Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/199

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who possessed the tomb, that she would grant her healing.

Then she fell on sleep, and saw in a vision

the blessed Agnes saying these words to her,

'Begin resolutely, thou noble Constantia,

and believe that the Saviour has power to heal thee,

through Whom thou shalt receive the healing of thy wounds.'

Then Constantia awoke, and was so healed

that on her body was not seen aught of the sore wounds.

Then went she whole home to her father,

and rejoiced him and her brothers,

and all the household rejoiced for her healing,

and the heathenism waned and God's faith waxed.

She was then baptized, as was her father,

and received the veil with fair observances,

and many other maidens through her worthy example

forsook worldly pleasures and were consecrated to Christ.

Then Constantia prayed Constantine her father,

that he would rear a church to the blessed Agnes,

and bade set a coffin there for herself.

The fame of it sprang throughout all the nation,

and many infirm people came to the holy tomb,

and were healed through the holy Agnes.

Likewise many of the Roman maidens continued

in pure virginity for the love of Christ

after Agnes' example, who is there buried.

ANOTHER STORY; WRITTEN BY TERENTIANUS.

In those days there was a certain general called Gallicanus,

victorious in fights, and very dear to the emperor

for his great victory, though he was not baptized.

He wooed Constantia, the emperor's daughter,

at the time that the Scythians were warring much against him.

Then the emperor was troubled on account of the wooing,

knowing that his daughter, who had chosen the Lord,