Ælfric's Lives of Saints/03bas eng

by Ælfric

III.

JANUARY I. SAINT BASILIUS, BISHOP.

A certain holy bishop was named Basil, who from childhood was very continent, although for a long period he was unbaptized.

His father and his friends committed him to learning and to worldly wisdom when he was seven years [old], because at that time no nobility exalted any man to honour, unless he had learned wisdom for a long time beforehand of learned philosophers.

Then the stripling dwelt in the Cappadocian city five years while learning, and went to Greece to the Athenian city, which was then the most famous in learning.

And Eubolus the philosopher, who was there the foremost in wisdom, received the boy, because he was inquisitive, into his erudite school, and he learned there so well that the philosophers wondered at his understanding.

In the same school was the cruel Julian, a Christian from childhood, who afterwards became Emperor, and renounced his faith, and turned to the devil.

Also there learned in the same school the noble Gregory, he who afterwards became bishop, and wrought many miracles, even as historians relate.

Then Basil dwelt with the philosopher during his learning, fifteen years in all, and wonderfully searched into all the wisdom which the Greek doctors knew how to teach him.

But the teaching which was without faith could not inform the studious youth concerning his Creator whom he was seeking, though that teaching could not tell him.

It came then into his mind, through the warning of God, that he ought to seek the true lore concerning his Creator in Christian books.

Whereupon Basil blithely departed to the land of the Egyptians, and there learned twelve months in holy books concerning the Saviour's life, how He redeemed this world by Himself.

After the space of a year he returned again to his old master, and taught him concerning Christ, how compassionately He redeemed mankind on the cross, and how He arose from death on the third day, and ascended to Heaven to His Holy Father.

Then Eubolus the philosopher became so greatly desirous of Basil's doctrine that he had no wish for any meat, but they meditated three days very searchingly about the eternal Life, and took no heed of food.

Then the philosopher believed on the Almighty God, and delivered all his property to Basil, saying that he desired ever to dwell with him.

Basil then praised the Saviour with words, and said to Eubolus, his old master, "Let us now bestow our goods on the poor, and then with boldness submit to baptism, being delivered from the bonds of this lying world. Then the wise men did even as they both had agreed, distributed all their property to the poor, and journeyed to Jerusalem, seeking baptism ; and many heathen men, through their means, inclined to the Lord, inspired with faith.

They then came afterward to the aforesaid city, Jerusalem, where the Saviour had suffered, and sought the bishop who presided over the city, and besought baptism, lying at his feet.

The Bishop was a holy man, called Maximinus, and benignantly granted them that which they desired, and immediately went with them to the flowing river, called Jordan, wherein the Saviour was baptized.

Lo then!

Basil prostrated himself to the earth, and with weeping desired some certain sign from God to confirm his faith, and laid aside his garments on the river-bank, and went in naked.

Then the Bishop approached, and with blessing baptized him.

Behold!

then suddenly fire came from heaven, and a shining dove darted out of the fire into the river, and stirred the water, and afterward flew up straightway to Heaven, and Basil went immediately out of the font-bath, and the bishop clothed him, wondering at the sign.

He baptized also afterward the aforesaid Eubolus, and anointed them both with hallowed oil, and also houseled them with the Saviour's mysteries.

Then they both dwelt with the bishop over a year, and afterward went to a large city called Antioch, which truly was filled with Christianity long ago, in olden days.

Then the bishop ordained Basil as a deacon, and he after a space went with Eubolus to his own country, wherein he was born.

Then when they had come into the Cappadocian province, and gone into the city, then it was revealed to the bishop in a ghostly vision concerning those servants of God, and that Basil should be bishop after him.

Then Eusebius the bishop of the city awoke, and immediately sent his priests to meet them, bade summon to him those Christian men, and told his, citizens what he had seen concerning them.

Then were they received with great kindness, and the holy bishop entertained them honourably, exceedingly wondering at the deepness of their wisdom.

Then after a little space the bishop died, and the virtuous Basil was consecrated as bishop, and raised to his see, even as he had seen formerly through God's revelation, when they were coming towards him.

Lo then!

Basil governed his bishopric with great honour, by the Almighty's guidance, and confirmed God's church with his doctrine.

Then he prayed Almighty God to show him how he might offer to Him, with His own form of words, the living sacrifice with true service.

After the prayer he became greatly inspired through the Holy Ghost, and the Saviour came to him one night, together with His apostles, and aroused Basil, saying that He had heard his prayer.

