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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14781-0.txt b/14781-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2d52c0e --- /dev/null +++ b/14781-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1436 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14781 *** + +YALE STUDIES IN ENGLISH + +ALBERT S. COOK, EDITOR + + +XXI + + +THE + +ELENE OF CYNEWULF + + +TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH PROSE + +BY + +LUCIUS HUDSON HOLT + +PORTER FELLOW IN ENGLISH IN YALE UNIVERSITY + + +NEW YORK + +HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY + +1904 + + +[FACSIMILE] + + + + +PREFACE + + +This translation was made from the edition of the _Elene_ issued by +Charles W. Kent in 1889 (Ginn & Co., Boston). His text is 'that of +Zupitza's second edition, carefully compared with Wülker's edition and +Zupitza's third edition, in which the results of Napier's collation are +contained.' + +The aim of this translation is to give an accurate and readable modern +English prose rendering of the Old English poetry. The translation of +Richard Francis Weymouth, entitled _A Literal Translation of Cynewulf's +Elene_, has been at hand, but I owe it practically nothing in this work. +While I trust that my rendering has not departed so far from the text +that it will be valueless to the student, yet at places it will be found +that I have to some extent expanded or contracted the literal +translation in the hope of benefiting the modern English version. + +My thanks are due to Dr. Robert K. Root and Dr. Chauncey B. Tinker of +Yale University, and to Dr. Charles H. Whitman of Lehigh University, for +examining part of the work in manuscript, and to Dr. Albert S. Cook of +Yale University for a careful reading of the proof. + +LUCIUS HUDSON HOLT. + +NEW HAVEN, +January 1, 1904. + + + + +ELENE + + +1. THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE. + +There had passed in the turn of years, as men +mark the tale of time, two hundred and thirty and +three winters over the world since the Lord God, +the Glory of kings and Light of the faithful, was +born on earth in human guise; and it was the sixth 5 +year of the reign of Constantine since he was raised +in the realm of the Romans to lead their army, a +prince of battles. He was a bulwark to his people, 10 +valiant with the shield, and gracious to his heroes; +and the prince's realm waxed great beneath the +heavens. He was a just king, a war-lord of men. +God strengthened him with majesty and might till 15 +he became a joy to many men throughout the world, +an avenger for his people when he raised aloft his +spear against their foes. + + +2. THE WAR WITH THE BARBARIANS. + +And battle was brought on him, the tumult of +strife. The people of the Huns and famous Goths 20 +gathered a host together; and the Franks and +Hugas marched forth, men fierce in fight and ripe +for war. The spears and woven mail-coats glittered, +as with shouts and clash of shields they +lifted up on high the standard of battle. Openly 25 +the fighters gathered all together, and the throng +marched forth. The wolf in the wood howled his +war-song, and hid not his secret hopes of carnage; +and at the rear of the foe the dewy-feathered eagle 30 +shrieked his note on high. + +A mighty host hastened to war through the cities, +gleaned from all the men the Hunnish king could +summon from the near-lying towns. A vast army +sallied forth--bands of picked horsemen strengthened 35 +the force of the foot-soldiers--until within a +foreign land upon the bank of the Danube these +stout-souled brandishers of the spear pitched their +camp near the water's flow, amid the tumult of the +army. They longed to overrun the realm of the 40 +Romans, and lay it waste with their hordes. + +Then were the dwellers in the cities aware of the +Huns' coming. And the emperor straightway bade +summon with the greatest speed by dispatch of the +arrow his heroes to war against the foes; bade lead +out to battle the warriors beneath the heavens. 45 +Their hearts inspired by victory, the Roman heroes +were soon girt with weapons for the fight, though +they had a lesser host for battle than circled about +the proud king of the Huns. Then the shields 50 +rang, the wood of war clashed; the king with the +host, his army, marched forth to strife, and over +their heads the raven wailed, dark, and thirsting for +the slaughter. The army was moving--trumpeters +leaped, heralds shouted commands, and horses +stamped the earth. Hastily the multitude enranked 55 +itself for strife. + +But the king was fear-smitten, awed with terror, +as he looked upon the hostile host, the army of the +Huns and Goths, that upon the river's bank at the +boundary of the Roman realm was massing its 60 +strength, an uncounted multitude. The king of the +Romans suffered bitter grief of soul, and hoped not +for his kingdom because of his small host; he had +too few warriors, trusty thanes, to encounter the +overmight of brave men in battle. 65 + + +3. THE DREAM. + +The army encamped near at hand beside the river, +nobles about their prince, for the space of a single +night after they first beheld the course of their foes. +Then unto the emperor himself in his sleep, as he 70 +slumbered among his retinue, was disclosed the +marvel of a dream, shown unto him with soul +uplifted in the hope of victory. Him thought +there appeared before him in the form of a man +a certain warrior, radiant, resplendent, brilliant, +more glorious than he ever beheld 'neath the +heavens, before or since. Then, dight with his 75 +boar-crested helmet, he started up from slumber, +and straightway the messenger, a bright herald of +glory, spake unto him and called him by his name, +while the veil of night parted asunder: 'O Constantine, +the King of angels, Wielder of fates and +Lord of hosts, hath commanded to offer thee a 80 +covenant. Fear thou not, though foreign peoples +threaten thee with terror and bitter strife. Look +to heaven, unto the Lord of glory. There shalt +thou find aid and the token of victory.' 