Chapter II: Ka=l. Jul (2)

Verily this following sentence applies to the perishing soul, "On this day thou dwellest in peace, for the vengeance to come is now hidden from thine eyes." The perverse soul is indeed dwelling in peace in its day, when in transient time it rejoices, and is exalted with dignities, and in temporary enjoyments is immoderate, and is dissolved in fleshly lusts, and is awed by no fear of future punishment, but hides from itself the miseries following after; because if it reflect on them, then will worldly bliss be troubled by that reflection. It has then peace in its day, when it will not afflict the present mirth with any care for the future unhappiness, but goes with closed eyes to the penal fire. The soul which in this wise now lives, shall be afflicted when the righteous rejoice; and all the perishable things, which it now accounts as peace and bliss, shall then be turned for it to bitterness and strife; for it will have great contention with itself, why it would not before in life with any carefulness foresee the condemnation which it then is suffering. Concerning which it is written, "Blessed is the man who is ever fearing; and verily the hardened shall fall into evil." Again in another place holy writ admonishes, "In all thy works be thou mindful of thy last day, and in eternity thou wilt not sin."

The holy lesson says, "The time cometh that thy foes shall encompass thee with a leaguer, and shall straiten thee on {411} every side, and shall prostrate thee to earth, together with thy children which are in thee." The foes of the soul are the hellish spirits which beset a man's departure, and with great tribulation will lead his soul, if it be sinful, to the fellowship of their own damnation. The devils show to the sinful soul its evil thoughts, and pernicious speeches, and wicked deeds, and with manifold reproaches afflict it, that on its departure it may know by what foes it is beset, and yet find no outlet whereby it may flee from the hostile spirits. To earth it shall be prostrated by a knowledge of its sins, when the body in which it lived shall be rotted to dust. Its children shall fall in death, when the unallowed thoughts, which it now gives birth to, shall, in the last vengeance, be wholly rendered vain, as the psalmist melodiously sang, "Trust not in princes, nor in the children of men, in whom there is no health. Their spirit departs, and they return to earth, and in that day all their thoughts perish."

Verily in the gospel it follows, "And they shall not leave in thee stone over stone." The perverse mind, when it heaps evil over evil, and perversity over perversity, what does it, but as though it lay stone over stone? But when the soul shall be led to its punishment, then will all the structure of its cogitation be overthrown; for it knew not the time of its visitation. In many ways the Almighty God visits the souls of men; sometimes with instruction, sometimes with miracles, sometimes with diseases; but if it neglect these visitations, it will be at its end delivered for eternal punishment to fiends, whom it had previously with deadly sins obeyed in life. Then shall those be its tormentors in hell-torment, who had before allured it by divers pleasures to those sins.

The Lord went into the temple, and with a scourge drove out the chapmen. The chapmen within the temple betokened {413} unrighteous teachers in God's church. There were for sale oxen, and sheep, and doves, and there sat moneyers. The ox toils for his lord, and the teacher sells oxen in God's church, if he perform his Lord's tillage, that is, if he preach the gospel to those under his care, for earthly gains, and not for godly love. With sheep he traffics, if he seek after the praises of foolish men in pious works. Of such Jesus said, "They have received the reward of their works;" that is the fame of idle praise, which was pleasing to them.

The teacher is a chapman of doves, who will not without money give for use of other men, the gift which God, without his deserts, has given to him; as Christ himself taught, "Without price ye have received the gift, give it to others without price." He who with assumed holiness toils for himself in God's church, and cares nothing for Christ's tillage, will undoubtedly be accounted a money-chapman. But Jesus will drive such chapmen from his house, when, with condemnation, he shall separate them from the fellowship of his chosen.

"My house is a prayer-house, and ye have made it a den for thieves." It happens too often that the perverse come to great dignity in God's church, and they then, with their evilness, spiritually slay those placed under their care, whom they ought with their prayers to quicken. What are such but thieves? The mind of every believing man is a house of God, as the apostle said, "The temple of God is holy, which ye are." But the mind will be no prayer-house, but a den of thieves, if it lose the innocence and meekness of true holiness, and with perverse thoughts meditate harm to others.

