1B9.5.8.2
2

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3

BE LIBERTINE, HU HE NÆS FUNDEN, ÞEAH ÞE HE
4ANDWEARD WÆRE

5    On þam ylcan timan gelamp on Langbeardana landes dælum,
6þæt Bucellinus com mid Francum, forþam þe
7he gehyrde þone hlisan of þam mynstre þæs foresprecenan
8Godes þeowes & him wæs gesæd, þæt he mycel
9feoh on þam mynstre hæfde.
10þa ongunnon þa Francan steppan in to þære cyricean &
11reðgiende Libertinum sohton & hine mid
12hreame axodon þær þær he on his gebedum læg astreht
13eallum limum.
14Wæs þær wundorlic þing geworden, þæt þonne þa
15reðgiendan Francan inneodon hine secende, hi spurnon
16mid hyra fotum æt þam halgan were, þær he on his gebedum
17læg, & hi swa þeah hine geseon ne
18mihton.
19& hy swa mid blindnysse wurdon gedwelede, þæt hi eft of þam
20mynstre idelhende hwurfon.

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HU LIBERTINUS AWEHTE OF DEAÐE SUMES WIFES SUNU.

    
21Eac on oðrum timan he ferde to Rauennam þære byrig for
22þæs mynstres þingum mid hæse þæs abbodes,
23þe wæs þæs mynstres hyrde æfter Honorate his lareowe.
24Soðlice se Libertinus gewunode, þæt, swa hwyder swa he
25ferde, simle he bær on his bosme þæs
26arwurðan Honorates scoh for þære mycelan lufe his lareowes.
27Witodlice, þa þa he ferde on his weg, þa gelamp, þæt sum
28wif bær hire deadan sunu ongean þone
29halgan Libertinum.
30Heo þa hine geornlice beheold & wearð onæled mid lufu hire
31deadan suna & genam þa þæs halgan weres
32hors be þam bridele & mid aðsware him to cwæð, na to
33þæs hwon ne færst þu heonon, buton þu minne
34sunu awecce & hine me cukenne agife.
35He þa aforhtode for hire halsiendlican bene, forþam þe him
36wæs ungewunelic swilc wundor to
37wyrcenne.
38He wolde þa þæt wif forbugan, ac he þurh nan þing ne
39mihte.
40Smeade þa on his

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41mode, hu him wære on þam to donne.
42La, Petrus, nu me lysteð asmeagean, hwilc & hu micel wære
43þæt gecamp, þe wann on þæs rihtwisan
44mannes breostum.
45þær fleat betweoh him seo eaðmodnys his sylfes lifes & seo
46arfæstnys & frofor þæs deadan mannes
47modor.
48Him wæs micel ege, gif he to þam gedyrstlæhte, þæt he
49þæs ungewunelican þinges to Gode gewilnode, &
50he wæs eac to þam earmheort, þæt him ofhreow þæt
51astepede wif, gif he ne gehulpe hire sarlican
52dreorinysse.
53Ac þa to maran wuldre þæs ælmihtigan Godes seo arfæstnys
54oferswyðde þone strangan breost, forþam
55nære þæs arwurðan weres breost na oferfunden, gif hine ne
56geliðegode seo arfæste behreowsung þære
57mildheortnysse.
58Ac gelihte þa of his horse & his cneowa gebigde & to
59heofonum his handa aþenode & þone sco of his
60bosme ateah & hine asette ofer þæs deadan cnihtes breost.
61& him þa gebiddendum þæs cnihtes sawl gehwearf eft to þam
62lichaman.
63He þa hine mid his handa genam & hine libbendne ageaf his
64wependan meder & ferde him forð on his
65weg, þe he ær begann.
66Petrus cwæð, hwæt cweðað we, hwæðer þæt mægen þus
67miceles

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68wundres gedyde þe Honorates earnung, þe
69Libertines gewilnung?
70Gregorius him andwyrde, on ætywednysse swa wundorlices
71tacnes mid þæs wifes geleafan wearð
72gesomnod hyra begra mægen.
73& eac ic wene, þæt Libertinus mihte þis gedon, forþam þe
74he getruwode be his lareowes mægene
75swyðor, þonne be his agenum mægene.
76His lareowes sco he asette on þæs deadan lichaman breost &
77sona butan twynunge begeat þa sawle, þe
78he bæd.
79Soðlice eac is awriten, þæt Heliseus se witega becom to
80þære ea Iordanen & bær his lareowes reaf.
81& þa sloh he æne on þæt wæter mid þam reafe & wolde him
82weg gewyrcean, swa swa he ær geseah his
83lareow don, ac he ne mihte na þæt wæter todælan.
84He þa sona cwæð, hwær is nu Helias God mines lareowes?
85ða sloh he eft on þone stream mid his lareowes reafe & him
86weg geworhte betweoh þam wæterum.
87Ongitst þu nu, Petrus, hu swiðe seo eadmodnys fremað, þam
88þe wyrceað þa godan mægenu?
89& eac þu miht oncnawan, þæt Heliseus mihte sona begitan his
90lareowes mægen, þa þa he him sylfum to
91gemynde geteah his lareowes naman.

