The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church Part 24

Laurentius witodlice wear sian gebroht to am casere, and se rea cwellere hine a befran, "Hwaer sind aere cyrcan madmas e e betaehte waeron?" Se eadiga Laurentius mid nanum worde him ne geandwyrde. On am ylcan daege betaehte se G.o.des feond one halgan diacon his heah-gerefan Ualeriane, mid ysum bebode, "Ofgang a madmas mid geornfulnysse, and hine gebig to am undeadlic.u.m G.o.dum." Se gerefa a hine betaehte his gingran, aes nama waes Ypolitus, and he hine beclysde on cwearterne mid manegum orum. a gemette he on am cwearterne aenne haeenne man, se waes urh micelne wop ablend. a cwae he him to, "Lucille, gif u gelyfst on Haelend Crist, he onliht ine eagan." He andwyrde, "aefre ic gewilnode aet ic on Cristes naman gefullod waere." Laurentius him to cwae, "Gelyfst u mid ealre heortan?" He andwyrde mid wope, "Ic {422} gelyfe on Haelend Crist, and am leasum deofolgyldum wisace." Ypolitus mid geylde heora wordum heorcnode. Se gesaeliga Laurentius taehte a am blindan sone geleafan aere Halgan rynnysse, and hine gefullode. Lucillus aefter am fulluht-baee mid beorhtre stemne clypode, "Sy gebletsod se Eca G.o.d, Haelend Crist, e me urh his diacon onlihte. Ic waes blind bam eagum, nu ic beorhtlice leohtes bruce."

Witodlice a fela ore blinde mid wope comon to am eadigan diacone, and he asette his handa ofer heora eagan, and hi wurdon onlihte.

Se tun-gerefa Ypolitus cwae a to am diacone, "Geswutela me aere cyrcan madmas." Laurentius cwae, "Eala u Ypolite, gif u gelyfst on G.o.d Faeder, and on his Sunu Haelend Crist, ic e geswutelige a madmas, and aet ece lif behate." Ypolitus cwae, "Gif u as word mid weorc.u.m gefylst, onne do ic swa u me tihst." Laurentius a halG.o.de fant, and hine gefullode. Solice Ypolitus aefter am fulluht-baee waes clypigende mid beorhtre stemne, "Ic geseah unscaeigra manna sawla on G.o.de blissigan." And he mid tearum to am eadigan diacone cwae, "Ic halsige e on aes Haelendes naman, aet eal min hiwraeden gefullod wure." Witodlice Laurentius mid blium mode him aes getiode, and nigontyne wera and wifa his hiwisces mid wuldre gefullode.

aefter isum sende se heah-gerefa, and bebead Ypolite aet he Laurentium to aes cynges cafer-tune gelaedde. Ypolitus aet bebod mid eadmodre spraece cydde am eadigan Laurentie. He cwae, "Uton faran, foran e me and e is wuldor gegearcod." Hi a hraedlice comon, and unforhte him aetforan stodon. a cwae Ualeria.n.u.s to am halgan cyere, "Awurp nu ine anwilnysse, and agif a madmas." Se G.o.des cyere him andwyrde, "On G.o.des earfum ic hi aspende, and hi sind a ecan madmas, e naefre ne beo gewanode." Se gerefa cwae, "Hwaet f.a.gettest u mid wordum? Geoffra ine lac urum gudum, and forl?t one {424} drycraeft e u on getruwast." Laurentius cwae, "For hwilc.u.m ingum neada se deofol eow aet ge cristene men to his biggengum reatnia? Gif hit riht sy aet we to deoflum us gebiddon swior onne to am aelmihtigan G.o.de, deme ge hwa aes wurmyntes wure sy, se e geworht is, oe se e ealle ing gesceop." Se casere a andwyrde, "Hwaet is se e geworht is, oe hwaet is se e geworhte?" G.o.des cyere cwae, "Se aelmihtiga Faeder ures Haelendes is Scyppend ealra gesceafta, and u cwyst aet ic me gebiddan sceole to dumb.u.m stanum, a e sind agrafene urh manna handa." Hwaet se casere a hine gebealh, and het on his gesihe one diacon unscrydan, and waelhreowlice swingan, and se casere sylf clypode, "Ne hyrw u ure G.o.das." Se eadiga Laurentius on am tintregum cwae, "Witodlice ic ancige minum G.o.de, e me gemedemode to his halgum; and u, earming, eart geancsumod on inre gewitleaste." Decius cwae to am cwellerum, "Araera hine upp, and aeteowia his gesihum eal aet wita-tol." a wurdon hraedlice foraborene isene clutas, and isene clawa, and isen bedd, and leadene swipa and ore gepilede swipa. a cwae se casere, "Geoffra ine lac urum G.o.dum, oe u bist mid eallum isum pinung-tolum getintreG.o.d." Se eadiga diacon cwae, "u ungesaeliga, as estmettas ic symle gewilnode: hi beo me to wuldre, and e to wite." Se casere cwae, "Geswutela us ealle a manfullan ine gelican, aet eos burh beo geclaensod; and u sylf geoffra urum G.o.dum, and ne truwa u nateshwon on inum gold-hordum." a cwae se halga martyr, "Solice ic truwige, and ic eom orsorh be minum hordum." Decius andwyrde, "Wenst u la aet u beo alysed mid inum hordum fram isum tintregum?" and het a mid gramlic.u.m mode aet a cwelleras mid stearc.u.m saglum hine beoton. Witodlice Laurentius on am gebeate clypode, "u earming, undergyt huru nu aet ic sigrige be Cristes madmum, and ic ine tintregu naht ne gefrede." Decius cwae, "Lecga a isenan clutas hate glowende to {426} his sidan." Se eadiga martyr a waes biddende his Drihten, and cwae, "Haelend Crist, G.o.d of G.o.de, gemiltsa inum eowan, foran e ic gewreged e ne wisoc, befrinen ic e geandette." a het se casere hine araeran, and cwae, "Ic geseo aet u, urh inne drycraeft, as tintregan gebysmerast; eah-hwaeere ne scealt u me gebysmrian. Ic swerige urh ealle G.o.das and gydena, aet u scealt geoffrian, oe ic e mid mislic.u.m pinungum acwelle." Laurentius a bealdlice clypode, "Ic on mines Drihtnes naman nateshwon ne forhtige for inum tintregum, e sind hwilwendlice: ne ablin u aet u begunnen haefst."

