mighty, who alone art powerful and merciful, the hope of
the hopeless, and the help of the helpless, remember me thine
unprofitable servant at this hour, and look upon me with a gracious
countenance, and deliver my soul from the sword of the devil, and my
darling from the paw of the dog: suffer me not to fall into the hands
of mine enemies, and let not them that hate me triumph over me. Leave
me not to be destroyed in iniquities, and to dishonour my body which I
swore to present unto thee chaste. For for thee I yearn; thee I
worship, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, now and for
evermore, and world without end." When he had added the Amen, he felt
heavenly comfort stealing over him from above, and the evil thoughts
withdrew, and he continued in prayer until early morn. Being ware of
the devices of the crafty foe, he began more and more to afflict his
body by abstinence from meat and drink, and by other severities,
standing in prayer all the night long, and reminding himself of his
covenants made with God, and picturing in his mind the glory of the
righteous yonder, and recounting to himself the full terrors of the
Gehenna wherewith the wicked are threatened; all this, that the enemy
might not find his soul lying fallow and untilled, and thus easily sow
therein the seeds of evil thoughts, and befoul the cleanness of his
mind. So, when the enemy was in great straits on every side, and
altogether in despair of taking this noble youth, like a cunning knave,
he proceeded to another more subtil device, he that is for ever wicked,
and never stinteth to contrive mischief and hurt. For he made furious
endeavour to carry out the orders that Theudas had given him, and once
more prepared his drugs, and on this wise.

The devil entered into the heart of one of the young damsels. Of all
she was the most seemly, a king's daughter, carried away captive from
her own country, given to king Abenner as a great prize, and sent by
him, being of ripe beauty, to his own son, for to cause him to slip or
to trip. Of her the deceiver took possession, and whispered in her ear
suggestions that plainly showed the wisdom and understanding of her
mind; for the evil one easily pursueth all devices that make for
wickedness. Then the evil spirit attacked the king's son on the right
hand, and gave him a potion to make him love the maiden, by reason--so
he pretended--of her prudence and discretion and of her nobility and
royal blood that