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42 A History of Sweden
whose scepter extended over Germany, France, Switz-
erland, Austria, and the greater part of Italy. To him
the Emperor had appeared to possess all power and all
wisdom. And now he was gone forever. He was im-
pressed more strongly than ever with the vanity of all
earthly power and glory. He thought of his own death
and was anxious about his soul’s salvation.
Often he had wonderful dreams. Once he dreamed
that he was lying on his deathbed, and that he was
carried to a place of darkness and horror, where he
suffered agonies, but could not withdraw himself. It
was purgatory, which Christians at that time thought
that everybody must pass through to be cleansed from
sin. After tortures which seemed to last for thousands
of years, he was carried to heaven. Heavenly music
greeted his ears. All were singing songs of praise, with
faces turned toward the east, whence light, in beautiful
colors, streamed with brightness such as earth had
never seen, and yet so mild as not to dazzle the eye.
Ansgar felt that in that light the Lord dwelt, and he
heard his voice, so mild and yet so strong that it filled
all the world. "Go," said the voice, "and come back to
me when you have won the martyr’s crown." From
that time forth Ansgar had a burning desire to die a
martyr’s death for the gospel of Christ like other mis-
sionaries who had suffered death at the hands of the
heathen.
At the early age of thirteen he became a monk. He
put on the gown, shaved his crown, and promised to
devote his life to the service of God, and to renounce
the pleasures of this world. One day a great honor
came to him. He was summoned to the imperial court.
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