a wear se casere mid swylicere hatheortnysse geyrsod, and het one halgan diacon mid leadenum swipum langlice swingan. Laurentius a clypode, "Haelend Crist, u e gemedemodest aet u to mennisc.u.m menn geboren waere, and us fram deofles eowte alysdest, onfoh minne gast." On aere ylcan tide him com andswaru of heofonum, us cweende, "Gyt u scealt fela gewinn habban on inum martyrdome." Decius a gehathyrt clypode, "Romanisce weras, gehyrde ge aera deofla frofor on isum eawbraec.u.m, e ure G.o.das geyrsode ne ondraet, ne a asmeadan tintregan? Astrecca hine, and mid gepiledum swipum swingende geangsumia." Laurentius a astreht on aere hengene, mid hlihendum mue ancode his Drihtne, "Drihten G.o.d, Faeder Haelendes Cristes, sy u gebletsod, e us forgeafe ine mildheortnysse; cy nu ine arfaestnysse, aet as ymbstandendan oncnawon aet u gefrefrast ine eowan."

On aere tide gelyfde an aera cempena, aes nama waes Roma.n.u.s, and cwae to am G.o.des cyere, "Laurentie, ic geseo G.o.des engel standende aetforan e mid hand-clae, and wipa ine swatigan limu. Nu halsige ic e, urh G.o.d, aet u me ne forlaete." a wear Decius mid facne afylled, and cwae to his heah-gerefan, "Me inc aet we sind urh drycraeft oferswide." And he het a alysan one diacon of aere hengene, and betaecan am tun-gerefan Ypolite, and nyste a-gt aet he cristen waes.

{428} a betwux am brohte se gelyfeda cempa Roma.n.u.s ceacfulne waeteres, and mid wope aes halgan Laurenties fet gesohte, fulluhtes biddende. Laurentius a hraedlice aet waeter gehalG.o.de, and one geleaffullan egen gefullode.

aa Decius aet geaxode, a het he hine w?dum bereafian, and mid stearc.u.m stengum beatan. Roma.n.u.s a ungeaxod clypode on aes caseres andwerdnysse, "Ic eom cristen." On aere ylcan tide het se rea cwellere hine underhnigan swurdes ecge. Eft on aere ylcan nihte, aefter aes cempan martyrdome, ferde Decius to am hatum baum wi aet botl Sal.u.s.tii, and het one halgan Laurentium him to gefeccan. a ongann Ypolitus sarlice heofian, and cwae, "Ic wylle mid e siian, and mid hluddre stemne hryman, aet ic cristen eom, and mid e licgan." Laurentius cwae, "Ne wep u, ac swior suwa and blissa, foran e ic fare to G.o.des wuldre. Eft aefter lytlum fyrste, onne ic e clypige, gehyr mine stemne, and c.u.m to me."

Decius a het gearcian eal aet pinung-tol aetforan his domsetle, and Laurentius him wear to gelaed. Decius cwae, "Awurp one truwan ines drycraeftes, and gerece us ine maege." Se eadiga Laurentius andwyrde, "aefter mennisc.u.m gebyrde ic eom Hispanienscis, Romanisc fostor-cild, and cristen fram cild-cradole, getogen on ealre G.o.dcundre ?." Decius andwyrde, "Solice is seo ? G.o.dcundlic e e swa gebylde aet u nelt ure G.o.das wurian, ne u nanes cynnes tintregan e ne ondraetst." Laurentius cwae, "On Cristes naman ne forhtige ic for inum tintregum." Se waelhreowa casere a cwae, "Gif u ne offrast urum G.o.dum, eall eos niht sceal beon aspend on e mid mislic.u.m pinungum." Laurentius cwae, "Naef min niht nane forsworcennysse, ac heo mid beorhtum leohte scin." a het se waelhreowa mid stanum aes halgan mu cnucian. Hwaet a Laurentius wear gestranG.o.d urh G.o.des gife, and mid hlihendum mue cwae, "Sy e lof, Drihten, foran e u eart ealra inga G.o.d." Decius cwae to am cwellerum, {430} "Ahebba aet isene bed to am fyre, aet se modiga Laurentius hine aeron gereste." Hi aerrihte hine waedon bereafodon, and on am heardan bedde astrehton, and mid byrnendum gledum aet bed undercrammodon, and hine ufan mid isenum geaflum ydon.