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92& he sona him sylf geworhte þa mægenu, þe his lareow ær
93worhte, forþam þe he under þam lareowe
94gehwearf to eadmodnysse.
95Petrus cwæð, wel me licað þæs þe þu sægst.
96Ac ic bidde þe, þæt þu secge me, hwæðer þu nu gyta
97ænig þing mare wite be þam godan men us to lare
98& to trymminge.

BE LIBERTINUS GEÞYLDE, ÞE HE HÆFDE WIÐ HIS ABBOD.

    
99Gregorius him cwæð to, gewislice ic mæg be him mare
100secgan, ac ic nat, hwæðer ænig is, þe hine
101geefenlæcean wille.
102Ic soðlice gelyfe, þæt þæs geþyldes mægen si mare,
103þonne þa tacna & þa wundra.
104Hit gelamp sumon dæge, þæt se abbod, þe æfter þæs
105arwurðan Honorates forðfore heold þæs mynstres
106reccendom, mid mycelre hatheortnysse wearð þearle gebolgen
107wið þone arwurðan wer Libertinum, swa
108swyðe, þæt he hine mid his handum hetelice beot.
109& þa forþam þe he næfde nænne repel hine mid to
110þersceanne, þa gelæhte he þone fotscamul ætforan
111his bedde & beot Libertinum on þæt heafod & on þa ansyne,
112oð þæt eall his andwlita wearð toswollen
113& awannod.
114ða þa he swa swiðe mid geþersce mistucod wæs, þa gewat
115he swigende to his agenum bedde.
116ða oðre dæge

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117hæfde Libertinus gecweden sume gemotstowe
118for sumre þearfe þæs mynstres.
119& þa þa he gefylled hæfde his uhtsang & his gebedu, þa
120eode he to þam abbode, þær he on his bedde
121wæs & eadmodlice bæd his bledsunge.
122ða gemunde se abbod, hu swiðe se halga wer wæs gelufod &
123gearwurðod fram eallum mannum, wende þa,
124þæt he mid ealle of þam mynstre gewitan wolde for þam
125teonan, þe he him ær gedyde.
126þa axode he hine þus cweðende, hwyder wylt þu faran?
127Him þa Libertinus andswarode, leof fæder, ic hæfde
128gyrstandæge gecweden, þæt ic nu todæg wolde
129cuman ymbe sume þearfe þyses mynstres, & ic forþam hit nu
130yldan ne mæg.
131hwæt, þa se abbod of inneweardre his heortan besceawode his
132agene reðnysse & heardnysse, & eac he
133gemunde Libertines mycelan eadmodnysse & geþwærnysse, & he
134þa of his bedde forð aræsde &
135Libertinum be his fotum genam & cwæð, þæt he wið hine
136agylt hæfde & wið hine scyldi wære, forþam þe he
137geþristlæhte, þæt he swa micelum & swa mærum were swa
138wælhreowne teonan gedyde.
139þær ongean þa

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140eac Libertinus hine sylfne on eorðan
141astrehte to þæs abbodes fotum & cwæð, þæt hit
142wære for his agenum gylte þæt broc, þæt he þolode, & na
143for þæs abbodes reðnysse.
144& swa wæs geworden, þæt se abbod wearð getogen to mycelre
145geþwærnysse, & wearð þæs gingran
146eadmodnys þam abbode to lareowe.
147þa þa he for þæs mynstres þearfe utferde, swa swa he ær
148gecweden hæfde, þa beheoldon hine fela his
149cuðra manna, ægðer ge æðelborene ge oðre, þe hine
150simle arwurðedon.
151& hy swyðe wundredon & geornlice axodon, hwæt þæt þinga
152wære, þæt he hæfde swa toswollenne & swa
153wanne andwlitan.
154He þa him to cwæð, gyrstanæfenne me gelamp for minum
155synnum, þæt ic ungewealdes ætspearn æt anum
156fotsceamole, & ic þa wearð þus getucod.
157& se halga wer on his breostum swa geheold þone wurðmynd
158þære soðfæstnysse, swa þæt he na ne
159ameldode his abbodes unþeawa, ne he eac ne bearn on leasunga
160synne.
161Petrus cwæð, wenað we, hwæðer þes arwurða wer
162Libertinus, be þam þu þus fela tacna & wundra
163rehtest, on swa rumre & micelre gesamnunge

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164læfde ænie efenlæcendras his mægena?

III. BE ÞAM WYRTWEARDE, HU HE BEBEAD ÞÆRE NÆDDRAN ÞA
165WYRTA TO HEALDENNE.

    
166Gregorius him andswarode, Felix wæs haten sum broður, se
167wæs eac genemned Curuus, þone þu sylf wel
168cuðest, se nu niwan wearð prafost þæs ylcan mynstres.
169Se me sæde fela wundorlicra þinga be þam broðrum þæs
170ilcan mynstres.
171Of þam wundrum ic wille gereccean sume þing, þe me to
172gemynde becumað, forþam þe ic efste to
173oðrum spellum.
174Ac swa þeah ne wene ic na, þæt sy to forlætenne an þara
175spella, þe me fram þam ylcan breðer gesæd
176wæs.
177On þam ylcan mynstre wæs sum mæres lifes munuc, se wæs
178wyrtweard þæs mynstres.
179þa gewunode an þeof, þæt he stah ofer þone hege &
180digellice stæl þa wyrta.
181Swa se wyrtweard his wyrta geornor & ma plantode, swa he hyra
182eft læs funde, þonne he to com, & he
183geseah, þæt sume þa wyrta wæron mid fotum fortredene, sume
184hy wæron mid ealle fornumene.
185He þa utan ymbeode ealne þone wyrttun, oð þæt he funde,

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186hwær se þeof gewunode, þæt he instah ofer
187þone hege.
188þa geondeode he eft þone wyrttun & gemette ane næddran,
189þære he bebeodende þus to cwæð, fylig þu me.
190& hy þa becomon to þære stigole, þær se þeof innstah on
191þone wyrttun.
192He þa se wyrtweard bebead þære næddran þus cweðende, on
193þæs hælendes naman ic þe bebeode, þæt þu
194gehealde þas stigole, & þu ne læte þone þeof her
195inngangan.
196Seo næddre þa hræddlice hy sylfe oncyrde & big þære
197stigele hy astrehte, & se munuc gehwearf in to
198his cyricean.
199ða þa ealle men stille wæron ymb midne dæg, þa com se
200þeof, swa swa his gewuna wæs, & stah upp on
201þone hege.
202& þa þa he his oðerne fot nyðer asette binnon þone
203wyrttun, þa færinga geseah he, þæt seo
204astrehte næddre his weg beleac.
205He þa wearð on him sylfum swiðe afæred & nyðerweard
206hreas.
207& þa wearð his oðer fot be his sco fæst on anum
208hegesahle, & he swa hangode nyþer onwendum heafde,
209oð þæt se wyrtweard eft þyder com.
210ða com se wyrtweard on gewunelicre tide, & he þone þeof
211þær on hege hangiendne funde.
212ða cwæð he to þære næddran, Gode þanc, þæt þu
213gefylldest,

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214þæt ic þe bebead.
215Far þu nu swa hwider swa þu wille.
216& seo næddre sona þanon gewat.
217He cwæð þa to þam þeofe, broðor, hwæt is nu?
218Nu hæfð God þe geseald me on geweald.
219Hu gedyrstlæhtest þu, þæt þu þus oft stalodest on
220þysra muneca geswince?
221& he þa mid þysum wordum þæs þeofes fot ahlinode of þam
222hege, þe he ær fæste on clifode, & hine
223ungederedne nyðer asette & him to cwæð, gang mid me.
224He þa hine gelædde to þæs wyrttunes geate, & þa wyrta,
225þe he ær mid stale gewilnode to ætbredanne,
226þa he him mid mycelre werednysse sealde & him to cwæð,
227gang nu & æfter þysum ne stel þu nan þing,
228ac þonne þe þearf beo, gang þu hider in to me, & þæt þu
229ær mid unrihtum geswince gename, þæt ic þe
230mid estfullum mode sylle.
231Petrus cwæð, nu oð þis, þæs þe me þinceð, on idel ic
232wende, þæt on Suðlangbeardum næron nane
233fæderas, þe wundortacnu wyrcean mihton.

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234

VIII. HU ANASTASIUS & OÐRE SEOFON BROÐRU WÆRON GECIGEDE OF
235ÞYSUM LIFE.

    
236Gregorius cwæð, eac hit gelamp on þam ilcan timan, þæt

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237se arwurða wer Anastasius, þæs gemynd ic
238her bufan dyde, wæs writere on þysre halgan Romaniscean
239cyrcean, þære ic þeowie under Godes
240anwealde.
241Se Anastasius forlet þa scrine his feohgestreones & mynster
242geceas & gewilnode, þæt he hine
243geæmtogode Gode anum to þeowianne.
244& he þa on þære ilcan stowe, þe ic bufan ymbe spræc, seo
245is geciged Subpentoma, manega gear his lif
246adreah on halgum dædum & þam mynstre fore wæs mid
247geornlicre heordnysse.
248Witodlice ofer þa stowe wæs ufan hangiende ormæte stanclud,
249& eac beneoðan swiðe deop niwolnys
250ginode.
251Soðlice on sumre nihte, þa þa se ælmihtiga God geteohhode
252eallunga to geleanienne þa geswinc þæs
253arwurðan weres Anastasies, fram þam hean clude wæs gehyred
254stefn, seo forðgelæddum hleoðre þus
255clypode & cwæð, cum þu, Anastasius.
256Him þa swa gecigedum þær wurdon eac oðre seofon broðru
257be hyra naman gecigede.
258þa geswigode swiðe lytle hwile seo stefn, þe þær ær
259clypode, & þa eft gecigde þone eahtoðan broðor.
260þa þa seo gesomnung swa openlice gehyrde þa stefne, þa
261næs þær nan twynung, þæt nealæhte þara
262forðsið, þe þær gecigede wæron.

