Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/93

 and from  many  people  men,  for  fighting

against Israel,  and  Judas'  family.

But Judas  came  to  him,  and  killed  him  soon,

and many  of  his  people,  and  the  others  fled.

Judas then  seized  Apollonius'  sword,

that was  a  famous  weapon,  and  he  fought  therewith

in every  battle,  throughout  his  whole  life.

Again there  was  a  leader,  named  Seron,

in the  land  of  Syria,  who  quoth  to  his  people,

'I will  get  me  a  name  and  overcome  Judas,

and them  that  are  with  him,  who  despised  the  king.'

He gathered  then  his  host,  and  went  with  great  array

to Judea-land,  and  many  people  with  him.

Judas then  came  to  him,  and  his  companions  said,

' How  may  we,  being  so  few,  fight  against  the  multitude,

now that  we  are  weakened  with  toil  and  fasting? '

Judas answered  them  resolutely,  and  quoth,

'It is  no  difficulty  to  the  Almighty  God,

with few  men  or  with  a  vast  army

to help  in  battle,  and  support  them  whom  He  will,

because that  victory  is  ever  from  heaven.

These come  against  us  as  though  they  are  more  warlike,

and desire  to  destroy  us  and  lay  waste  our  land;

we verily  fight  for  ourselves  against  them,

and for  God's  law,  and  God  shall  eke  destroy  them

before our  sight;    fear  ye  not  ever  so  little.'

After this  speech  they  came  together,

and Judas  then  defeated  the  aforesaid  Seron,

and his  army  together  with  exceeding  boldness;

and there  were  slain,  eight  hundred  men,

and the  rest  fled  away  to  the  land  of  the  Philistines.