1B9.5.2

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2

HU MAN HET ÆQUITIUM CUMAN TO ROME.

    
3þa æt nexstan becom þisses ylcan weres hlisa to cyþnysse
4Romana biscope, & þa wæs hit sona, swa
5hit for oft byð, þæt seo tunge þara leasolecendra cweleþ
6& swenceþ þæs sawle, þe hi gehieran lysteþ.
7swa on þa ylcan tid, þe þa preostas gehyrdon þises
8apostolican setles biscopes þone hlisan þæs
9halgan weres, hi þa sona olæcende wæron ymb þæt

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10seofiende & þus cwædon: hwæt is þes ceorlisca wer, þe
11þus hafað him sylfum genumen þa ealdorlicnysse þære
12halgan lare & neþeþ þus ungelæred, þæt he
13agnað him sylfum þa þenunga ures apostolican hlafordes?
14ac la, hlaford, gif hit þin willa sy, sænde man ærendwrecan
15to him, & se hine hider gefecce, þæt
16we magan ongytan, hwilc his seo circlice strengþ sy.
17þa sona swa hit þeaw is, þæt þam mode, þe biþ abysgod
18in manigum þingum, swiþe undercreopeð seo
19lease olehtung, gif heo ne byþ þy hraþor onweg adrifen fram
20þære heortan æmtignesse.
21swa þa lærendum þam preostum se papa geþafode, þæt
22Equitius moste beon gelæded to Romebyrig, &
23þæt man ongæte, hwæt se his wisdom wære.
24& he þa sænde Iulianum his witan, se æfter þon wearð
25biscop on Sabinense þære cyrcan, & þæt bebead,
26þæt he hine gelædde mid mycelre are, þy læs se Godes
27þeow æniges teonan oht ongeate for þissere
28gemetingce.
29he þa sona wolde gehyran be þære wisan þara preosta
30willan & ferde ofstlice to þæs halgan mannes
31mynstre.
32& þa he þær com æfweardum þam abbode, he gemette þa
33writeras ærest writende & þa acsode he hi, hwær se

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34abbud wære.
35hi him cwædon to: he maweþ heig on þissere dene, þe ligeþ
36beneoþan þisum mynstre.
37se ylca Iulianus hæfde ænne swiþe oferhigdigne cniht &
38mycelne wiðerbrecan, þam he sylf mihte
39uneaðe gewyldan.
40þa sænde he þisne to þam halgan men, þæt he hine
41hrædlice to him gelædde.
42þa arn se cniht & mid þweorum gehigde eode hwætlice on
43þa mædwe, & þa geseah he, þæt hi ealle
44meowan þæt heig, þa þe þær wæron.
45ða acsode he, hwilc wære Equitius.
46þa sona swa he geacsode, hwilc he wæs, & he hine feorran
47onlocode, þa wearð he mid unmætum ege
48geþread.
49he ongan him ondrædan & wergian & to þon swiðe cwacian,
50þæt he uneaðe hine sylfne aberan mihte, &
51þa swa bifigende com to þam Godes mæn & sona mid his earmum
52befeng his cneowu & wæs cyssende & him
53sæde, þæt his hlaford þider to him cumen wære.
54& he þa se Godes þeowa gehalette þone cniht & him þus
55bebead & cwæð: aris & ber þis grene hig þam
56horsum to mete, þe ge hider on comon.
57& nu is lytel to lafe þysses mæþes & swa þis gedon byþ,
58ic ga æfter þe.
59þa wundrode Iulianus swiþe, þe þider onsænded wæs, hwæt
60þæt

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61wære, þæt se cniht yldode, þæt he hraðor ne come.
62þa he þa geseah þone cniht to him cyrrende & hig berende on
63his sweoran of þam mædwum, þa ongan he
64swiðe yrre clypigan ongæn him & þus cwæð: hwæt is þis,
65þæt þu dyst?
66ic wende, þæt þu scoldest me mann to lædan, nu byrst þu
67heig.
68se cniht him andswarode & cwæð: he cymð æfter me, se þu
69secest.
70þa com se Godes wer gescod mid gehammenum scon & bær on his
71eaxle his hegsiþe.
72þam habbude þa gyt feorr gangende se cniht sæde þa his
73hlaforde, þæt þæt wære, se þe he sohte.
74þa semninga se ylca Iulianus, swa he geseah þone Godes
75þeowan, he forseah hine sona for his
76gegerelan & þohte mid þwerum mode on his oferhigdum, hu he
77sceolde him to sprecan.
78ac þa sona swa se Godes þeowa him wæs neah, on þæs ylcan
79Iulianus mod gefor unaræfnedlicu fyrhtu,
80swa þæt he forhtode, þæt uneaðe him mihte MS: þæt
81he uneaðe mihte his tunge genihtsumian, to þon þæt he
82sæde his ærende, þe he þider fore com.
83he þa sona mid geeadmodadum gaste georne to his cneowum
84gewilnode, þæt

