_Of the meeting between Messire St. Berthold and the
two sisters Oliveria and Liberetta._
Now one day as he pursued his journey, overcome with weariness and
grief, he fell in with two young girls, who were setting forth from
their castle for a jaunt in the woods. He made several steps towards
them, and then stood off at a distance for fear of alarming them, and
said—
“Give ear, young virgins. I am Berthold, son of Theodulus, King of
Scotland. But I have disdained perishable crowns that I might be worthy
at last to receive at the hand of the angels the Crown that fadeth not
away. And I journeyed hither in a ship, drawn by a swan, to bring you
the glad tidings.”
“Sir Berthold,” replied the elder, “my name is Oliveria, and that of my
sister is Liberetta. Our father, Thierry, who is also called
Porphyrodimus, is the wealthiest lord in the country. Willingly will we
listen to your good tidings. But you appear overcome with fatigue. I
counsel you to go and await us in the hall of our father, who is at this
moment drinking the good ale with his friends. When he learns that you
are a Scottish prince, he will without question assign you a place at
his table. Farewell, till we meet again, Sir Berthold. We are going, my
sister and I, to gather flowers as an offering to Diana.”
But the apostle Berthold replied—
“It is not for me to go and seat myself at a pagan’s table. This Diana
whom you imagine to be a heavenly virgin is in very truth a demon out of
hell. The true God is one God in three Persons, and Jesus Christ His Son
became Man and died upon the cross for the salvation of all men. And
verily I tell you, Oliveria and Liberetta, a drop of His blood flowed on
behalf of each one of you.”
Then he discoursed to them with so much ardour of the holy mysteries,
that the hearts of the two sisters were moved thereby. The elder sister
took up the discourse anew.
“Sir Berthold,” she said, “you disclose unheard-of mysteries. But it is
not always an easy matter to distinguish truth from error. It would be
painful to us to abandon our devotion to Diana. Nevertheless, let but a
sign of the truth of your words appear to us, and we will believe in
Jesus crucified.”
But the younger sister said to the apostle—
“My sister Oliveria has asked for a sign because she is of a prudent
nature and full of wisdom. But if your God is the true God, Sir
Berthold, would that I might know and love Him without being impelled by
a sign.”
The man of God understood by these words that Liberetta was born to
become a great saint. And on this account he replied—
“Sister Liberetta and Sister Oliveria, I have resolved to retire into
that forest, there to lead the eremitical life which is both desirable
and rare. I shall dwell in a hut of interlaced boughs, and support life
upon roots. I shall pray unceasingly to God to change the hearts of the
men of this country, and I shall bestow my benediction on the springs,
so that the fairy folk may cease to come thither for the beguiling of
sinners. Nevertheless, my sister Oliveria shall receive the sign for
which she has asked. And a messenger sent by the Lord himself shall
guide you both to my hermitage in order that I may instruct you in the
faith of Jesus Christ.”
Having spoken after this fashion, St. Berthold gave his blessing to the
two sisters with the imposition of hands. After which he fared forth
into the forest, from which he never afterwards emerged.