"And he was teaching daily within the temple." Christ then taught the people in his presence, and he now daily teaches the minds of believing men with godly lore, by meditation, to eschew evil and perform good. It is not perfect for the believing man to cease from evil, unless he performs good. The blessed Gregory said, "My brothers, I would relate to you a little narrative, which may greatly edify your minds, if ye with heedfulness will hear it. There was a {415} certain nobleman in the province of Valeria, who was called Chrysaurius, who was as much filled with sins as he was enriched with earthly riches. He was inflated with pride, and a slave to his fleshly lusts, and inflamed with excessive covetousness. But when God designed to put an end to his wickedness, he became sick, and brought to departure hence. Then at the very time that he should die, he looked up, and there stood about him swart spirits, and in a great company descended on him, that they might snatch his soul, on its departure, with them to the barriers of hell. He began then to tremble and grow pale, and incredibly to sweat, and with great cry to pray for a respite, and with troubled voice called his son Maximus, whom I afterwards saw as a monk, and said, My child, Maximus, help me; receive me in thy faith: I have not in any way been hurtful to thee. The son Maximus then, troubled with great sorrowing, came to him. He was then turning like a worm; he could not endure the dreadful sight of the accursed spirits. He turned himself to the wall, there they were present to him; he turned back again, there he found them. When he, so greatly afflicted, was hopeless of himself, he cried with a loud voice, and thus said, Grant me a respite till to-morrow, at least a respite till to-morrow: and with this cry the black fiends drew the soul from the body, and led it away." From this it is manifest, that the vision was shown to him for the bettering of other men, not for his own. Alas, what did it profit him, though, on his departure, he saw the swart spirits, when he might not have the respite which he desired? But let us be careful, that our time escape not from us in vanity, and we turn to good deeds, when death urges us to departure.

Thou, Almighty Lord, have mercy on us sinful, and so order our departure, that we, having atoned for our sins, may, after this perilous life, be associated with thy saints. To thee be praise and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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{416} IIII. IDUS AUGUSTI.

PASSIO BEATI LAURENTII MARTYRIS.

On Decies daege, thaes waelhreowan caseres, waes se halga biscop Sixtus on Romana byrig drohtnigende. Dha faerlice het h['e] his gesihum, dhone biscop mid his preostum samod geandwerdian. Sixtus dha unforhtmod to his preostum clypode, "Mine gebrodhra, ne beo ge afyrhte, cumadh, and eower nan him ne ondraede dha scortan tintregunga. Tha halgan martyras gedhrowodon fela pinunga, thaet h['i] orsorge becomon to wulder-beage thaes ecan lifes." Tha andwyrdon his twegen diaconas, Felicissimus and Agapitus, "Dhu, ure faeder, hwider fare we butan dhe?" On dhaere nihte weardh se biscop mid his tw['a]m diaconum hraedlice to dham redhum ehtere gebroht. Se casere Decius him cwaedh to, "Geoffra dhine l['a]c dham undeadlicum godum, and beo dhu thaera sacerda ealdor." Se eadiga Sixtus him andwyrde, "Ic symle geoffrode, and g['y]t offrige mine l['a]c dham Aelmihtigan Gode, and his Suna, Haelendum Criste, and dham Halgum Gaste, hluttre onsaegednysse and ungewemmede." Decius cwaedh, "Gebeorh dhe and dhinum preostum, and geoffra. Sodhlice gif dhu ne dest, thu scealt beon eallum odhrum to bysne." Sixtus sodhlice andwyrde, "Hwene aer ic dhe saede, thaet ic symle geoffrige dham Aelmihtigum Gode." Decius dha cwaedh to his cempum, "Laedadh hine to dham temple Martis, thaet he dham gode Marti geoffrige: gif he nelle offrian, beclysadh hine on dham cwearterne Mamortini." Tha cempan hine laeddon to dham deofolgylde, and hine dhreatodon thaet he dhaere deadan anlicnysse his l['a]c offrian sceolde. Thadha he dhaes caseres haese forseah, and dham deofolgylde offrian nolde, dha gebrohton hi hine mid his twam diaconum binnan dham blindan cwearterne.