85 + +He was soon ready at the holy one's behest; he +opened wide the secret places of his heart; he gazed +on high, as the messenger, faithful weaver of peace, +had bidden him. Over the roof of clouds he saw +the beauteous tree of glory, gleaming with treasure +and decked with gold--and the gems shone 90 +brightly. The shining tree was inscribed with letters +of brilliance and light: 'By this sign thou +shalt overcome the foe in the dread peril; by this +thou shalt stay the hated host.' + +Then the light vanished, ascended up on high, 95 +and together with it the messenger, unto the throng +of the pure ones. And the king, the leader of men, +was the blither and the freer from grief in his heart +by reason of that fair vision. + + +4. THE BATTLE. + +Then Constantine, bulwark of heroes and giver +of gifts, battle-prince of armies and glorious king, 100 +bade fashion with greatest haste a token like unto +that sign he had seen, which had been disclosed +before him in the heavens, the cross of Christ. +And at dawn, with the first gleam of day, he bade 105 +rouse the warriors and make ready for the stress of +fight, lift up the emblem of battle, take the holy +tree before them, and bear the sign of God into +the press of their foes. + +The trumpets rang loud at the army's front. 110 +The raven rejoiced at the move; the dewy-feathered +eagle scanned the march, the strife of battle-heated +men; and the wolf, fellow of the forest, raised his +song. Rife was the dread terror of battle. + +Then there was the clash of shields and the shock +of men, the bitter hand-to-hand struggle and the 115 +slaughter of hosts, when once they had passed within +an arrow's flight. On the fated folk dire enemies +hurled a shower of darts, and with might of arm +sent their spears, biting battle-adders, over the yellow +shields into the midst of their foes. But with 120 +courage undaunted the other host advanced; from +time to time they surged forward, broke the rampart +of shields, thrust their swords between, and +sternly kept their way. + +Then was the standard, the token, raised before +the armies, and they chanted the victors' song. +Over the field of battle gleamed spears and helmets 125 +of gold. The pagan host was conquered; in +merciless strife they fell. As the king of the Romans, +dauntless in battle, bade raise that holy tree, +the peoples of the Huns straight fled away, and +their warriors were scattered far and wide. Some 130 +perished in the fight, some saved themselves hardly +on the march, some, with life half-ebbed, fled to +fastnesses and nursed their strength behind barren +rocks, some seized the land near the Danube, and 135 +some were finally drowned in the river's current. +Then was the army of valiant heroes rejoiced, and +from break of day until eve they followed hard +upon the foreign foe, while the spears flew, biting 140 +battle-adders. The horde of hated shield-bearers +was lessened; but few of the army of Huns returned +thence home again. + +Then was manifest from that day's deed that +the King Almighty gave unto Constantine victory, 145 +glorious honor, and a realm beneath the heavens, +through his holy rood. And he, renowned in battle, +a bulwark of armies, returned thence home +again when the war was decided, exulting in his +spoil. Famed in the fight, a defense for heroes, the 150 +king came with a throng of thanes to visit his +cities and stud his shield with jewels. + + +5. THE ASSEMBLY. + +Then the Lord of men straight summoned the +wisest to council, those who had pondered the craft +of wisdom in writings of old and held nobly to 155 +the rede of scholars. And the prince of the people, +victory-inspired king, asked through the vast assembly +if there were any man there could tell and declare +unto him truly who the god was, giver of good 160 +gifts, 'whose sign this was which appeared unto +me so bright, the most gleaming of tokens, saved +my people, and gave unto me glory and war-speed +against my foes through the holy tree.' 165 + +But no one of them could give him any answer +in return, nor knew they full well what to say about +the victor-tree. Then spake the wisest before the +multitudes, and said that it was a sign from the King 170 +of heaven, and of that there could be no doubt. + + +6. THE CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE. + +But they who had learned the truth, who were +taught through baptism, were joyful in soul, and +their hearts were light that they might declare before 175 +the emperor the grace of the gospel: how the +Saviour of souls, revered in threefold majesty, was +born; how God's own Son was hung upon the cross +in bitter agony before the multitudes; how He freed 180 +the children of men and souls of the careworn from +the snares of devils, and gave unto them grace +through the very thing that had been disclosed to +his own sight as a sign of victory against the onrush +of foes; and how on the third day the Glory 185 +of men and Lord of all mankind rose from the +tomb and from death, and ascended into heaven. +Men wise in the mystic things of the Spirit thus said +unto the victory-inspired monarch as they had 190 +learned from Silvester. And at their hands the +prince of the people received baptism, and held to +the faith according to the will of the Lord from that +time forth throughout the length of his days. + +Then was the giver of gifts content, the king +stern in battle; a new joy was come into his heart. 