Asia -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; Mongols -- History; Polo, Marco, 1254-1323?; Voyages and travels
And when the appointed day was come, all the Christians got up early,
men and women, small and great, more than 100,000 persons, and went to
church, and heard the Holy Mass. And after Mass had been sung, they all
went forth together in a great procession to the plain in front of the
mountain, carrying the precious cross before them, loudly singing and
greatly weeping as they went. And when they arrived at the spot, there
they found the Calif with all his Saracen host armed to slay them if
they would not change their faith; for the Saracens believed not in the
least that God would grant such favour to the Christians. These latter
stood indeed in great fear and doubt, but nevertheless they rested
their hope on their God Jesus Christ.
So the Cobler received the Bishop’s benison, and then threw himself on
his knees before the Holy Cross, and stretched out his hands towards
Heaven, and made this prayer: “Blessed LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, I pray Thee
by Thy goodness that Thou wilt grant this grace unto Thy people,
insomuch that they perish not, nor Thy faith be cast down, nor abused
nor flouted. Not that I am in the least worthy to prefer such request
unto Thee; but for Thy great power and mercy I beseech Thee to hear
this prayer from me Thy servant full of sin.”
And when he had ended this his prayer to God the Sovereign Father and
Giver of all grace, and whilst the Calif and all the Saracens, and
other people there, were looking on, the mountain rose out of its place
and moved to the spot which the Calif had pointed out! And when the
Calif and all his Saracens beheld, they stood amazed at the wonderful
miracle that God had wrought for the Christians, insomuch that a great
number of the Saracens became Christians. And even the Calif caused
himself to be baptised in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Ghost, Amen, and became a Christian, but in secret. Howbeit,
when he died they found a little cross hung round his neck; and
therefore the Saracens would not bury him with the other Califs, but
put him in a place apart. The Christians exulted greatly at this most
holy miracle, and returned to their homes full of joy, giving thanks to
their Creator for that which He had done.{1}
And now you have heard in what wise took place this great miracle. And
marvel not that the Saracens hate the Christians; for the accursed
law that Mahommet gave them commands them to do all the mischief in
their power to all other descriptions of people, and especially to
Christians; to strip such of their goods, and do them all manner of
evil, because they belong not to their law. See then what an evil
law and what naughty commandments they have! But in such fashion the
Saracens act, throughout the world.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account