Ælfric's Lives of Saints
by Ælfric, translated by Gunning / Wilkinson
Of Saint Maurus
1312599Ælfric's Lives of Saints — Of Saint MaurusGunning / WilkinsonÆlfric


xuiii. kl̅ febr̅ nat̅l̅ sci̅ mauri abbatis

Maurus ƿæs gehaten sum sƿyþe halig abbod · 001
se ƿæs to lare befæst sona frā iugoðe ·
þam halgan benedicte · þeah þe he æþel-boren ƿære ·

He þeah ƿel on lare · ⁊ ƿæs sƿiðe gehyrsū · 004
þam halgan benedicte · on eallū his hæsum ·
⁊ on eallū godnyssū gode ælmihtigon þeoƿde ·
⁊ eac his gebroðrū gode bysne sealde ·
mid haligre drohtnunge · ⁊ he for-þy dyre ƿæs ·
his lareoƿe benedicte þe he geblissode mid ƿeorcum ·

Hƿilon ær ƿe sædon on sumere oðre stoƿe 010
hu se ylca maurus · þurh godes mihte eode
uppon yrnendū ƿætere · on anum ƿidgyllan pole ·
þa þa benedictus hine hét gehelpan þæs cnapan ·
þe on þære stream be-feol · þa ða he ƿæter fette ·

On sumne sæl eode se halga maurus · 015
ham to mynstre ƿeard mid his gebroðrū ·
⁊ benedictus ƿæs þa mid anū æƿfæstū ƿere ·
forþan þe his ƿif ƿæs mid ƿodnysse gedreht ·
⁊ maurus ða gemette ær he to mynstre come ·
ænne dumbne cnapan · ⁊ se ƿæs creopere eac ·
ac se fæder · ⁊ seo modor · hine feredon þider ·

Hi feollon ða butu · mid floƿendū tearū 022
to maures fotum · ⁊ befengon his cneoƿa ·
halsigende þurh godes naman ·  he gehælde heora cild ·

Þa nolde maurus ðam mannū þæs tiðian · 025
cƿæð  seo dæd nære him gedafenlic ·
oð þa gebroðra bædon hine georne ·
 hé þam healtan cnapan · his hæle abæde ·

Hƿæt þa maurus sona · beseah to heofonū ⁊ cƿ̅ · 029

Þu ure hælend crist · þe behete þinū discipulū · 030

Soð ic eoƿ sæcge · sƿa hƿæt sƿa ge biddað · 031
eoƿ bið ge-tyðod untƿylice ðæs ·
gif ge gelyfað ·  ge þa lác under-fón ·
æt-eoƿa nu on us ælmihtig drihten ·
 ƿé þine þeoƿan synd · þeah ðe ƿé synfulla synd ·
⁊ ƿe þone ylcan geleafan mid lufe healdað ·

Æfter þisū ƿordū he cƿæð to ðam ƿanhalan · 037

On þære halgan ðrynnysse naman · beo þú hál cnapa · 038
⁊ stand on þinū fotum ætforan us gesund ·
mid mines lareoƿes ge-earnungum · eac sƿylce gefultumod

Þa aras se cnapa · ⁊ up rihte eode · 041
⁊ mid bliðre stemne · bletsode his drihten ·
þe hine gehælde · þurh ðone halgan ƿer ·

Eft ða þa se halga benedictus · ham to mynstre com · 044
⁊  ƿif ƿearð geƿittig · þe hé fram ƿodnysse ahredde ·
þa ƿurðode hé maurū · for þam mærlicū tacne ·
þe he on ðære hƿile gefremede · þe hé on fyrlenū ƿæs ·

Maurus ƿæs eac oftost mid þam eadigan benedicte · 048
⁊ his ƿundra ƿiste · ⁊ mid him ƿorhte ƿundra ·
sume þæra ƿe secgað hér · sume ƿe forsuƿiað ·
⁊ he ƿæs fyrmest muneca · to ðam mæran benedicte ·
⁊ þæs mynstres geƿeold sƿá sƿá him geƿissode benedictus ·

On ðam timan asende sum ge-sælig biscop · 053
of francena ríce · to ðam halgan fæder
mænigfealde lác · ⁊ hine micclum bæd ·
 he him sendan sceolde · gif him sƿa ge-þuht ƿære ·
sume eaƿfæste munecas · þe him mynster-líf astealdon ·
for ðan þe he ƿolde aræran on his biscop-rice ·
munuclicne regol · be benedictes ræde ·