Decius cwae a to am G.o.des cyere, "Geoffra nu urum G.o.dum." Laurentius andwyrde, "Ic offrige me sylfne am aelmihtigan G.o.de on braee wynsumnysse; foran e se gedrefeda gast is G.o.de andfenge onsaegednys." Solice a cwelleras tugon a gleda singallice under aet bedd, and wi-ufan mid heora forc.u.m hine ydon. a cwae Laurentius, "Eala ge ungesaeligan, ne undergyte ge aet eowre gleda nane h?tan minum lichaman ne gedo, ac swior celinge?"

He a eft mid am wlitegostan nebbe cwae, "Haelend Crist, ic ancige e aet u me gestrangian wylt." He a beseah wi aes caseres, us cweende, "Efne u, earming, braeddest aenne dael mines lichaman, wend nu one oerne, and et." He cwae a eft, "Haelend Crist, ic ancige e mid inweardre heortan, aet ic mot faran into inum rice." And mid ysum worde he ageaf his gast, and mid swylc.u.m martyrdome aet uplice rice geferde, on am he wuna mid G.o.de a on ecnysse. a forlet se waelhreowa casere one halgan lichaman uppon am isenan hyrdle, and tengde mid his heahgerefan to am botle Tyberianum.

Ypolitus a bebyrigde one halgan lichaman mid micelre arwurnysse on aere wudewan leger-stowe Quiriace, on ysum daegerlic.u.m daege. Witodlice aet aere byrgene wacode micel menigu cristenra manna mid swilicere heofunge. Se halga sacerd Iustinus a him eallum gemaessode and gehuslode. aefter isum gecyrde Ypolitus to his hame, and mid G.o.des sibbe his hywan gecyste, and hi ealle gehuslode. a faerlice, mid am e he gesaet, comon aes caseres cempan, and hine gelaehton, and to am cwellere gelaeddon. Hine befran a Decius mid smercigendum mue, "Hwaet la, eart u to dry awend, foran e u bebyrigdest Laurentium?" {432} He andwyrde, "aet ic dyde na swa swa dry, ac swa swa cristen." Decius a yrsigende het mid stanum his mu cnucian, and hine unscrydan, and cwae, "La hu, naere u geornful biggenga ura G.o.da? and nu u eart swa stunt geworden aet furon e ne sceama inre naecednysse."

Ypolitus andwyrde, "Ic waes stunt, and ic eom nu wis and cristen. urh nytenysse ic gelyfde on aet gedwyld e u gelyfst." Decius cwae, "Geoffra am G.o.dum ylaes e u urh tintrega forwure, swa swa Laurentius." He andwyrde, "Eala gif ic moste am eadigan Laurentium geefenlaecan!" Decius cwae, "Astrecca hine swa nacodne, and mid stium saglum beata." aa he langlice gebeaten waes, a ancode he G.o.de. Decius cwae, "Ypolitus gebysmra eowre stengas; swinga hine mid gepiledum swipum." Hi a swa dydon, oaet hi ateorodon. Ypolitus clypode mid hluddre stemne, "Ic eom cristen."

Eornostlice se rea casere, aa he ne mihte mid nanum pinungum hine geweman fram Cristes geleafan, a het he his heah-gerefan aet he mid waelhreawum deae hine acwellan sceolde.

On am ylcan daege asmeade Ualeria.n.u.s his aehta, and gemette nygontyne wera and wifa his hiwisces, e waeron aet aes eadigan Laurenties handum gefullode.

To am cwae Ualeria.n.u.s, "Sceawia eowre ylde, and beorga eowrum feore, ylaes e ge samod losian mid eowrum hlaforde Ypolite." Hi a anmodlice andwyrdon, "We wilnia mid urum hlaforde claenlice sweltan, swior onne unclaenlice mid eow lybban." a wear Ualeria.n.u.s earle gehathyrt, and het laedan Ypolitum of aere ceastre mid his hiwum. a se eadiga Ypolitus gehyrte his hired, and cwae, "Mine gebrora, ne beo ge dreorige ne afyrhte, foran e ic and ge habba aenne Hlaford, G.o.d aelmihtigne." Solice Ualeria.n.u.s het beheafdian on Ypolitus gesihe ealle his hiwan, and hine sylfne het tigan be am fotum to ungetemedra horsa swuran, and swa teon geond ornas and bremelas: and he a mid am tige his gast ageaf on am reotteoan daege {434} ises mones. On aere ylcan nihte gegaderode se halga Iustinus heora ealra lic, and bebyrigde.

Eornostlice aefter aera halgena rowunge, ferde Decius on gyldenum craete and Ualeria.n.u.s samod to heora haeenum gylde, aet hi a cristenan to heora manfullum offrungum gereatodon. a wear Decius faerlice mid feondlic.u.m gaste awed, and hrymde, "Eala u, Ypolite, hwider tihst u me gebundenne mid scearpum racenteagum?" Ualeria.n.u.s eac awed hrymde, "Eala u, Laurentius, unsoftlice tihst u me gebundenne mid byrnendum racenteagum."

