back with the people of Israel by many signs,
and didst open out a way for them in the Red Sea;
Thou heardest also afterward Thine holy Apostles ;
hear us now, Lord, in this deep flood,
and let us not sink in this cold tempest,
neither let this swart abyss swallow us up.
"We are miserable creatures, help us now. Lord;
we are set in the watery depths,
and our blood fleeth adown to our feet;
mitigate now this ungentle chill,
that men may recognise that we have cried to Thee,
and that we are preserved because we hope in Thee.'
Lo, then suddenly there was a great wonder, through God's grace;
there came a heavenly light to the holy martyrs,
as hot as the sun shining in summer,
and the ice melted away over all the mere,
and the water was turned to a pleasant bath.
All the warders had been before cast into sleep,
except one of them who had listened to all this,
how they had prayed, and how the one had died.
Then beheld the same [man] whence that light shone,
then saw he brought with the bright light,
down from heaven, one less than forty crowns
to the holy martyrs who stood in the mere.
Then immediately he perceived that the one was not accounted [worthy]
of the crowns of the servants of Christ,
because he would not endure the hardness.
Then that one aroused the other warders,
and unclothed himself and plunged into the mere,
crying out and saying, 'I also am a Christian.'
He went to the saints, and cried to the Saviour,
' I believe on Thee, Lord, even as these believe,
let me be numbered amongst the number of them,
and make me worthy of this, that I may suffer
cruel torments for Thee, and be proved (to be) in Thee.'