Tha betwux dham com LAURENTIUS, his erce-diacon, and dhone halgan biscop mid dhisum wordum gespraec, "Dhu, m['i]n faeder, hwider sidhast dhu butan dhinum bearne? Thu halga {418} sacerd, hwider efst dhu butan dhinum diacone? Naes dhin gewuna thaet dhu butan dhinum diacone Gode geoffrodest. Hwaet mislicode dhe, min faeder, on me? Geswutela dhine mihte on dhinum bearne, and geoffra Gode thone dhe dhu getuge, thaet thu dhy orsorglicor becume to dham aedhelan wulder-beage." Thadha se eadiga Laurentius mid thisum wordum and ma odhrum bem['ae]nde thaet he ne moste mid his lareowe dhrowian, dha andwyrde se biscop, "Min bearn, ne forlaete ic dhe, ac dhe gerist mara campdom on dhinum gewinne. We underfodh, swa swa ealde men, scortne ryne thaes leohtran gewinnes; sodhlice thu geonga underfehst miccle wulderfulran sige aet dhisum redhan cyninge. Min cild, geswic dhines wopes: aefter dhrim dagum dhu cymst sigefaest to me to dham ecum life. Nim nu ure cyrcan madhmas, and dael cristenum mannum, be dhan dhe dhe gewyrdh."

Se erce-diacon dha, Laurentius, be dhaes biscopes haese ferde and daelde thaere cyrcan madhmas preostum, and aeldheodigum dhearfum, and wudewum, aelcum be his neode. He com to sumere wudewan, hire nama waes Quiriaca, seo haefde behyd on hire hame preostas and manega laewede cristenan. Dha se eadiga Laurentius dhwoh heora ealra f['e]t, and dha wudewan fram hefigtimum heafod-ece gehaelde. Eac sum ymesene man mid wope his f['e]t gesohte, biddende his haele. Laurentius dha mearcode rode-tacen on dhaes blindan eagan, and he dhaerrihte beorhtlice geseah. Se erce-diacon dha-gyt geaxode m['a] cristenra manna gehwaer, and h['i] aer his dhrowunge mid gastlicere sibbe and mid f['o]t-dhweale geneosode.

Thadha h['e] dhanon gewende, dha waes his l['a]reow Sixtus mid his twam diaconum of dham cwearterne gelaedd, aetforan dham casere Decium. He weardh tha geh['a]thyrt ongean dhone halgan biscop, dhus cwedhende, "Witodlice we beorgadh dhinre ylde: gehyrsuma urum bebodum, and geoffra dham undeadhlicum godum." Se eadiga biscop him andwyrde, "Dhu earming, beorh dhe sylfum, and wyrc daedbote for dhaera halgena blode {420} dhe dhu agute." Se waelhreowa cwellere mid gebolgenum mode cwaedh to his heah-gerefan, Ualeriane, "Gif dhes bealdwyrda biscop acweald ne bidh, sidhdhan ne bidh ure ege ondraedendlic." Ualerianus him andwyrde, "Beo he heafde becorfen. Hat h['i] eft to dhaes godes temple Martis gel['ae]dan, and gif h['i] nelladh to him gebigedum cneowum gebiddan, and heora l['a]c offrian, underf['o]n h['i] beheafdunge on dhaere ylcan stowe." Thaes caseres cempan hine laeddon to dham deofolgylde mid his twam diaconum: dha beseah se biscop widh dhaes temples, and dhus cwaedh, "Thu dumba deofolgyld, thurh dhe forleosadh earme menn thaet ece lif: towurpe dhe se Aelmihtiga Godes Sunu." Tha mid tham worde tobaerst sum dael dhaes temples mid faerlicum hryre. Laurentius dha clypode to dham biscope, "Thu halga faeder, ne forl['ae]t dhu me, fordhan dhe ic aspende dhaere cyrcan madhmas swa swa dhu me bebude." Hwaet dha cempan dha hine gelaehton, fordhan dhe h['i] gehyrdon hine be dham cyrclicum madmum sprecan. Sixtus dha sodhlice underhn['a]h swurdes ecge, and his twegen diaconas samod, Felicissimus and Agapitus, aetforan dham temple, on dham sixtan daege thyses mondhes.

