Ælfric's Lives of Saints/Of the Theban Legion

by Ælfric

XXVIII.

SEPT. 22. ST. MAURICE AND HIS COMPANIONS

(THE THEBEAN LEGION).

There was a certain heathen Emperor hight Maximian,

who fared with a great force to the Frankish land [Gaul],

desiring to subdue by war the tribes

who were rebellious and had renounced his rule.

The Emperor was keen and cruel,

and practised idolatry, living as a heretic,

and killed God's servants with great cruelty.

There were in the array many Christian men

and one especial Legion from Eastern nations,

very Christian men, following the Emperor,

because they had to serve in the wars even as all people did.

A Legion is said in the old reckoning [to be]

six thousand men and six hundred and six and sixty.

So many men were there in the aforesaid legion,

firmly believing on the living God,

though their lord was, to a mad extent, a heathen.

In this flock the foremost men

were Maurice the chief, and Exuperius,

Candidus and Vitalis, and many others besides them,

and they were associated in steadfast faith,

so that they would not turn to shameful heathenism

from the living God in whom they believed.

Then Maximian journeyed with a great array

until they came to the mountains, and the wicked man desired,

after he had passed over the mountains,

to hold his heathen worship, and bade men call to him

the whole army that they might fulfil his hest,

and with him might all offer their sacrifices

to the devilish gods, to the dishonour of God Almighty.

Then went the Legion, of whom we have before spoken,

forth on their way, and fled from that idolatry,

for they would not destroy themselves by the diabolical sacrifices,

but rode more than twelve miles to the river Rhodanus [Rhone],

and there speedily alighted on account of the tedious journey;

and the Emperor encamped with the other army

near a little town called Octodurum [Martigny],

offering his sacrifices with the unbelieving

to his wicked gods, desiring to gladden them

before he should come to the fight, that they might assist him.

Then perceived the Emperor that the Christians were not there,

and thereupon angrily commanded his companions to go

and bid the Christians to come to him.

So the messengers rode quickly

and announced to the Christians the Emperor's proclamation,

but they all said with steadfast faith

that they had until then believed in the living God,

and ever throughout their lives would believe in Him,

and spake to the messengers thus in other words;

' We are ready to go forth to the fight with the Emperor,

but we will not be perverted to his sacrifices.'

Then the messengers rode quickly back again,

and made known to the Emperor that the Christians would not

obey his hest concerning his idolatry.

Then Maximian became inflamed with great anger,

and bade the heathen go and slay the saints,

that men might see how Maximian would avenge

his own dishonour and eke that of his gods.

And they therewith went quickly to fulfil his commands.

Then Maurice, the illustrious servant of God,

and Exuperius, filled with humility,

exhorted their companions to be fearless,

and requested them to cast their weapons away from them,

and for Christ's faith to submit to their executioners,

[going] joyfully to death, even as He [Christ] Himself set them the example

when He bade Peter to sheathe his sword.

In the midst of these exhortations the heathen hastened

with formidable weapons to the pious company,

and slew the Christians, even as the Emperor had commanded,

with their weapons furiously, as one heweth wood;

and the servants of God hastened with gladness,

stretched out their necks to the death for Christ,

and would not with their weapons strive against them,

but hastened with emulation to the terrible swords.

After that the Emperor sent to the executioners,

and bade that they should not leave of that faithful band

one man alive who believed in Christ;

and they so did as the devil's worshipper

savagely bade, and killed the servants of God,

so that not one was left of the company.

Many of God's angels from heaven straightway

received their souls with great joy,

even as God's well-instructed servants sing in hymns.

Then the soldiers divided Christ's martyrs'

weapons and garments, because the bloodthirsty one bade

that each of them should have as spoil

that man's clothes whom he had killed with his weapons.

After this dividing the presumptuous murderers

sat down together with great merriment,

and began their feast with foul hands.

Then, anon, there came riding thereto a certain Christian man,

hoary and old, who was named Victor.

Then began the murderers to call the old man

to their feast; but he quickly asked

for what cause they were so wonderfully blithe,

or how they could taste any meat

in the midst of the slain? Then said one of them

that those were Christians, and the Emperor had commanded

to slay them all for an example to others.

Then the old Victor inwardly groaned,

and cried aloud; 'Oh I that I had come earlier,

that I might end my life with such men,

and shed my old blood with this Legion,

that I might not be deprived of their honour! '

Then the heathen beset him around,

and with fierce threatening bade him say

if he were a Christian, since he desired such a thing.

Then he looked up to Heaven, and said with grief,

' All the earth is encompassed with the mist

of deep brutishness, except the Lord Jesus Christ

either give us His light or lead us away;

and may Christ now grant me, after this confession,

that ye may not let me go from these slain Saints!'

After these words the infuriated multitude

slew this Victor, so that he fell and died;

and thus he earned the bliss eternal,

with the holy men, even as he himself had wished.

Wherefore should we further relate how the unblessed Emperor

ended his expedition, seeing that he perished in the end

But let us think earnestly, when we hear the like,

that we may be the better by means of bookish lore.

We have to toil, and overcome evil habits

by a good service, to earn God's kingdom;

that we may rejoice with the saints

whom now we praise, though we be not martyrs.

We must consider how patient they were,

those who for Christ's name were killed;

men scourged them with whips and drowned them in the sea,

or burned them in the fire, or with tortured (?) limbs

tormented them for a spectacle with every punishment;

and in every woe they were patient,

and bore every contumely for the Saviour's name.

Now are we so slothful that we will not labour

in hardly anything, nor deny our lusts

in order that we may have in exchange those great dignities

in heaven, together with the holy martyrs;

neither will we bear one contemptuous word

for our Lord's name, as we ought to do,

but without patience and constancy we grow angry

as a lion, and scarcely consider how we, miserable men,

are to obtain any mercy from Almighty God,

now that we are so reckless and so fierce amongst ourselves.

Patience is a great virtue and necessary to men,

even as our Saviour said to His holy Apostles,

In patientia uestra possidebitis animas uestras;

'In your patience ye shall possess your souls.'

If the patient man by his long-suffering

keepeth his soul, even as Christ said to us,

then the irascible man will lose his own soul

through impatience, and it will certainly perish.

If we live wisely, even as books instruct us,

then may we come amongst Christ's Saints

after our ending, and ever dwell with them;

because this world flieth away very swiftly,

and our days depart like wayfaring men;

and the departed day cometh never again,

but every hour driveth us forth to death, against our will.

The saints whom we are honouring and their like

renounced this world, though it were merry,

whilst still in this life, because they desired the (life) eternal.

Then was there long life, and mild weather,

health of body, during long-lasting peace,

fruitfulness on earth, and sufficiency in riches.

But nevertheless the saints despised all that,

and entirely desired the eternal life.

Behold now, this earth is too much harassed,

and with many distresses evilly oppressed;

and nevertheless we love its distresses still;

and for this deceitful life we labour and toil,

and for the future life we toil little,

wherein we shall ever have whatsoever we earn here.

Once this earth drew men away from God

by its fairness, and now it helpeth us to God,

because it is filled with many distresses.

Let us therefore now turn our wills to God,

and our contemplation to the eternal life,

that we afterward may dwell there for ever;

even as Christ Himself promised to them that love Him.

To whom is glory and worship for ever and ever. AMEN.