Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/427

 and they  found  the  apostle  greatly  busied

over the  sick  men  whom  he  all  day  healed

through the  touch  of  his  hands  in  the  Saviour's  name.

When the  queen  saw  such  wonders  done  by  him,

then said  she,  being  astonished: — 'Cursed  are  the  men

who will  not  believe  such  works  as  these.'

There stood  there  a  leper  with  decayed  body,

horrible in  appearance,  and  Thomas  healed  him,

and baptized  him  in  the  queen's  presence.

Then fell  she  at  his  feet  praying  for  baptism,

and with  faith  desired  the  eternal  life,

and said  that  she  believed  on  the  living  God.

Then Thomas  blithely  blessed  the  queen,

and diligently  taught  her  the  faith,  and  said:

'My Lord  hath  called  me  to  come  to  Him,

and my  time  is  now  come  to  depart  out  of  the  world;

receive now  therefore  baptism  of  me  quickly.'

Then he  baptized  her  and  many  others  with  her,

men and  women,  and  innocent  children,

and taught  them  earnestly  that  they  should  love  their  church,

and reverence  priests;    and  so  they  went  home.

Then came  the  queen  at  evening  home  to  the  king,

and he  forthwith  said  to  her:    '  Thou  hast  been  very  long.'

She said  to  him  again:  '  Ye  said  that  my  sister —

and I  myself  likewise  thought  so — was  witless;

but she  hath  verily  come  to  true  wisdom

in that  she  hath  made  me  partaker  of  the  eternal  life.

Verily I  saw  the  apostle  himself,

who giveth  saving  counsel  unto  every  man.

Now thou,  king,  mayest  make  thyself  immortal

if thou  wilt  hear  the  holy  apostle;

thou wilt  not  die  eternally  if  thou  truly  believest.'

Then feared  the  king,  and  bade  men  fetch  to  him