Then the Saviour Himself stood at the holy altar, and with His sacred hands consecrated the housel, and instructed the bishop in that for which he had prayed.

He said to Basil, “Be thy mouth filled with holy praise, according to thy prayer, that thou, with My own form of words, mayest offer the living sacrifice with true service." Then the bishop was greatly astonished, and took the housel which the Saviour had blessed, brake [it] in three, and consumed one portion ; the second portion he caused to be kept to be buried with him after his departure; the third portion he caused to be set apart, and bade to be wrought for him in beaten gold the likeness of a dove, and then hung it up above the altar, and put therein the third portion of the precious housel ; and the dove ever after stirred herself at Basil's mass, thrice, at the time of houselling, Eubolus the philosopher, and the principal priests, stood at the door, staring at the light, and beheld the apostles who came with the Saviour adorned with glory, and they were affrighted.

They heard the voice of the holy song, and saw Basil within at the altar, and fell at his feet, seized with fear, as he came out, and they related to him all that they had seen there.

The bishop gave thanks for this with blithe mind, and afterward preached a sermon to the people.

Verily Basil, bold through his Lord's aid, wrote in due order all the service of the Holy Mass, even as the Greeks keep it.

He wrote also a monastic rule with great purity, which the Easterns, and moreover the Greeks, observe unanimously, although it is severer than that which Benedict afterward gave us example of, as it were at the beginning of his own conversion; but he exhorted us, in the after part of the same rule, to the habits of life of illustrious teachers, and recommended the rule which Basil had established.

A certain Jewish man desired to know for a truth concerning the holy mass, what power it had, and concerning the holy housel, although he was a heathen.

Then went he to mass with other men, and waited eagerly for the living sacrifice.

Then, while Basil divided the housel, it seemed to the Jew as if he were severing a child ; nevertheless he went with other men fearfully to the housel, and a piece of flesh was given to him, and he sipped moreover as it were blood from the chalice.

Nevertheless he kept a portion to bear home with him, and showed it to his wife, and related truly what he himself had seen, and after this in the morning came to Basil, requesting baptism.

So then the Bishop blithely baptized him, and all his household, in the Saviour's name.

He went after mass out of the temple, and behold!

there immediately a woman sought him, beseeching his intercession with a distinguished alderman.

Basil then wrote for the poor woman a writing [addressed] to the alderman, with this purport This poor woman sought me, saying that I could intercede for her to thee, therefore shew now, I pray, if I may [prevail] as well with thee as the woman trusteth' Then the alderman read the letter, and sent to him in return immediately in writing, saying, that he would pardon the woman for his intercession, but nevertheless he could not remit the tax which she had to render.

Then the bishop sent to the aforesaid alderman again another writing, with this purport: 'If thou wouldst pity and nevertheless couldst not, there is some excuse in thy assertion; but if thou couldst pity, and wouldest not, may the Saviour bring thee to poverty like hers, that thou mayest not be able to pity though thou will.'

Then after some interval the august emperor became very angry with him [the alderman] and commanded to bind him, and to bring him ignominiously into captivity.

Then the alderman sent immediately to Basil, praying lamentably that he would appease the incensed emperor by his supplications; and so it befell.

Then in about six days the emperor bade send away home again the afflicted alderman out of the strait bonds, and he was blithe thereat.

Then the alderman came to the venerable bishop, thanked [him] for his intercession, and to the poor woman repaid by twofold that which he had taken from her. This same bishop, of whom we are speaking, said concerning himself on a certain occasion, that he never in his life came near a woman by cohabitation, but kept his virginity. On a certain day the aforesaid bishop was journeying, where rode Julian the wicked emperor, with a great army, very eager for battle, and he knew Basil, and instantly said to him, 'I have surpassed thee in excellent learning, and in philosophy.'

The bishop answered him, “Would that God Almighty might grant thee to follow wisdom !' and offered him, with these words, three barley loaves, as if for a blessing, such as he himself partook of.

Then the wicked man bade [his men] receive the loaves, and give to the man of God grass in return, and said contemptously; Barley is horsemeat, which he hath given us; let him receive grass.'

Then the saint received the handful, and said, We offered thee, Emperor, of that which we ourselves eat, and thou hast given us in return that which irrational beasts have for their sustenance, thus mocking us.'

Then the emperor was angry, and said threateningly, When I return again victorious from the expedition, I will lay waste thy town, and make it into plough-land; I know thy presumption, and that of thy citizens, who destroyed the image which I myself set up, and whereto I prayed on bended knees.'

After this saying he departed to the Persians, and Basil showed this thing to his citizens, and took counsel with them that they should gladden the cruel emperor with treasures when he came from the journey.

Lo! then the citizens blithely gathered countless treasures before the bishop.

Then he enjoined for the people a three-days' fast, and bade them mount up to a steep hill, on which aforetime a famous temple had been dedicated to saint Mary with high honour; and they entreated the Saviour at the holy place, that He would soon defeat the bloodthirsty man's purpose, and deliver them from the cruel emperor.

Then the bishop saw, when they were praying most earnestly one night Saint Mary come with a heavenly company to the holy place, and (she] said to the saints that stood closest to her, 'Call the martyr Mercurius to me, that he may go quickly to the wicked Julian, and kill him, because he hath denied Christ, and concerning my Son, the true God, he speaketh blasphemously with inflated mind.'

Then came Mercurius to the illustrious queen with his armour, and was sent immediately by Christ's Mother to kill the emperor.

Then became Basil exceedingly afraid, and went with Eubolus again to the city, and afterward to the saint who lay in the church, Mercurius the martyr, with great veneration, and sought his weapons, but he saw them nowhere.

Then he asked the church-keeper about the saint's weapons, and he swore that they were certainly there in the evening.

Then the bishop truly understood his vision, and went again to the mountain with great joy, and made known to the people that the emperor was slain on that same night, as had been shown to him.

He went again to the venerable saint, desiring to know if his weapons had come back.

Then stood his javelin there, foully stained with Julian's blood, within the chancel.

Behold, about seven days afterwards came to the same city one of the emperor's knights, and made this known to the citizens : Julian was encamped by the river Euphrates, and a sevenfold guard watched over him ; then came a warrior unknown to us all, strongly armed, and immediately pierced him through with awful assault, and was not seen afterward; then Julian cried out with blasphemy, and miserably died, as we can testify.'

Thus the soldier related, and kneeled to the bishop, praying baptism, and the bishop granted him this.

Then Basil offered the citizens their property, but they all said with one voice, 'If we granted these costly things to the mortal (man), that he might not destroy our winsome city, much rather ought we to offer the treasure to the true God who has delivered us from death ; thou hast the property with thee, dispose of it, lo! how thou wilt.'

Then the bishop compelled them to take the third part, and the other two parts he gave to the needs of the church, and of the minster, for manifold uses.

Two years the cruel Julian reigned, and would not keep his priesthood in righteousness, but trusted in the heathenism which brought him to hell. Again on a certain occasion the pious man was falsely accused, for the cause of the true faith, to Valens the Emperor, who then ruled the kingdom.

He was baptized into Christ, but he knew not His faithi, but followed heresy through the persuasion of heretics.

Then the Emperor commanded to fetch the saint to Antioch, the beautiful city.

Then while the heretic was considering about his death, his own son became grievously sick, and hopeless of life, lay at [the point of] death.

Then the queen went to the emperor, and said, Evilly thou disposest thy purpose in God's sight; now our son is dying on account of the just man.

Then the emperor cried and said to Basil.

If thy doctrine is true, and it is pleasing to God, pray for my son that his malady be put to flight.'

Then said Basil boldly to the emperor, ' If thou wilt believe aright, then shall thy son live.'

He promised that he would, and the saint prayed for the sick child, and he was instantly better.

Then said the lieretics, who misled the emperor, that he ought not to depart, on account of Basil's teaching, from their religion, of his own mind, and said that his son should be whole by their means.

While the heretics thus deceived him, the child died suddenly in their hands. Again at another time the unbelieving Valens took God's church from the servants of God, and gave it to the heretics who deceived him.

Then went Basil to the aforesaid emperor and complained of the wrong which the evil men had brought upon him, so that the emperor at last gave in to his judgment.

So then Basil went to the city, called Nicea, in which was situated the aforesaid minster, which the wicked men had begged of the unrighteous emperor, driving out the Christians.

Then said Basil, “Let us lock up this church, and seal the lock, and do ye all afterward watch three nights, continuing in prayer, and if the church be opened through your prayers, ye shall have it ever afterward, and give no thanks to us.

If the Almighty God will not open it to you, then we will watch one night, praying to the Almighty, that He will open to us the sealed church, and if it be thus opened, it shall afterward be ours, and if it is not then [opened], we will never ask for it.'

The proposal of the bishop pleased the heretics, and they watched there three nights, and on the third day stood at the church door, all singing, from early morning till over mid-day.

But Christ heard them not, because they knew Him not.