195 +The Lord of the kingdom of heaven was his greatest +solace and his highest hope. Through the grace +of the Spirit he began zealously to show forth the +law of the Lord both day and night, and this ruler +of men devoted himself, far-famed and weariless, 200 +unto the service of God. Then the prince, bulwark +of peoples, brave in battle and bold with the spear, +found in the books of God with the aid of his +teachers that country where, amid the shouts of multitudes, +the Ruler of the heavens was crucified upon 205 +the cross through sinful hate; even as the ancient +enemy with lying craft led astray the people, deceived +the race of the Jews, until they crucified God +himself, the Lord of hosts; wherefore they shall 210 +suffer a direful curse in misery through a long-enduring +life. + + +7. THE JOURNEY OF ELENE. + +Then was the laud of Christ in the heart of the +emperor, and he was ever mindful of that glorious +tree. And he bade his mother fare unto the Jews +upon a journey with a throng of people, and zealously 215 +with her band of heroes to seek where the +holy tree of glory, the rood of the King, was hid +beneath the earth. + +Nor would Elene slight such a journey, nor be 220 +heedless of the word of the prince her son; but +the woman was soon ready for the welcome way, +as the bulwark of heroes and mail-clad warriors +had bidden her. And thereupon throngs of nobles 225 +made ready for the voyage over the ocean. The +ships stood ready by the shores of the sea, bound +ocean-coursers resting on the deep. + +And the journey of the queen was plainly manifest +when she sought the swell of the ocean with 230 +her company; many a noble stood there, near to +the water's edge, and from time to time crowds of +men pressed across the way. + +Then they loaded the ships with battle-dress, +shields and spears; mail-clad warriors and men and 235 +women embarked thereon. And they let the steep +ocean-speeders course over the foamy deep; often +the hull bore the shock of the billows on the ocean-way, +and the sea raised her song. Never heard 240 +I before nor since of woman leading a fairer force +upon the paths of the ocean, the streams of the deep. +There one might see, if he beheld that voyage, ships +cleave the watery way and haste beneath swelling 245 +sails, sea-coursers leap, and wave-floaters speed ahead. +The proud warriors were glad; the queen rejoiced +in the journey. + +When the ring-prowed ships had reached their +harbor in the land of the Greeks over the fastness 250 +of flood, they left their vessels, their olden water-homes, +lashed by the sea, bound with anchors, to +await upon the surging deep the fate of the men, +when the warrior queen with her band of heroes 255 +should again seek the eastern ways. Many a +woven corselet, trusty sword, and glittering battle-sark, +many a helmet and glorious boar-crest, were +there to be seen among the warriors. The spearmen, 260 +heroes about their queen, were eager for the +march. The brave fighters, heralds of the emperor, +warriors clad in armor, went forth rejoicing +into the land of the Greeks. Many a gold-set +jewel, the gift of their prince, was to be seen there +among the company. 265 + +But the blessed Elene, zealous and earnest of purpose, +was mindful of her lord's will that over fields +of battle she should seek the land of the Jews with +her trusty band of shield-bearers, her company of 270 +spearmen; and so it befell within a little space +thereafter that the multitude of men, heroes famed +in war and chieftains of spear-renown, entered into +the city of Jerusalem in a vast throng with the +noble queen. 275 + + +8. THE COUNCILS OF THE JEWS. + +Then she bade summon the wisest of the dwellers +in the cities among the Jews, far and wide, each +man of them, to come unto a council for deliberation, +those who knew how to expound justly and +fully the hidden things of God. And there was 280 +gathered together from far ways no small multitude +of those who could expound the law of Moses. +They were in number three thousand men, chosen 285 +for teaching. + +Then the well-beloved woman spake unto the +men of the Hebrews in these words:--'This have I +learned well by the mystic sayings of prophets in +the books of God, that in days of yore ye were 290 +dear unto the King of glory, loved of the Lord +and strong in his service. And lo! ye of this +knowledge unwisely and perversely cast Him forth +when ye cursed Him who thought to loose you from +your curse, your torture of fire, your servile bondage, 295 +through the might of His glory. Foully ye +spat upon the face of Him who by his noble spittle +wrought anew the light of your eyes, the cure of 300 +your blindness, and saved you oft from the unclean +spirits of devils. Ye doomed Him to death who +among a multitude of men roused from death itself +unto their former life a number of your own race. 305 +Ye blind of soul, thus have ye confounded false +with sooth, light with darkness, hate with reverence, +and have woven a crime from your evil thoughts. +Therefore doth this curse weigh you down in your +sin--ye judged that pure Power, and until this day 310 +ye have lived with clouded thoughts in heresy. Go +ye now quickly, and think upon the men most sage +in wisdom and skilled in speech, who, versed in the +knowledge of your law, hold it foremost in their 315 +hearts, and who may declare unto me truly and +devise an answer for each token whereof I may +ask them.' + +Then, sorely grieved and saddened, and burdened 320 +with fear, the men wise in law went apart, and earnestly +sought the deepest mystic words wherewith +they might answer the queen whatsoever she asked +of them, whether of good or of bad. And they 325 +found among their number a thousand of exceeding +wisdom, who most fully knew the traditions of old +among the Jews. In a great crowd they hastened +to where, upon a royal throne in majesty, the kinswoman 330 +of the emperor waited, a stately queen of +battle adorned with gold. And Elene spake before +the folk:--'Hearken, ye wise of soul, unto a holy +mystery, the word and the wisdom. Lo! ye had the +teaching of prophets how the Prince of life and Lord 335 +of might should be born in the likeness of a child. +Of him sang Moses, leader of the Israelites, and +spake this word:--"Unto you is born a child of +wondrous might in mystery, for his mother conceived 340 +him not through the love of man." Of him +king David, father of Solomon, ruler of men, a +prophet with the wisdom of age, chanted a psalm +and spake this word:--"In times afore I beheld the 345 +God of creation, the Lord of victories. He was +before my sight upon my right hand, the King of +might and Prince of majesty. Thence will I never +turn my eyes more unto life." Likewise again 350 +Isaiah the prophet, deeply moved by the Spirit of +God, spake concerning you before the multitudes in +these words: "I raised up sons and I begat children, +and unto them I gave possessions, and holy balm +for their souls; but they scorned me, loathed me 355 +with their hate, and they had no forethought, no +skill of wisdom. Even the wretched oxen, which +man doth each day drive and beat, know their well-wisher, +and in their revenge for wrong hate not +their friend who giveth them fodder. But never 360 +would the men of the Israelites take knowledge of +me, though I wrought many wonders for them +throughout my life in the world." Lo! this have +we learned in holy books, that God the Creator +gave unto you spotless glory and wealth of power, 365 +and said unto Moses how ye should hearken unto +the King of heaven, and follow His teaching. But +ye soon became weary of this, and withstood that +righteous one; ye scorned the pure Maker of all, +the Lord of lords, and pursued error against the 370 +law of God. Now go ye quickly and find once +more those who know best by wisdom's craft the +ancient scriptures, your righteous law, that with 375 +depth of soul they may give me answer.' + +Then a throng of the proud leaders, saddened in +heart, went forth as the queen had bidden them, +and found five hundred wise men of their own race +who held learning in their memory, most wisdom 380 +in their mind. And again within a little space the +lords of the city were summoned unto the hall. And +the queen, looking upon them all, spake unto them 385 +in these words:--'Oft have ye wrought foolish +deeds, ye wretched in misfortune, and scorned the +Scriptures, the lore of your fathers, but never worse +than now when ye have refused the cure of your +blindness, and withstood the truth and the right--that 390 +the Son of the Mighty One, the only-begotten +Ruler and King of kings, was born in Bethlehem. +Though ye knew the law, the words of the prophets, +yet because of your sin ye have not been willing to +confess the truth.' 395 + +And with one accord they answered:--'Lo! we +have learned the Hebrew law that from the ark +of God our fathers knew in days of yore; but we +know not in sooth wherefore, O lady, thou hast +become thus angry with us. We know not the sin 400 +that we have wrought in this province, the wrong +we have ever done to thee.' + +Then Elene spake before the people openly, before +the multitudes this woman spake aloud:--'Go ye 405 +now quickly, and seek far and near those who have +the power of wisdom and the most skill of thought +among you, that they may show forth to me without +reserve whatsoever I ask of them.' 410 + +And they went forth from the council as the +mighty queen, strong in her cities, had bidden them, +and earnestly pondered, sad of heart, and sought +shrewdly what that sin might be that they had 415 +wrought in the province against the emperor, wherewith +the queen reproached them. + + +9. THE SPEECH OF JUDAS. + +And there spake before the people one learned in +ancient writings and wise of speech (his name was +Judas):--'I know well that she wishes to ask concerning 420 +that victor-tree whereon suffered the Lord +of hosts, God's own Son, guiltless of all evil, Him +whom, unspotted with any sin, our fathers in days 425 +of yore hung upon the high cross through hate--fearful +was that thought! Now is there great need +that we steadfastly fortify our minds not to betray +that murder, nor declare where the holy tree was +hid after the stress of strife, lest thereby the wise 430 +writings of old be cast aside, and the lore of our +fathers forsaken. For if this shall be known, it will +not be long that the race of the Israelites and the +faith of the Jews shall hold sway over the world. 435 +Thus once my father's father, prophet with the wisdom +of age and far-famed in victory--his name was +Zaccheus--gave like counsel unto my father and +spake this word, which in after times he himself told +to his son, as he turned him from the world:--"If in 440 +the days of thy life it happen that thou hear sage +men ask of the holy tree and stir up strife concerning +the rood of victory whereon the true King +was crucified, Lord of heaven and Child of all 445 +peace, then do thou, my dear son, ere death snatch +thee off, quickly declare that never shall the people +of the Hebrews, taking wise counsel together, hold +sway and rule over men, but the glory and kingdom 450 +shall endure of those who, filled with gladness from +age to age, revere and love the crucified King."' + +'Then I boldly gave answer unto my father, the 455 +aged counselor:--"How came it to pass in the +kingdom of the world that with wrathful intent +our fathers laid hands on the Holy One to put him +to death, if they had knowledge that he was Christ, 460 +the King upon the cross, true Son of the Creator, +and Saviour of souls?"' + +'And my parent gave answer unto me, wisely my +father spake:--"Recognize, O youth, the surpassing +power of God, the name of the Saviour which +may not be expressed by any man. No man on 465 +earth can search it out. Never would I visit the +council which this people held, but I ever kept +myself aloof from their sin, nor wrought shame 470 +unto my soul in any way. Many times I earnestly +withstood the unrighteous act when the wise men +sat in council, and sought in their heart how they +might crucify the Son of the Creator, the