Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/535

afterwards related all to his companions, how it happened to him in all these things, when he came again to them in the cave, of which we before spake, and when their wonderful arising was revealed to all men, and their holy life was all manifested). And he, Malchus, when everything that he saw and heard seemed so wonderful to him, and as he desired to go out of the town, yet went he in the disguise of a beggar very near where they were selling bread in the market; and when he came thither, he at once drew pennies out of his bosom, and gave them to the market-men, in exchange for bread ; and they, the market-men, looked at the pennies very earnestly, and they wondered enquiringly at seeing such money, and they beheld the pennies there as a curiosity, and handed them over amongst themselves from bench to bench, and showed [them] to be looked at, and said among themselves, " Without doubt that which we all see here is true, that this unknown young man hath found very long ago a very old gold-treasure, and hath hid it secretly now for many years." But when Malchus saw that they looked at his pennies so earnestly, he feared then very greatly, and all as he stood there he quaked and trembled, thinking only that every man recognised him, and said then in his thought, " Alas, my Lord, what! how pitiably have I now fared here! nor can I expect for myself anything else, but that they will now take me to Decius; then can I bring no certain news to my companions." And then the chapmen looked at him very earnestly, and considered in thought about him, what manner of man he might be. Then said he to them all with timid words; "Lo! Masters! I pray you very earnestly, grant me that which I seek ; there ye have the pennies in hand, employ them even as ye will. I desire from you no bread, but ye, best of all men, may keep both pennies and bread."