Laurentius witodlice weardh sidhdhan gebroht to dham casere, and se redha cwellere hine dha befr['a]n, "Hwaer sind dhaere cyrcan madmas dhe dhe betaehte waeron?" Se eadiga Laurentius mid nanum worde him ne geandwyrde. On dham ylcan daege betaehte se Godes feond dhone halgan diacon his heah-gerefan Ualeriane, mid dhysum bebode, "Ofgang dha madmas mid geornfulnysse, and hine gebig to dham undeadlicum godum." Se gerefa dha hine betaehte his gingran, dhaes nama waes Ypolitus, and he hine beclysde on cwearterne mid manegum odhrum. Tha gemette h['e] on dham cwearterne aenne haedhenne man, se waes dhurh micelne w['o]p ablend. Dha cwaedh he him to, "Lucille, gif dhu gelyfst on Haelend Crist, he onliht dhine eagan." He andwyrde, "Aefre ic gewilnode thaet ic on Cristes naman gefullod waere." Laurentius him to cwaedh, "Gelyfst dhu mid ealre heortan?" He andwyrde mid wope, "Ic {422} gelyfe on Haelend Crist, and dham leasum deofolgyldum widhsace." Ypolitus mid gedhylde heora wordum heorcnode. Se gesaeliga Laurentius taehte dha dham blindan sodhne geleafan dhaere Halgan Thrynnysse, and hine gefullode. Lucillus aefter dham fulluht-baedhe mid beorhtre stemne clypode, "Sy gebletsod se Eca God, Haelend Crist, dhe me dhurh his diacon onlihte. Ic waes blind b['a]m eagum, nu ic beorhtlice leohtes bruce." Witodlice dha fela odhre blinde mid wope comon to dham eadigan diacone, and h['e] asette his handa ofer heora eagan, and h['i] wurdon onlihte.

Se t['u]n-gerefa Ypolitus cwaedh dha to dham diacone, "Geswutela me dhaere cyrcan madmas." Laurentius cwaedh, "Eala dhu Ypolite, gif dhu gelyfst on God Faeder, and on his Sunu Haelend Crist, ic dhe geswutelige dha madmas, and thaet ece l['i]f behate." Ypolitus cwaedh, "Gif dhu dhas word mid weorcum gefylst, dhonne do ic swa dhu me tihst." Laurentius dha halgode fant, and hine gefullode. Sodhlice Ypolitus aefter dham fulluht-baedhe waes clypigende mid beorhtre stemne, "Ic geseah unscaedhdhigra manna sawla on Gode blissigan." And he mid tearum to dham eadigan diacone cwaedh, "Ic halsige dhe on dhaes Haelendes naman, thaet eal min h['i]wraeden gefullod wurdhe." Witodlice Laurentius mid blidhum mode him dhaes getidhode, and nigontyne wera and wifa his h['i]wisces mid wuldre gefullode.

