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OF THE MATRIMONY OF EVAST AND ALOMA

In a certain city it came to pass that a goodly youth, of right noble lineage, the son of a gentle burgess, became, through the death of his father, very wealthy in temporal riches. This youth, EvaSt by name, had been brought up and inftru&ed by his father in right good manners: he was well-favoured in person, noble of heart, well equipped in all things, and knowing so much of letters and sciences that he had a passing great knowledge of Holy Scripture. Greatly was this Evaft sought by men of religion in the city that he might become one of themselves, and by certain worldly men* also who desired to be allied with him through matrimony. Now while he was thus importuned by re¬ ligious men and by men efleemed in the world, he gave thought one night to the order of religion and the order of matrimony, and it came to his will that he should embrace the religious life in order to flee the vain delights of this world. But he remembered the abundance of temporal riches which his father had bequeathed to him and how it was laid upon him to maintain the great house and to con¬ tinue the almsdeeds which his father had made while he lived this present life. For all the which reasons, and because, moreover, he was the head of his line, he inclined to the order of matrimony, determining, for so long as he was in that eflate, to give good doftrine and example to all that were likewise therein. He desired also to have sons who should be servants of God, to whom he might leave the temporal goods that he possessed, that before his death he might serve God in some religious order.

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. When EvaS had conceived and deliberated m his will how that he should embrace the order of matr.mony, he sa.d to certain of his kinsfolk, especially to those m whom he had the greater truft, that they should seek in the city some damsel of noble lineage, -for by nobility of lineage the heart is fortified againft wickedness and deceit. He desired further to have a wife who should be sound and well-formed in body, that nature might give good conftitution to their offspring. And, above all, Evafl besought his kinsfolk to seek out for him one that was humble and well brought up, and whose parents, together with herself, should be well pleased and honoured by the alliance.

3. There lived in that city a lady that was much honoured, and of great courtesy, who for long had been a widow, and had a daughter, by name Aloma. Throughout the city it was reported that this damsel ruled and direfted all her mother’s house, and moreover that she was right virtuous: the good lady that was her mother gave her this authority that she might know in what manner to maintain and govern her house when she should be wedded, and she gave her occupations also, that no foolish and evil thoughts should enter her mind through overmuch leisure and incline her to base deeds.

4. All the qualities that Evaft desired in his wife were found in Aloma; and those that sought a wife for Evaft according to his will were certified of her virtuous life. And so by the will of God the matrimony of Evaft and Aloma was accomplished.

J. Throughout all the city was noised abroad the day of the wedding of Evaft and Aloma, and many were the men and women that desired upon that day to do them great honour. But Evaft would have none of it, for he desired virtue™ P“ple an examPle of humility, the which vanitv :S„:°nt to be deSpiSed uP°n such days, and pride,

V t"l !I.nf!0ry ‘?.bc/aVoured' Wherefore, upon the ) the church

day of their wedding, Evaft and Aloma w'

OF THE MATRIMONY OF EVAST AND ALOMA with but few persons, to signify by such means their humility; and that the Sacrament of the Mass should not be thought of less account than themselves, they were clothed in humble raiment. Together with them were devout and holy persons, that their prayers might be the more surely heard, and that God might be the better pleased with the oblation made by Evaft and Aloma of their persons and of the possessions which He had given them.

6. The Mass on that day was celebrated by a holy man, that through his holiness the grace of God might reft upon Evaft and Aloma. This holy man preached and declared to them the intention for the which matrimony is ordained, and gave them good doftrine, setting before them how they muff live and fulfil the sacrament of matrimony and the promises which they had mutually made, that God might be served thereby and His grace through them be shown forth to all men.

7. Throughout that day were prayer and devotion made, and a great feaft for the poor of Jesus Chrift, who praise and bless God when alms are given to them. Through these is Jesus Chrift represented at a wedding, whereto the poor are called and such wealthy men turned away therefrom as bear not in mind the Passion of the Son of God, wafting and squandering those temporal goods which the poor sorely need, and spending them in the service of men full of worldly vanity, like unto themselves.

8. On that day of their wedding Evaft and Aloma served the poor of Jesus Chrift, and in remembrance of the humility of our Lord Jesus Chrift they washed the hands and the feet of thirteen poor men, kissing their hands and feet, and clothing their naked bodies with new raiment. And it was proclaimed throughout that city that every poor man who desired to receive alms for the love of God should come to that wedding-feaft.

