that their error may not secretly harm any one.
The holy George was in heathen days
a rich noble under the cruel emperor,
who was called Datian, in the province Cappadocia.
Then Datian bade men gather the heathen
to his devil-worship, as an insult to his Lord,
and, with many threats, frightened the people
so that they offered their sacrifices to the false gods with him.
When the holy man saw the error of the heathen,
how they sacrificed to the devils, and dishonoured their Lord,
then he distributed his property fearlessly in alms
to poor men, to the Saviour's praise,
and became emboldened through Christ, and said to the emperor,
Omnes dii gentium demonia, dominus autem caelos fecit
'All the gods of the heathen are cruel devils,
and our Lord verily wrought the Heavens ' [Ps. xcvi. ].
Thy gods. Emperor, are golden and silvern,
stone and wooden, the handiwork of unbelieving men,
and ye set guards over them to watch them against thieves.'
So then Datian became fiendishly angered
against the holy man, and bade him say
of what city he was, and what was his name.
Then George answered that impious man, and said,
'I am verily a Christian, and I serve Christ,
"George" I am called, and I hold authority
in my country, which is called Cappadocia,
and it liketh me better to forego now
this transitory honour, and to minister to the kingdom
of the glorious God in holy service.'
Then said Datian, 'Thou errest, George,
Approach now first [of all], and offer thy sacrifice
