MARTYRDOM OF ST VINCENT 181 



body from the sword points and laid it in a soft bed; 

 then the tyrant says:- 



" * Dead we shall overcome him ; since alive he would 



not yield, 



' Carry his carcase and cast it eftsoons in the open field. 

 * The birds of prey shall tear it, and rend it the beasts of 



prey.' 

 They carry St Vincent's relics and the tyrant's will 



obey. 

 Then there came a raven flying ; by the saint he did 



alight 

 Savage and keen and dreadful : right ready he was to 



fight. 

 As each fowl hoped to glut her, and on it thought to 



fly, 



This raven down he struck her; and none might e'er 



draw nigh ; 

 For still away he drave them : this raven was quicker 



than they, 

 Nor was any so keen in swooping to carry a morsel 



away. 

 Then a wolf came ambling thither, thinking to make a 



feast ; 

 But or ever he snatched at the body, the bird made up 



to the beast. 

 With talon and bill he struck him ; the wolf was 



overcome ; 

 Bleeding at last and beaten, he slunk away to his home. 