Bulwark 475 +of men and Lord of all, of angels and of mortals, +the most noble of heroes." + +'"But these foolish and wretched men could not +bring death upon Him as they weened, nor beset Him +about with agony, though He, the victorious Son of +God, for a little while yielded up His ghost upon 480 +the cross. Then the King of the heavens, the Glory +of all glory, was raised from off the rood, and abode +three nights in the tomb, within the place of darkness; +and upon the third day He arose living, Light 485 +of all light and Lord of angels, and revealed himself +unto His followers, the true Prince of victory, +resplendent in glory. Then after a little space, +Stephen, thy brother, received the bath of baptism, 490 +the faith of joy, and for the love of the Lord he +was stoned. Yet he gave not evil for evil, but in +patient suffering made intercession for his ancient +foes, and prayed the King of glory that He would +not lay to their charge this evil deed, that they 495 +deprived of life a man innocent and free from guile +through hate and the teachings of Saul. + +'"And this Saul in enmity was dooming many a +follower of Christ to torture and death, yet the 500 +Lord showed mercy unto him so that he became a +solace for many men. And in after times the God +of creation, Redeemer of men, changed his name, +and he was called Saint Paul, and of the teachers of 505 +the law no one of all those, or man or woman born +into the world, was ever better than he beneath the +span of the heavens, even though upon the hill he +bade crush Stephen, thy brother, with stones. 510 + +'"Now thou canst understand, my dear son, how +merciful is the Lord of all, if we straightway purge +ourselves of our evil deeds and cease again from +the unrighteous act, though many times we transgress 515 +against Him, and wound Him with our sins. +Wherefore I, in sooth, and in after times my dear +father, believed that the God of all glory, Giver of +life, suffered' bitter agony for the surpassing need 520 +of mankind. And now I counsel thee in secret, my +dear son, that thou never offer scorn, nor blasphemy, +nor wrathful opposition to the Son of God. Then 525 +shalt thou deserve that unto thee be granted eternal +life in heaven, the best reward of victory."' + +'Thus in days of yore, while I was still a youth, +my father instructed me, and taught me with these +true words, a man wise in sorrow--Simon was his 530 +name. And now that ye know my heart and mind, +ye perceive clearly what ye had best declare if the +queen ask us concerning that tree.' 535 + +And the wisest spake together before the assembly +in these words:--'Never heard we any other man +save now thee declare thus among this people concerning 540 +such a hidden thing. Act as thou thinkest, +O thou wise in the lore of old, if thou art questioned +among the multitude, for there is need of wisdom, +of artful words, and the learning of a seer, that +shall give answer to this noble woman before such a 545 +throng met together.' + +Then words increased: men thought, reflected, +and pondered on either side, some this way and +some that. And there came a band of thanes to +the assembly; and heralds, messengers of Cæsar, 550 +trumpeted:--'O ye counselors, the queen doth summon +you unto the royal hall, that ye may show +forth rightly the judgments of your synod. Ye +have need of prudence in the council, of wisdom in +mind.' And they, the leaders of the people, grieved 555 +in soul, were ready as they were summoned by the +bitter edict, and went unto the palace to show forth +the power of craft. + +Then the queen spake unto the Hebrews and asked +them, their hearts sorely burdened, how once the 560 +prophets, holy men, sang in the world concerning +the Son of God; and where the Lord suffered, true +Son of the Creator, for the love of souls. But they +were obdurate and mute as stones, nor would they 565 +show forth the true secret, nor in the hardness of +their hearts would they give any answer to what +she sought of them, but, set in purpose, they withstood +each word that she asked, and said that never 570 +in their lives had they heard, before nor since, one +whit of any such thing. + +Then Elene spake and answered them in anger:--'I +shall say unto you truly, and never in your life +will this be false, that if ye who stand before me 575 +persist long in this falsehood with lying craft, ye +shall be burned upon the hill in the hottest fury of +fire, and leaping flames shall consume your flesh, so +that for you this lie shall be changed into utter destruction. 580 +Nor can ye prove those words which now +in your guile ye cover up under the cloak of evil. +Ye cannot hide the deed, nor conceal its mystic +power.' + + +10. ELENE AND JUDAS. + +Then were they in the fear of death, of the +funeral-pyre, and the end of life; and there they 585 +thrust forth one of exceeding wisdom in the lore +of old, whose name was Judas, sprung from noble +lineage; and they gave him up unto the queen, +and called him a man of wondrous learning: 'He +can show forth to thee the truth, unlock the secret +of the fates, expound the just law from the beginning 590 +even to the end, according as thou dost ask +him. He is of noble race in the world, wise in +speech, the son of a prophet, outspoken in council. +And it is his nature to have sage answers and wisdom +of soul. He shall show forth to thee before 595 +the multitude with his great power the gift of wisdom, +even as thy heart desireth.' + +Then she let each man seek his own home in peace, +and took Judas alone as hostage. And she earnestly 600 +bade him tell the truth concerning the cross, +which had been long buried in a secret place. Then +Elene, the glorious queen, drew him aside by himself, +and thus spake to the lonely man:--'Two ways 650 +are ready for thee, either life or death, whichsoever +thou shalt please to choose. Declare quickly +now which one thou wilt accept.' + +And Judas