Then Basil watched in prayers one night with the faithful people, and in the early morning, all began to cry, Kyrie, eleison, with loud voice to the dear Saviour ; Then suddenly came a great wind, and threw open the door, so that the bolts burst, and it struck against the wall.

Then went they in, praising the Almighty, and the bishop said mass, and blessed the faithful, and many of the heretics received the faith.

Then the emperor could not gainsay the decision, but let the servants of God inhabit God's temple, and enjoy the property which was made their own.

The aforesaid heretics were baptized into God, but they did not believe aright in the living Christ, but with many heresies deceived the Christians. An honourable thane had a daughter whom he wished to bring within a minster and commit to Christ, to His pure service.

Then one of his youths became known to the maiden, and through the instigation of the devil loved her secretly, but he durst not announce his inordinate love.

Then he went to a sorcerer who knew the devil's craft, and promised him treasure if he, by his magic, could make the maiden become his wife.

Then the sorcerer brought the youth to his devil, and the devil asked the erring youth if he would believe on him, and deny his Saviour, as soon as he had furthered his foul lust.

Thou stood the miserable one before the wicked devil, where he sat exalted with his hellish servants, and said he would renounce his Christ, and believe on him, if he would perform his desire.

Then said the fiend again, 'Ye are very unfaithful ; when ye have need of me, then I help you, and afterwards ye renounce me and turn to your Christ, who is very merciful and mercifully receiveth you.

But write me now, of thy own will, that thou renouncest Christ and thy baptism, and I will perform thy desire, and thou shalt be condemned with me at Doomsday.'

Then the wretch wrote the document with his own hands even as the devil dictated it to him; and the devil immediately sent to the maiden his foul spirits, who stir up lust, and enkindled the maiden to the man's desires.

Then she became vexed with the exceeding burning, and fell down suddenly, exclaiming loudly, O, thou my father !

have pity on thy daughter, and give me to the man to whom my mind enticeth me, else I must die a sore death.' Then the father wept, desiring to comfort her, and said with great grief to the sick daughter, 'I desired through chastity to wed thee to Christ, to the company of angels, for the comfort of my soul, and thou thus madly desirest a husband.'

She recked not of his words on account of the mad burning, and said that she must die very quickly, if the father would not accomplish her will.

Then the father at last, by his friends' advice, gave up the poor daughter to the devil's servant, with much property, and knew not his sin.

Then the devil's servant would never come to church, nor hear God's word, nor the holy mass.

Then was revealed to his poor wife his wicked promise to the hateful devil ; and with great anguish she ran to Basil, and made known to him, in order, her husband's apostacy, Then the holy man bade him be fetched to him, and enquired if it were even as his wife had told him; and he said, with weeping, how he had been led astray.

Then the bishop asked, Wilt thou again submit to Christ ?' The apostate said, 'I earnestly desire it, my lord; but I cannot though I wish, because I denied Christ, and confirmed in writing that I was the devil's.'

The holy man said to him, “Be not anxious about that; our Saviour is very benign, and will receive thee again, if thou with true repentance wilt turn again to Him.'

Lo! then Basil blessed the youth, and locked him up apart in a certain secret place, and enjoined him penances, and prayed for him.

He came again after three days and asked how he was.

Then said the penitent, The devils come to me, and terrify me greatly, and also, as it were, shoot at me, and have in their hands my own handwriting, saying, that I shall come to them and not they to me. Basil said to him, "Be not thou affrighted, believe truly in God;' and signed him [with the cross] again, and locked the door again, and brought him his food.

He came again after a few days, and examined the man. The youth said to the holy man, 'I hear the devils afar, and their awful threats, but I see them not.'

He locked him up again in the same manner until the fourteenth day, and examined him afterward.

Then said the youth that he was very well, 'Now to-day I saw how thou overcamest the devil.'

Then Basil in the morning brought the youth into God's House, and bade gather the people, and besought them all to watch there at night with him, and intercede for the poor man to the Almighty God.

While they prayed most fervently within the church, there came the bloodthirsty devil, desiring to snatch the youth from Basil's hands, pulling vehemently, and said to the saint that he had robbed him ; ' I sought him not, but he himself came to me, here I have his handwriting that I may keep it by me to the general judgment at the great day.'

Then said the holy man, We will cry to the Saviour with uplifted hands, until thou givest up the writing.'

Then they all cried, Kyrie, eleison, with hands uplifted toward heaven; and lo then !

after a space the same writing fell from above out of the air down to the faithful bishop.

