The Emperor Trajan was a most just lord.
Going one day with his host of cavalry against his enemies, a widow
woman came before him, and taking hold of his stirrup said: Sire,
render me justice against those who have wrongfully put my son to
death. And the Emperor answered: I will give you satisfaction when I
return. And the woman said [127]: and if you do not return? To which he
replied: my successor will give you satisfaction. And if your successor
should fail me, you will be my debtor. And supposing that he give me
satisfaction, the fact of another man rendering me justice will not
absolve you of blame. Moreover, your successor may have enough to do to
think of himself.
Then the Emperor got down from his horse, and did justice on those who
had killed the woman’s son, and then rode off and defeated his enemies.
And not a long time after his death [128] there came holy Saint Gregory
the pope, and learning of his work of justice, went to his monument.
And with tears in his eyes, he honoured the Emperor with mighty praise
and had him disinterred. It was found that all the body had turned to
dust save the bones and the tongue.
And this showed how just a man he had been, and how justly he had
spoken.
And Saint Gregory prayed to God for him. And it is related that by
evident miracle, owing to the prayers of this holy pope, the soul of
the Emperor was freed from the torments of hell and passed into eternal
life, pagan though he had been [129].