Alphabet of tales : an English 15th century translation of the Alphabetum narrationum of Etienne de Besançon, from Additional MS. 25,719 of the British Museum
Etienne de Besançon
Mary Macleod Banks

DCCLXVIII.
Vigilare debent in orationibus religiosi.

We rede in þe 'Lyfe of Saynt Arsenius *. [MS. Arseme.] ,' þat when̛ he saw þe son̛ ryse he wolde turn̛ his bak þeron̛, & lifte vp handis & his harte vnto hevyn̛ to Almyghty God, & say his prayers. & so he wolde sytt aƚƚ day to þe son̛ shane on̛ his face agayn̛, and þan̛ he wulde turn̛ hym̛ & sitt in his prayers aƚƚ nyght. And agayns morn̛, when̛ he wexid̛ werie & his natur wolde ruste, he wolde say vnto slepe; "Com̛, servand̛, & serif me." and evyn̛ sittand̛ he walde spar his een̛ & slepe a while, and onone he wulde wake agayn̛ & go vnto his prayers.

  • Vigiliam quandoque inducit temptacio demonis per sompni subtraccionem. Supra de abstinencia.
  • Vindicta. Vindicant se aliqui crudeliter The tale from Valerius to follow this heading is missing in the English MS. .