Then he thanked God with ghostly bliss, and asked the youth if he recognized the writing.

He said, 'I recognize this paper full well, this I wrote myself for the accursed devil.'

Lo, then, Basil immediately tore it in pieces, and received the youth to communion, and committed him to the Saviour, and taught him zealously how he should live in Christ's faith, until his life's end. Basil the Great was much encouraged, and was gladdened exceedingly with divine light.

He went then quickly to a priest's house, and bade his brethren be his companions.

Anastasius was the name of the venerable mass-priest, to whom the bishop went so quickly in his journey.

With him dwelt a virgin, living virtuously, about the space of forty years, of good repute; it seemed to men as if she were his wife.

Verily the mass-priest knew his coming through the Holy Ghost, and desired to hide himself; but the bishop knew where he was full readily, and bade him say mass on account of his excellent life.

Then at the mass his virtue became manifested, so that the Holy Ghost encompassed him all over in the likeness of fire, as they were looking on.

The mass-priest lived on bread and water, and he fasted ever, save on festival days.

He had a leper shut up in a cave, fearfully swollen, and almost speechless, and had fed him there undiscovered until then.

Then Basil went to the cave, but the priest would not undo the door with a key ; but the bishop opened it easily by his word, and watched all the night with the destitute leper, praying the Saviour that He would heal him, and led him forth in the morning of a very fair aspect, without any spot, and speaking well.

Thus was made manifest the venerable mass-priest, and the holy virgin who took care of his house ; and the bishop went home with his brethren. A certain very holy Abbot was called Ephrem, dwelling in the desert, working many miracles, and set an example to many others who submitted to his teaching Then he heard of the wonders which Basil wrought, and frequently besought God that He would reveal to him what manner of man Basil was in honour [as compared) with himself.

Then was shown to the Abbot a fiery column which stood up extending even to the high heaven, and a voice came to him from above, thus crying aloud, O, thou Ephrem !

Basil is even such as is this fiery column which thou seest standing here.'

Then Ephrem departed immediately from the desert to the holy bishop, that he might speak with him, and Basil sent straightway to meet him, and welcomed him, forasmuch as he was worthy; and the saints betwixt themselves, concerning the heavenly life, devoutly meditated, very studiously.

After the holy mass, while they broke their fast, the holy Ephrem said to the venerable bishop, I pray thee, venerable father, to grant me one thing ; I know that thou art a dispenser of whatsoever thou askest of God.

Pray now to God that I may know Greek.'

Then said the Bishop to him, 'Thou hast asked beyond my power, but let us, nevertheless, ask this boon of God.'

They fell then to prayers, and Basil said, 'Behold!

why wilt thou not, Ephrem, since thou art so worthy, become a mass-priest ?' And the other said to him, 'Because I am sinful.'

Then said the bishop, "Oh, if I had but thy sins only!' Then they knelt again; and Ephrem then spake in the Greek tongue, praising God, and the holy Bishop ordained him as mass-priest, and his interpreter as deacon, and they went back again to the wide-stretching desert, glorifying God. A certain very wealthy woman was living as if in widowhood, but she lived shamefully, even as swine on a dunghill, and was destroying herself by deadly sins; however, she became at last wonderfully moved through God's warning, and wrote all her wicked deeds on a paper, and sealed it with lead; Then she sought Basil, praying and saying, Oh, thou saint of God!

Look on me with mercy; all my sins I, a sinner, have written on this paper, and I have come to thee, beloved one, and I pray thee, for God's love, to unloose for me this seal, and blot out the sins, interceding for me to the Lord ; the God who gave me this good thought, He will hear thee, interceding to Him for me.'

Then Basil the bishop took the paper, and looked up to heaven, and said to the Saviour, " Thine own deed, Lord, is it to blot out sins; Thou who mercifully takest away the sins of the world, easily Thou canst blot out the sins of this one soul, Thou righteous Lord !

All our sins are written down with Thee, but Thy mercy is very great and unsearchable.'

Still Basil prayed for the woman, keeping vigil that night, and gave back the writing to the aforesaid woman, and then were the sins all blotted out, save one of the sins, which was the greatest, and she became then disheartened, praying, with weeping, the holy man, that he would mercifully blot out the great sin, even as he did the others through his Lord's grant.

Then said the archbishop, 'I also am sinful, and need mercy of the heavenly Lord; but go thou to the desert, and thou shalt find a man of holy life, who is called Ephrem ; give him this writing, and make known to him concerning thy self, and he with prayers shall gladden Almighty God.'