And he aerrihte swealt. Witodlice Decius egeslice awedde, and binnon rym dagum mid deoflicre stemne singallice hrymde, "Ic halsige e, Laurentius, ablin hwaethwega aera tintregena." Hwaet a, la asprang micel heofung and sarlic wop on am hame, and aes caseres wif het ut-alaedan ealle a cristenan e on cwearterne waeron, and Decius on am riddan daege mid micclum tintregum gewat.

Solice seo cwen Triphonia gesohte aes halgan sacerdes fet Iustines mid biterum tearum, and hire dohtor Cyrilla samod, biddende aes halgan fulluhtes. Iustinus a mid micelre blisse hi underfeng, and him bebead seofon dagena faesten, and hi syan mid am halgum fulluht-baee fram eallum heora mandaedum awoh. aa aes caseres egnas gehyrdon aet seo cwen Triphonia and Decius dohtor Cyrilla to Cristes geleafan, and to am halwendum fulluhte gebogene waeron, hi a mid heora wifum gesohton one halgan sacerd, and baedon miltsunge and fulluhtes. Se eadiga Iustinus, isum gewordenum, raedde wi a cristenan hwaene hi to bisceope ceosan woldon on Sixtes setle. Hi a anmodlice sumne arwurfulne wer gecuron, aes nama waes Dionisius, one gehadode se bisceop Maximus, of aere byrig Ostiensis, to am Romanisc.u.m bisceop-setle, wi wurmynte.

Uton nu biddan mid eadmodre stemne one halgan G.o.des cyere Laurentium, aes freols-tid geswutela es andwerda daeg ealre geleaffulre gelaunge, aet he us ingige wi one {436} Heofenlican Cyning, for aes naman he rowode mid cenum mode menigfealde tintregu, mid am he orsorhlice on ecnysse wuldra.

Amen.

{417} AUGUST X.

THE Pa.s.sION OF THE BLESSED MARTYR LAWRENCE.

In the time of Decius, the cruel emperor, the holy bishop Sixtus was dwelling in Rome. Then he suddenly commanded his counts to bring the bishop together with his priests before him. Sixtus then with fearless mind called to his priests, "My brothers, be ye not afraid, come, and let none of you dread short torments. The holy martyrs suffered many tortures, that they might fearless come to the glory-crown of everlasting life." His two deacons, Felicissimus and Agapetus, then answered, "Thou, our father, whither shall we go without thee?" On that night the bishop with his two deacons was quickly brought to the cruel persecutor. The emperor Decius said to him, "Offer thy gift to the immortal G.o.ds, and be thou the chief of the priests." The blessed Sixtus answered him, "I have ever offered and will yet offer my gift to the Almighty G.o.d, and his Son, Jesus Christ, and to the Holy Ghost, in pure and unpolluted sacrifice." Decius said, "Take heed for thyself and thy priests, and offer; for if thou dost not, thou shalt be an example to all others." But Sixtus answered, "A little before I said to thee, that I always offer to Almighty G.o.d." Decius then said to his soldiers, "Lead him to the temple of Mars, that he may offer to the G.o.d Mars: if he will not offer, shut him in the prison Mamortinum." The soldiers led him to the temple, and urged him to offer his gift to the dead image. When he despised the emperor's command, and would not offer to the idol, they brought him with his two deacons into the dark prison.

Then among them came his archdeacon LAWRENCE, and spake to the holy bishop in these words, "Thou, my father, whither goest thou without thy child?

Thou holy priest, {419} whither hastenest thou without thy deacon? It was not thy wont to offer to G.o.d without thy deacon. What has displeased thee, my father, in me? Show thy power on thy child, and offer to G.o.d him whom thou hast trained up, that thou the less sorrowfully attain to the n.o.ble crown of glory." When the blessed Lawrence had, with these words and others more, lamented that he might not suffer with his teacher, the bishop answered, "My child, I forsake thee not, but thee befits a greater struggle in thy conflict. We, as old men, shall undergo the short course of a lighter conflict: but thou, a young man, wilt undergo a much more glorious triumph from this cruel king. My child, cease thy weeping: after three days thou wilt come to me triumphant to everlasting life. Take thou our church's treasures, and distribute to christian men, as it may seem good unto thee."

The archdeacon Lawrence then, at the bishop's command, went and distributed the church's treasures to priests, and poor strangers, and widows, to each according to his need. He came to a widow, whose name was Quiriaca, who had hidden in her dwelling priests and many lay christians. Then the blessed Lawrence washed the feet of them all, and healed the widow of a wearisome headache. A blind man also with weeping sought his feet, praying for his cure. Lawrence then marked the sign of the rood on the blind man's eyes, and he straightways saw brightly. The archdeacon heard yet of more christian men elsewhere, and before his pa.s.sion visited them with ghostly peace and with foot-washing.