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85he for hine gebæde & sæde,
86þæt his fæder se apostolica biscop hine geseon wolde.
87þa ongan se arwyrða Equitius don unmæte þancas þam
88ælmihtigan Gode & þæt sæde, þæt hine
89geneosode seo uplice gifu þurh þone hean biscop þæs
90apostolican setles.
91& þa hraðe gecigde his broþer & him bebead, þæt on þa
92ylcan tid sceoldon beon heora hors
93gegearwode & ongan his geferan swiðe þreagan, þæt hi
94scoldon on þa tid utfaran.
95þa cwæð Iulianus to him: ne mæg þæt nænigra þinga
96beon, forþon ic eom swiþe werig for þy langan
97wege, þæt ic ne mæg todæg heonan faran.
98þa andswarode se halga him & þus cwæð: þu geunrotsast me
99þonne, min sunu, forþon ic wat, gif we
100on þysum ylcan dæge ne feraþ, þæt we tomorgen nænig
101færeld ne þurhteoð.
102& þa swa se Godes þeowa wæs genyded fram werignysse his
103geferan , þæt he wunode þa niht on his mynstre.
104þa þe æfterfylgendan dæge sona on dægred com ærendraca
105to Iuliane mid epistolan & mid swiðe
106geswenctan horse for ærnige.
107in þam epistolan wæs beboden, þæt he ne gedyrstlæhte to
108þon, þæt he aht grette þone Godes þeowan,

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109oþþe hine of ðam mynstre styrede.
110& þa sona swa he acsode, for hwon se cwide onwænded wære,
111he ongæt, þæt þy ylcan nihte, þe him se
112ærendraca æfter wæs sænded, þæt se apostolica biscop
113wæs swiðe abreged on swefne þurh nihtlice
114gesihþe, for hwon he geþrysstlæhte, þæt he hete þone
115Godes man swa swæncan & to him spanan.
116& þa hraðe aras Iulianus se ærendraca & hine sylfne þære
117gebedrædenne þæs arwurðan weres befæste
118& þa cwæð to him: eower fæder eow biddað, þæt ge ne
119scylen eow swencan on þone siþ.
120þa se Godes þeowa þis gehyrde, þa wæs he sona geunrotsod
121& þus cwæð: hu, ne sægde ic gyrstandæge,
122þæt gif we þa sona ne ferdon, þæt us nu nære alyfed to
123farene?
124& þa fore gegearwunge þære soþan lufe he hæfde þone
125ærendracan Iulianum hwylcnehugu fyrst in þam
126mynstre, to þon þæt he him swa gelettum & swa genyddum
127forgeafe & gedyde hwæthugu getæse his
128gewinnes.
129ongyt nu, Petrus, on hu mycelre Godes hyrnysse beoð, þa þe
130cunnon hi sylfe forseon on þysum life, &
131mid hwylcum ceasterwarum beoð in are getealde innan, þa
132þe ne

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133scamiað, þæt hi syn mannum forsewene utan.
134swa eac wið þan beforan Godes eagum licgað forsewene, þa
135þe aþindað & aswellað þurh þa wilnunge
136þæs idlan gylpes mid heom sylfum & beforan þam THE
137WORD þam ADDED BY THE EDITOR eagum heora nehstena.
138be þan seo soðfæstnys, þæt is Crist, cwæð to sumum
139mannum: ge wæron þa þe eow sylfe godiaþ beforan
140mannum, ac God cann eowre heortan, forþon eall þæt mannum
141þinceð healic, þæt byþ onscuniendlic
142beforan Gode.
143Petrus cwæð: ic wundrige swyþe, þæt æfre mihte be
144swilcum were & swa mycclum biscope beon
145undercropen seo deofollice scinnys þurh þa olehtinga þara
146preosta.
147Gregorius him andswarode: to hwan wundrast þu, Petrus,
148forþon þe we men syndon & beoþ ful oft
149belogene fram oþrum mannum?
150hwæþer þe of mode abeahMS aleah, þæt þu ne gemundest, þæt
151Dauid, þe gewunade, þæt he hæfde witedomes gast
152in him, he demde dom ongen þone unscyldigan Ionathanes sunu,
153þa þa he gehyrde þæs leogendan
154cnihtes word?
155þæt þonne hwæþre gedon wæs þurh Dauid, we gelyfað,
156þæt hit riht wære in þam diglan Godes

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157dome, ac
158hwæþre we ne magon na geseon ne geþæncan, hu hit riht
159wære in þam mænniscan rihte.
160hwylc wundor is þæt forþon, Petrus, þeh þe we hwilum syn
161gelædde in oþer ofoþra leogendra muþe, we þe
162nænige witigan næron?
163ac we witan, þæt þæt swiþe mycel is, þæt anra gehwilces
164biscopes mod byþ forhergod & todrifeþ full
165oft seo þicnes þara woruldlicra ymbhogena, & þonne hit
166þæt mod byð todæled to manegum wisum, hit
167byð þy medmare to hwylcum synderlicum þingum.
168& swa myccle ma hit byþ undercropen mid scinnysse & beswicen
169in hwylcumhugu anum þinge, swa myccle
170hit rumor & widdor byþ abysgod on manegum wisum.
171Petrus him cwæþ to: swiðe soðe wæron þa word þe þu
172sagast.
173

HU SEO EARC WÆS AWORPEN OF ÆQUITIES BYRIGENE.