made answer unto her--nor could he +rid himself of sorrow and turn away the wrath of +his ruler, but he was in the power of the queen--: 610 +'How shall it be with him who treadeth the moor +in a desert, weary, without food, and tortured +with hunger, if before his eyes a loaf and a stone +together seem hard and soft, and he knoweth them +not apart, but taketh the stone to ward off his 615 +hunger, and marketh not the loaf, turneth to want +and forsaketh the food, refuseth the better when +he hath the choice of both?' + +Then openly before the people the blessed Elene +gave him answer:--'If thou wouldst have thy life 620 +in the world and a home with the angels in the +kingdom of heaven, the reward of victory in the +sky, tell me straightway where the holy rood of +the King of glory lieth under the earth, which ye 625 +have hid now for a while from men because of the +unrighteous murder.' + +Judas answered, and his heart was heavy within +him; there was grief in his soul, and woe either +way, whether thus he forsook the joy of the 630 +heavenly realm and this present kingdom beneath +the skies, or disclosed the rood:--'How can I +reveal that which came to pass so long ago in the +course of years? Two hundred or more in number +are now vanished away--I know not the sum of 635 +them, and I cannot declare the event. Many of +wisdom, of virtue, and of learning, who were before +our time, are told among the dead. In days long +after was I born, and in my childhood, and in my +youth. I may not discover in my heart that which 640 +I know not, and which came to pass so long ago.' + +Then Elene bespake him in answer:--'Whence +cometh it that ye bear in mind so many things, +every wondrous deed, such as those which the Trojans 645 +wrought in battle? That far-famed war of +old was further in the course of years than this +holy event, and yet ye know that fully, how to +declare at once the number of all that were slain 650 +there, and of the spearmen who fell in death beneath +their shields. Ye set forth in writing the +tombs beneath the rocky cliffs, and likewise the +places and the tale of years.' + +Then Judas answered--he suffered bitter grief:--'We 655 +are mindful of that war from very need, my +dear lady, and we set forth in writing the fierce +strife and the deeds of the nations, but never have +we heard this declared unto men from the mouth 660 +of any save here and now.' + +And the noble queen gave him answer:--'Too +mightily dost thou withstand the truth and the right +concerning the tree of life, insomuch as thou spakest 665 +verily of the rood of victory before thine own +people but a little time ago, and now dost turn +to falsehood.' + +Judas again spake unto her, and said that he +uttered those words in sorrow and exceeding doubt, +that he had weened bitter hardship for himself. + +Quickly the kinswoman of Cæsar answered him:--'Lo! +we have heard it declared unto men from 670 +the holy book that the noble Child of the King, the +Son of God, was crucified on Calvary. Thou shalt +reveal thy knowledge perfectly concerning the field +where this place Calvary is, according to the teaching 675 +of the Scriptures, ere death and utter destruction +snatch thee away for thy sins, that I may thereafter +cleanse the cross to be a solace for men, according +to the will of Christ. Thus shall the Holy God, +the Lord Almighty, Glory-giver of hosts and Helper 680 +of souls, fulfill for me my desire and my inmost +longing.' + +But with stubborn heart Judas answered her:--'I +know not the place, nor aught of the field, nor +know I the event.' + +Then Elene spake with wrath in her heart:--'I 685 +swear by the Son of the Creator, by the crucified +God, that thou shalt be starved to death before the +people of thine own race, save thou forsake this +falsehood and fully declare unto me the truth.' 690 + +Then she bade men take him alive, and throw +him, guilty as he was, into a dried-up well--nor did +her subjects hesitate. And there, joyless and famished, +weighed down with chains, was he to abide +in his grief for the space of seven nights. And +upon the seventh day, weakened by sorrow, weary, 695 +and without food--his strength was broken--he +began to call aloud:--'I beseech you by the God +of the heavens that ye release me from this misery, 700 +for I am brought low by the pangs of starvation. +Joyfully will I show forth the holy tree--no longer +can I hide it now by reason of my hunger. This +durance is too fearful, this need too great, and this +torture too bitter day by day. No longer can I 705 +endure to suffer, and conceal my knowledge concerning +the tree of life, though before I was filled +with folly, and confess the truth too late.' + + +11. THE FINDING OF THE CROSSES. + +When she who there held sway over the heroes +understood the changed bearing of the man, she 710 +straightway bade release him from his prison, +his dungeon, his narrow cell. Then quickly they +did so, and took him out of the pit with care, as +the queen had bidden them. And they resolutely 715 +took their way to that place upon the hill where +the Lord was crucified on the cross, the Son of +God and Prince of the heavenly realm. Weakened +by hunger, he knew not yet clearly where through 720 +the wiles of the devil the holy rood lay hid beneath +the earth, nor where it rested in its tomb, safe in a +secret place, long hidden from men. + +After a little while he lifted up his voice with +unwonted power and spake in Hebrew:--'O Lord 725 +Jesus, thou who dost possess the power of judgment, +thou who didst form the heaven and the earth and +the sea, the broad expanse of waters, and all created +things, by the might of thy glory; thou who didst +measure out with thine own hands all the sphere of 730 +this earth and of the firmament above; thou who +dost sit in person, the King of victories, over the +most glorious angel-kind; thou who in a mantle +of light dost fare through space