When he returned thence, his teacher Sixtus with his two deacons was led from the prison, before the emperor Decius. He was then exasperated against the holy bishop, thus saying, "Verily we have regard for thy age: obey our commands, and offer to the immortal G.o.ds." The holy bishop answered him, "Thou wretch, have regard for thyself, and make atonement for the blood of the saints which thou hast {421} shed." The bloodthirsty executioner with wrathful mind said to his chief officer Valeria.n.u.s, "If this audacious bishop be not slain, awe for us will be no longer formidable." Valeria.n.u.s answered him, "Let his head be cut off. Order them again to the temple of the G.o.d, and if they will not pray to him with bended knees, and offer their gifts, let them suffer decapitation on the same place." The emperor's soldiers led him to the temple with his two deacons: then the bishop looked towards the temple, and thus said, "Thou dumb idol, through thee miserable men lose everlasting life: may the Almighty Son of G.o.d overthrow thee!"

Then at that word a part of the temple burst asunder with a sudden fall.

Lawrence then cried to the bishop, "Thou holy father, forsake me not, for I have distributed the church's treasures as thou commandedst." At this the soldiers seized him, for they heard him speak of the church's treasures.

Sixtus then sank under the sword's edge, and his two deacons with him, Felicissimus and Agapetus, before the temple, on the sixth day of this month.

But Lawrence was afterwards brought to the emperor, and the fierce executioner asked him, "Where are the church's treasures which were committed to thee?" The blessed Lawrence answered him not a word. On the same day the foe of G.o.d committed the holy deacon to his chief officer Valeria.n.u.s, with this command, "Exact the treasures with importunity, and make him bow to the immortal G.o.ds." The officer then committed him to his junior, whose name was Hippolytus, and he shut him in a prison with many others. He found in the prison a heathen man, who was blind through great weeping. He said to him, "Lucillus, if thou wilt believe in Jesus Christ, he will enlighten thine eyes." He answered, "I have ever desired to be baptized in the name of Christ." Lawrence said to him, "Believest thou with all thy heart?" He answered with weeping, "I believe in Jesus {423} Christ, and renounce the false idols." Hippolytus with patience listened to their words. The blessed Lawrence then taught the blind man true belief in the Holy Trinity, and baptized him. Lucillus, after the baptismal bath, cried with clear voice, "Blessed be the Eternal G.o.d, Jesus Christ, who has enlightened me through his deacon. I was blind with both eyes, now I clearly enjoy the light." Then there came many other blind with weeping to the blessed deacon, and he set his hand over their eyes, and they were enlightened.

The town-reeve, Hippolytus, said to the deacon, "Show me the church's treasures." Lawrence answered, "O thou Hippolytus, if thou wilt believe in G.o.d the Father, and in his Son Jesus Christ, I will show thee the treasures, and promise thee everlasting life." Hippolytus said, "If thou wilt indeed fulfil those words, I will do as thou exhortest me." Lawrence then hallowed a font, and baptized him. Verily Hippolytus, after the baptismal bath, cried with a clear voice, "I saw the souls of innocent men rejoicing in G.o.d." And he said with tears to the blessed deacon, "I beseech thee, in the name of Jesus, that all my household might be baptized."

Lawrence granted him this with cheerful mind, and with glory baptized nineteen men and women of his family.

After this the chief officer sent, and commanded Hippolytus to lead Lawrence to the king's court. Hippolytus with humble speech made known that command to the blessed Lawrence. He said, "Let us go, for glory is prepared for me and for thee." They went quickly, and stood fearless before him.

Then said Valeria.n.u.s to the holy martyr, "Cast away now thy obstinacy, and give up the treasures." The martyr of G.o.d answered him, "On G.o.d's poor I have spent them, and they are the everlasting treasures which will never be diminished." The officer said, "Why playest thou with words? Offer thy gift to our G.o.ds, and forsake the magic {425} in which thou trustest." Lawrence said, "For what reason does the devil compel you to urge christian men to his worship? If it be right that we should pray to devils rather than to the Almighty G.o.d, judge which is worthy of that honour, he who is made, or he who created all things." The emperor then answered, "What is he who is made, or what is he who made?" G.o.d's martyr said, "The Almighty Father of our Saviour is the Creator of all creatures, and thou sayest that I shall pray to dumb stones, which are carved by the hands of men." The emperor was then wroth, and commanded the deacon to be unclothed in his sight, and cruelly scourged, and the emperor himself cried, "Insult not our G.o.ds." The blessed Lawrence said in torments, "Verily I thank my G.o.d, who has vouchsafed to number me with his holy; and thou, wretch, art afflicted in thy foolishness." Decius said to the executioners, "Raise him up, and manifest to his sight all the torture-tools." Then were quickly brought forth iron plates, and iron claws, and an iron bed, and leaden whips, and other leaded whips. Then said the emperor, "Offer thy gift to our G.o.ds, or thou shalt be tortured with all these torture-tools." The blessed deacon said, "Thou unblessed, these luxuries I have ever desired; they will be to me a glory, and to thee a torment." The emperor said, "Declare to us all the wicked thy like, that this city may be cleansed; and do thou thyself offer to our G.o.ds, and trust thou in no wise to thy treasures." Then said the holy martyr, "Verily I trust, and I am careless for my treasures."