Aefter dhisum sende se heah-gerefa, and bebead Ypolite thaet he Laurentium to dhaes cynges cafer-tune gelaedde. Ypolitus thaet bebod mid eadmodre spraece cydde dham eadigan Laurentie. He cwaedh, "Uton faran, fordhan dhe me and dhe is wuldor gegearcod." Hi dha hraedlice comon, and unforhte him aetforan stodon. Tha cwaedh Ualerianus to dham halgan cydhere, "Awurp nu dhine anwilnysse, and agif dha madmas." Se Godes cydhere him andwyrde, "On Godes dhearfum ic h['i] aspende, and h['i] sind dha ecan madmas, dhe naefre ne beodh gewanode." Se gerefa cwaedh, "Hwaet fagettest dhu mid wordum? Geoffra dhine l['a]c urum gudum, and forl['ae]t dhone {424} drycraeft dhe dhu on getruwast." Laurentius cwaedh, "For hwilcum dhingum neadadh se deofol eow thaet ge cristene men to his biggengum dhreatniadh? Gif hit riht sy thaet we to deoflum us gebiddon swidhor thonne to dham Aelmihtigan Gode, deme ge hw['a] thaes wurdhmyntes wurdhe sy, se dhe geworht is, odhdhe se dhe ealle dhing gesceop." Se casere dha andwyrde, "Hwaet is se dhe geworht is, odhdhe hwaet is se dhe geworhte?" Godes cydhere cwaedh, "Se Aelmihtiga Faeder ures Haelendes is Scyppend ealra gesceafta, and dhu cwyst thaet ic me gebiddan sceole to dumbum stanum, dha dhe sind agrafene dhurh manna handa." Hwaet se casere dha hine gebealh, and het on his gesihdhe dhone diacon unscrydan, and waelhreowlice swingan, and se casere sylf clypode, "Ne hyrw dhu ure godas." Se eadiga Laurentius on dham tintregum cwaedh, "Witodlice ic dhancige minum Gode, the me gemedemode to his halgum; and dhu, earming, eart geancsumod on dhinre gewitleaste." Decius cwaedh to dham cwellerum, "Araeradh hine upp, and aeteowiadh his gesihdhum eal thaet wita-t['o]l." Tha wurdon hraedlice fordhaborene isene clutas, and isene clawa, and isen bedd, and leadene swipa and odhre gepilede swipa. Tha cwaedh se casere, "Geoffra dhine l['a]c urum godum, odhdhe thu bist mid eallum dhisum pinung-t['o]lum getintregod." Se eadiga diacon cwaedh, "Thu ungesaeliga, thas estmettas ic symle gewilnode: h['i] beodh me to wuldre, and dhe to wite." Se casere cwaedh, "Geswutela us ealle dha m['a]nfullan dhine gelican, thaet dheos burh beo geclaensod; and dhu sylf geoffra urum godum, and ne truwa dhu nateshwon on dhinum gold-hordum." Tha cwaedh se halga martyr, "Sodhlice ic truwige, and ic eom orsorh be minum hordum." Decius andwyrde, "Wenst dhu la thaet thu beo alysed mid dhinum hordum fram dhisum tintregum?" and het dha mid gramlicum mode thaet tha cwelleras mid stearcum saglum hine beoton. Witodlice Laurentius on dham gebeate clypode, "Thu earming, undergyt huru nu thaet ic s['i]grige be Cristes madmum, and ic dhine tintregu naht ne gefrede." Decius cwaedh, "Lecgadh dha isenan clutas hate glowende to {426} his sidan." Se eadiga martyr dha waes biddende his Drihten, and cwaedh, "Haelend Crist, God of Gode, gemiltsa thinum dheowan, fordhan dhe ic gewreged dhe ne widhsoc, befrinen ic dhe geandette." Tha het se casere hine araeran, and cwaedh, "Ic geseo thaet dhu, dhurh dhinne drycraeft, dhas tintregan gebysmerast; dheah-hwaedhere ne scealt dhu me gebysmrian. Ic swerige dhurh ealle godas and gydena, thaet thu scealt geoffrian, odhdhe ic dhe mid mislicum pinungum acwelle." Laurentius dha bealdlice clypode, "Ic on mines Drihtnes naman nateshwon ne forhtige for dhinum tintregum, dhe sind hwilwendlice: ne ablin dhu thaet dhu begunnen haefst."

Tha weardh se casere mid swydhlicere h['a]theortnysse geyrsod, and het dhone halgan diacon mid leadenum swipum langlice swingan. Laurentius dha clypode, "Haelend Crist, thu dhe gemedemodest thaet dhu to menniscum menn geboren waere, and us fram deofles dheowte alysdest, onfoh minne g['a]st." On dhaere ylcan tide him com andswaru of heofonum, thus cwedhende, "Gyt dhu scealt fela gewinn habban on dhinum martyrdome." Decius dha geh['a]thyrt clypode, "Romanisce weras, gehyrde ge dhaera deofla frofor on dhisum eawbraecum, dhe ure godas geyrsode ne ondraet, ne dha asmeadan tintregan? Astreccadh hine, and mid gepiledum swipum swingende geangsumiadh." Laurentius dha astreht on dhaere hengene, mid hlihendum mudhe dhancode his Drihtne, "Drihten God, Faeder Haelendes Cristes, sy dhu gebletsod, the us forgeafe dhine mildheortnysse; cydh nu dhine arfaestnysse, thaet dhas ymbstandendan oncnawon thaet dhu gefrefrast dhine dheowan." On dhaere tide gelyfde ['a]n dhaera cempena, dhaes nama waes Romanus, and cwaedh to dham Godes cydhere, "Laurentie, ic geseo Godes engel standende aetforan dhe mid hand-cladhe, and wipadh dhine swatigan limu. Nu halsige ic dhe, thurh God, thaet thu me ne forlaete." Tha weardh Decius mid facne afylled, and cwaedh to his heah-gerefan, "Me dhincdh thaet we sind dhurh drycraeft oferswidhde." And he het dha alysan dhone diacon of dhaere hengene, and betaecan dham t['u]n-gerefan Ypolite, and nyste dha-g['y]t thaet h['e] cristen waes.

