Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/423

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and came, seeing clearly, unto her kinswoman

named Migdonia, who had left her blind.

Then said Migdonia: ' This man is God Himself,

or God's angel, who hath enlightened thine eyes

thus without leechcraft.' And they spake thus a long while

until they both went to where the apostle was preaching.

Then Migdonia believed on the living God

through the apostle's lore, and would no longer come

to her husband's bed, after that preaching.

This Migdonia was the king's wife's sister;

and her husband then prevailed with Mazdai the king,

so that the apostle straightway was put in prison.

Then Migdonia came sorrowfully to the prison,

and fell at his feet with fear, saying:

'I beseech thee, master, apostle of the living God,

that thou wilt not for me undergo so foul a reproach,

lest God's anger come upon me on that account.'

The man of God said to her: ' Go thou home again,

and I will come home to thee, that thou mayest thereby understand

that I, of my own will, suffer for my Creator's name,

and how much faith may accomplish through God.'

Then she did so, and locked her door,

lying prostrate in prayers within her bower.

Behold then, in the same night came the apostle

to Migdonia, and said: ' Even as thou shalt come through me

to the eternal life, so likewise I shall come

through thee to Christ with the crown of martyrdom.

Be now very steadfast.' She answered with fear,

' Oh master! I pray thee to enlighten my soul

that I may behold the right way,

so that I fall not into the foul pit.'

Thomas said to her: ' Take heed that thou fast