    
174Gregorius him andswarode: ne sceall ic na forswigian, þæt ic
175iuMS nu ongæt þy þe me hit sægde se
176arwyrþa wer Ualentinus be þam ylcan abbude.
177he cwæð, þæt his lichama wære bebyrged in þam gebedhuse
178þæs eadigan Laurenties þæs martyres.
179þa eode sum ceorl & asette his earcan mid

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180hwæte gefylde ofer þæs halgan mannes byrgene & ne gymde,
181þæt he geþohte oþþe him ondrede, hu mycel & hu arwurðe
182wer þær reste.
183þa semninga wæs geworden þoden of heofonum, þæt he ahof
184upp þa earcan, þe aseted wæs ofer þa
185byrgene & hi forð awearp feorr of þon þe heo on stod, &
186elles ealle þa þing þe þær wæron gewunedon on
187heora agnum stede, efne swa þæt openlice ealle þa þe
188þær wæron ongæton, hu mycelre geearnunge wæs,
189se þe his lichama þær reste.
190

HU ÞA REÐAN LANGBEARDE AWEDDON, & ÞA MUNECAS WURDON
191ALYSEDE.

    
192Eac þa word, Petrus, þe ic her gyt secgcan wille, ic oncneow
193of sægene þæs forecwedenan & þæs
194arwurþan weres Fortunates, þæs yldu & weorc & bylwitnes me
195licaþ swiþe wel.
196se ylca me sæde, þæt Langbearde foron hergiende in
197Ualeriam þa mægðe.
198þa þa munecas of þæs arwurþan weres mynstre Equities
199geflugon in þæt gebedhus, hi ongunnon teon ut
200þa munecas & hi todrifon þurh manegu tintregu & eac sume
201mid heora swurdum acwealdon.
202þa an þara muneca wæs onstyred mid grimman sare, he
203ageomrode &

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204cleopode þus: loca nu, þu halga Equitius.
205licað þe, þæt we synt þus atogene, & þu us nylt no
206scyldan?
207sona to þæs stefne se unclæna gast gefor on þa reþgiendan
208Langbeardan, & hi þa urnon geond þæt
209land wedende, & swa lange hi wæron fram deofle geswencte, oþ
210þæt þa Langbeardas ongæton, þa þe þær ute
211wæron, þæt hi ofer þæt ne dorston nohte gretan þa
212halgan stowe.
213& hit gelamp þa, þæt se halga wer mundbyrde his agene
214þegnas, & he forgæf eac manegum oþrum læcedom
215& mundbyrd, þe þyder æfter þon geflugon to his
216byrgenne.

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217

X. HU FURTUNATUS ÞÆT DEOFOLSEOKE WIF GEHÆLDE.

    
218Gregorius him andswarode: sum swiþe arwyrðes lifes wer wæs
219on

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220þam ylcan dælum, þam wæs nama
221Furtunatus, se wæs biscop þære ylcan cyrcan Tudertine.
222se wæs þeonde & weaxende on unmætre gife gastlicra mægna
223to þon swiðe, þæt he þa unclænan gastas of
224mannum aflyman mihte, swa þæt he ful oft þara deofla
225weoredu adraf of þam mannum, þe hi ær
226geswencton.
227& he wæs geornfull mid teolone his singalra gebeda þem
228angæn gesettum deofla mænigum, þe wið him
229teolonge wunnon, þæt he hi oferswyðde.
230eac sum wer wæs þissere ylcan cyrican mundbora, þæs nama
231wæs Iulianus.
232he wæs us se hiwcuðesta, & he wæs nu unfyrn on þissere
233ylcan byrig forðfered.
234for þæs gesægenum, cwæð sanctus Gregorius, ic geleornode,
235þæt ic nu secgan wille, forþon he oft
236betweoh wæs Furtunates dædum mid bylde þære hiwcuðnysse.
237& æfter þon his gemynd he geheold us to trymnysse, forþon
238hit him wæs swa wynsum, swa he hæfde
239beobreades swetnysse on his muþe.
240he sæde, þæt þær wære sum æþele gesiðwif in þam
241neahdælum Tuscie mægðe.
242seo hæfde ane snore, þa hire sunu lytle ær him to wife
243onfeng.
244seo wæs gelaðod mid