{428} Tha betwux dham brohte se gelyfeda cempa Romanus ceacfulne waeteres, and mid wope dhaes halgan Laurenties f['e]t gesohte, fulluhtes biddende. Laurentius dha hraedlice thaet waeter gehalgode, and dhone geleaffullan dhegen gefullode. Thadha Decius thaet geaxode, dha het he hine w['ae]dum bereafian, and mid stearcum stengum beatan. Romanus dha ungeaxod clypode on dhaes caseres andwerdnysse, "Ic eom cristen." On dhaere ylcan tide het se redha cwellere hine underhn['i]gan swurdes ecge. Eft on dhaere ylcan nihte, aefter dhaes cempan martyrdome, ferde Decius to dham hatum badhum widh thaet botl Salustii, and het dhone halgan Laurentium him to gefeccan. Tha ongann Ypolitus sarlice heofian, and cwaedh, "Ic wylle mid dhe sidhian, and mid hluddre stemne hryman, thaet ic cristen eom, and mid the licgan." Laurentius cwaedh, "Ne wep dhu, ac swidhor suwa and blissa, fordhan dhe ic fare to Godes wuldre. Eft aefter lytlum fyrste, dhonne ic dhe clypige, gehyr mine stemne, and cum to me."

Decius dha het gearcian eal thaet pinung-t['o]l aetforan his d['o]msetle, and Laurentius him weardh to gelaed. Decius cwaedh, "Awurp dhone truwan dhines drycraeftes, and gerece ['u]s dhine maegdhe." Se eadiga Laurentius andwyrde, "Aefter menniscum gebyrde ic eom Hispanienscis, Romanisc fostor-cild, and cristen fram cild-cradole, getogen on ealre godcundre ['ae]." Decius andwyrde, "Sodhlice is seo ['ae] godcundlic dhe dhe swa gebylde thaet dhu nelt ure godas wurdhian, ne dhu nanes cynnes tintregan the ne ondraetst." Laurentius cwaedh, "On Cristes naman ne forhtige ic for dhinum tintregum." Se waelhreowa casere dha cwaedh, "Gif dhu ne offrast urum godum, eall dheos niht sceal beon aspend on dhe mid mislicum pinungum." Laurentius cwaedh, "Naefdh min niht nane forsworcennysse, ac heo mid beorhtum leohte scindh." Tha het se waelhreowa mid stanum dhaes halgan mudh cnucian. Hwaet dha Laurentius weardh gestrangod dhurh Godes gife, and mid hlihendum mudhe cwaedh, "Sy dhe l['o]f, Drihten, fordhan dhe dhu eart ealra dhinga God." Decius cwaedh to dham cwellerum, {430} "Ahebbadh thaet isene bed to dham fyre, thaet se modiga Laurentius hine dhaeron gereste." H['i] dhaerrihte hine waedon bereafodon, and on dham heardan bedde astrehton, and mid byrnendum gledum thaet bed undercrammodon, and hine ufan mid isenum geaflum dhydon.

Decius cwaedh dha to tham Godes cydhere, "Geoffra nu urum godum." Laurentius andwyrde, "Ic offrige me sylfne dham Aelmihtigan Gode on braedhe wynsumnysse; fordhan the se gedrefeda gast is Gode andfenge onsaegednys." Sodhlice dha cwelleras tugon dha gleda singallice under thaet bedd, and widh-ufan mid heora forcum hine dhydon. Dha cwaedh Laurentius, "Eala ge ungesaeligan, ne undergyte ge thaet eowre gleda nane h['ae]tan minum lichaman ne gedodh, ac swidhor c['e]linge?" He dha eft mid tham wlitegostan nebbe cwaedh, "Haelend Crist, ic dhancige dhe thaet dhu me gestrangian wylt." He dha beseah widh thaes caseres, thus cwedhende, "Efne dhu, earming, braeddest aenne dael mines lichaman, wend nu thone odherne, and et." He cwaedh dha eft, "Haelend Crist, ic dhancige dhe mid inweardre heortan, thaet ic m['o]t faran into dhinum rice." And mid thysum worde h['e] ageaf his gast, and mid swylcum martyrdome thaet uplice rice geferde, on dham he wunadh mid Gode ['a] on ecnysse. Tha forl['e]t se waelhreowa casere dhone halgan lichaman uppon dham isenan hyrdle, and tengde mid his heahgerefan to dham botle Tyberianum.