Hƿæt ða benedict · be his gebroðra ræde · 060
sƿá sƿa him god gesƿutolode · asende þa maurū ·
þeah ðe he uneaðe mihte for heora micclū lufe ·
hine him frā lætan to ðam fyrlenan lande ·

He funde him éác geferan feoƿer oðre munecas · 064
⁊ sume læƿede menn to ðam lande mid him ·
⁊ nā þone halgan regol · þe he mid his handū aƿrát ·
⁊ betæhte maure mid him to hæbbenne ·
⁊ heora hlafes geƿiht · ⁊ heora ƿines gemett ·
⁊ asende hí mid bletsunga to ðam fore-sædan bisceope ·

Eft on ærne mergen · sende se arƿurða benedictus · 070
tƿægen his muneca to maure mid lacum ·
 is mid halig-dome · of þæs hælendes rode ·
⁊ of marian reafe · ⁊ of michaheles pelle ·
⁊ of stephanes lichaman · ⁊ of martines reliquium ·
⁊ an ærend-geƿrit mid þysum ƿordum forð ·

Onfoh min leofesta · þas ende-nehstan lác · 076
þines lareoƿes · to langū gemynde ·
⁊ eoƿ to gescyldnysse ƿið deofles syrƿunga ·

Ic sæcge ðe to soðan ·  þu scealt geƿitan · 079
on ðam sixteoðan geare þæs ðe þu munuc ƿurde
of þisseræ ƿorulde · to ƿuldre mid gode
sƿá sƿá crist gyrstan-dæg me cydde · be þe ·
siððan þu fram us siðodest · on fare ·

Ic secge þe eac nú ·  eoƿer sið 084
ne bið na sƿá · sƿá sƿa ƿe ƿendon ·
ac ƿyrð elles gefadod · ⁊ on oðre stoƿe ·
ac se ælmihtiga god eoƿ næfre ne for-læt ·
od  [ealle] ge gelogode beon ·

Farað nu ge-sunde · ⁊ gesælige becumað · 089

Maurus ða ferde mid mycelre blisse · 090
⁊ his geferan samod · to francena rice ·
ac tƿegen his geferan · feollon be ƿege ·
án of anū stypele · oþer on anne stán ·
sƿa  hi ƿurdon to-cƿysede · ⁊ cƿylmiende lagon ·
ac maurus hí gehealde · on þæs hælendes naman ·

Eac hi ge-metton on sumū mynstre be ƿege 096
ænne blindne man · se bæd his hæle georne ·
æt ðam halgan maure · ⁊ he hine gehælde þurh god ·
⁊ hét  he ƿunode butan ƿorunge
on godes þeoƿ-dome · þær on mynstre · á ·
⁊ he sƿa dyde · eac siððan of þam dæge ·

Eft he gehælde on oðre stoƿe 102
anre ƿydeƿan sunu · þe unƿene ðá læg ·
⁊ gefrefrode þa modor · ⁊ men þæs ƿundrodon ·
⁊ se cnapa arn sona to maure
hrymende · ⁊ cƿeðende · þu ahreddest mine saƿle
frā fyrenū ƿitū · ⁊ he ƿearð munuc siððan ·

Maurus geseah eac sƿa sƿa · him god gesƿutelode 108
on þam ylcan færelde · benedictes forð-sið ·
⁊ hú hé to heofonū ferde · þeah þe he on fyrlene ƿære ·

Hi ferdon þa forð to ðam fore-sædan bisceope · 111
þe hi ge-langian hét · ac he ne leofode na þa ·
ac ƿæs for feaƿum dagum forðfaren of life ·
⁊ oðer biscop geset on his bisceop-stole ·

Hi ƿurdon þa unrote · ⁊ eoden sƿa þeah 115
to ðam niƿan bisceope · bædon his rædes ·
cunnodon hƿæðer he ƿolde þæs oðres ƿillan gefremman ·
⁊ hī munuc-líf aræran · sƿa sƿa se oðer gemynte ·

He cƿæð  he ne mihte embe munuc-líf þa smeagen · 119
be oðres bisceopes dihte · ac ƿolde beon embe his þincg ·
be his agenum dihte · ⁊ ge-dreoh-læcan his hamas ·

