[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
oratory dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, where the man of God used frequently, as occasion
163
Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England The Venerable Bede
offered, and specially in Lent, to abide with a few companions and in quiet give himself to prayer
and study. Having come hither once at the beginning of Lent to stay, he bade his followers find out
some poor man labouring under any grievous infirmity, or want, whom they might keep with them
during those days, to receive alms, for so he was always used to do.
There was in a township not far off, a certain youth who was dumb, known to the bishop, for
he often used to come into his presence to receive alms. He had never been able to speak one word;
besides, he had so much scurf and scab on his head, that no hair could ever grow on the top of it,
but only some rough hairs stood on end round about it. The bishop caused this young man to be
brought, and a little hut to be made for him within the enclosure of the dwelling, in which he might
abide, and receive alms from him every day. When one week of Lent was over, the next Sunday
he bade the poor man come to him, and when he had come, he bade him put his tongue out of his
mouth and show it him; then taking him by the chin, he made the sign of the Holy Cross on his
tongue, directing him to draw it back so signed into his mouth and to speak. "Pronounce some
word," said he; "say gae, " which, in the language of the English, is the word of affirming and
consenting, that is, yes. The youth s tongue was immediately loosed, and he spoke as he was bidden.
The bishop then added the names of the letters: "Say A." He said A. "Say B;" he said B also. When
he had repeated all the letters after the bishop, the latter proceeded to put syllables and words to
him, and when he had repeated them all rightly he bade him utter whole sentences, and he did it.
Nor did he cease all that day and the next night, as long as he could keep awake, as those who were
present relate, to say something, and to express his private thoughts and wishes to others, which
he could never do before; after the manner of the man long lame, who, when he was healed by the
Apostles Peter and John, leaping up, stood and walked, and entered with them into the temple,
walking, and leaping, and praising the Lord, rejoicing to have the use of his feet, which he had so
long lacked. The bishop, rejoicing with him at his cure, caused the physician to take in hand the
healing of the sores of his head. He did as he was bidden, and with the help of the bishop s blessing
and prayers, a goodly head of hair grew as the skin was healed. Thus the youth became fair of
countenance, ready of speech, with hair curling in comely fashion, whereas before he had been
ill-favoured, miserable, and dumb. Thus filled with joy at his recovered health, notwithstanding
that the bishop offered to keep him in his own household, he chose rather to return home.
CHAP. III. How he healed a sick maiden by his prayers. [705 A.D.]
THE same Berthun told another miracle concerning the said bishop. When the most reverend
Wilfrid, after a long banishment, was admitted to the bishopric of the church of Hagustald, and the
aforesaid John, upon the death of Bosa, a man of great sanctity and humility, was, in his place,
appointed bishop of York, he himself came, once upon a time, to the monastery of nuns, at the
place called Wetadun, where the Abbess Heriburg then presided. "When we were come thither,"
said he, "and had been received with great and universal joy, the abbess told us, that one of the
164
Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England The Venerable Bede
nuns, who was her own daughter after the flesh, laboured under a grievous sickness, for she had
been lately let blood in the arm, and whilst she was under treatment, was seized with an attack of
sudden pain, which speedily increased, while the wounded arm became worse, and so much swollen,
that it could scarce be compassed with both hands; and she lay in bed like to die through excess of
pain. Wherefore the abbess entreated the bishop that he would vouchsafe to go in and give her his
blessing; for she believed that she would soon be better if he blessed her or laid his hands upon
her. He asked when the maiden had been let blood, and being told that it was on the fourth day of
the moon, said, You did very indiscreetly and unskilfully to let blood on the fourth day of the
moon; for I remember that Archbishop Theodore, of blessed memory, said, that blood-letting at
that time was very dangerous, when the light of the moon is waxing and the tide of the ocean is
rising. And what can I do for the maiden if she is like to die?
"But the abbess still earnestly entreated for her daughter, whom she dearly loved, and designed
to make abbess in her stead, and at last prevailed with him to go in and visit the sick maiden.
Wherefore he went in, taking me with him to the maid, who lay, as I said, in sore anguish, and her
arm swelling so greatly that it could not be bent at all at the elbow; and he stood and said a prayer
over her, and having given his blessing, went out. Afterwards, as we were sitting at table, at the
usual hour, some one came in and called me out, saying, Quoenburg (that was the maid s name)
desires that you should immediately go back to her. This I did, and entering the chamber, I found
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]