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245þære ylcan hire swegre to
246cirichalgunge þæs eadigan martyres Sebastianes gebedhuses.
247þa gelamp þære ylcan niht, þe heo scolde on morgen to
248þære cyrichalgunge faran þæs foresprecenan
249gebedhuses, þa wearð heo mid hire lichaman luste
250oferswiðed, swa þæt heo ne mihte hi sylfe
251forhabban fram hire were.
252& þa gewordenum þam ærmergene heo wearð on hire ingeþohte
253afyrhted, forþon þe heo þa þurhtogenan
254lustas on hire lichaman gefremede.
255hire forbead þa þone forðgang seo sceomu to þære
256cyrichalgunge , forþon þe heo wæs ma scamigende for
257manna onsyne, þonne heo wære þone Godes dom ondrædende.
258þa ferde heo forð mid hire swegre to þære halgunge þæs
259gebedhuses.
260þa sona swa hi wæron gangende in þæt gebedhus, þær þa
261reliquias wæron þæs eadigan martyres
262Sebastianes, þa gegrap se awyrgda gast heo þa ylcan snore
263þæs foresædan gesiþwifes, & beforan eallum þam
264folce he ongan heo swiðe swencan.
265& þa se mæssepreost þære ylcan cyrcan geseah, þæt heo
266swiðe geswenced wæs, he genam sona þa scetan
267of þam weofode & oferwreah hi mid.

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268& þa sona eode se deofol in þone ylcan mæssepreost, &
269forþon þe he wolde ofer his agen mægn aht
270swylces geneþan, he wæs genyded, þæt he mihte on his agenre
271geswæncednysse ongytan, hwæt he sylf
272wæs.
273þa þa men, þe þær æt wæron, namon þæt wif on þam
274gebedhuse mid heora handum & hi bæron to hire
275agnum huse.
276& þa þa se ealda feond mid langre geswæncednysse bregde
277þis ylce wif swyðe MS: & þa hire magas, þe hi
278lichamlice lufedon & for þære lufan hire mid wæron,
279befæston hi þam drym & þam scincræftigum, to
280þon þæt hi begæten hire þær hælo & læcedom þær
281funden, & hi na ne scrifan, þeh hi eallinga hire
282sawle adwæsctan.
283þa ongunnon hi helpan hire lichaman mid heora drycræftum to
284sumre hwile.
285heo wæs gelæded to anre ea & bedypped in þæt wæter, & hi
286þær þa dryas ongunnon ferian geond þæt
287wæter & mid langum onsangum hi golon on, oð þæt se deofol
288of hire uteode, þe hi ær in gefor.
289ac þa for þam wunderlican dome þæs ælmihtigan Godes, þa
290se an deofol hire wæs of adrifen mid heora
291þam forcyrdan cræfte, sona on hi geeode mycel mæniu

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292deofla, & heo þa ongan on þa ylcan tid swa
293manegum styrenyssum beon onstyred & swa manegum stefnum &
294cleopungum hlydan, efne swa heo fram
295manegum awyrgdum gastum wæs gehæfd & geþread.
296þa eodon hire magas in geþeaht & geandetton, þæt hit
297heora agnes ungeleafan scyld wære, þæt hi
298þone læcedom to þam scincræftigum sohton.
299ac hi þa gelæddon þæt wif to þam arwyrðan were
300Furtunato þam biscope & hi to þam forleton.
301& he þa hi onfeng & hine þa sylfne abysgode on his gebede
302manega dagas & nihta, & swa mycele ma he
303gefealh mid geornnysse þam gebedum, swa myccle ma he
304ongæt him ongæn standan in anum lichaman
305þæt weorod þara deofla mænigeo.
306& þa ymb manega dagas he agæf heo hire freondum swa hal
307& gesund, swilce hire se deoful næfre ænigne anweald ne
308ahte.
309

HU FURTUNATUS ÞONE AWYRGEDAN GAST ADRAF OF SUMAN GEDREHTUM
310MEN.

    
311Eac hit gelamp on oðre tid, þæt se ilca wer Furtunatus
312þæs ælmihtigan Godes þeowa adraf þone
313unclænan gast of sumum

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314geswenctum & ofsettum men.
315& se awyrgda þa þa se dæg æfnode geseah, þæt seo tid
316wæs mannum dyglu, geonlicte hine sylfne to
317sumum ælþeodigum men & ongann gan ymb þa cæstre & geond þa
318stræta & þus cwæð: gehyrað nu, hwæt se
319halga werr dyde Furtunatus se biscop.
320nu he adraf me ælþeodigne man of his huse, & ic forþon
321sece, hwær ic me gerestan scyle, nu ic on
322his cæstre nane ne fand.
323þa sum man sæt æt þam gledum in his huse mid his wife &
324mid his lytlan suna.
325se gehyrde his stefne & acsode, hwæt se biscop him dyde, &
326hine laðode, þæt he sæte mid him in his
327huse æt þam gledan.
328& he þa swa dyde.
329þa spræcon hi heom betwux wel fela worda, oð æt nexstan
330se ylca awyrgda gast gefor in þone lytlan
331sunu þæs earman mannes & hine awearp in ða glyda, & þær
332sona his feorh him ætþrang.
333& he þa sona se earma man swa astyped & swa bereafod his
334suna ongæt hraðe, hwæne he sylfa
335feormode, ge eac hwane se biscop ær ut adraf.
336Petrus cwæð: hwæt cweðað we la, hwæt þæt sy, þæt se
337ealda feond onfeng swylcere bylde to acwyllane
338in þæs huse, þe hine gelaþode to him mid cumliþnysse

