Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/411

 I rear  the  building,  so  that  the  roof  shall  surmount

all edifices,  and  it  shall  be  fair  without,

and the  work  shall  nevertheless  be  more  beautiful  within.

"Whatsoever there  be  in  marble  or  in  glorious  building,

I verily  make,  and  if  thou  wilt  commit  to  me

boys to  teach,  I  will  instruct  them  truly.'

Then said  Abbanes:  'Excellent  is  the  man

who hath  such  workmen;    he  is  better  than  any  king.'

Thomas answered  him:  '  Excellently  thou  hast  spoken.

He is  a  King's  Son,  only-begotten  of  His  Father,

and holdeth  His  Father's  kingdom  on  high  mountains

where no  enemy  cometh  to  molest  His  peace;

neither shall  be  found  there  poor  man  nor  sick.'

Then they  sailed  forth  seven   nights  together,

and went  to  land;    but  it  would  be  tedious  to  say

all the  wonders  which  he  wrought  in  that  land,

because we  must  hasten  to  his  noble  passion.

Then at  last  they  came  to  the  king  in  India;

and Abbanes  brought  Thomas  honourably

to speak  with  the  king,  and  he  said  to  him:

' Canst  thou  erect  for  me  in  the  Roman  fashion

a royal  dwelling?'     He  said  that  he  could.

Then they  surveyed  the  place  where  it  should  stand,

and Thomas  went  measuring  the  place  with  a  meteyard,

and said  that  he  proposed  to  make  the  hall

first, in  the  east  part;    and  the  other  buildings

behind the  hall,  both  bath-house  and  kitchen;

and winter-house,  and  summer-house,  and  winsome  bowers,

twelve houses  together,  with  good  arches;

but it  is  not  customary  to  make  such  work  in  England,

and therefore  we  shall  not  tell  their  names  clearly.

Then beheld  the  king,  and  said  to  the  apostle: