Ælfric's Life of Saint Eugenia

Mæg gehyran se ðe wyle be þam halgan mædene
Eugenian, Philyppus dæhter,
hu heo ðurh mægðhad mærlice þeah,
and þurh martyrdom þisne middaneard oferswað.
Sum æþelboren þægn wæs Philippus gehaten.
Ðone asende se casere Commodus,
þe on ðam dagum rixode, fram Rome byrig
to ðære byrig ðe is gehaten Alexandria,
and he hine gesette to heahgerefan
ofer Alexandrian and Ægyftolande,
and het þæt he heolde þa romaniscan gesætnysse.
Ðæs ðægn Philippus næs na gefullod on Gode,
forþan þe Cristendom næs þa gyt geond eall cuð,
and seo reþe æhtnyss þa gyt næs gestylled.
His wif wæs gecyged Claudia.
Be þære he gestrynde twægen suna,
Auitum and Særgium, and ane dohtor,
Eugenian, þe we embe spræcaþ.
Ða befæste se fæder Philippus to lare
þæt heo on woruldwysdome wære getogen,
æfter Greciscre uðwytegunge and Lædenre getingnysse.
Eugenia þa, þæt æðele mæden,
wel þeah on wisdome and on uðwytegunge.
Þa becom hyre on hand þæs halgan Apostoles lar
Paules þæs mæran ealles manncynnes lareowes.
Þa wearð hyre mod mycclum onbryrd
þuruh þa halgen lare, þeah ðe heo þa gyt hæðen wære.
Heo bæd þa hyre fæder þæt heo færen moste
geond his hames on Alexandiscre scyre.
Wolde swa cepan þære Cristenra lare,
forðan þe heo næfde on ðære byrig nænne
geleaffulne mann þe hi læren cuþe,
forðan Philippus aflygde þa Cristenan
of Alexandrian ealle on ær.
Hwæt þa Eugenia ardlice færde
oðþæt heo becom þær ða Cristenan sungen
mid mycelre blisse þus mærsigende God,
"Omnes dii gentium demonia; dominus autem cælos fecit."
("Ealle þære hæðenra godas syndon deofla,
and dryhten soðlice heofonas geworhte.")
Eugenia þa mycclum wearð onbryrd
and mid wope gespræc hire twægen cnihtas,
þære naman wæron Protus and Iacinctus.
Þa wæron gelærede on Leden and on Grecisc
mid Eugenian mid woruldlicra lare
and wæron eunuchi (þæt synt belisnode)
and wæron heora hlæfdige holde and getrywe.
Ða nam Eugenia hi on sundorspræce,
het hi gebroðra, and bæd þæt hi
hyre fæx forcurfon on wæpmonna wysan,
and mid wædum gehiwodon swylce heo cniht wære—
wolde ðam Cristenan genealecan
on wærlicum hiwe þæt heo ne wurde ameldod.
Hi færdon, ða þry, and heora gefæran forleton
oðþæt hi becoman to ðære Cristenra wununge,
þær hi dæges and nihtes heora drihten heroden.
On ðam ylcan dæge com sum bisceop
Helenus gehaten, haliges lifes,
mid mycelre meniu anmodlice singende,
"Uia iustorum recta facta est, et iter sanctorum preparata est"
(þæt is, "Þæra rihtwisra wæg is gerihtlæced,
and þæra halgena siðfæt is gegearcod.")
Þes bisceop worhte fæla wundra þuruh God,
and him wearð geswutelod on swæfne be þysum,
and eall þæs mædenes mod him wearð ameldod.
Ða gespræc þæt mæden sumne messepreost,
Eutropius gehaten, þæt he hyre ærende abude
þam bisceope þysum wordum geornlice,
"We ðry gebroðra wyllað gecyrran
fram þam fulan hæðenscype to Hælende Criste,
and we nellað nateshwon us næfre totweman."
Þa þæs on mergen se mæssepreost
abead þæs mædenes word þam mæron bisceope,
þa het se bisceop hi gelangian,
mycclum þanciende þam ælmihtigan Gode
þæt he wolde him onwreon þæs mædenes wyllan.
He genam hi þa onsundron and sæde hyre gewislice
hwæt heo man ne wæs, and hwylcere mægþe,
and þæt heo þurh mægðhad mycclum gelicode
þam heofonlican cyninge þe heo gecoren hæfde;
and cwæð þæt heo sceolde swiðlice æhtnyssa
for mægðhade ðrowian, and þeah beon gescyld
þurh þone soðan drihten þe gescylt his gecorenan.
To hire twam cnihtum he cwæð þæt hi heoldan
æþelborennyss on mode, þeah þe hi mannum þeowdon,
and cwæð þæt hi Crist gespræce þysum godspellicum wordum:
"Ne hate ic eow na þeowan, ac ge synd mine freond."
Þa bebead se biscop þam gebogenan mædene
þæt heo swa þurhwunade on þam wærlicum hiwe
oþþæt hi on fante gefullode wurdon,
and mynsterlicre drohtnunge dearnunge geþeodde.
Eugenia þa wunode on þam mynstre
mid wærlicum mode þeah þe heo mæden wære,
mid hyre twam cnihtum, uncuð gehwam,
and heold on hyre þeawum halige drohtnunge
ðurh modes liþnesse and mycelre eadmodnesse,
and þurh halige mægnu þam hælende gecwæmde.
Heo þeah on lare þæs rihtan geleafan
and on godcundlicum gewrytum mid godum wyllan,
and wearð awend of wulfe to sceape.
Hyre geeuenlæhton eac hyre cnihtas,
Protus and Iacinctus, on synderlicre drohtnunge,
and hyre digolnysse eallum bedyrndon.
Philippus ða se fæder forwearð on mode,
and seo modor Claudia mid murcnunge wæs fornumen,
and eall seo mægð on mode wearð astyred
and sohten þæt mæden mid mycelre sarnysse.
Hi axoden æt wyccum and æt wisum dryum,
eac æt heora leasum godum be þære godes þinene.
Him wearð þa gesæd to soþum þinge,
þæt ða godes hi gegripon for hyre godnysse.
Þa gelyfde se fæder þære leasunga
and het asmiðigen of smætum golde
hyre anlycnysse, and þa wurðode
swa swa halige gydenan, ac hit wæs gold swa þeah.
Þa æfter þrym gearum þæs þe heo gecyrred wæs
gewat se abbod þe hyre ealdor wæs.
And þa gebroðra sona ceosan ongunnen
Eugenian to abbude for hyre arfæstan life,
and nyston þæt heo wæs wimman swa þeah.
Ða wearð þæt mæden mycclum hohful
hu heo æfre wæras wissian sceolde,
ne dorste swa þeah hi ealle gedrefan
and hyra geþeaht forseon, ac fæng to ðam hade.
Hwæt ða Eugenia hym eallum gebysnode
mid goddre gedrohtnunge to Godes þeowdome,
and mid carfulnysse þonne hyred gewissode.
Hyre geuðe þa se ælmihtiga wealdend
þæt heo untrume menn mihte gehælan,
swa hwylcne swa heo geneosode licgende on sare.
Heo aflygde eac swylce þa fulan deofla
fram ofsættum mannum þurh soðne geleafan.
Þa wæs sum wif wælig on æhtum,
Melantia gecyged, swiðe þearle gedreht
mid langsumum feofore, and com to ðære femnan.
Eugenia þa hi gesmyrode mid gehalgodum ele
and eac gemearcode mid rodetacne,
and heo þæt reðe attor eall ut aspaw þe hyre dærede
and wearþ gehæled þurh þæt halige mæden.
Þa bead seo wydewe þam mædene sceattas
for hyre hæle, ac heo hi forsoc,
and tihte ða oþre þæt heo hi dælde
þearfum and wædlum for ðam gewissan eadleane.
Ða gewænde seo wydewe ham to hyre agenum
and com siððan gelome mid leasum mode
to þam wlytegan mædene, wende þæt heo cniht wære,
and mænigfealde sceattas hyre unmæðlice bead.
Ac þa þa heo geseah þæt seo soðfæste fæmne
hyre laca ne rohte, ne hyre rununga,
þa wearð heo mid yfele eall afylled,
and gebræd hi seoce mid bysmorfullum geþance.
Heo bæd þa Eugenian þæt heo hi geneosode,
and ongan hyre sæcgan hyre sweartan geþohtas.
Cwæð þæt heo wære wydewe on þam geare,
and hyre wer læfde unlytle æhta
on lande and on feo and on forewyrcendum—
"And unc næs gemæne man on ðysum lyfe.
Nu is min mod awend mycclum to ðe,
þæt þu hlaford beo þæra æhta and min.
Ic wene þæt hit ne sy unrihtwisnysse ætforan Gode
þeah ðe þu wifes bruce and blysse on life."
Ða andwyrde Eugenia þyssere olecunge,
and cwæð to þam wife mid þisum ingehyde,
þæt ða gewylnunga þissere andweardan worulde
synt swiðe swicole, þeah þe hi geswæse beon,
and þæs lichoman lustas gelome bepæceð
and to sarnissum gelædað þa þe hi swiðost lufiað.
Æfter þissere tihtinge and on oðrum larum,
beclypte seo myltestre þæt clæne mæden,
and wolde hi gebygan to bismorlicum hæmede.
Hwæt ða Eugenia hi gebletsode,
and cwæð to ðære sceande þæt heo soðlice wære
galnysse ontendnyss and gramena mæge,
þeostra gefæra and mid sweartnysse afylled,
deaðes dohtor and deofles fætels—
"Habban þine æhta þine gelican.
We habbað ealle ðing mid þam ælmihtigan drihtne."
Ða wearð Melantia micclum ofsceamod,
wende þæt heo wolde hyre word ameldian
buton heo sylf on ær hit openlice cydde.
Færde þa ardlice to Alexandrian byrig,
to þam heahgeræfan, þe wæs gehaten Philippus
(Eugenian fæder, þeah seo fule þæt nyste)
and begann hi to wrægenne, and wolde forsæcgan.
Cwæð þæt heo eode to hyre licgendre
on læces hiwe and hi wolde forlycgan,
gif heo þæt bysmor forberan wolde—
"Ac ic hrymde sona mid sarlicre stæmne
oþþæt an minra wimmanna me wið hine ahredde."
Ða gelyfde Philippus þære facenfyllan segene,
and swiðe gehatheort het hi gefæccan
and eac ða gebroðra, ealle gebundene,
and heold hi on bendum and on blindum cwearterne
oðþæt he mid wytum þæt wif gewræce.
Þa com se dæg þe se dema gesætte
and wæron gegeorcode þa reðan wyta
and wurdon gefætte ætforan þam deman
þa unscildigan Cristenan on swærtum racentægum,
ða cwæð Philippus mid fullum graman
to Eugenian his agenre dehter,
"Sege, þu forscyldeguda, hwi woldest ðu beswican
þæt mære wif Melantian mid forligre
and on læces hiwe hi forlicgan woldest?"
Ða cwæð Eugenia þæt heo eaþe mihte
þæs forlyres unhlisan hi beladian,
and Melantian onsage mid soðe oferdrifan,
gif Philippus wolde gefæstnian mid aþe
þæt seo lease wrægistre ne wurde fordæmed.
Ða swor Philippus þæt he friðian wolde
þa leasan wudewan, ðeah þe heo gelignod wurðe.
Þa bæd Eugenia þæt seo wyln sceolde
sæcgan þam deman hu hit gedon wære,
and hu heo hyre hlæfdian wið hyre lustas ahrædde.
And se gerefa het eac þa cnihtas Melantian hyredes
cyðan be ðison gif hi þis gehyrdon.
Þa cwæð seo wyln þæt heo wyste gefyrn
hu Eugenia ferde fracodlice on forlygre
and wolde þa æt nehstan hyre hlæfdian gebysmrian,
butan heo mid hreame hyre hræddinge ofclypode—
"Þis witan þas hyredmen þe ic þider clypode."
Ða sædon þa hyredmenn þæt hit soð wære,
and ealle mid aðe Eugenian forlugan.
Þa wearð se geræfa þearle gebolgen,
and axude Eugenian hu heo ana mihte
ealle þa gewytan awægan mid aðe,
oððe þurh ænige swutelunge hi sylfe aclænsian.
Hwæt ða Eugenia seo æþele fæmne
cwæð þæt heo wolde hi sylfe bediglian,
and Criste anum hyre clænnysse healdan,
on mægðhade wuniende mannum uncuð,
and for ðy underfænge æt fruman þa gyrlan
wærlices hades and wurde geefsod.
Æfter þysum wordum heo totær hyre gewædu
and ætæwde hyre breost þam breman Philippe,
and cwæð him to, "Þu eart min fæder,
and þin gebædda Claudia gebær me to mannum,
and ðas ðine gesætlan synd mine gebroðra,
Auitus and Særgius, and ic soðlice eom
Eugenia gehaten, þin agen dohtor.
And ic for Cristes lufe forlæt eow ealle,
and middaneardlice lustas swa swa meox forseah.
Her synd eac þa cnihtas þe ic cydde mine digolnysse,
Protus and Iacinctus, þine fostercyld,
mid ðam ic becom to Cristes scole,
and þær on drohtnode oð þisne andwærden dæg,
and ðam ic wylle æfre oð ende þeowian.
Ða oncneow Philippus swa swa fæder Eugenian,
and Auitus and Særgius hyra agene swyster,
and hyra hyredcnihtas hi eadmodlice cyston.
Þis wearð sona gecyd Claudian þære mæder,
and heo mid wundrunge wearð befangen,
and to Eugenian com mid ealre blysse.
Hi þa gefretewodon þa fæmnan mid golde
hyre unþances, and up gesætton to him.
Þa clypode þæt folc þæt Crist wære soð God,
and hi ealle herodon þonne hælend mid wuldre.
Eugenia hæfde ær geþingod
þære leasan Melantian to hyre leofan fæder,
þæt he mid wytum ne awræce hyre welhreowan ehtnysse.
Ac Crist sylf asende swægende fyr
ufan of heofonum, þæt menn onhawoden,
to Melantian botle and hit mid ealle forbernde,
swa þæt ðær næs to lafe nanðing þe hyre wæs.
Þa wurdon gefullode Philippus and Claudia
and heora twægen suna mid soðum geleafan,
and seo mæste mæniu þæs mennisces gebeah
to Cristes bigengum and þa Cristenan gegododon.