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339gyfe & wende, þæt he ælþeodig wære?
340Gregorius him andswarode: fela þinga, Petrus, beoð gode
341gesewene, ac hi ne beoð na gode, forþon hi
342ne beoð of godum mode cumene.
343be þan seo soðfæstnys cwæþ on his godspelle: gif þin
344eage byð manfull, þonne byð þin lichama eall
345þystrig.
346forþon þonne þæt ingeþanc þæs mannes byð woh &
347forcyrred, þe þær foregangeþ, þonne bið þæt weorc
348eall þweorh & unriht, þe þær æfterfylgeþ.
349forþon ne wene ic na, þæt þes wer wære mid arfæstnysse
350mode gelustfullod, ac mid tælnysse þæs
351biscopes.
352se þe his suna bereafod wæs, se ongan swilce he for Godes
353lufan gestliþnysse gegearwode.
354soðlice þæt æfterfylgende wite þær cyþðe, þæt seo
355ærre feormung næs na butan scylde & gylte.
356eac swylce manige men syndon, þe forþon tiliað, þæt hi
357god don, þe hi willað gedwellan þa gife
358oðera manna weorces.
359ne hi na forþon oþre mæn feormiað, þæt hi mycclum
360gyman, hwæþer heom þæt god sy þæt hi doð, ac ma
361hi wyllað, þæt hi syn beforan oðrum mannum wel geherede.
362for þere wisan ic wene, cwæð sanctus Gregorius, þæt

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363we magon ma behealdan þysne wer, þe þone
364awyrgdan gast on gestliþnysse onfeng in æteownysse þæs
365idlan gylpes þurh þa deofollican costunge,
366þonne we magon geþencan, þæt he betran dæde dyde þonne se
367Godes wer.
368ac he wolde, þæt for mannum gesewen wære, þæt he betran
369lifes wære þonne se biscop, þa he þone man
370onfeng, þe se drihtnes wer Furtunatus ær onweg adraf.
371Petrus cwæð: eall hit is swa hit gesægd is.
372soþlice þæs weorces ænde gecyþde, þæt þæt ingeþanc
373næs clæne.
374

HU FURTUNATUS GEHÆLDE ÞONE BLINDAN & SUM HORS FRAM
375DEOFLE.

    
376Gregorius him andswarode: eac hit sægð, þæt sum man wære,
377þe forlet his eagena gesyhðe.
378þa wæs he gelæded to þam Godes were, to þan þæt he
379gewilnode & abæde him þa helpe þæs halgan
380mannes þingunga.
381soðlice þa þa se Godes wer hæfde gedon & gefylled his
382gebedu, he asette & awrat Cristes rodetacen
383ofer þæs mannes eagan þæs bysenan, & þa sona agyfenum
384þam leohte seo niht þære blindnysse gewat
385fram þam eagum.
386on ufan þæt eac gelamp, þæt sumes militisces mannes
387hors wæs gecyrred in myccle reðnysse,

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388swa þæt
389hit mihte uneaþe beon fram ænigum mannum gehealden, ac swa
390swilce swa hit mihte, hit slat & wundode
391heora limu mid bitum .
392þa wearð hit þeh gebunden fram manegum mannum & wæs
393gelæded to þam Godes were.
394he þa sona awrat Cristes rodetacen on þam hæafde þæs
395horses mid his aþenedre handa & gecyrde ealle
396his reðnysse in manþwærnysse, swa þæt hit wæs
397stilre , þonne hit wæs ær þære wedenheortnysse.
398þa se ylca þegn þæt his hors, þe he geseah acyrred fram
399his wedenheortnesse mid swa hrædlicum
400bebode þæs halgan wundres, he þa bebead, þæt man þam
401halgan were þæt ilce hors eft bringan sceolde.
402þa wiðsoc he, þæt he hit nateshwon underfon nolde.
403ac he on his wilnunge þurhwunode & bæd, þæt he his gife ne
404forsawe.
405þa se halga wer nam þæt hors & healfne þone weg on
406geferde.
407& he þæs militiscan mannes bene gehyrde & hwæþre wiðsoc,
408þæt he hit to gife habban nolde swa for
409gebedenum mægene.
410ærest he gegearwode him medeme weorð for þan horse & þa
411æfter þan nam

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412þæt hors, þe him wæs ær to
413gife geboden, forþon þe he geseah, gif he hit ne underfengce,
414þæt se wære geunrotsod, þe hit ær
415ahte.
416þa nydendre þære lufe he gebohte, þæt him nan þearf
417næs to habbenne.