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263Witodlice binnan fæawum dagum forðferde ærest se arwurða
264wer Anastasius, & þa eft þa oðre broðru
265forðferdon be endebyrdnysse , swa swa hi of þæs
266stanclifes heahnysse ær gecigede wæron.
267Se broðor, þe seo stefn sume hwile geswigode to his
268gecigednysse & hine eft genemde, se lifde
269feawa daga æfter þam oðrum sweltendum broðrum & þa his
270lif geendode.
271þæt wæs openlice geswutelod, þæt seo lytle betweoh
272gesette swigung þære ufan cumenan stefne
273getacnode þone lyttlan fyrst to libbanne þam breðer ofer
274þa oðre, þe þær eac gecigede wæron.
275Eac þær gelamp wundorlic þing, þæt þa þa se arwurða
276wer Anastasius forðferde, þa wæs on þam ylcan
277mynstre sum broðor, þe æfter him libban nolde, ac he forð
278onloten to his fotum ongann hine biddan
279mid tearum þus cweðende, ic þe halsie þurh þone, þe þu
280to færst, þæt ic ne þurfe libban seofon
281dagas æfter þe on þysum middangearde.
282þa ær þæs Anastasies seofeðan dæge, wæs eac forðfered
283se ylca broðor, se swa þeah næs na geciged
284on þære nihte betweoh þa oðre broðru, ac hit wæs
285openlice geswutelod, þæt his

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286forðfore begeat seo
287þingung ana þæs arwurðan weres Anastasies.
288Petrus cwæð, þa þa þes ilca broðor næs betweoh þa
289oðre geciged & swa þeah wæs of þissum life
290atogen mid þingungum þæs halgan weres, hwæt elles mæg
291beon ongiten, buton þæt þa þe mid Gode synd
292micelre geearnunge, magon hwilum begitan þa þing, þe him
293geteohhode næron?
294 Gregorius him andswarode, ne magon hi to þæs hwon
295begitan þa þing, þe him geteohhode næron,
296ac þa þing, þe þa halgan weras mid hyra benum gefremmað,
297hi wæron ær swa forestihtode, þæt hy
298sceolon beon eft mid benum begitene.
299Soðlice eac seo ylce forestihtung þæs ecean rices is
300gesett fram þam ælmihtigan Gode, swa þæt his
301gecorenan becumað of geswince to þam rice, þæt hi biddende
302geearnian, þæt hi onfon þæt, þæt se
303ælmihtiga God ær ealre worulde gedihtnode him to forgifenne.
304Petrus cwæð, ic wolde, þæt me wære git openlicor
305gecyðed, hwæðer seo forestihtung mihte beon mid
306gebedum gefultumod.
307Gregorius him

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308andswarode, la, Petrus, þis þæt ic þe sæde,
309mæg beon hrædlice gecyðed.
310Gewisslice þu þe sylf wast, þæt drihten cwæð to
311Abrahame, on Isaace þe bið sæd geciged.
312Eac he cwæð to him, ic gesette þe manegra þeoda fæder.
313& eft he him behet þus cweðende, ic gebledsige þe, & ic
314gemenigfylde þin sæd swa swa heofones
315steoran & swa swa þa sandcorn, þe beoð be sæs waroðe.
316Of þam þinge is openlice cuð, þæt se ælmihtiga God ær
317forestihtode, þæt he Abrahames sæd wolde
318gemenifyldan þurh Isaac, & swa þeah hit is awriten, þæt
319Isaac gebæd to drihtne for his wife, for þam
320þe heo wæs unwæstmbære.
321þa gehyrde drihten his bene & sealde wæstm Rebeccan his
322wife.
323þus wæs forestihtod seo menifealdnys Abrahames cynnes þurh
324Isaac.
325Eornostlice, gif seo menifealdnys Abrahames cynnes wæs
326forestihtod þurh Isaac, hwi underfeng he
327þonne unwæstmbære wif, buton forþam þe hit is cuð, þæt
328seo forestihtung sceolde beon mid benum
329gefylled, þa þa se mid his gebedum beget, þæt he mihte
330suna habban, se þe on him ær God forestihtode to
331gemenifyldenne Abrahames sæd?
332Petrus cwæð, nis me nan

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333twynung nu to laue be þam þingum,
334þe þu nu sædest, forþam þe þæt
335rihtgescead me geopenode þa digolnysse þurh þine segene.
336Gregorius cwæð, wilt þu, þæt ic þe secge sum þing be
337þam dælum Tuscie þære mægðe, þæt þu oncnawe,
338hwylce weras wæron on þam lande, & hu swiðe neah hi wæron
339þæs ælmihtigan Godes cyððe?
340Petrus cwæð, ic wille, & ic þe þæs eallum mægene
341bidde .
342

HU BONEFATIUS BISCEOP TODÆLDE WIN ON FATU & HIT WEOX.

    
343Gregorius him to cwæð, sum wæs arwurðes lifes wer, þam
344wæs nama Bonefatius.
345Se hæfde bisceophad & þone mid godum þeawum wel gefyllde
346on þære ceastre, þe is genemned Ferentis.
347þyses bisceopes manega wundru me rehte se mæssepreost
348Gaudentius, þe nu gita leofað.
349Se wæs afedd on his þenunge, & he mæg gehwylc þing be him
350swa mycele gewisslicor seccan, swa
351micele swa him gelamp, þæt he oftor wæs betweoh his
352þenungum.
353On þisses ilcan Bonefacies cyrcean wæs swiðe hefi
354wædlung & hafenleast, seo simle gewunað, þæt
355heo bið hirde þære eadmodnisse on godum

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356modum, & þær
357nan þing elles næs to ealles geares andlifene,
358buton þæt an, þæt he heafde ænne wingeard.
359Se sume dæg wearð forðorscen mid onreosendum hetolum
360hagole & awæstod, swa þæt on þam wingearde
361on feawum wintreowum uneaðe to lafe wunodon swiðe litle &
362swiðe feawa clistru þara winbergena.
363ða þa þes forcwedena wer se arwurða bisceop Bonefatius
364eode in on þone wingeard, þa þancode he
365swiðe Gode ælmihtigum, forþam þe he oncneow, þæt he þa
366gita on þære his wædle wæs swyðor geangsumod.
367Ac swa þeah þa þa se tima nealæhte, þæt mihton ripe
368beon þa feawa clystru þæra bergena, þe þær
369læfde wæron, þa sette he hyrde, swa hit þeaw wæs, to þam
370wingearde & bebead, þæt hine man heolde mid
371carfullre wæccean.
372Soþlice þa sume dæge het he Constantium þone mæssepreost,
373se wæs his swustorsunu, þæt man ealle þa
374winfatu on his bisceopscire & ealle þa kyfa gegearwode & mid
375pice geondgute, swa swa hit ær
376gewunelic wæs.
377Sona þa se mæssepreost his nefa þæt gehyrde, þa
378wundrode he swiðe & wende, þæt

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379he spræke on
380unwis, þa he bebead, þæt man winfatu gearwode, se þe nan
381win næfde.
382Ne dorste swa þeah se mæssepreost þone bisceop geaxian,
383for hwan he swylce þing bude, ac he þa
384gehyrsumode his hæsum & ealle þa winfatu gegearwode æfter
385gewunelicum þeawe.
386Hwæt, þa se Godes wer eode in on þone wingeard &
387gegaderode þa clystru þara bergena & gebrohte on
388þære wintreddan & het hi ealle þanon utgangan, & he ana mid
389anum lytlum cnapan þær gewunode & þone
390cnapan þa asette on þa ylcan wintreddan & het hine tredan
391þa feawa clystru þara bergena.
392ða þa of þam clystrum ut fleow lyttles hwæt wines, þa
393ongann se Godes wer mid his agenum handum
394þæt underfon on anum lyttlum fæte & hit todælde for
395bledsunge geond ealle þa kyfa & geond ealle þa
396fatu, þe þær gegearwode wæron, þæt of þam ilcan wine
397wæron gesewene uneaðe ealle þa fatu
398geondgotene.
399Witodlice þa þa he of þæs wines wætan sum þing lyttles
400asende on ælc þæra fata, þa clypode he him
401to þone mæssepreost & hrædlice het, þæt þær þearfan
402beon sceoldon.
403ða ongan þæt win weaxan on þære wintreddan, swa þæt
404wurdon gefyllede ealle þara þearfana fatu, þe him

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405to brohte wæron.
406& þa þa he geseah, þæt þa þearfan genoh hæfdon, þa het
407he þone cnapan stigan nyðer of þære treddan
408& beleac þæt winern & asette his agen insegl on þæt loc &
409forlet hit swa belocen & him sona to
410cyrcean gehwearf.
411ða þi þriddan dæge clypode he him to þone forecwedenan
412mæssepreost Constantium, & geendodum his
413gebede he geopenode þæt winern & gemette þa fatu, þe he
414ær on ageat swiðe litelne dæl þæs þynnystan
415wætan, swa genihtsumlice gefyllede mid wine, efne þæt þa
416weaxendan win woldon feallan ofer þa fatu
417on þa flor, gif se bisceop þa a lator inn eode.
418Hwæt, þa se bisceop swiðe egeslice bebead þam
419mæssepreoste, þæt he nanum men þis wundor ne asæde
420swa lange swa he sylf on lichaman lifde, þe læs þe he on
421þæs weorces mægene wurde mid mennisceum
422wyrðmynde gebreged & þanon innan aidlode, þanon þe he utan
423wære mannum micel ætywed.
424Ac he on þam fyligde þæs hælendes bysene, se to þam
425þæt he us getyde to eadmodnysse wege, bebead
426his gingrum be him sylfum þus

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427cweðende, þæt þa þing, þe
428hi gesawon, hi nanum men ne asædon, ær þam
429þe mannes sunu of deaðe arise.
430Petrus cwæð, forþam þe þeos wise nu hi sylfe gecwemlice
431gegearwode, nu lysteð me axian, hwæt þæt
432sy, þæt þa þa ure alysend ageaf gesihþe twam blindum
433mannum, þa het he, þæt hi hit nanum men ne
434asædon, & hi þa sona þanon gangende gewidmærodon hine
435geond eall þæt land.
436Ac hwæt cwyst þu?
437Hwæðer se ankenneda Godes sunu, se þe is efenece his fæder
438& þam halgan gaste, on þysum þinge wolde
439gefyllan, þæt he gefyllan ne mihte, þa þa he wolde
440habban forsuwod þæt, þæt na forholen beon ne
441mihte?
442Gregorius him andswarode, eall þæt ure alysend dyde þurh
443his menniscean lichaman, eall þæt he
444gegearwode us on gebysnunge godes weorces, to þam þæt we be
445gemete urra mægena sceolon fylian his
446fotswaðe & unætspornenum fotum þyses andweardan weorkes
447gan on þone weg þæs ecean lifes.
448Witodlice se hælend worhte þæt wundor & het hi helan, & hit
449swa þeah forholen beon ne mihte.
450On þam we magon cuðlice ongitan, þæt his gecorenan

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451fylgeað þa gebysnunga his lare on þam micelum
452weorcum þe hi wyrceað, & hyra willa bið, þæt hi beon
453forholene, ac þæt hi oðrum mannum fremian, hi
454beoð for oft geyppede swa hi nellað, swa þæt hit si for
455micelre eadmodnysse, þæt hi gewilniað, þæt
456hyra weorc beon forholene, & hit si for micelre
457nyttlicnysse, þæt hyra weorc forholen beon
458ne magon.
459Eornostlice drihten nolde na, þæt æni þing swilces gewurde
460& hit na beon ne mihte, ac he sealde
461bysene mid lareowdome his sylfes lare, hwæt his limu scylon
462gewilnian, oððe hwæt eac be him nellendum
463gewurðan sceoldon.
464Petrus cwæð, me licað þæt þu sægst.

465B9.5.10.2

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466

XVI. HU HE ALYSDE ÞONE PREOST FRAM DEOFLE.

    
467Eac on þam ylcan timan sum preost Aquinensis þære cyricean
468wearð gedreht mid deofolseocnysse.
469þa wearð he asended geond manega martira stowa fram þam
470arwurðan were Constantio his cyrcean
471bisceope, to þam þæt he mihte beon gehæled.
472Ac þa halgan Godes martiras noldon him syllan his hæle,
473þæt hi mid þam geswutelodon, hu micel wære
474on þam halgan Benedicte.
475Witodlice he wearð þa gelæded

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476to þæs ælmihtigan Godes
477þeowe Benedicte, & he þa his bena asende to
478urum drihtne hælende Criste & sona ut adraf þone ealdan
479feond of þam ofsetenan menn.
480Him þa gehæledum he bebead þus cweðende, ga nu & æfter
481þysum ne et þu nan flæsc, ne þu næfre ne
482gedyrstlæc, þæt þu to halgum hade genealæce, oððe maran
483underfo, þonne þu nu hafast.
484Soðlice on swa hwilcum dæge swa þu dyrstilice
485geþristlæcst, þæt þu þone halgan sacerdhad
486underfehst, þær rihte þu bist eft mid deofles anwealde
487gehæftnieded.
488ða gewat se preost him hal þanon, & swa swa hit gewunelic
489is, þæt þæt niwe wite gebregeð þæs
490mannes mod, he sume hwile geheold þa þing, þe se Godes wer
491him bebead.
492Soðlice æfter manegum gearum, þa þa ealle his ylldran
493witan foron of þysum leohte, & he geseah,
494þæt his gingran wæron toforan him gesette on halgum
495sacerdhadum, he þa him on bæc sette swylce of
496langre tide forgitende þa word & lare þæs halgan weres
497Benedictes & genealæhte to þam halgan
498sacerdhade.
499Hine þa sona gelæhte se deofol, þe hine ær forlet, & na
500ne geswac

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501hine to swencenne, oð þæt he his
502sawle him from asceoc.
503Petrus cwæð, ðæs þe me þinceð, þæt þes Godes wer
504þurhferde eac þa diglan þing þære godcundnesse,
505se þe swa þurhseah þone preost for þi deofle gesealdne,
506þæt he ne gedyrstlæhte to underfonne þone
507halgan sacerdhad.
508Gregorius cwæð, hwi ne cuðe þa diglan þing þære
509godcundnysse, se þe heold þa bebodu þære
510godcundnysse, þonne hit is awriten, þæt se þe geþeodeð
511to drihtne, þonne byð an gast his & drihtnes?
512Petrus cwæð, gif hit an gast bið mid drihtne þæs þe
513drihten to geþeodeð, hwæt is þonne, þæt se ylca
514æðela lareow Paulus eft cwæð, hwa cann drihtnes andgit?
515Oððe hwylc wæs his geþeahtere?
516Swyðe unþæslic mæg beon geþuht, þæt se nyte drihtnes
517andgit, se þe mid him byð geworden an gast.
518Gregorius him andswarode, þa halgan weras swa swyðe swa hi
519beoð an samod mid drihtne, swa swyðe hi
520witon drihtnes andgit.
521Soðlice eac se ylca apostol Paulus cwæð, hwylc man wat

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522þæs mannes modgeþancas, butan þæs mannes
523gast, þe on him sylfum byð?
524Swa eac þa þing, þe beoð on Godes geþeahtunge, nan mann
525ne cann butan se Godes gast.
526Eac se ylca Paulus þær to geihte, þæt he ætywde hine
527sylfne cunnan þa þing, þe syndon Godes
528gestihtunge.
529He cwæð, ne onfengon we na þone gast þyses middaneardes,
530ac þone gast, þe is of Gode.
531Eft he cwæð be þam, þæt eage ne geseah, ne eare ne
532gehyrde, ne on mannes heortan ne astah, hwylce
533þing God gegearwode þam, þe hine lufiað.
534Soðlice þa he onwreah us þurh his gast.
535Petrus cwæð, gif þonne þam ylcan apostole Paule þurh
536Godes gast wæron onwrigene þa Godes
537geþeahtas, hu gespræc he ofer þæt, þe ic bufan
538gemynegode, þa þa he cwæð, eala, hu mycel heahnys is þara
539welana Godes wisdomes & his inngehigdes, & hu unbefangelice his
540domas syndon & his wegas unaspyriendlice?
541Ac me þas word sprekendum is eft oðer axung on mod becumen.
542Soðlice Dauid se witega spræc to drihtne & þus cwæð, on
543minum welerum ic bodode ealle þa domas þines

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544muðes.
545& þonne hit læsse is to witenne, þonne hit sy eac to
546bodianne, hwæt is þæt, þæt Paulus sæde, þæt
547Godes domas syndon unbefangenlice, & Dauid cyðde na þæt an,
548þæt he ealle þas þing wiste, ac he hi
549eac swilce bodode?
550Gregorius him andswarode, æt ægðrum þysum ic þe
551geandswarode ær mid sceortnysse her bufan, þa þa
552ic cwæð, þæt halige weras swa swyðe swa hi beoð an samod
553mid drihtne, swa swyðe hi witon drihtnes
554andgit.
555Soðlice ealle þa þe estfullice drihtne fyliað, hi eac mid
556estfullnysse syndon mid Gode, & þa ne
557syndon na mid Gode, þa þe nu gyta syndon gehefgode mid
558byrðene þæs brosniendlican lichaman.
559Witodlice swa swyðe swa hi beoð to Gode geþeodde, swa
560swiðe hi witon his diglan domas, & swa swyðe
561swa hi beoð him fram aþeodde, swa swyðe hi hi nyton.
562Eornostlice for þy hi secgeað, þæt his domas syndon
563unbefangelice, forþam þe hi nu gyta
564fullfremedlice ne þurhfarað his digolnyssa, & forþam þe hi
565mid hyra mode him onclifiað & onclifiende oncnawað
566swa swiðe swa hi onfoð oððe on spræcum

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567haliges gewrites oððe on digelum onwrigennyssum, þa þing
568hi witan & bodiað.
569Witodlice þa domas, þe God forsuwað, þa hi nyton, & þa
570þe he sprycð, þa hi witon.
571& Dauid se witega þa þa he cwæð, on minum welerum ic
572bodode ealle þa domas, þa sona geeacnode he
573þær to þines muðes, swilce he openlice cwæde , ic
574mihte witan & bodian þa domas, þe ic oncneow þe
575sylfne secgean, ac þa þe þu sylf ne sprycst, untwywlice þa
576þu behydst urum oncnawennyssum.
577Eornostlice her to geþwærað se witiendlica & se apostolica
578cwyde þus, þæt Godes domas syndon
579unymbfangenlice, & swa þeah þa þe of Godes muðe beoð
580forðbrohte, þa beoð bodode mid mennisceum welerum,
581forþam þe hi magon beon ongitene fram mannum, þonne hi
582beoð forðbrohte þurh God, & hi na ne magon
583beon oncnawene, þonne hi beoð þurh God bediglode.
584Petrus cwæð, on þære andsware minre axunge me is geopenod
585nu se intinga rihtes gesceades.
586Ac ic bidde þe, þæt þu gita gerecce, gif þu hwilce ma
587wite be þyses weres Benedictes mægene.

