Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/409

 that they  may  erect  his  palace  in  the  Roman  fashion.'

Then said  the  Saviour  straightway  to  the  youth:

'I have  a  workman,  worthy  and  faithful,

whom I  have  often  sent  to  various  cities;

and whatsoever  he  getteth  as  meed  of  his  labour

he bringeth  to  me  without  fraud.

This one  I  will  send  with  thee,  if  thou  so  desirest,

provided that  thou,  honourably,  after  the  work  is  done,

wilt send  him  back  again  safe  to  me.'

Then rejoiced  Abbanes,  and  bowed  at  his  knees,

and the  Saviour  committed  the  holy  Thomas

to him,  to  take  home;    and  so  they  departed.

Then Abbanes  asked  the  venerable  apostle:

'Tell me,  in  truth,  if  thou  be  His  slave?'

Thomas answered  him,  '  If  I  were  not  His  property,

I should  very  soon  neglect  His  bests;

but I  am  His  slave,  and  do  not  the  things

which I  myself  choose,  but  that  which  my  Lord  tells  me;

I am  one  of  the  countless  number  of  His  slaves,

and we  all  know  (various)  crafts  in  works,

and go  throughout  provinces,  and  without  fraud

bring back  to  our  Lord  that  which  we  earn.'

Then went  they  to  ship,  and  hoisted  their  sail,

and went  with  the  wind  even  as  God  guided  them.

Then again  said  Abbanes  unto  the  apostle,

'If thou  art  cunning  in  crafts,  as  thou  saidst  but  now,

why would  Thy  Lord  let  thee  come  to  me? '

Thomas said  to  him,  concerning  Christ's  building:

' I  lay  the  foundations  which  shall  last  for  ever,

and I  set  the  wall  which  shall  never  sink,

and make  the  windows  which  shall  be  very  perfect,

that   there    shall    be    no    lack    to    the    house    of    the    heavenly light.