Decius answered, "Thinkest thou then that thou wilt be redeemed by thy treasures from these torments?" and then in angry mood commanded the executioners to beat him with stout clubs. But Lawrence, during the beating, cried, "Thou wretch, know at least that I triumph regarding Christ's treasures, and I feel not thy torments." Decius said, "Lay the {427} iron plates glowing hot to his side." The blessed martyr then was praying to his Lord, and said, "Saviour Christ, G.o.d of G.o.d, have mercy on thy servant, for, accused, I denied thee not; questioned, I acknowledged thee." Then the emperor commanded him to be raised, and said, "I see that thou, through thy magic, mockest these torments; nevertheless thou shalt not mock me. I swear by all the G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses, that thou shalt offer, or I will slay thee by divers tortures." Lawrence then boldly cried, "I, in the name of my Lord, in no wise fear thy torments, which are transitory: cease thou not from what thou hast begun."

Then was the emperor excited with violent fury, and commanded the holy deacon to be scourged a long time with leaden whips. Lawrence then cried, "Saviour Christ, thou who hast vouchsafed to be born a mortal man, and hast redeemed us from the devil's thraldom, receive my spirit." At the same time an answer came to him from heaven, thus saying, "Yet thou shalt have much affliction in thy martyrdom." Decius then furious cried, "Roman men, heard ye the comfort of the devils to this impious, who dreads not our irritated G.o.ds, nor the devised torments? Stretch him, and, scourging with leaded whips, afflict him." Lawrence then, stretched on the cross, with laughing mouth thanked his Lord, "Lord G.o.d, Father of Jesus Christ, be thou blessed, who hast given us thy mercy; manifest now thy favour, that these standing about may know that thou comfortest thy servants." At that time one of the soldiers, whose name was Roma.n.u.s, believed, and said to the martyr of G.o.d, "Lawrence, I see G.o.d's angel standing before thee with a hand-cloth, and wiping thy sweating limbs. I now beseech thee, through G.o.d, that thou forsake me not." Then was Decius filled with guile, and said to his chief officer, "Methinks that we are overcome by magic." And he then ordered the holy deacon to be loosened from the cross, and delivered to the town-reeve Hippolytus, and knew not yet that he was a christian.

{429} Then meanwhile the believing soldier Roma.n.u.s brought a jugful of water, and with weeping sought the feet of the holy Lawrence, craving baptism. Lawrence then quickly hallowed the water, and baptized the believing servant. When Decius heard of it, he ordered him to be stript of his garments and beaten with stout staves. Roma.n.u.s then unasked cried in the emperor's presence, "I am a christian." At the same time the fierce executioner ordered him to fall under the sword's edge. Again, on the same night, after the soldier's martyrdom, Decius went to the hot baths, opposite the house of Sall.u.s.t, and commanded the holy Lawrence to be fetched to him. Then Hippolytus began sorely to lament, and said, "I will go with thee, and with loud voice cry that I am a christian, and lie with thee." Lawrence said, "Weep not, but rather be silent and rejoice, for I go to G.o.d's glory. After a little time hence, when I call, hear my voice, and come to me."

Decius then commanded all the torture-tools to be prepared, before his doom-seat, and Lawrence was led to him. Decius said, "Cast away trust in thy magic, and recount to us of thy family." The blessed Lawrence answered, "According to human birth I am Spanish, a Roman foster-child, and a christian from my cradle, trained up in all divine law." Decius answered, "In sooth the law is divine, which has so emboldened thee that thou wilt not worship our G.o.ds, nor dreadest any kind of torment." Lawrence said, "In the name of Christ I fear not for thy torments." The cruel emperor then said, "If thou offerest not to our G.o.ds, all this night shall be spent on thee with divers tortures." Lawrence said, "My night has no darkness, but shines with bright light." Then the cruel one commanded the mouth of the saint to be struck with stones. But Lawrence was strengthened through the grace of G.o.d, and said with laughing mouth, "Lord, be to thee praise, for thou of all things art G.o.d." Decius said to the executioners, "Raise the iron bed to the {431} fire, that the proud Lawrence may rest thereon." They straightways bereft him of his garments, and stretched him on the hard bed, and filled the bed underneath with burning coals, and from above pierced him with iron forks.

Decius said to the martyr of G.o.d, "Offer now to our G.o.ds." Lawrence answered, "I will offer myself to the Almighty G.o.d, in the odour of pleasantness; for the afflicted spirit is an acceptable sacrifice to G.o.d."

But the executioners drew the burning coals constantly under the bed, and from above pierced him with their forks. Then said Lawrence, "O ye unblessed, understand ye not that your glowing embers cause no heat to my body, but rather cooling?" He then again with the most beautiful countenance said, "Saviour Christ, I thank thee that thou wilt strengthen me." He then looked towards the emperor, thus saying, "Behold, thou, wretch, hast roasted one part of my body, turn now the other, and eat." He then said again, "Saviour Christ, I thank thee with inward heart, that I may go into thy kingdom." And with these words he gave up his ghost, and with such martyrdom went to the realm on high, in which he dwelleth with G.o.d through all eternity. The cruel emperor then left the holy body on the iron hurdle, and with his chief officer hastened to the house of Tiberius.

