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dishevelled and flying; her eyes, wild and sparkling with the violence of emotion, were raised piteously to heaven. With that strength which frenzy sometimes supplies, she burst through the multitude who struggled to detain her; and approaching the body of her deceased child, said, or rather shrieked, in a heart-piercing accent, " I will pass; I will look upon my soul's only comfort. Did not this dried fountain suckle him? Have not these withered arms supported him? Hath he not slept-ah! not such sleep as this!—while I have watched him? Oh my child?" Saying this, she threw her emaciated form upon the unconscious object of her solicitude; and again giving vent to her sorrows, exclaimed, "My own dear boy! light of the dimmed eyes that will soon close upon all, since thou art gone-why hast thou wrought this? why wast thou so inhuman? Thou didst see our tears-thou didst hearken to our groansyet camest not forward to abate them! slaves scoffed at and injured thee, but thou wert patient-too, too patient.” Again, and again, the unfortunate mother prostrated her

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self upon the body; one while clasping him in her arms, at another, passing her hand reverently over his seraphic features. Now, she impressed a kiss upon the cold cheek and eye-lids which her tears had moistenedand now bending over him, muttered something in a low and inaudible voice. Suddenly turning to the spectators, she said, "Weep, I pray ye, weep ye who are regarding the agonies of a bereaved parent-have ye no tear to spare her? Abiding together for seventeen years, I knew him not!-not him, my beloved and beautiful! They taunted him, and showered their unmanly blows upon his enduring head. Oh! who will again bring tears to my burning eyelids? Who-who, will bear a part in my misery?"

The wife, whom Alexius had married and quitted on the evening of their nuptials, had been borne along by the congregating populace; but distress, until now, had held her silent. As Abael ceased, she sprung for

*The reader will not perhaps comprehend much occasion for the lady's sorrow.

ward and cried, "Thou, misérable! what then am I? Woe is me! to-day I am desolate; today I am all a widow! Now, there is none for whom I may look-none, whom I may yet expect, although he come not. Where shall mine eye see gladness? The glass of my joy is broken *-shivered-shivered my hope is extinct; and grief is all the portion of my widowhood." The multitude, penetrated by the various calamities of which they were witnesses, sympathized with the sufferers, and wept aloud.

By command of the pontiff and the two emperors, the body was deposited on a sumptuous bier, and brought into the middle of the city. Proclamation was made, that the man of God was discovered, whom they had before sought in vain: and every one crowded to the bier. Now, if any infirm person touched the hallowed corpse, instantly he was strengthened. The blind received their sight; those who were possessed of devils were set free, and all the sick, be the disorder what it might,

* The monk is not often so poetical.

when they had once come in contact with the body, were made whole. These miraculous effects, attracted the attention of the emperors and the pontiff. They determined to support the bier; and when they had done so, they were sanctified by the holiness which proceeded from the corse. They then scattered great abundance of gold and silver about the streets, that the people's natural cupidity might draw them aside, and the bier be carried forward to the church; but, strange to say, careless of all else, they pressed yet the more vehemently to touch it. At length, after great exertions, he was brought to the church of St. Boniface, the Martyr; and there, for the space of seven days, they tarried, praising God. They constructed a monument, glittering with gold and precious stones, and here, with the greatest reverence, placed the body of their Saint. Even from the very monument, so sweet an odour of sanctity broke forth, that it seemed to be entirely filled with the most fragrant aroma. He died about the year of our Lord cccxxvIII. (12)

APPLICATION..

My beloved, Eufemian is any man of this world who hath a darling son, for whose advantage he labours day and night. He obtains a wife for him, that is, the vanity of the world, which he delights in as in a bride; nay, the world's vanities are often more to a man than the most virtuous wife-for life is sacrificed to the one, but, alas! how seldom to the other! The mother, is the world itself, which greatly values her worldly-minded children. But the good son, like the blessed Alexius, is more studious to please God than his parents, remembering that it is said,"He who forsakes land or houses, or father, or mother, or wife, for my sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and possess eternal life." Alexius enters a ship, &c. The ship is our holy Church, by which we ought to enter, if we would obtain everlasting happiness. We must likewise lay aside gorgeous raiment— that is, the pomps of the world; and associate with the poor-that is, the poor in spirit.

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