The woman then went to the desert quickly'; and Basil was brought by disease near to his departure, foreknowing it however.

A noble leech was dwelling in the city, called Joseph, a heathen and a Jew; he knew how to distinguish, if he examined a man, by the feeling of his veins (pulses), whether he would die soon ; and Basil knew, through God's revelation, that he should bring the leech to the faith, and baptize him in the font ere his departure ; he loved him therefore, and frequently spake with him, persuading him to the faith, though he long opposed it.

Then on a certain day Basil sent after the same leech, as if he required his healing, and bade him examine concerning his sickness : then he asked how it seemed to him, and the other answered him, ‘Prepare the things which are customary amongst you for burial; this bishop will soon die.'

Then said the archbishop to the noble leech, “Thou knowest not what thou sayest, though thou ween it not.'

The leech said to him, “Thou wilt not live till evening.'

Then said Basil, What if I bide till morning ?' The Hebrew said again, 'It will not be so long; for one hour, I think, thy soul shall remain in thee; but set in order thy affairs, because I say to thee that this day will not close over thee alive.'

Then said Basil with blithe mood to him, ' What wilt thou do if I bide till to-morrow at mid-day ?!

The Hebrew said, 'I myself will die then.'

The holy man said, “Thou shalt die to sin and live to Christ, converted through faith.'

The leech answered him, and said that he would believe and perform his will, if he lived until mid-day.

He promised too with an oath, that He would submit to the Saviour, and receive baptism, if the holy father lived. So then Basil prayed the Almighty God, that he would lengthen his life for the salvation of the leech.

Then the Bishop lived even as he had besought of God, and in the morning summoned the leech to him.

Then the Jew came, and said, with astonishment, With all my heart I say that Christ is true God, and henceforth renounce with true faith the hateful rites which the Jews practise ; command me to be baptized, and all my household, in the Saviour's name without delay.'

The archbishop said, 'I will baptize you all with mine own hands, thy household and thee.'

Then the leech felt his limbs once more and said, ' Thy strength hath failed, and thou hast no power.'

Basil said to him, We have the Creator, Who created nature, and He will strengthen us.'

Then with that saying he arose and went to church, and, before the people, baptized Joseph with all his household, and received them afterwards to communion, and taught them zealously concerning the eternal life.

Afterward he said mass for the people until noon, and taught them zealously, and lovingly kissed them, and received the portion of the precious housel which the Saviour had consecrated, which he had reserved until then, and after the houselling, departed with praises to the living God whom he had worshipped faithfully, with whom he dwelleth in bliss ever without end.

Amen.

Lo! then the leech who had there become a believer, fell upon his breast with flowing tears, and said with weeping, ‘Alas, Basil !

if thou thyself hadst been unwilling, thou wouldst not yet have departed.

Then came a great multitude in the morning to the corpse, and bishop Gregory, who had learned with Basil, and many other bishops, and brought the corpse with ghostly songs into God's church. We will now relate fully concerning the sinful woman whom Basil sent with the one sin to Ephrem the abbot, that he might blot out that one.

The woman came at last through the wide desert to the holy Ephrem, and he knew all about her life through God's revelation, and what she desired there, and said to her instantly, 'I am a sinful man.'

Then she drew out the paper, and said to Ephrem, 'The archbishop sent me verily to thee, that thou mightest blot out this one sin, which standeth in this scroll, through thy prayers, even as he did the others.'

The holy Ephrem said, “Nay, nay, daughter, but he who could blot out the many sins through his intercession, when thou didst beseech him, he can, better than I, pray for this one: Go again quickly to the man of God that thou mayest reach him before his death.'

Then ran the poor voman over the desert swiftly, until she came to the city where they bare Basil, and fell then to the earth, chiding with the saint, that he had sent her from himself to the desert on so great a journey, and she had not been comforted.

Then with that she threw the writing on the bier, and told the men concerning her misdeeds.

Then one of the priests desired to know the sin, and looked at the paper, and cried to the woman; ' Wherefore labourest thou, oh woman ? this paper is blotted out.'

So the sin was blotted out through the Lord's mercy, even as Basil desired who was then in glory with God.

Then the woman rejoiced, and the people glorified the living God who liveth in eternity.

His body was buried in the city of Cæsarea, in the province of Cappadocia, where he himself had been bishop; profiting many by his great learning, and he himself desired to die for the right, ere he would be silent concerning the true faith amongst the heretics who very often vexed him.

Therefore he is now in glory for ever with God.

Amen.