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.