Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/225

This page needs to be proofread.

Thy holy faith has helped thy mother,

and lo! she is entirely healed by Christ;

and even as this town is renowned through me, by Christ's favour,

so shall Syracuse be renowned through thee,

because thou didst yield thyself to Christ, in thy pure virginity,

as a pleasant habitation;' and then Lucy awoke.

She rose then trembling because of that bright vision,

and said to her mother, 'thou art mightily healed.

Now I pray thee, by that same One who healed thee by prayers,

that thou never name to me any bridegroom,

nor expect of my body any mortal fruit.

but, as for the property that thou wouldst give me for my pollution,

give it me for my chastity, as I am going to Christ.'

Then said the mother, 'thou knowest my wealth,

and I have kept now for nine years against all losses

thy father's property, and have increased it further.

First close mine eyes (in death), and then dispose of the property

lo! how thou mayst please, my dear daughter.'

Then said Lucy, ' listen to my counsel;

thou canst take away nothing with thee out of this life,

and that which thou wilt give at death for the Lord's name

thou wilt give because thou canst not take it away with thee.

But give now, in thy time of health, to the true Saviour

whatever thou intendest to dispose of at thy death.'

Thus Lucy frequently exhorted her mother,

until she sold the shining gems,

and even her landed property for ready money,

and afterwards distributed it to the poor and to strangers,

to widows and exiles, and wise servants of God.

This came to the ears of the nobly-born youth

who was wooing Lucy, who was named Paschasius,

an impious idolater, who enticed the holy maid

to make offerings to devils; but the Lord's virgin said,

'A pure offering is this, and acceptable to God,

that one should visit widows, and comfort exiles,