9. The kinsfolk and the friends of Evaft and Aloma like¬ wise served the poor of Jesus Chrift on that day at the

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wedding-feaft. After which they departed to dine each in his own house, that they might not take the viands from the noor and Evaft and AJoma dined together at the table of the thirteen poor men. And when they had dined, Evaft

that day in prayer and contemplation, and Aloma mother house wherein was an order of women, to praise and call upon God our Lord. And to each of these two houses, and to all the other religious houses of that city, Eva ft made a gift, and commanded abundant victuals to be given on that day of his marriage.

io. Evaft honoured his bride as it behoved him, and treated her with much respeft, to the end that love and fear might be increased within her, for these two things are well found in the heart of a woman. He gave her authority and management of the possessions of the house, and himself resolved to engage in trade, that in humility he might bear some office and not be idle, and ever have temporal goods for the maintenance of his house. For by overmuch leisure man comes to poverty and pride and indolence, and many a time, through over-great confidence in their nobility and riches, men of the city come to failure and poverty and give themselves to vice.

n. In the house of Evaft and Aloma were no servants that were ill bred, left their ill breeding should make some evil thought to be born in the mind of Aloma. Each day Evaft and Aloma went to hear and behold the Holy Sacra¬ ment of the Mass, and, returning to their house, gave alms ot the possessions which God had beftowed upon them. After this they were occupied in the maintenance of their

wen ;i^Tg WCek’ and “P°n ^ feftival, they went g i dly t0 se s and tQ ^ ^ ^ ^

whSebilhev K6 ^ °f G°d and receive io&™e la ThelT C°ntinUe in the *«* of holy life.

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34 P ' Evaft and Aloma, for by their example

OF THE MATRIMONY OF EVAST AND ALOMA were greatly edified both those who dwelt in matrimony and likewise the religious; and by all men in the city they were loved and honoured. So greatly were they respected in that city that men and women alike found counsel and favour in them, and consolation in their necessities.

13. For much time and long Evail and Aloma lived to¬ gether and had no children; and it chanced one day that Aloma considered the passing of this present life, and re¬ membered the intent wherein she had entered the estate of matrimony, namely to bear children who should be servants of God. Then her eyes filled with tears and her heart with grief and sadness because she had no children. And she went into a fruitful 1 orchard which belonged to the house, and kneeled before a tree which was near to a fair water¬ spring; there she wept for a great space, praying to Almighty God, the Lord of all, that in His sovereign mercy He would give her a son, who should be His servant, and take from her the grief and sadness which was hers because she had no children.

14. While Aloma wept thus, and besought the God of Heaven and earth to hear her prayers, Evail after his wont entered the orchard and beheld Aloma weeping sorely, whereat he greatly marvelled, and spake to her as follows : “ Wherefore weepefl thou, Aloma, and why art thou so sad? What can I do that thou mayeft be comforted? I marvel greatly to see these thy tears, and thy countenance revealing to me such sadness of heart, when never until now have I seen in thee a sign of trouble or displeasure. Aloma, my beloved, tell me now, wherefore is this ? I had thought to know all thy desires, but it seemeth now that there hath entered into thy mind that which thou hail; not revealed

15. Aloma considered the words of Evast her lord, and had shame to reveal to him her thoughts, for she feared and

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, But left Evaft should harbour some IrLET/SSw thought concerning her, she resolved o tell him the reason of her tears, and she said : Evaft, my ord never in all my life, since I entered thy power, have I had in my heart thought or desire which conftrained me so greatly as does now my desire to bear a son; for it would be a grievous loss if the good things that we possess were inherited by any other than a son of our own body. And God gives much grace and honour to a man when He gives him sons to serve him, whereby his name and lineage may be preserved. And therefore, when I think upon death, and see that I have no son to whom may be bequeathed this house, and who may maintain these possessions, and the alms that are given of them, I cannot choose but weep, neither can my heart in aught find consolation.”

16. Evaft answered Aloma and said: “Through the virtue of God are all things created for the service of man; and God denies to man many things which he desires, to the end that he may know the greatness of His Power and Will, and have patience, and submit his will to the Will of God. All these things and many more does God ordain, to increase the occasion and means whereby man may have great merit, that Divine Juftice may grant him great happi¬ ness in the glory of Paradise. And since this is so, foolish indeed is the person and the soul that considers not all these things; and it is but a mark of pride to wish to have all that may be desired. Thus for a man to have patience when he may not obtain that which he desires is a greater and a better thing than is the good which follows from the fulfilment of is esire to possess all things soever that may be loved. And it it were certain that all men loved and served God, rWr!°. 3Ve sons would mdeed be good, and my soul would be nh VgT 'r' f S'ncc k 's *n doubt whether they would

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OF THE BIRTH OF B LAN QUERN A

17. Many other weighty arguments and sound examples did Evaft expound to Aloma that he might comfort her and drive the sadness from her soul; and through their great love Aloma was comforted by the words of Evaft her hus¬ band, and she spake these words: “ I bless and adore the Sovereign Lord Who has and holds all things in His power. Blessed be He Who gives me to know my low estate, for I am unworthy to have all that I desire, and as for the good things that God hath given me, I have neither deserved them nor can I thank Him for them as I ought. Let then my desires and wishes be ever subjedl to His Will. Through¬ out all the days of my life I know that it behoves me to wish only that which is good and pleasing in the sight of God; and so greatly at fault is my wrong desire that I will ever love and hope in the wondrous mercy of God.”