in surpassing +majesty, the nature of man cannot rise in the flesh 735 +from the earth-tainted ways unto the bright throng +of the pure, the heralds of glory. Thou didst form +that host, holy and heavenly, and didst ordain it +unto thy service. Six of their number are called 740 +by name in joy without end, and they are clothed +about with six wings; they are adorned, and gleam +brightly. And there are four of their number +ever in flight that perform the service of glory 745 +before the sight of the eternal Judge, and they continually +sing in holiness with clear voices the laud +of the King of heaven, fairest of songs, and they +chant these words in pure tones--their name is 750 +cherubim:--"Holy is the holy God of the archangels, +the Lord of hosts. Heaven and earth are +full of His majesty, and all His exceeding might is +marked with His glory." And there are two among +their number in the heavens, the victorious race, 755 +whereon man bestoweth the name of seraphim. +With flaming sword they are to keep sacred the field +of Paradise and the tree of life. And fast in +their grasp the drawn sword, sharp of edge, quivers, +trembles, and changes its hue. For thou dost rule, 760 +O Lord God, eternally, and thou didst hurl thy sin-stained +foes, the workers of iniquity, from the +heavens, and the unhappy host fell to the dark +abodes, into the pains of hell. There now they suffer 765 +the agony of death in a sea of fire, encompassed +about with darkness, in the embrace of the dragon. +He withstood thy kingly rule, and therefore in +misery, abhorred, the vilest of the vile, shall he +suffer and endure the servile yoke. He cannot there 770 +neglect thy commandment; he is fettered in torture, +bound in agony, the author of all sin. If it be thy +will, O King of angels, that He who was on the +cross, and was born of Mary into the world in the 775 +form of a child, the Lord of the heavenly host, shall +rule--and were He not thy Son, free from guile, +never could He have wrought such a multitude +of true miracles day after day in the world; 780 +nor wouldst thou, O Lord of the peoples, so gloriously +have raised Him from the dead before the +nations, were He not thy Son in glory by that holy +maid--then do thou, O Father of angels, now show +forth thy sign. Even as thou didst hearken unto 785 +the words of that holy seer, Moses, in prayer, when +thou, O God of power, didst reveal unto the noble +man in due time the bones of Joseph beneath the +mountain-side, so would I, O God of hosts, if it be +thy will, beseech thee in the name of that fair being 790 +that thou, Creator of souls, wilt disclose unto me +this treasure-house that long has been hidden from +men. Do thou now, O Prince of life, let rise up +beneath the span of the heavens from this smiling 795 +field a misty smoke. Then shall I trust in thee +better, and the more firmly establish my soul in +undoubting joy upon the crucified Christ, that He +is truly the Saviour of souls, eternal, omnipotent, +and King of the Israelites, and that He shall rule 800 +for ever in glory without end the everlasting dwellings +in the heavens.' + +Then from that place a mist rose up beneath the +skies, like unto smoke. Thereupon was the soul +of the man exalted, and he clapped his hands unto 805 +the heavens, wise and blessed. And Judas spake, +sage in thought:--'Now have I truly perceived in +the hardness of my heart that thou art the Saviour +of the world. Thanksgiving without end be thine, 810 +O God of might, who sittest in majesty, that unto +me in my misery and my sin thou dost uncover the +secrets of the fates by thy glory. Now I would +pray thee, O Son of God, Giver of gifts to men, +inasmuch as I know thou art revealed and born the 815 +Glory of all kings, that thou never more be mindful +of my guilt, O my Creator, which I have wrought +not a few times against thee. Let me, O God of +power, dwell with holy joy among the number of 820 +the kingdom in that fair city where my brother is +exalted in glory, for he, Stephen, held covenant with +thee, even though he was stoned. He hath the +reward of the fight, joy unceasing, and the wonders 825 +that he wrought are set forth in books.' + +Then, glad and zealous, he digged in the earth +under the sod for the tree of glory until he uncovered +and came upon three crosses together in a +mournful home, hid twenty feet below, concealed 830 +in their dark grave beneath the steep cliff, and covered +over with sand, even as in days of yore the 835 +host of the sinful, the race of the Jews, had clothed +them over with earth. They stirred up hatred +against the Son of God, as they would not have +done had they not hearkened to the teachings of +the prince of evil. + +And his soul was gladdened with great joy, and 840 +his heart strengthened by that holy tree, and his +spirit exalted within him as he beheld the holy sign +in the earth. With his hands he seized upon the +wondrous tree of glory, and in the midst of the +people raised it aloft from its earthy grave. Then 845 +strangers and heroes entered into the town. + + +12. THE MIRACLE OF THE TRUE CROSS. + +Thereupon the glad and zealous man set forth +the three trees of victory before Elene in open view. 850 +The queen rejoiced in her heart at the deed, and +asked on which of those trees the Son of the King, +Giver of joy to men, was crucified: 'Lo! we heard +it declared from the holy book that two suffered +with Him, and He Himself was the third on the 855 +cross. All the heavens grew dark in that woful +hour. Say, if thou knowest, on which of these +trees the Lord of angels and Prince of glory suffered.' + +But Judas could not declare unto her fully concerning 860 +that tree of victory, on which the Saviour, +the conquering Son of God, was hung, for he wist +it not assuredly. Then he bade set the crosses with +tumult in the midst of the fair city, there to abide 865 +until the King Almighty should show forth a miracle +before the people through that tree of glory. +With souls uplifted in their victory, they sat themselves +down about the rood, and with earnest +thought raised their voices in song until the ninth +hour, when they had new joy, gloriously gained. 