418B9.5.4

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419

X. HU HE ADWÆSCTE ÞÆT GEDWIMORLICE FYR.

    
420ða gelamp hit, þæt in gesyhþe þæs godcundan weres
421gelicode, þæt he het adelfan in þære ylcan stowe
422eorðan for sumre neodþearfe, & þa hie þa eorðan
423delfende deoppor ofdune becomon, þa gebroðru
424fundon þær sum æren feondgyld, & þa awurpon hie þæt to
425sumre hwile in þa cycenan.
426þa semninga wæs him geþuht, þæt þær eode fyr ut, &
427þæt æteowde in eallra þara muneca eagum, þæt
428eall þæt getimbre þære cycenan sceolde beon fornumen.
429þa ongunnon hio weorpan wæter & hlydan, swa þa doð, þe
430fyr & bryne

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431dwæscað.
432þa wæs Benedictus se Godes wer gecnysed & onstyred fram þam
433geruxle & com þider to & þa sona
434geseah, þæt þæt ylce fyr wæs in þara broðra eagum
435geþuht & næs na in his agnum swa gesewen.
436þa hraðe he gebigde his heafod to gebede & þa broðru
437gecigde to him, þe he gemette þær mid þam
438scinlacan fyre bysmrian, & gelærde heo, þæt hie gebletsodon
439heora eagan & gesawon, þæt þær stod gesund
440hus þære cycenan, & þæt hio na leng ne beheoldon þa
441ligeas, þæ se ealda feond leaslice gehiwode
442þurh his scincræft.
443

XI. HU HE GEHÆLDE ÞONE CNAPAN, ÞE WÆS MID HRYRE
444TOCWYSED.

    
445Eft hit gelamp, þa þa þa gebroðra woldon þæs huses wah
446hwene herran getimbrian, forþon þæs swa sum
447neodþearflicu wise bædde, & Benedictus se Godes
448wer wunode binnan þam locum his mynstres in þam
449willan & geornysse his gebedes, þa se ealda feond bysmriende
450æteowde & sæde, þæt he wolde feran to
451þam gebroðrum, þe þæt hus worhton.
452þa þæt sona bebead Benedictus swiþe hrædlice þam
453broðrum þurh ærendracan & þus cwæð: broðra, doþ
454ge wærlice, forþon þe eow cymþ in þyssere ylcan tide se
455awyrgda

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456gast to.
457þa se þe on þæt ærende for, uneaðe he mihte þa word
458abeodan, ær þon se awyrgda gast towearp þone
459wah, þe þær getimbrod wæs, & mid þy fylle ðæs wages
460forþryccende he geþræste ænne þara muneca, se
461wæs anes gerefan sunu.
462þa sona wæron ealle þa broþra swiþe geswencte &
463geunrotsode, nalæs na for þy dæmme þæs wages
464fylles, ac for geþræstednysse þæs broðres.
465hi þa tilodon hrædlice mid hefigum heofe, þæt man þæt
466sceolde bodian þam arwyrðan fæder Benedicte.
467þa se ylca fæder het, þæt man sceolde bringcan þone
468gewundodan cniht to him.
469þa ne mihton hi hine ne aberan buton on hwitle, forþon þe
470þa stanas þæs toglidenan wages nalæs þæt
471an, þæt hi his limu tobræcan, ac eac swylce mid ealle his
472ban gebrysedon.
473þa sona bebead se Godes wer, þæt hine man alegde in his
474cytan on þa meattan, þe he him on gebed, &
475þa sænde he þa broðra ut & beleac þa cytan.
476& he þa se halga wer gefealh his gebede mycle geornlicor,
477þonne he ær gewunode.
478wundorlicu wise þæt wæs, Petrus, þæt on þa ylcan tid he
479onsænde þone cniht eft to þam weorce swa gesundne & swa

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480strangne, swa he ær wæs, to þon þæt he
481sceolde gegearwian & fulfremman þone wah mid
482þam oþrum broþrum.
483mid þæs cnihtes forewyrde se ealda feond gelyfde, þæt he
484mihte gebysmrian Benedictum.
485þa ongan se Godes wer betweoh þysum wisum eac swylce þeon &
486weaxan mid witedomes gaste, þæt he
487bodode þa toweardan þing & sægde þa æfweardan andweardum
488mannum.
489

