who now worketh miracles through God, often told us,
that he knew a man with bishop AEfheah,
who would drink in Lent whenever it pleased him.
Then one day he prayed the bishop AElfheah
to bless his cup; he would not, and the fool drank
without blessing, and went out.
They were baiting a boar by chance outside,
and the boar ran against him and thrust him so that he gave up his life;
and so paid for the untimely draught.
Every man who eateth or drinketh
untimely in the holy Lent, or on appointed fast-days,
let him know in sooth that his soul shall sorely abye it,
though the body may here live sound.
We should ever desire the eternal life,
because in that life there are good days;
not however many days, but one which endeth never.
Nevertheless whoso will here in life have good days,
he can not find them here, though he be wealthy,
for that he will be either sick or full of care,
or his friends will fall away from him, or his wealth will escape from him,
or some other mischance in this life will come to him,
and in addition thereto he will ever dread his death.
There will be none of these evils in the eternal life,
but there shall be the one good day with God Himself,
without care and sorrow and all tribulations,
and unended bliss amongst all saints.
