Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/351

come a eunuch from the king's household who desireth speech with thee.' So the abbot went out; and she immediately fell at his feet, and when she had received his blessing, they sat together. Then quoth the abbot: 'child, for what cause camest thou hither?' Then said she, ' I was in the king's household and I am a eunuch; and I ever desired to turn to the monastic life, but such a life is not customary in our city; now I have heard of your illustrious conduct, and my will is that I may dwell with you, if that be your will. I have manifold possessions; and if God will grant me rest here, I will cause them to come hither.' Then quoth the abbot, 'Welcome be thou, my child; behold, this is our minster; abide here with us if it please thee.' Then asked he him what his name was. Then said he, ' I am called Smaragdus.' The abbot said to him: ' thou art young; thou canst not dwell alone, but thou needest to have one who can teach thee monastic life and the holy rule.' Then quoth he, ' I will do, my father, according to thy words.' Then he drew forth the fifty mancuses, and gave them to the abbot, and said, ' Take, father, this money on account, and if I continue here the remainder shall come here.' Then the abbot called a brother to him who was named Agapitus, a man of holy life and honourable in manners; and delivered to him the aforesaid Smaragdus, and said to him: ' henceforth this shall be thy son and thy disciple.' Then Agapitus took him into his cell. Then, because the same Smaragdus was beautiful in countenance, as often as the brothers came to church, the accursed spirit sent manifold thoughts into their minds, and they were exceedingly tempted by his fairness; and at last they were all stirred up against the abbot because he had brought so beautiful a man into their minster; and he thereupon called Smaragdus to him, and said: ' my child, thy countenance is beautiful, and to the brothers Cometh great ruin on account of their frailty. Now I will that thou sit by thyself in thy cell, and sing there thy hours, and eat therein; but I desire not that thou go anywhere else.' And he then bade Agapitus to prepare an empty cell and bring Smaragdus in thither. So Agapitus fulfilled that which his abbot commanded him, and brought Smaragdus into the deserted cell,