Hi feordon þa þanon fram þære scire bisceope · 122
⁊ god him foresceaƿode on sumere oðre scire
on francena rice fulgode ƿununge ·

Sum forð-þegn ƿæs ða ƿelig · on þam lande · 125
florus gehaten · ⁊ se hæfde gemynt
mynster to arærenne · ⁊ mid munecum gesettan ·
gif he ænige geaxode · þe æƿfæste ƿæron ·
forðan þe benedictus hlisa · on  land becuman ƿæs ·
⁊ him ƿearð eac gecydd be maures to-cyme ·

Se þegn ƿæs ƿunigende butan ƿifes neaƿiste · 131
forðan þe his gebedda gefaren ƿæs on lífe ·
⁊ læfde him ænne sunu · þe siððan ƿæs munuc
⁊ abbod æfter maure · mærlice drohtnigende ·
sƿá sƿá þeos bóc segð sƿutelice hér bæftan ·

Hƿæt þa florus ferde fægen him to-geanes · 136
⁊ mid micelre arƿurðnysse · þa æðelan godes menn ·
under-feng to him · ⁊ fore-sceaƿode him ƿununge ·
herigende his drihten · ⁊ ðone halgū (sic) benedictū ·

Se florus ƿæs ða fyrmest þæra francena þegna · 140
⁊ ðam cyninge leofest · þe on þæra leode rixode ·
forðan þe he ƿæs æƿfest æfre fram his geogoðe ·
⁊ eall þæs cyninges rǽd eode be his dihte ·

Florus ða cydde þam cyninge his ƿillan · 144
⁊ be his leafan arærde on his agenum lande
mynster · ⁊ munuc-líf · Sƿá [sic @ Skeat] sƿá maurus him dihte ·
⁊ mid micelre are ·  mynster gegodode ·
⁊ priuilegium sette on sƿutelre ge-ƿitnysse ·
⁊ maure betæhte  mynster mid ealle
to fullum freo-dome · for his saƿle ðearfe ·

He offrode éácc [sic @ Skeat] þa on ðam ylcan dege 151
his ancennedan sunu · þam ælmihtigan gode
to munuclicere drohtnunge under maures gymene ·
⁊ cƿæð  he sylf ƿolde · gif hit god sƿa fore-sceaƿode
eall ƿoruld-ðing forlætan · ⁊ ƿunian on ðam mynstre ·
on godes ðeoƿ-dome · ⁊ he hit eac sƿa gelæste ·

He gegaderode þa sƿiðe gode ƿyrhtan gehƿanon · 157
⁊ arærde  mynster eall be maures ræde ·
ƿið þa mycclan éá · þe menn hatað liger ·

Hƿæt ða on sumū dæge · sæton him æt-gædere · 160
florus · ⁊ maurus · to middan þam ƿyrhtum ·
⁊ maurus rædde · ⁊ rehte hit flore ·
þa feol sum preost færlice of þam ƿeorce ·
sƿá  hé samcucu læg · sƿeltendum gelíc ·
⁊ fleoƿ eall blode · ac maurus hine hét beran
to martines cyrcan · ⁊ maurus inn eode ·
⁊ bæd ðone ælmihtigan for his arfæstnysse ·
 hé þam preoste gemiltsode · ⁊ hine mihtelice gehælde ·

He arás þa eftsona · ⁊ eode to ðam preoste · 169
⁊ his ƿunda bletsode ⁊ cƿæð him baldlice tó ·

On ðæs scyppendes naman · þe ge-sceop mann of eorðan · 171
arís þu gesund · ⁊ ardlice gang
to ðinum ƿeall-geƿeorce ⁊ hit ƿél ge-enda ·

Hé arás þa gesund · sƿylce of slæpe aƿreht 174
⁊ began to ƿundrigenne hú hé ƿurde ðider gebroht ·

Þa cƿæð se halga ƿer · ne ƿurde ðu hider geferod 176
on þinum agenū fotum · ac ðe feredon oþre ·
ac gang nu ardlice eft to þinum ƿeorce ·
þelæs þe hit beo gelet to lange þurh ðe ·

Ða eode se preost · eft to his ƿeorce · 180
⁊ florus hine astrehte to maures fotum · ⁊ cƿæð ·

