Then said the holy man to the weeping brethren;
'It befitteth not a Christian man save that he die in dust;
if I set you any other example, then I should sin.'
He released not his unconquered spirit from prayers,
but he never ceased his prayers with open eyes
and uplifted hands. Then the priests wished
that he should lie on the other side, and so rest himself.
Then the saint replied, ' Suffer, I pray,
that I may look upon heaven rather than upon earth,
and that my spirit may be sent on its journey to the Lord.'
Then he saw the devil standing close at hand,
and he began, undismayed, to ask him;
'Why standeth thou here, thou cruel beast?
thou wilt find nothing in me, thou evil one.
I shall be received into Abraham's dwelling.'
And after these words the soul departed
from the afflicted body, happily to heaven.
On Sunday morning he departed when he was
eighty-one winters old, and after Christ's passion
four hundred and twelve winters by computation;
and thereupon many men heard at his departure
very loud voices of angels singing
sounding upon high through the heavens,
even as it saith in books which are written about him.
His body forthwith appeared in glory,
brighter than glass, whiter than milk,
and his countenance shone more than light,
then already glorified for the future resurrection.
Alas! what lament of the true and faithful
