Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/385



At the  time  when  the  Emperor  Numerianus

was reigning,  there  went  a  certain  nobleman

from the  city  of  Alexandria  to  the  city  of  Rome,

called Polemius,  who  was  an  idolater;

and he  had  a  son  called  Chrysanthus.

Then the  emperor  received  him  with  great  worship,

and the  Roman  senators  honoured  him  exceedingly.

Then he  straightway  set  his  son  to  the  learning

of worldly  wisdom,  that  he  might  become  a  philosopher;

because in  those  days  no  one  could  be  distinguished

unless he  had  learned  heathen  books,

and knew  the  arts  which  emperors  then  loved.

So Chrysanthus  learned  with  quick  intelligence

and with  skilful  mind  the  grammatical  art,

and the  heathen  books,  until  the  holy  gospels

came into  his  hand. Then said  he  to  himself;

'thus long  have  I  learned  faithless  books

filled with  darkness,  until  I  suddenly  came

to the  light  of  truth,  and  I  shall  not  be  wise

if I  turn  to  darkness  from  the  true  light.

Let us  hold  fast  that  fair  treasure;

I will  not  lose  it  now  that  I  have  laboured  so long;

in vain  have  I  lived  if  I  now  let  it  go.'

Then began  he  earnestly  to  seek  out  the  Christians

until he  found  out  a  venerable  mass-priest

living far  off,  and  he  rejoiced  thereat.

He was  thereupon  baptized  by  the  aforesaid  priest,

and learned  his  faith  with  that  holy  teacher,

so that  he  knew  the  Christian  religion  in  its  fullness,

and began  boldly  to  preach  the  Saviour.