XII. HU ÞA BROÐRU ÆTON & DRUNCON BUTON LEAFE.

    
490Soþlice þæs mynstres þeaw wæs, þæt swa oft swa þa
491broðra ut eodon to ænigre andsware, þæt hi
492nænigra þinga ne namon ne ne þigdon mete ne drync wiðutan
493mynstre.
494mid ty þe þis wæs gehealden for þam gewunan þæs
495ymbhydiglican regoles, þa sume dæge hit gelamp,
496þæt þa gebroðra eodon ut to sumre spræce, & in
497þære spræce hi wæron genydde, þæt hi for þære
498lættran tide wunedon læng þonne hi sceoldon.
499þa wiston hi, þæt hi wicodon neah sumum æwfæstum wife.
500þa eodon hi in to hire huse & namon þær mete & þigdon.
501þa hi eft cyrdon lator

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502þonne hi sceoldon to þam mynstre,
503hi bædon þæs halgan fæder bletsunge, swa
504swa hit þeaw wæs.
505sona wæs se Godes wer acsiende þa broðra & þus cwæð:
506hwær æton ge?
507hi him andswaredon & cwædon: nohwær.
508Benedictus cwæð to þam broðrum: for hwon leogað ge swa?
509cweþað ge, þæt ge ne eodon in þæs wifes hus?
510ac la ne onfengcon ge þær ne ne þigdon þas mettas?
511cweðað ge, þæt ge ne druncon þær þus manige calicas
512fulle?
513& þa þa se arwurða fæder rehte þam broðrum ge þæs
514wifes hus ge þara metta cyn ge eac þone rim þara
515drincena, hi gecneowon sona ealla þa þing, þe hi sylfe ær
516dydon, & feollon forhtigende to his
517fotum & wæron andettende, þæt hi gegylt hæfdon.
518he þa sona se Godes wer gearode heom on þære scylde, & hi
519þa gehogodon, þæt hi ofer þæt swa don
520noldon in þæs fæder æfweardnysse.
521be þam hi ongæton, þæt he him symble wæs ondweard on his
522gaste.
523

XIII. BE UALENTIANES BREÐER.

    
524Eac Ualentinianus Benedictes munuces broður, þæs gemynd ic
525ær bufan dyde, se wæs læwde wer, ac swa
526þeh he wæs swiðe æwfæst, se gewunode, þæt he for

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527ælce gære of his agenre stowe, þæt he becom to
528sancte Benedictes mynstre, to þon þæt he onfengce þær
529þæs Godes weres bletsunge & gesawe
530Ualentinianum his geborenan broþur.
531witodlice hit gelamp sume dæge, þa þa se broðor on þone
532weg ferde to Benedictes mynstre, þæt oþer
533wegferend hine sylfne to him geþeodde, se bær mid him mettas
534to þicgenne in þam wege.
535& þa þa seo lættre tid com, & seo ufere þæs dæges weox
536& agan wæs, þa cwæð se wegferenda to þam
537æwfæstan mæn: broþur, cum hider, þæt wit magan þicgan
538mete ætsomne, þy læs wit wergien on þisum wege.
539he þa andswarode þam & þus cwæð: feorr þæt sy, þæt
540hit gewurðe, broþor.
541nelle ic þæt don, forþon þe ic gewunode, þæt ic com
542fæstende to þam arwyrðan fæder Benedicte.
543þa onfangenre þære andsware, se wegferenda geswigode sume
544hwile.
545ac þa æfter þysum hi gefremedon medmycelne dæl þæs
546weges, þa eft se wegferenda hine lærde, þæt hi
547æton, ac him nolde heran se þe getihhode, þæt he fæstende
548sceolde becuman to þam halgan were.
549& þa geswigode se þe hine laðode to ete & mid him fæstende
550þa gyt ferde & þæt geþafode sume hwile.
551ac þa þa hi þa gyt fyrr

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552foron on heora weg, & hi þa seo
553ufere tid mid fæstene geswencte swa
554gangende in þam wege, þa gemetton hi fægre mædwe &
555easpryng, & eall swa hwæt swa mihton beon gesewene
556lustfullice þone lichaman mid to gereordianne.
557þa cwæð se wegferenda to him: loca nu.
558her is wæter & mædwe & geseoh, þæt þis is fægru stow on
559þære wit magon unc gereordian & hwæthugu
560gerestan, þæt wit magon æfter þon þe eað uncerne weg
561onsunde gefaran.
562mid þy þa word gecwemdon his earum, & þa stowe gelicodon
563his eagum, & he þa mid þære þriddan
564manunge gelæredom. MS gehyrde his wordum & æt mid him.
565þa on þa æfentide he becom to þam mynstre, & þa þa he
566wæs gecyðed þam arwyrðan fæder Benedicte, he
567gewilnode him sylfum his bletsunge & gebedrædenne.
568ac sona se Godes werr him þæt oþwat, þæt he on þam wege
569dyde, þus cweþende: hwæt is þæt, broður,
570þæt þu dydest?
571se awyrgda feond, se to þe wæs sprecende þurh þinne
572geferan on wege, se þe æne gelæran ne mihte,
573ne eac æt þam æftran siþe ne mihte, ac æt ðam þriddan
574cyrre he þe gelærde & oferswiðde to þon þe he
575wolde.
576ða se æwfæsta man ongæt hraðe