Ypolitus dha bebyrigde dhone halgan lichaman mid micelre arwurdhnysse on dhaere wudewan leger-stowe Quiriace, on dhysum daegdherlicum daege. Witodlice aet dhaere byrgene wacode micel menigu cristenra manna mid swidhlicere heofunge. Se halga sacerd Iustinus dha him eallum gemaessode and gehuslode. Aefter dhisum gecyrde Ypolitus to his hame, and mid Godes sibbe his hywan gecyste, and h['i] ealle gehuslode. Tha faerlice, mid dham dhe h['e] gesaet, comon dhaes caseres cempan, and hine gelaehton, and to dham cwellere gelaeddon. Hine befr['a]n dha Decius mid smercigendum mudhe, "Hwaet la, eart dhu to dry awend, fordhan dhe dhu bebyrigdest Laurentium?" {432} He andwyrde, "Thaet ic dyde na swa swa dry, ac swa swa cristen." Decius dha yrsigende het mid stanum his mudh cnucian, and hine unscrydan, and cwaedh, "La h['u], naere dhu geornful biggenga ura goda? and nu dhu eart swa stunt geworden thaet furdhon dhe ne sceamadh dhinre naecednysse." Ypolitus andwyrde, "Ic waes stunt, and ic eom nu w['i]s and cristen. Thurh nytenysse ic gelyfde on thaet gedwyld the dhu gelyfst." Decius cwaedh, "Geoffra dham godum dhylaes dhe dhu thurh tintrega forwurdhe, swa swa Laurentius." He andwyrde, "Eala gif ic moste dham eadigan Laurentium geefenlaecan!" Decius cwaedh, "Astreccadh hine swa nacodne, and mid stidhum saglum beatadh." Thadha h['e] langlice gebeaten waes, tha dhancode he Gode. Decius cwaedh, "Ypolitus gebysmradh eowre stengas; swingadh hine mid gepiledum swipum." Hi dha swa dydon, odhthaet h['i] ateorodon. Ypolitus clypode mid hluddre stemne, "Ic eom cristen." Eornostlice se redha casere, dhadha he ne mihte mid nanum pinungum hine geweman fram Cristes geleafan, dha het he his heah-gerefan thaet h['e] mid waelhreawum deadhe hine acwellan sceolde.

On dham ylcan daege asmeade Ualerianus his aehta, and gemette nygontyne wera and wifa his h['i]wisces, dhe waeron aet dhaes eadigan Laurenties handum gefullode. To dham cwaedh Ualerianus, "Sceawiadh eowre ylde, and beorgadh eowrum feore, dhylaes dhe ge samod losian mid eowrum hlaforde Ypolite." Hi dha anmodlice andwyrdon, "We wilniadh mid urum hlaforde claenlice sweltan, swidhor dhonne unclaenlice mid eow lybban." Tha weardh Ualerianus dhearle geh['a]thyrt, and het laedan Ypolitum of dhaere ceastre mid his hiwum. Dha se eadiga Ypolitus gehyrte his hired, and cwaedh, "Mine gebrodhra, ne beo ge dreorige ne afyrhte, fordhan dhe ic and ge habbadh aenne Hlaford, God Aelmihtigne." Sodhlice Ualerianus het beheafdian on Ypolitus gesihdhe ealle his hiwan, and hine sylfne het tigan be dham fotum to ungetemedra horsa swuran, and swa teon geond dhornas and bremelas: and he dha mid tham tige his gast ageaf on dham dhreotteodhan daege {434} thises mondhes. On dhaere ylcan nihte gegaderode se halga Iustinus heora ealra lic, and bebyrigde.

