Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/389

 any lust  in  me,  because  I  trust  in  Thee.'

While Chrysanthus  was  speaking  these  words  to  God,

the maidens  slept  so  heavy  a  sleep

that one  could  not  arouse  them  except  by  casting  them

out of  the  bower  of  the  youth  who  loved  chastity.

Outside the  bower  they  ate  and  kept  awake,

and as  quickly  as  they  went  in  they  fell  asleep.

Then this  was  soon  told  to  the  father,

and he  bewept  his  son  as  if  he  were  dead.

Then said  a  certain  counsellor,  that  Chrysanthus  had  learnt

magic from  the  Christians,  and  had  overcome  therewith

the innocent  maidens  in  the  bower  thus  easily;

and urged  the  father  to  find  some  maiden

educated in  arts,  who  could  answer  him.

There was  a  certain  maiden,  wonderfully  skilled,

in the  same  city,  of  noble  parentage,

called Daria,  living  in  heathenism,

fair in  stature  and  wise  in  philosophy.

Then straightway  Polemius  sent  his  friends

to the  maiden  Daria,  and  greatly  besought  her

that she  would  entice  Chrysanthus  from  Christ  by  speech,

and that  she  should  have  him  for  a  husband  afterward.

Then at  last  it  befell  him  that  she  consented  to  do  so,

and thus  came  to  the  youth,  adorned  with  gold

and shining  gem-stones,  suddenly,  like  a  sunbeam,

and comforted  him  with  her  fair  words.

Then spoke  Chrysanthus  thus  to  her  with  pure  mind:

'much hast  thou  adorned  thyself  with  gold

that thou,  with  thy  beauty,  mightest  frustrate  my  will;

but thou  mightest  have  the  Saviour  for  bridegroom

if thou  wouldst  love  Him,  and  keep  thyself  chaste

in unspotted  virginity,  and  if  thou  wouldst  be  as  fair

within, in  your  mind,  as  thou  art  without.'

Daria answered  him  '  I  did  it  not  for  wantonness,

that I,  thus  adorned,  came  in  unto  thee;