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577þa scylde his tydran
578modes, he wæs forð onloten to þæs halgan
579mannes fotum, & swa myccle ma ongan his scylde weopan &
580scamian, swa mycclum swa he hine sylfne ma
581ongæt æfweardne agyltan beforan his fæder eagum Benedictes.
582Petrus cwæð: me þinceþ, þæt in þam gehigdum þyses
583halgan weres wære Heliseus gast þæs witigan,
584forþon þe he wæs andweard his æfweardum þegne.
585

XIV. HU HE ARASODE ÞA HIWUNGE TOTILLAN ÞÆS CYNINGES.

    
586Gregorius him andswarode: þe gedafenað, Petrus, þæt þu
587sume þrage geswigige, þæt þu ofer þis magæ
588maran wisan ongytan.
589soþlice hit gelamp in Gotena tidum, þa þa Totilla cyning
590gehyrde, þæt se halga wer hæfde witedomes
591gast, he ferde to his mynstre & þa gewicode þær naht feor
592& þam halgan mæn hine toweardne bodode.
593þa sona wæs onboden of ðam mynstre, þæt he selfa come.
594Þa ongan he sona, swa swa he wæs þa git getreowleases
595modes wer, girnan , hæfde þæt he sceolde gecunnian &
596arasian, hwæþer se drihtnes wer hæfde witedomes gast.
597þa þæs cyningces sweordbora wæs Ricgo gehaten, þam
598se cyning sealde his gescy & gedyde, þæt he
599wæs gyred mid cynelicum

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600hrægle, & he bebead him, þæt he
601ferde to þam Godes men, swylce hit se cyning sylfa wære.
602& eac on his þegnunga he sende III ealdormen, þa gewunodon,
603þæt hi him fylgdon beforan oþrum
604mannum, þa wæron þus gehatene: Uult, Ruderic & Blidin,
605þæt hi sceoldon beforan þæs Godes þeowes eagum
606þone ylcan Ricgan geonlician Totillan þam cyningce, & þæt
607hi sceoldon gan on ælce healfe ymb hine.
608eac swylce him man gegearwode oðre þegnunge & gesette
609swurdboran, to þon þæt hit wære geþuht, þæt
610he se sylfa cyngc wære, ge for þam þegnungum ge for þam
611godwebbenum hræglum, þe he mid gegered wæs.
612& þa þa se ylca Ricga mid þam hræglum þus gewlitegod wæs
613gangende in þæt mynster, & hine mid
614siðode seo mænigeo þara þegniendra manna, þa sæt se
615Godes wer feorran lociende on þone, þe þiderweardes
616wæs gangende.
617& þa sona swa hit mihte beon gehyred fram þam, þe þider
618comon, Benedictus cleopode & þus cwæð:
619alege, sunu, alege þæt þu byrst.
620nis hit na þin.
621þa sona feoll se Ricga on eorþan & aforhtode, forþon þe he
622geþristlæhte, þæt he bysmrode swa

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623mycclum & swa arwyrþum were.
624& ealle þa men, þe mid him comon to þam Godes men, wæron
625astrehte on þære eorðan & eft arisende ne
626dorston ne to him genealæcan, ac eft gecyrdon to heora
627cyningce & bodedon & sædon swiðe forhte, on
628hu mycelre hrædnysse hi wæron arasode.
629ða se ilca Totilla eode him self to þam Godes men, & þa
630þa he geseah feorran hine sittende, he næs
631naht beald him to to ganne, ac hine sylfne astrehte on þa
632eorðan.
633& þa se Godes wer cwæð twuwa & þrywa: aris, broðor,
634aris.
635ac swa þeah he ne dorste beon beforan him upp aræred of
636þære eorðan.
637Benedictus þa se Cristes þeowa wæs gemedemod þurh hine
638sylfne, þæt he genealæhte to þam astræhtan
639cyninge & hine þa upp ahof & him for his agnum dædum cidde &
640mid feawum wordum him foresæde ealle
641þa þing, þe him towearde wæron, & þus cwæð: manega yfel
642þu wyrcest, & manigu þu worhtest geara ær.
643ac læt þe gestyran fram þinum unrihtum.
644þu oferfærest þone sæ & bist gangende to Romesbyrig.
645þu rixast nygon gær & on ðam

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646teoðan þu sweltest.
647þa se cyng þas word hæfde gehered, he wæs swiðlice
648abreged & gewilnode þæs halgan mannes
649gebedrædene, & he him syððan onweg gewat, & syþþan of
650þære tide he wæs swiðe unwælgrim.
651þa æfter lytlum fæce he gesohte Romesbyrig & ferde to
652Siciliam þam ealande, & þa þe teoðan gære he
653wæs his rices bereafod mid þæs ælmihtigan Godes dome.