Þu eart soðlice maure · þæs mæran benedictes 182
folgere on ƿundrū · be ðam ƿe for ƿel oft gehyrdon
þyllice gereccan · ⁊ he þearle siððan
maurum ƿurðode · ⁊ on ƿundrunge hæfde ·

Æfter þysum ongunnon · of ðam gegader-ƿyrhtum · 186
tælan ðone halgan · þe gehælde þone preost ·
cƿædon  he mid galdrum · na mid godes cræftum
þyllice geƿorhte · ⁊ ƿolde beon furðor ·
on oðrū earde · þonn̄ [þonne @ Skeat] he on his agenum ƿære ·
sƿyðor for gitsunge · ðonne for æƿfæstnysse ·

Ac ða þa hí sƿiþost tældon · þone soðfæstan maurum · 192
þa ƿurdon afyllede · mid ðam fulan gaste ·
þry þæra ƿyrhtena · ⁊ hí ƿeddon þearle ·
sƿa  hyra án · ge-endode sona ·
⁊ þa oðre tƿegen to-tæron hí sylfe ·
mid heora agenum toðum · ⁊ eges-lice grymetedon ·

Maurus þa sona mycclū ƿearð astyred · 198
⁊ ƿepende eode into þæra cyrcan ·
⁊ mid mycelre onbryrd-nysse bæd þone ælmihtigan ·
ðæt he þam deadan · ⁊ þam deofol-seocum
gemiltsian sceolde · ⁊ heora saƿle gehelpan ·

He eode þa eft ut to þam earmum ƿodum · 203
⁊ on drihtnes naman · þa deoflu afligde ·
of ðam ƿodum ƿyrhtum · ⁊ hí ƿurdon gehælede ·

He hét eac beran into his gebæd-huse · 206
þæs forð-farenan líc · þe se feond acƿealde ·
⁊ ƿacode ealle þa niht ofer ðæs ƿodan líc ·
⁊ hét þæs on mergen · mæssian for his saƿle ·
⁊ arærde þone deadan þurh drihtnes mihte ·
⁊ hét hine ƿarnian · gif he ƿolde libban ·
 he nære on ðam mynstre · næfre eft geseƿen ·
of ðam and-ƿeardan dæge þe he of deaðe arás ·

Þa ƿearð ge-endod eall þæs mynstres ƿeorc binnā eahte gearū · 214
⁊ eac gehalgod · mid healicum ƿurðmynte ·

Hƿæt ða florus gemunde hƿæt he gemynte æt fruman · 216
⁊ hƿæt hé gode behét · þa ða he began  mynster ·
⁊ bæd him þa leafe · æt his kyne-hlaforde ·
 hé moste gecyrran · fram þā sƿicolum ƿelum ·
⁊ ƿunian on ðam mynstre þe hé ge-ƿorht hæfde ·
⁊ be maures dihte adreogan his líf ·
⁊ on godes þeoƿ-dome gastlice libban ·
⁊ sƿá ge-earnian · ða écan myrhþe ·

Se cyning ða geþafode · þam þegne his ƿillan · 224
þeah þe he uneaðe mihte · on his mode findan ·
 he sƿa leofne freond frā him lætan sceolde ·
⁊ cƿæð  he sylf ƿolde geseon ða stoƿe ·
⁊ þær andƿerd beon þonne he his beard alede ·

Æfter ðysum ferde florus to ðam mynstre · 229
⁊ his kyne-hlaford com sƿa sƿa hí cƿædon ·
⁊ bæd  he moste beon heora broðor for gode ·
⁊ forgeaf sumne ham to þære halgan stoƿe ·
⁊ mildelice sprǽc · to eallum ðam munecum ·
sƿiðost sƿa þeah synderlice to maure ·
⁊ behét  hé ƿolde him hold beon eallum ·
⁊ bær him sylf his lác · ⁊ lede uppon  ƿeofod ·

Florus hét ða forð-bæran his fægeran maðmas 237
on golde ⁊ on seolfre · ⁊ hí gode geoffrode ·
⁊ his menn gefreode · ætforan ðam ƿeofode ·
⁊ aƿearp his ƿæpna · ⁊ ƿearð þa bescoren ·
ætforan þam cyninge · to cristes þeoƿ-dome ·
⁊ se cyning blyssode · ⁊ blyðe ƿearð on mode ·
for ðæs þegnes gecyrrednysse · ⁊ soðum geleafan ·

