Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/375

 buried the  martyrs  whom  the  wicked  man  slew,

and daily  distributed  alms  to  the  needy,

until the  impious  persecutor  heard  of  their  deeds.

Thereupon Almachius  bade  summon  the  men,

and asked  them  instantly  with  fierce  threatening

why they  buried  those  who  despised  his  commands

and lay  slain  because  of  their  guilt,

or why  they  secretly  distributed  their  possessions

to mean  men  by  unwise  counsel?

Then Tiburtius  answered  the  wicked  man  and  said:

' Oh! that the  saints,  whom  thou  hast  bidden  men  to  slay

and whom  we  have  buried,  would  at  least

have us  as  slaves  in  their  service! '

Thus they  discoursed  a  long  time  until  the  wicked  man

commanded men  to  beat  the  second  brother  with  clubs;

and a  certain  counsellor  spake  thus  to  the  cruel  one:

'bid them,  master,  be  put  to  death,  since  they  are  Christians;

for if  thou  delayest,  they  will  deal  their  goods

to   the    poor    and    needy;    and    thou    wilt   punish    them    afterwards,

and yet  wilt  not  have  the  goods  because  of  thy  delay.'

Then Almachius  bade  his  wicked  torturers

bring the  brothers  in  bonds  together

to the  heathen  temple,  and  bade  them  sacrifice;

or they  should  be  straightway  slain  by  the  sword.

So Maximus  with  other  torturers  led  them,

as   the   wicked   man    had    commanded,    to   the   place    of  execution.

Then wept  Maximus  because  they  were  going  to  die,

and asked  the  brothers  why  they  went  so  blithely

to their  own  execution  as  if  to  a  banquet.

Then said  the  elder  brother;    '  we  should  not  hasten  to  death

with such  great  bliss,  if  we  were  not  verily  going

to a  better  life,  after  we  are  slain;

even to  the  eternal  life,  as  we  have  learned  of  a  truth.'

Amongst these  exhortations,  whilst  they  were  hurried  forward,