THE MARRIAGE OF ST. CUTHBURGA. 171 



Translation. 



Here beginneth concerning Saint Cuthburga, Virgin and Queen. 



About the year 670 from the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus, there 

 was in Wessex a certain sub-king of high nobiUty and sprung from a 

 noble Hne of great kings, Kenred by name. This Kenred begat Saint 

 Ina and his brother Ingild and the blessed Cuthburga and her sister 

 Saint Quenburga. But on the death of Ceadwalla king of Wessex 

 the aforesaid venerable and royally descended Ina is elected king by 

 the general choice and joint will of all that region and is set to govern 

 the whole kingdom. Now the venerable virgin, his sister Cuthburga, 

 from the days of her youth chose to please the Lord of the angels 

 alone, like a wise virgin thinking only the thoughts of the Lord, that 

 she might be holy in body and in spirit. And so, keeping untouched 

 the flower of her virginity, she made ready a pleasing mansion for the 

 Holy Spirit. Now the report of her purity and of her beauty being 

 spread abroad on all sides and everyone sending forth a sweet odour, 

 had attracted many kings and noble youths with love of her, and by 

 many she was eagerly sought in marriage, both because she came of 

 royal race and because her countenance was worthy of a position of 

 supreme authority. But she, rejoicing to cleave to the embrace of 

 her heavenly spouse alone, shrank even from the gaze of men, and, 

 wholly intent on the contemplation of the Divine, said in her heart, 

 " My beloved is mine and I am His ; Him alone do I desire ; Him 

 alone do I desire to hold, and with the love of Him alone do I languish ; 

 to Him alone is it sweet and pleasant to me to cling, for He is lovely 

 bej^ond the sons of men." 



The second Chapter. 



Afterwards Aldfrith, king of the Northumbrians, a man learned in 

 the Scriptures, sent his envoys to do honour to Ina king of Wessex, 

 desiring that he will grant him his sister Saint Cuthburga in marriage. 

 Whereupon the king with his habitual placid countenance made answer 

 to the envoys that he would make trial of the virgin's mind on this 

 matter whether to give assent to such a request. Therefore the king, 

 calling his sister privately to him, made known to her the king's 

 embassage, and asked her will what he should answer in this matter. 

 At this the modest virgin was at first amazed ; but afterwards, 

 recovering her spirit, she thus makes answer to the king : " My lord 

 and brother, M-ere it permitted me to live after mine own wish, assuredly 

 no king or under king in all Britain were a husband to my mind. But 

 inasmuch as the Scripture saith ' he who resists authority resists the 

 ordinance of God,' whomsoever your majesty hath ordained for me he 

 shall find me prompt to obey him, though it be not of my will. For 