Hippolytus then buried the holy body with great reverence in the burial-place of the widow Quiriaca, on this present day. But at the grave there watched a great many christian men with great lamentation. The holy priest Justin celebrated ma.s.s to and houseled them all. After this Hippolytus returned to his home, and with G.o.d's peace kissed his family, and houseled them all. Then suddenly, while he was sitting, the emperor's soldiers came, and seized him, and led him to the executioner. Decius then asked him with smiling mouth, "What, art thou turned magician, since thou hast buried {433} Lawrence?" He answered, "I did not that as a magician, but as a christian." Decius then in wrath ordered his mouth to be stricken with stones, and him to be stript, and said, "How, wast thou not a diligent worshiper of our G.o.ds? and now thou art become so foolish that thou art not ashamed of thy nakedness." Hippolytus answered, "I was foolish, and I am now wise and a christian. Through ignorance I believed in the error in which thou believest." Decius said, "Offer to the G.o.ds, lest, as Lawrence, thou perish by torments." He answered, "O, if I might imitate the blessed Lawrence!" Decius said, "Stretch him thus naked, and beat him with strong clubs." When he had long been beaten he thanked G.o.d. Decius said, "Hippolytus mocks your staves, scourge him with leaded whips." They then did so, till they were worn out. Hippolytus cried with a loud voice, "I am a christian." So the fierce emperor, when he could not, by any torments, seduce him from belief in Christ, commanded his chief officer to slay him by the most cruel death.

On the same day Valeria.n.u.s took an account of his property, and found nineteen men and women of his family, who had been baptized at the hands of the blessed Lawrence. To them said Valeria.n.u.s, "Consider your age, and have regard for your life, lest ye perish together with your lord Hippolytus."

They unanimously answered, "We desire to die purely with our lord, rather than to live impurely with you." Then was Valeria.n.u.s greatly irritated, and ordered Hippolytus to be led from the city with his household. The blessed Hippolytus then cheered his household, and said, "My brothers, be ye not sad nor afraid, for I and ye have one Lord, G.o.d Almighty." So Valeria.n.u.s ordered, in the sight of Hippolytus, all his domestics to be beheaded, and himself he ordered to be tied by the feet to the necks of untamed horses, and so to be drawn through thorns and brambles: and he with that binding gave up his ghost on the thirteenth day of {435} this month. On the same night the holy Justin gathered the bodies of them all and buried them.

But after the pa.s.sion of those saints, Decius and Valeria.n.u.s went together in a golden chariot to their temple, that they might force the christians to their wicked offerings. Then became Decius suddenly frantic with a fiendlike spirit, and cried, "O thou, Hippolytus, whither drawest thou me bound with sharp chains?" Valeria.n.u.s also frantic cried, "O thou, Lawrence, unsoftly thou drawest me bound with burning chains." And he forthwith died.

But Decius became horribly frantic, and for three days, with fiendlike voice, constantly cried, "I beseech thee, Lawrence, cease somewhat of those torments." Hereupon great lamentation and sore weeping arose in the dwelling, and the emperor's wife ordered all the christians who were in prison to be led out, and on the third day Decius in great torments departed.

But the queen Tryphonia, together with her daughter Cyrilla, sought the feet of the holy priest Justin with bitter tears, praying for holy baptism.

Justin then with great joy received them, and enjoined them a fast of seven days, and afterwards, by the holy baptismal bath, washed them from all their sins. When the emperor's thanes heard that the queen Tryphonia and the daughter of Decius, Cyrilla, had turned to the faith of Christ and to the salutary baptism, they with their wives sought the holy priest, and prayed for mercy and baptism. The blessed Justin, these things being done, took counsel with the christians, whom they would choose for bishop in the chair of Sixtus. They then unanimously chose a venerable man whose name was Dionysius, whom the bishop Maximus, of the city of Ostia, consecrated to the Roman episcopal see with honour.

Let us now pray with humble voice the holy martyr of G.o.d, Lawrence, whose festival this present day makes known to all the faithful church, that he intercede for us with the {437} Heavenly King, for whose name he suffered with bold mind many torments, with whom he free from care glorieth to eternity. Amen.

XVIII. K[=L]. SEPT.

DE a.s.sUMPTIONE BEATae MARIae.

Hieronimus se halga sacerd awrat aenne pistol be forsie aere eadigan MARIAN, G.o.des cennestran, to sumum halgan maedene, hyre nama waes Eustochium, and to hyre meder Paulam, seo waes gehalG.o.d wydewe. To ysum twam wifmannum awrat se ylca Hieronimus, menigfealde traht-bec, foran e hi waeron haliges lifes men, and swie gecneordlaecende on boclic.u.m smeagungum. es Hieronimus waes halig sacerd, and getogen on Hebreisc.u.m gereorde, and on Grecisc.u.m, and on Ledenum fulfremedlice; and he awende ure bibliothecan of Hebreisc.u.m boc.u.m to Leden spraece. He is se fyrmesta wealhstod betwux Hebreisc.u.m, and Grec.u.m, and Ledenwarum. Twa and hund-seofontig boca aere ealdan ? and aere niwan he awende on Leden to anre Bibliothecan, buton orum menigfealdum traht-boc.u.m e he mid gecneordum andgite deopancollice asmeade. a aet nextan he dihte isne pistol to aere halgan wydewan Paulam, and to am G.o.des maedene Eustochium, hyre dehter, and to eallum am maedenlic.u.m werode, e him mid drohtnigende waeron, us cweende:

