Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/399

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was taken to prison, as the emperor commanded,

that he, with Daria, for their faith in God,

might be martyred by divers tortures.

The prison was filled with foul filth,

and without any light, stinking horribly;

the blessed Daria was confined apart

from the venerable man; and they then sent her

to a house of harlots, for the sport of the wicked;

but God shielded her against the shameful heathen. '

The fearful prison wherein Chrysanthus was

immediately became wondrously lighted up by God;

and there a winsome breath sweetly steamed.

And a lioness escaped out of the lion's enclosure,

and ran to Daria, by the Lord's sending,

where she lay in prayers, and bowed down to the earth

with outstretched limbs before the faithful maiden.

Then the heathen desired to have her to disgrace her,

and knew not that the lioness lay within beside her.

So one of them went in unto the maiden,

but the lioness seized him and laid him down,

and looked at Daria as if it would ask her

what she would wish to be done with him, as he lay overpowered.

Then Daria spake to the beast thus:

' I adjure thee by Christ that thou hurt not the youth,

but let him, without fear, listen to my speech.'

Then the lioness let go the unbelieving youth,

and stood against the door, that he might speak with Daria,

and that no other man might come in unto them,

Then Daria said to the terrified man:

' behold this cruel lioness honoureth now God,

and thou, a rational man, destroyest thyself,

and thou rejoicest, miserable one, in thy foul lust

through which thou shalt weep and suffer torment.'

Then he advanced towards her, and said with fear:

'let me go out safe, and afterwards I will preach