Eft æfter gereorde · hét se æðela cyning 244
 florus hine gespræce · ær þan þe hé þanon ferde ·
⁊ hé com þá sona mid sumū oðrū munecum
on munuc-ƿisan gescryd · þa ƿeop se cyning ·
⁊ þancode gode his godan ƿyllan ·
⁊ tihte hine georne  hé geornful ƿære ·
on þam gastlican life ⁊ on godes þeoƿ-dome ·
sƿa sƿa hé on ƿoruld-þingum ƿíslice ǽr leofode ·
⁊ se cyning syððan siðode þanon ·

Eft þæs on mærgen rád maurus to þam lande · 253
þe se cyning him geaf · ⁊ his cepte sum beddryda ·
sé læg seofon gear to-slopenum limū ·
⁊ ƿæs þyder geboren to biddenne his hæle ·

Þa bletsode maurus · þone beddrydan mann · 257
⁊ hé sona gesund sylf úpp arás ·
sƿa ðæt hit næs ge-sene hƿeðer he seoc ƿære ·

Þa bugon gehƿylce æðelborenne menn · 260
to maures mynstre · to munuc-licere drohtnunge ·

Sume eac befæstan heora suna him · 262
to godes þeoƿ-dome · oð þær gadorod ƿæs
hund-teontig muneca · ⁊ feoƿertig ealles ·

Þa ge-cƿæð se abbod · ⁊ ealle þa gebroðra · 265
 þer ne mihte na má muneca ƿunian ·
þe læs þe ðam gebroðrum bigleofan ateorode ·
ac ƿære  getél · ƿunigende æfre ·
ne lǽs ne má · on þam munuc-lífe ·

Hit gelamp ða siððan ·  se gesæliga florus 270
geƿát of ƿorulde · ƿuldor-ful to criste ·
on ðam þrytteoðan geare · æfter þam þe he munuc ƿæs ·

Sum erce-diacon com eac hƿilum 273
to maure · þa næfdon hí nán ƿín
buton on ánum geƿealdenan butruce ·
⁊ maurus þa bletsode bliðelice  ƿín ·
cƿæð  god mihte gemycclian þone ƿǽtan ·
se ðe iú on ƿestene ƿæter út-teah ·
of heardum stan-clude · ⁊ of heofonū asende ·
his folce big-leofan · feoƿertig geara ·

Hi druncon ða  ƿín · ƿel hund-seofontig manna · 281
⁊ æfre ƿæs se buteruc brerd-ful ƿines ·

Maurus gemette ænne man eft · 283
se ƿæs yfele ge-taƿod · ⁊ hine æt se cancor ·
⁊ his ƿeleres ƿæron aƿlætte mid ealle ·
⁊ eac his nosu · for-numen mid attre ·
þa bletsode maurus þone mann feorran ·
⁊ he sona ƿearð ƿundorlice gehæled ·

Siððan nolde maurus of ðam mynstre faran · 289
for nanre neode · butan he nyde sceolde ·
forðan þe he ƿiste hƿæt him geƿitegod ƿæs ·
ðurh sce̅ benedicte · ða þa hé siðode him frám ·
 he sceolde geƿítan of ƿorulde to gode
on ðam feoƿer-teoðan geare · þæs þe hé ferde fram him ·
⁊ ƿunode þá on sundrum · ⁊ sette þam gebroðrum ·
oþerne abbod · be heora ealra ræde ·
ðæs ylcan flores sunu · þe ƿé ǽr fore-sædan ·

He ƿearð þa ge-bysgod on his ge-bedum þearle 298
on martines cyrcan mid his tƿam munecū ·
to ðriddan healfan geare mid ealre geornfulnysse ·
⁊ mid gastlicre geƿilnunge · godes miltsunge bæd ·

Þa on sumere nihte · ge-seah he þone deofol · 302
þá þa hé ƿolde gán Into godes cyrcan ·

Se feond hæfde him mid fela oðre sceoccan · 304
⁊ for-ƿyrnde him Inganges · ⁊ mid graman him cƿæþ to ·

