Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/41

 of the  holy  mother  of  God,  and  saying: "O  lady,  queen  of  all  the earth,  through  thee  came  salvation  to  all  mankind;  do  not  forsake me." Thus saying,  I  went  out  from  the  vestibule  of  the  temple,  and went hastily  onward. Then I  met  a  certain  man  who  gave  me  three pence, wherewith  I  bought  for  myself  three  loaves,  which  I  considered sufficient  subsistence  as  provision  for  my  journey. Then I  asked  the  man  of  whom  I  bought  the  loaves,  which  was  the  way that  led  most  directly  towards  the  river  Jordan. As soon    as I  knew  about  the  way,  I  ran  continually,  still  weeping,  upon  my journey,    continually  adding    enquiry    to    enquiry   [see  footnote]; and so   fulfilled  the  day's  journey  weeping. Verily it    was    the undern-tide of  the    day  when  I   [first]   desired  to  see    the  holy worshipful  Rood;    and  now  the  sun  was  declining   towards   its setting, and   the  even-tide  approached. Then   I   arrived   at  the church of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  built  beside  the  Jordan,  and  went in thither,  and  there  prayed. Soon after,  I  went  down  into  the river Jordan  and  washed  my  hands  and  face  with  the  holy  water, and then  participated  in  the  quickening  and  pure  mysteries  of  our Lord Jesus  Christ  in  the  same  church  of  St. John, the  holy  forerunner and  baptist. There also  I  eat  a  half  part  of  one  loaf,  and drank of  the  water,  and  lodged  there  at  night,  and  then,  early  in the  morning,  crossed  over  the  river. Then began  I  to  pray  once more  to  my  guide,  the   holy  Mary,   that  she   would  direct  me according  to  her  will. So came  I  into  this  wilderness,  and  until this present  day  I  have  kept  apart  thence  [i.e.  from  the  world], ever fleeing  and  awaiting  my  God,  and  rejoicing  [in  Him],  who saves from  the  terror  of  this  world  all  that  turn  to  Him.'

Zosimus said  to  her:    '  O  my  lady,  how  many  years  hast  thou now dwelt  in  this  wilderness? '    The  woman  answered  him,  '  It