Ælfric

“ Lucy fell asleep and saw Agatha
amongst hosts of angels, splendidly adorned,
and called to her thus, crying from above,
'My sister Lucy, true virgin of God,
why prayest thou of me that which thou couldst thyself grant?
Thy holy faith has helped thy mother,
and lo! she is entirely healed by Christ ”

“ Lucy said to him, ' though thou call ten thousand men,
they would all hear the Holy Ghost thus speaking:
Cadent a latere tuo mille, et decern millia a dextris tuis, tihi autem, non adpropinquabit malum.
A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand,
but verily no evil shall approach thyself.'
Then was the impious one perplexed in his mind yet more,
and bade men light a great pile all round the maid,
and sprinkle her with pitch and bespattering (?) oil. ”

“ She stood then undismayed in the fire, and said,
' I have obtained of Christ in prayer that this deadly fire
may have no power upon me, that thou mayst be put to shame,
and that it may dispel all fear of torture from believers,
and take away from unbelievers their evil joy.'
Then was the impious one madly vexed,
so that his friends could not assuage his madness;
but they bade men kill the pure maid with the sword. ”