Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/61



In the  days  of  Decius  the  diabolic  emperor

there were  two  kings,  Abdon  and  Sennes,

believing in  Christ  with  true  faith.

Then their  fame  reached  the  bloodthirsty  emperor

who then  ruled  alone  over  the  whole  earth;

and all  other  kings  kneeled  to  him,

and their  dominion  continued  as  he  alone  willed.

Then sent  Decius  to  the  aforesaid  kings,

and bade  that  they  should  be  brought  in  bonds  to  him,

desiring to  turn  them  from  God's  service

to his  errors  and  to  his  idolatries.

So then  the  executioners  bound  the  kings,

and brought  them  in  iron  chains  to  the  wicked  [Decius],

for the  faith  of  Christ,  unto  deadly  tortures.

Then Decius  bade  the  holy  kings

to sacrifice  to  his  gods,  but  they  answered  thus:

' We  offer  our  sacrifices  to  the  living  God,

Jesus Christ,  and  we  hope  in  Him;

do thou  thyself  sacrifice  to  thy  shameful  gods.'

Then said  Decius,  the  devil's  worshipper;

'For these  men  must  be  prepared  the  sharpest  punishments.'

Abdon and  Sennes  answered  him  thus,

' For  what  waitest  thou,  Emperor? declare what  thou  wilt,

that thou  mayest  know  of  a  truth  that  we  are  without  care

through our  Saviour  Christ,  who  hath  the  power

utterly to  overthrow  thy  counsels  and  thyself,

and to  destroy  [thee]  for  ever.'