THE MARRIAGE OF ST. CUTHBURGA. 181 



of God, ever-virgin. The venerable woman began in that place to 

 serve God alone with all her strength, to call upon Him with prayers 

 by day and by night, to give herself to the practice of almsgiving, and 

 with very great longing to desire the heavenly country. Who amongst 

 the philosophers is so eloquent that he can fitly describe her angelical 

 conversation ? Who amongst the rhetoricians is so gifted in speech 

 that he can express with fitting praise the admirable sanctity of this 

 most blessed lady ? Why, she afflicted her tender and delicate body 

 with many penances, she afflicted her flesh with fasting, and passed 

 nights and days in \vatchings. She prayed without ceasing. She 

 dwelt upon earth indeed with her body, but in heaven with her soul. 

 Daily she offered up her afflicted spirit as a sacrifice to God, in tears 

 and contrition of heart she offered herself up before God, she mourned 

 for the remission of sins and through desire for her heavenly home. 

 She made it her business to fulfil whatosever is well pleasing to God, 

 and she was careful not to offend Him even in the very least thought. 

 She was humble before God and man, gentle and kind to all. The 

 fame of her so great goodness was spread abroad everywhere, and the 

 odour of such marvellous sweetness was spread all around, and noble 

 maidens and matrons began to gather themselves to her, who, despising 

 the ways and conversation of the world, professed themselves ready 

 to serve God under a rule with the blessed Cuthburga. And when she 

 saw this, the venerable virgin rejoiced in the Lord with inexpressible 

 joy, because she beheld them so devotedly giving themselves over to 

 the service of God. And so it came to pass, by the providence of God, 

 that in a short space of time a very large number of nuns was collected 

 there, each one of whom incited her fellow to the service of God in zeal 

 for righteousness and religion. Then, truly, Saint Cuthburga began 

 more and more to increase in the fear and the love of God, and, as 

 though she had done nothing before, she earnestly endeavoured to 

 hasten on to a growth in virtue. 



The ninth Chapter. 



After these things the most worthy virgin, understanding that the 

 day of departure was at hand, began without ceasing to give thanks to 

 her Lord and spouse, and besought Him with instant prayers, tears, 

 and groans that He would no longer suffer her to be deprived of the 

 embraces of His sweetness. The other nuns her sisters seeing that she 

 was becoming weaker, all with one accord began to be exceedingly 

 sorrowful, and with unceasing prayers to beseech the Most High for 

 her restoration to health. For they all said that they would rather die 

 themselves than be deprived of so great a treasure. For she had 

 nourished them all with a mother's love, had cherished and loved them 

 as if (they had been) the children of her womb, and had shown them 

 the way of eternal life and of all happiness. And so, one day, the 