Witodlice ge neadia me aet ic eow recce hu seo eadige Maria, on isum daegerlic.u.m daege to heofonlicere wununge genumen waes, aet eower maedenlica heap haebbe as lac Ledenre spraece, hu es maera freolsdaeg geond aeghwylces geares ymbryne beo aspend mid heofonlic.u.m lofe, and mid gastlicere blisse gemaersode sy, ylaes e eow on hand {438} bec.u.me seo lease gesetnys e urh gedwolmen wide tosawen is, and ge onne a gehiwedan leasunge for sore race underfon.

Solice fram anginne aes halgan G.o.dspelles ge geleornodon hu se heah-engel Gabriel am eadigan maedene Marian aes heofonlican aeelinges acennednysse gecydde, and aes Haelendes wundra, and aere gesaeligan G.o.des cennestran enunge, and hyre lifes daeda on am feower G.o.dspellic.u.m boc.u.m geswutollice oncneowon. Iohannes se G.o.dspellere awrat on Cristes rowunge, aet he sylf and Maria stodon mid dreorigum mode wi aere halgan rode, e se Haelend on gefaestnod waes. a cwae he to his agenre meder, "u faemne, efne her is in sunu." Eft he cwae to Iohanne, "Loca nu, her stent in modor." Syan, of am daege, haefde se G.o.dspellere Iohannes gymene aere halgan Marian, and mid carfulre enunge, swa swa agenre meder, gehyrsumode.

Drihten, urh his arfaestnysse, betaehte aet eadige maeden his cennestran am claenan men Iohanne, see on claenum maeghade symle wunode; and he fory synderlice am Drihtne leof waes, to an swie, aet he him one deorwuran mam, ealles middangeardes cwene, betaecan wolde; gewislice aet hire claenesta maeghad am claenan men geeod waere mid gecwemre geferraedene on wynsumre drohtnunge. On him bam waes an miht ansundes maeghades, ac oer intinga on Marian; on hire is waestmbaere maeghad, swa swa on nanum orum.

Nis on nanum orum men maeghad, gif aer bi waestmbaernys; ne waestmbaernys, gif aer bi ansund maeghad. Nu is fori gehalG.o.d aeger ge Marian maeghad ge hyre waestmbaernys urh a G.o.dcundlican acennednysse; and heo ealle ore oferstih on maeghade and on waestmbaernysse. eah-hwaeere, eah heo synderlice Iohannes gymene betaeht waere, hwaeere heo drohtnode gemaenelice, aefter Cristes upstige, mid am apostolic.u.m werode, infarende and utfarende betwux him, and hi ealle mid micelre arwurnysse and lufe hire enodon, and heo him {440} culice ealle ing ymbe Cristes menniscnysse gewissode; foran e heo fram fryme gewislice urh one Halgan Gast hi ealle geleornode, and mid agenre gesihe geseah; eah e a apostoli urh one ylcan Gast ealle ing undergeaton, and on ealre sofaestnysse gelaerede wurdon. Se heah-engel Gabriel hi ungewemmede geheold, and heo wunode on Iohannes and on ealra aera apostola gymene, on aere heofonlican scole, embe G.o.des ? smeagende, oaet G.o.d on ysum daege hi genam to am heofonlican rymsetle, and hi ofer engla weredum geufrode.

Nis geraed on nanre bec nan swutelre gewissung be hire geendunge, buton aet heo nu to-daeg wuldorfullice of am lichaman gewat. Hyre byrigen is swutol eallum onlociendum o ysne andweardan daeg, on middan aere dene Iosaphat.

Seo dene is betwux aere dune Sion and am munte Oliueti, and s...o...b..rigen is aeteowed open and emtig, and aer on-uppon on hire wurmynte is araered maere cyrce mid wundorlic.u.m stan-geweorce. Nis nanum deadlic.u.m men cu hu, oe on hwylcere tide hyre halga lichama anon gebroden waere, oe hwider he ahafen sy, oe hwaeer heo of deae arise: cwaedon eah gehwylce lareowas, aet hyre Sunu, see on am riddan daege mihtilice of deae aras, aet he eac his moder lichaman of deae araerde, and mid undeadlic.u.m wuldre on heofonan rice geloG.o.de. Eac swa gelice forwel menige lareowas on heora boc.u.m setton, be am ge-edcucedum mannum e mid Criste of deae arison, aet hi ecelice araerede synd. Witodlice hi andetton aet a araeredan men naeron sofaeste gewitan Cristes aeristes, buton hi waeron ecelice araerede. Ne wicwee we be aere eadigan Marian a ecan aeriste, eah, for waerscipe gehealdenum geleafan, us gedafena aet we hit wenon swior onne we unraedlice hit gesean aet e is uncu buton aelcere fraecednysse.

We raeda gehwaer on boc.u.m, aet forwel oft englas comon to G.o.dra manna forsie, and mid gastlic.u.m lofsangum heora sawla to heofonum gelaeddon.