Þu come hider maure to uncuðum earde · 306
⁊ ƿendest  ðu mihtest ús aƿeg drifan ·
of urum ƿunungum · ác ðu scealt ƿitan nú ·
 ic mid mislicum deaðe þine munecas acƿelle ·
sƿá  earfoð-lice heora ænig belifð ·
of sƿa micclum ƿerode · þe hér ƿunað mid þe ·

Þa cƿæð se halga ƿer · to ðam hetolan sceoccan · 312

Ðreage ðe se hælend · þe hæfð ealles geƿeald · 313
þu leas-breda feond · ⁊ facnes ord-fruma ·

Hƿæt ða se sceocca sona fordƿán 315
of his gesihðe · mid sƿiðlicum reame ·
sƿa  ða munecas micclū afyrhte
ƿurdon aƿrehte · ðurh his ƿodlican stemne ·
⁊ eodon to uhtsange · ǽr timan sƿa þeah ·

Maurus ða eode Into martines cyrcan · 320
⁊ mid micelre sarnysse · þone soðfæstan god bæd ·
 he him gesƿutelode · be ðæs sceoccan gylpe ·
⁊ him geƿislicor onƿrige · þæs aƿyrgedan saga ·

Maurus ða geseah ænne scinende engel · 324
ƿið hine standende · ⁊ þas ƿord him secgende ·

Þu godes dyrling · hƿi eart ðu sƿa dreorig · 326
ƿitodlice se deofol ƿát toƿerde ðing
hƿilon · na symle · þurh sume gebicnunge ·
be þam þe hé oft geseah · þeah þe he sylf leas sy ·
⁊   he þe sæde · is soð be dæle ·
sƿa  se mæste dǽl ðinre muneca sceal ·
of lífe geƿítan · binnan lytlan fyrste ·
⁊ hi ealle becumað to ðam ecan life ·
⁊ þu sylf siððan · gesælig him fyligst ·
to godes rice · þurh gode geearnunga ·

Æfter ðisum ƿordum · geƿát se engel him fram · 336
⁊ maurus þæs on mergen þa munecas gespræc ·
⁊ ealle his gesihðe him openlice sæde ·
⁊ manode hi georne  hi gearƿe ƿæron ·
⁊ mid soðre behreoƿsunga heora saƿle aþƿogon ·
fram eallum synnum ·  hí siðian mihton ·
to godes beorhtnysse · mid broðorlicre lufe ·

Æfter þisum ƿordum · ƿurdon þa munecas 343
mycclū abryrde · ⁊ heora gebeda sungon ·
⁊ hi sylfe gearcodon to þam soðan life ·
⁊ hi sylfe betæhton · ðam soðfæstan scyppende ·

Him com ða se cƿealm sƿa sƿa se engel gecƿæð · 347
sƿá  an hund muneca · ⁊ syxtyne munecas ·
binnan fif monðum · of ðam mynstre geƿiton ·
⁊ maurus se abbod · ge-endode siððan ·
sƿá se engel sæde him sylfum · on ǽr ·

Þær belifon sƿa þeah lifes on ðam mynstre · 352
feoƿer ⁊ tƿentig muneca · æfter maures forð-siðe ·
⁊ he ƿæs bebyrged · binnan martines cyrcan ·

Þær beoð ƿundra geƿorhte ðurh þone halgan ƿer · 355
ðam ælmihtigan to lofe · Seðe lyfað á on ecnysse ·

Þæs halgan maures líf ƿæs þus gelogod · 357
ða þa hé tƿelf ƿintra ƿæs · he ƿæs betæht benedicte ·
⁊ he ƿunode mid him tƿentig ƿintra siððan ·
⁊ on his agenū mynstre em feoƿertig geara ·
 synd eall to-gedere tƿá ⁊ hund-seofontig geare ·

Tƿegen þæra muneca ðe mid him þyder comon 362
forð-ferdon þær on þam fore-sædan cƿealme ·
⁊ tƿegen cyrdon ongean sƿá sƿá he sylf bebead ·
eft to munte casin · ðanon þe hí ǽr coman ·
⁊ hyre oðer aƿrát þas geƿyrdelican race ·
on ledenum gereorde ac ƿe it reccað on englisc ·

Sy ƿuldor ⁊ lof · ðam ƿél-ƿillendan gode · 368
seðe ƿurðað his halgan mid ƿuldre on écnysse · Amen