out ceasing. And there he abode, thus doing, many days. And in a time, as he slept in his lodge, he heard the voice of a child which called him and said: 'Christopher, come out and bear me over.' Then he awoke and went out, but he found no man. And when he was again in his house, he heard the same voice and he ran out and found no man. The third time he was called and came thither, and found a child beside the rivage of the river, which prayed him goodly to bear him over the water. And then Christopher lift up the child on his shoulders, and took his staff, and entered into the river for to pass. And the water of the river arose and swelled more and more: and the child was heavy as lead, and alway as he went farther the water increased and grew more, and the child more and more waxed heavy, insomuch that Christopher had great anguish and was afeard to be drowned. And when he was escaped with great pain, and passed the water, and set the child aground, he said to the child: 'Child, thou hast put me in great peril; thou weighest almost as I had all the world upon me; I might bear no greater burden.' And the child answered: 'Christopher, marvel thee nothing, for thou hast not only borne all the world upon thee, but thou hast borne him that created and made all the world, upon thy shoulders. I am Jesu Christ the king, to whom thou servest in this work. And because that ⟨thou⟩ know that I say to thee truth, set thy staff (illegible text) earth by thy house, and thou shalt see ⟨to-morn⟩ (illegible text) it shall bear floures and fruit.' And anon he ⟨vanished⟩ from his eyen: and then Christopher set his ⟨staff⟩ (illegible text)