Eornostlice aefter dhaera halgena dhrowunge, ferde Decius on gyldenum craete and Ualerianus samod to heora haedhenum gylde, thaet h['i] dha cristenan to heora m['a]nfullum offrungum gedhreatodon. Dha weardh Decius faerlice mid feondlicum gaste aw['e]d, and hrymde, "Eala dhu, Ypolite, hwider tihst dhu me gebundenne mid scearpum racenteagum?" Ualerianus eac aw['e]d hrymde, "Eala dhu, Laurentius, unsoftlice tihst dhu me gebundenne mid byrnendum racenteagum." And he dhaerrihte swealt. Witodlice Decius egeslice awedde, and binnon dhrym dagum mid deoflicre stemne singallice hrymde, "Ic halsige dhe, Laurentius, abl['i]n hwaethwega dhaera tintregena." Hwaet dha, la asprang micel heofung and sarlic w['o]p on dham hame, and dhaes caseres w['i]f h['e]t ['u]t-alaedan ealle dha cristenan dhe on cwearterne waeron, and Decius on dham dhriddan daege mid micclum tintregum gew['a]t.

Sodhlice seo cw['e]n Triphonia gesohte dhaes halgan sacerdes f['e]t Iustines mid biterum tearum, and hire dohtor Cyrilla samod, biddende thaes halgan fulluhtes. Iustinus dha mid micelre blisse h['i] underfeng, and him bebead seofon dagena faesten, and h['i] sydhdhan mid tham halgum fulluht-baedhe fram eallum heora m['a]ndaedum adhwoh. Thadha thaes caseres dhegnas gehyrdon thaet seo cw['e]n Triphonia and Decius dohtor Cyrilla to Cristes geleafan, and to dham halwendum fulluhte gebogene waeron, h['i] dha mid heora wifum gesohton dhone halgan sacerd, and baedon miltsunge and fulluhtes. Se eadiga Iustinus, dhisum gewordenum, raedde widh tha cristenan hwaene h['i] to bisceope ceosan woldon on Sixtes setle. Hi dha anmodlice sumne arwurdhfulne wer gecuron, dhaes nama waes Dionisius, dhone gehadode se bisceop Maximus, of dhaere byrig Ostiensis, to dham Romaniscum bisceop-setle, widh wurdhmynte.

Uton nu biddan mid eadmodre stemne dhone halgan Godes cydhere Laurentium, thaes freols-t['i]d geswuteladh thes andwerda daeg ealre geleaffulre geladhunge, thaet he us dhingige widh dhone {436} Heofenlican Cyning, for dhaes naman he dhrowode mid cenum mode menigfealde tintregu, mid dham he orsorhlice on ecnysse wuldradh. Amen.

{417} AUGUST X.

THE PASSION 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 gods, 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 God, 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 God." Decius then said to his soldiers, "Lead him to the temple of Mars, that he may offer to the god 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 God without thy deacon. What has displeased thee, my father, in me? Show thy power on thy child, and offer to God him whom thou hast trained up, that thou the less sorrowfully attain to the noble 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 passion 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 gods." 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 Valerianus, "If this audacious bishop be not slain, awe for us will be no longer formidable." Valerianus answered him, "Let his head be cut off. Order them again to the temple of the god, 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 God 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 God committed the holy deacon to his chief officer Valerianus, with this command, "Exact the treasures with importunity, and make him bow to the immortal gods." 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 God, 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 God 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 God." 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 Valerianus to the holy martyr, "Cast away now thy obstinacy, and give up the treasures." The martyr of God answered him, "On God'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 gods, 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 God, 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?" God'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 gods." The blessed Lawrence said in torments, "Verily I thank my God, 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 gods, 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 gods, 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, God of God, 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 gods and goddesses, 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 gods, 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 God, 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 Romanus, believed, and said to the martyr of God, "Lawrence, I see God's angel standing before thee with a hand-cloth, and wiping thy sweating limbs. I now beseech thee, through God, 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 Romanus 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. Romanus 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 Sallust, 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 God'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 gods, 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 gods, 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 God, and said with laughing mouth, "Lord, be to thee praise, for thou of all things art God." 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 God, "Offer now to our gods." Lawrence answered, "I will offer myself to the Almighty God, in the odour of pleasantness; for the afflicted spirit is an acceptable sacrifice to God." 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 God 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 mass to and houseled them all. After this Hippolytus returned to his home, and with God'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 gods? 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 gods, 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 God. 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 Valerianus 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 Valerianus, "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 Valerianus 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, God Almighty." So Valerianus 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 passion of those saints, Decius and Valerianus 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?" Valerianus 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 God, 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.

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