,  if  we  follow  his  lore.'

Then said  Caecilia  straightway  with  boldness;

if this  life  were  alone,  and  there  were  no  other  better,

then might  we  rightly  have  dread  of  death.'

Then asked  Tiburtius:    '  is  there  any  other  life?'

Caecilia said  to  him:    '  known  is  it  to  every  man

that this  life  is  full  of  toil,  and  continueth  in  sweat;

this life  is  weakened  by  long  sorrows,

and dried  up  by  heat,  and  wearied  by  hunger,

filled with  meats  and  proud  in  prosperity,

cast down  in  poverty  and  lifted  up  in  youth,

bowed down  by  age,  and  broken  by  sickness,

consumed by  sadness,  and  vexed  by  cares.

Then    cometh     death    to     him     and     putteth    out     of    remembrance

all the  bliss  which  he  enjoyed  in  his  life;

and in  the  eternal  life  which  cometh  after  this

shall be  given  to  the  righteous  rest  and  gladness,

and to  the  unrighteous  eternal  torments.'

Then said  Tiburtius:    '  who  hath  come  thence  hither,

who could  tell  us  if  it  were  so? '

Then Caecilia  arose,  and  with  steadfastness  said:

' The  Creator  of  all  creatures  begat  a  Son,

and sent  forth  of  Himself  the  Comforting  Spirit;

through the  Son  He  created  all  creatures  that  exist,

and quickened  them  all  through  the  living  Spirit.'

Then answered  Tiburtius:    '  One  God  they  preach,

and how  namest  thou  three  Gods  as  if  known  by  name?'

Caecilia answered  him:    '  there  is  one  God  Almighty,

dwelling in   His  Majesty;    Him  we  Christians  worship

for ever  in  Trinity,  and  in  very  Unity,