Page:Goldenlegendlive00jaco.djvu/63

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S. Christopher
49

Then is the devil more mighty and greater than thou art. I am then deceived of my hope and purpose for I had supposed I had founden the most mighty and the most greatest lord of the world; but I commend thee to God, for I will go seek him for to be my lord, and I his servant.' And then departed from this king, and hasted him for to seek the devil. And as he went by a great desert, he saw a great company of knights, of which a knight cruel and horrible came to him and demanded whither he went; and Christopher answered to him and said: 'I go seek the devil for to be my master.' And he said: 'I am he that thou seekest.' And then Christopher was glad, and bound him to be his servant perpetual, and took him for his master and lord. And as they went together by a common way, they found there a cross, erect and standing. And anon as the devil saw the cross he was afeard and fled, and left the right way, and brought Christopher about by a sharp desert. And after, when they were past the cross, he brought him to the highway that they had left. And when Christopher saw that, he marvelled, and demanded whereof he doubted, and had left the high and fair way, and had gone so far about by so aspre a desert. And the devil would not tell him in no wise. Then Christopher said to him: 'If thou wilt not tell me, I shall anon depart from thee, and shall serve thee no more.' Wherefor the devil was constrained to tell him, and said: 'There was a man called Christ which was hanged on the cross, and when I see his sign I am sore afraid, and flee from it wheresoever I see it.' To whom Christopher said:

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