Page:The venture; an annual of art and literature.djvu/94

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translated to a Christian land shall have great wealth and worship among Christians, and shall save his body and soul from every ill. And although it is long that these bones have been here, no Christian has been willing to ransom them at so high a rate; but do you take them upon my counsel, and trust to what I say." The Christian deeming him a man of truth, consented, and went with him to the house where the relics were to be found, and paid him that owned them, and when they were brought to the Moor's dwelling his wife, children and household received them with great veneration, and made a coffer in which to put them, lined within and without with crimson velvet, with nails and embroidery of gold. And thus he was despatched to his ship, with much provision and conserves, wine, and water enough for a long voyage, and horses' trappings and caparison, and other rich work of the country; some for himself and others for his father. And the Moor's wife sent coifs and jackets of Moorish work for the youth's mother; for so great was the love which they bore to this Christian for his good and virtuous carriage, that they loved him as a son, and if they could have helped it would never have let him go. But he must needs return in the ship, to which the Moor and his sons bore him company.

Embarking immediately, he departed with good weather, which by the virtue of the relics as would appear, God so continued to him, that he soon came to port in his own country, where he was received with open arms, and gave the presents he had brought from his host to his father and mother, who

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