Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/39

 push me  out  or  to  keep  me  from  the  temple-door;  and  so  I  entered with those  who  were  entering. Then indeed  a  strong  terror  seized me, and  I  was  all  trembling  and  troubled,  as  I  again  approached the door  that  before  was  fastened  against  me;  just  as  if  all  the force that  had  formerly  debarred  me  from  entering  the  door  had afterwards assisted  my  entrance  in  advancing. Thus was  I  filled with spiritual  mysteries  within  the  temple,  and  I  was  considered worthy to  pray  for  the  mysteries  of  the  honoured  and  quickening Rood. Then I  beheld  there  the  mysteries  of  the  holy  God,  how  He is  ever  ready  to  receive  the  repentant. Then I  cast  myself  forward on the  floor,  and  kissed  the  sacred  earth. As I  went  out,  I  again arrived at  the  place  whence  I  before  saw  the  holy  mother's  likeness, and bent  my  knees  before  the  holy  presence,  saying  these  words:  "  Oh, thou  most  benign  lady,  who  hast  shewn  me  thy  gracious  mercy,  and didst  not  cast  from  thee  my  unworthy  prayers,  I  have  seen  the  glory that  we  sinners  by  our  merits  never  behold;   glory  be  to  Almighty  God,  who  through  thee  receiveth  the  sorrow  and  repentance  of  sinners and  misdoers.     What  more  can  I,  a  despairing  wretch,  think  or tell  of?     Now  is  the  time  to  perform  and  fulfil,  as  I  before  said, thy  favourable  protection.     Direct  me  now  in  the  way  that  thou  wiliest;  let  an  evident  guide  to  salvation  and  a  teacher  of  truth  now appear  to  me,  going  before  me  in  the  way  that  leadeth  to  amendment." While I  thus  spoke,  I  heard  a  voice  calling  afar  off:  "If  thou  wilt pass  over  the  river  Jordan,  there  thou  shalt  experience  and  find  good  rest." When I  heard  this  voice,  and  understood  that  it  was  uttered on my  account,  I  spake  with  weeping,  looking  towards  the  likeness