Page:Goldenlegendlive00jaco.djvu/56

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42
SS. Adrian and Natalie

is delivered, see, lo! where he cometh.' And when she heard it she believed it not, and said: 'And who may deliver him from his bonds? God forbid that he be loosed of his bonds, and departed from the saints.' And as she said these words, a child of the meiny came, that said: 'Certes, my lord is let go.' And she supposed that he had fled from his martyrdom, and wept bitterly, and when she saw him she shut hastily the door against him.' Let him be far from me,'said she, 'that is fallen away from God, and God forbid that I speak to the mouth of him that denied his Lord.' And then she turned to him and said: 'O thou wretch without God, who constrained thee to emprise and take which thou mayst not perform? Who hath taken thee from the saints, or who hath deceived thee for to depart from them? Say to me, wherefore art thou fled tofore thou sawest the battles? How art thou hurt? Certain it is of none arrow that was shot to thee. What shall I do that am joined to him that is of the lineage of felons? It is not granted to me to be the wife of a martyr but for a time; but now I shall be called the wife of a renegade and transgressor; my joy certainly hath little endured, and it shall be to me a reproach long time.' And in hearing this thing the blessed Adrian enjoyed him strongly; and marvelled much of his wife that was so young and right fair, noble, and married but fourteen months without more, how she might say this; and therefore he was the more ardent to martyrdom, and heard gladly these words. But when he saw her overmuch tormented, he said to her: 'Open the door to me, Natalie, my love and