The Life of St. Alexis, Chapters I-VI [pp. 644-655]

Tze Life of St. Alexis.
best who lived there. The emperor
loved him above all his peers.
Euphemian, then, took a wife, worthy
and honored, one of the noblest in all
the land.
After this they long abode together;
that they had no child, grieved them
sore. Earnestly they both cry to God:
O heavenly King, grant us, by thy command, a child who may be according to
thy will.
With so great humility they prayed
to him, that he gave the woman fruitfulness and granted them a son; and
they were grateful.
They made him, by holy baptism,born
again; and bestowed on him a Christian
name.
He was christened and named Alexis.
Gladly she who had borne him nursed
him.
Thereafter the good father sent him
to school. So aptly learned he letters
that he was well provided.
Then the child goes to serve the emperor.
When the father sees that he will
never have another child, but that one
only whom he loves so much; then he
meditates on the years to come.
Presently he has his wish that during
his own life his son marry. He obtains
for him accordingly a noble Frank's
daughter.
This maid was of high connections:
daughter to a count of Rome, the city.
The nobleman has no other child, and
wishes to honor her greatly.
The two fathers come together to confer. They desire to unite their two
children.
Named is the time of marriage: when
consummation came, it is well carried
out.
Dan Alexis espoused her with splendor.
He desired nothing from that project.
He has his heart wholly upon God.
When day passes and night came, the
father said:
Go now, son, lie down with your bride
at the command of the God of heaven.
The youth had no wish to displease
his father, but goes into the chamber
where the wife was.
When he saw the bed and looked at
the virgin, then he remembers his heavenly Father, whom he holds more dearthan anything on earth.
O God, he cried, how strong the temptation oppressing me! If now I flee
not, I dread I may lose thee.
WVhen they were left all alone in the
chamber, Lord Alexis began to accost
her.
He commenced to arraign the earthly
life, and demonstrate to her the truth of
the heavenly. And he delayed in parting from her.
Hearken to me, maiden.
Receive him now as bridegroom who
hath redeemed us with his precious
blood.
In this life is no perfect love; life is
frail, nor is any honor lasting.
When he to her all his mind has expressed, he consigns to her his swordbelt, and a ring wherewith he had
espoused her.
Afterwards he goes out from the chamber of his father.
He flees from the land in the middle
of the night.
Then straightwavy he came faring to
the sea.
The ship is ready into which he is.as
to enter.
He pays his fare and went in.
They raise their sail.
They put to sea.
There they made land where God was
pleased to grant.
Straight to Salice, it was a city beautiful, thither the ship comes safely.
Then Lord Alexis issued forth on
shore.
I know not how long he sojourns
there.
Wherever he was, he ceases not to
serve God.
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