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588

XVII. HU HE WITEGODE BE HIS MYNSTRES TOWORPENNYSSE.

    
589Gregorius cwæð, sum æðele wer wæs Theoprobus genemned,
590se wæs gecyrred to haligre drohtnunge þurh
591mynegunge þæs ylcan fæder Benedictes.
592Se eac for his lifes geearnunge hæfde to him mycelne truwan
593synderlicre hiwcuðnysse .
594Sume dæge þa þa þes eode to þam halgan were in to his
595cytan, þa gemette he hine þær swyðe
596bitterlice wependne.
597ða þa he þær wel lange gestod & geseah, þæt his tearas
598na ne geendodon, na swa þeah se Godes wer
599ne weop na mid gebiddende, swa swa his gewuna wæs, ac
600gnorniende, þa axode hine Theoprobus, hwæt
601wære se intinga swa miceles wopes.
602Him þær rihte se Godes wer andswarode & cwæð, eall þis
603mynster, þe ic getimbrode, & ealle þa þing,
604þe ic gegearwode þysum broðrum, mid þæs ælmihtigan
605Godes dome syndon gesealde hæðenum mannum.
606Earfoðlice ic mihte begitan æt Gode, þæt me wurdon
607forgifene of þysre stowe þara broðra feorh.
608ðæs halgan weres stefne gehyrde Theoprobus þa, & we, þe
609hit witon, geseoð nu, þæt his mynster is
610toworpen fram Langbeardena þeode.
611Soðlice nu niwan gelamp on niht, þa þa broðro wæron
612on

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613reste, þæt comon þyder þa Langbearde & þær
614genamon ealle þa þing, þe on þam mynstre wæron, buton
615þæt hi ne mihton þær nænne mann gelæccean.
616Ac se ælmihtiga God þa gefyllde þæt, þæt he ær behet
617his getrywum þeowe Benedicte, þæt he geheolde
618þara manna lif, þeah þe he þa æhta sealde hæðenum
619mannum.
620On þam þinge ic oncnawe, þæt Benedictus hæfde Paulus
621gewrixle, se þa þa he þolode scipes forwyrd
622& lyre eallra þara þinga, þe þær on wæron, þa onfeng he
623sylf him to frofre eallra þara lif, þe
624him mid ferdon.
625

XVIII. HU HE ÞURH GAST WISTE ÞA BEHYDDAN FLAXAN .

    
626Eac hit gelamp on sume tid, þæt Exhilaratus ure gefera,
627þone þu canst gecyrredne to rihtre
628drohtnunge, he wæs fram his hlaforde asended to þam mynstre,
629þæt he sceolde þam Godes were Benedicte
630beran twa treowene fatu wines fulle, þa syndon on folkisc
631flaxan gehatene.
632þa brohte he him þa oðre, & þa oðre gehydde be wege
633þyderweard farende.
634Witodlice se drihtnes wer, þam þa æfweardan þing ne mihton
635beon bediglode, þa underfeng mid
636þancunge þa ane flaxan, & þone

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637eft cyrrendan cniht he warnode
638þus cweðende, sunu, foresceawa be þære
639flaxan, þe þu be wege gehyddest, þæt þu þær of ne
640drince, ac ahyld hi wærlice, & þu þonne onfindst,
641hwæt on hire is.
642He þa swyðe gescynd & ofsceamod eode fram þam Godes men &
643cyrrende wolde þa gyt gecunnian þæs þe
644he ær gehyrde.
645þa mid þam þe he þa flaxan onhyllde, þa eode þær ut
646hræddlice an næddre.
647Se forecwedena cniht Exilaratus þa aforhtode þurh þæt þe
648he on þam wine gemette, & him ondred þæt
649yfel, þe he worhte.
650

XIX. HU SE GODES ÞEOW ONFENG ÞA SCEATAS.

    
651Soðlice unfeorr fram þam mynstre wæs sum tun, on þam wæs
652mycel meniu manna gecyrred fram
653deofolgylda bigenge to Godes geleafan þurh Benedictus lare.
654ðær on tune wæron eac sume nunnan, & se Godes þeow
655Benedictus begymde, þæt he gelomlice þyder
656asende his broðru, to þam þæt hi sceoldon þæt folc
657trymman & læran to hyra sawla þearfe.
658ða sume dæge sende he þyder sumne munuc swa him geþywe
659wæs.
660Ac se munuc, þe

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661þyder onsended wæs, æfter þæs folces
662lare & geendodre þære bodunge wearð gebeden
663fram þam nunnum, þæt he sume sceatas vel mappulas
664onfeng, & he him þa behydde on his bosme.
665Sona þa he ham com, þa ongann se Godes wer þearle
666biterlice hine þreagean & cidan þus cweðende, hu
667becom þeos unrihtwisnys on þinne bosm?
668He þa aforhtode & hæfde forgiten, hwæt he gedon hæfde, &
669nyste, for hwan he swa wæs ofercidd.
670ða cwæð se halga wer him to, cwyst þu, þæt ic nære
671þær andweard, þa þa þu æt þam nunnum onfenge
672þa sceatas & hi dydest on þinne bosm?
673Se munuc þa sona feoll to Benedictes fotum & behreowsode,
674þæt he swa dyslice dæde gedyde, & him
675fram awearp þa sceatas, þe he ær on his bosme behydde.