870 +For many came there, no small multitude, and +among the press of men close by on a bier they +brought one who was dead, a young man, lifeless; +and it was the ninth hour. + +And there was the heart of Judas gladdened with 875 +great joy. He bade them set down upon the earth +him whose soul had fled, the body forsaken of life, +the dead man, and he himself, wise and earnest +revealer of truth, raised up in his arms two of those 880 +crosses over the lifeless frame. But the body, fast +on its couch, was dead as before. The limbs were +cold, enwrapped with their dire fate. Then the +third, the holy one, was raised aloft. The body 855 +waited until the rood, the cross of the King of +heaven, the true sign of victory, was laid upon the +man; then he straightway rose up, restored in spirit, +both body and soul together. And there was great 890 +laud raised among the people; they revered the +Father, and honored the true Son of the King in +their speech. To Him be glory and thanksgiving +without end from all creatures. + + +13. JUDAS AND THE DEVIL. + +Then, as ever should be, was the miracle which 895 +the Lord of hosts, Giver of life, had wrought for +the salvation of mankind, impressed upon the minds +of the people. But there the fiend, the devil from +hell, dire monster mindful of evil, sinning with his 900 +lies, rose up into the air, flying, and spake thus:--'Lo! +what man is this who doth again in the +ancient enmity destroy my following, swell the +olden hatred, and waste my possessions? Continual 905 +strife is this. No longer may the souls of them +that work evil dwell among my possessions, since +now a stranger hath come, whom I counted fast +in his sins, and hath robbed me of my every right 910 +and of all my wealth. This is not a just deed. +The Saviour, who was raised up in Nazareth, hath +done me many an evil, acts of deep hatred. As he +grew up from childhood, he ever turned to himself 915 +my possessions, nor now can any justice succeed +[against him]. His kingdom is broad over the +world, while my teaching is weakened beneath the +heavens. I dare not despise this cross with scoffing +laugh. Lo! the Saviour hath again shut me into 920 +my narrow home, smitten with woe. Once I was +filled with joy by a Judas: but now, again by a +Judas, am I humbled, bereft of possessions, abhorred, +and friendless. But I know how to discover 925 +again by my sin a way of return hereafter from +the home of the damned. I shall incite against thee +another king who shall persecute thee, and shall +forsake thy teaching and follow my ways of 930 +evil; then will he cast thee into the darkest and +worst of terrors, that thou, racked with pain, mayst +vehemently renounce the crucified King, whom thou +didst formerly obey.' + +Then the wise Judas, daring hero in strife, 935 +answered him (the Holy Spirit was granted unto +him with strength, a love hot as fire, a knowledge +welling up through the learning of a warrior); and +he spake this word, filled with wisdom:--'Thou +needst not so mightily, ever mindful of evil, renew 940 +sorrow and enkindle strife, O sinful prince of murder, +inasmuch as the mighty King, who hath awakened +with His word many of the dead, doth thrust +thee into the nether depths, thou worker of iniquity, 945 +into the abyss of torture, bereft of joy. Know thou +full clearly that thou in folly didst forsake the +brightest of lights and the love of the Lord and that +glorious faith, and that thou hast since dwelt in a 950 +bath of fire, burdened with tortures and seared with +flame, and that there, with hatred in thy soul, thou +shalt ever suffer woe and misery without end.' + +Elene heard how the foe and the friend struggled +together, the glorious and the foul on opposite sides, 955 +the sinful and the blessed. And she was the gladder +in heart as she heard that the hellish enemy, the +Prince of evil, was vanquished; she marveled at +the wisdom of the man, how in so little time +he was so filled with faith, and how he who had 960 +ever been so ignorant was imbued with knowledge. +And she thanked God, the King of glory, that +through the Son of God the joy of both these things +was come unto her--on the one hand at the sight 965 +of the tree of victory, and on the other at this +faith which she so clearly understood as a glorious +gift in the breast of this man. + + +14. THE EMBASSY TO CONSTANTINE. + +Then was the fair news of the morning manifest +among the nation, spread far throughout the people, +to the vexation of many who would keep secret the 970 +law of the Lord. It was heralded through the cities, +as far as the sea embosoms the land, through every +town, that the rood of Christ, buried of yore in the +earth, had been found, best emblem of victory of +them that were raised aloft before or since, holy 975 +beneath the heavens. Unto the Jews, men of misfortune, +it was a most bitter grief and most hated +of fates that they could change neither it nor the +joy of the Christians in the world. Then the queen 980 +bade messengers from her noble company make +them ready with haste, for they were to seek the +lord of the Romans over the deep sea, and declare +unto that warrior in person the best of glad tidings--how +the tree of victory, that had been hidden a long 985 +time before to grieve the holy ones, the Christian +people, had been discovered and found in the earth +through the grace of the Creator. + +Then was the soul of the king rejoiced at that 990 +fair news, and his heart filled with gladness. And +in the city there was no want of richly-clad questioners +concerning what was come from afar. The +greatest comfort in the world, a joyful soul, was 995 +come unto him at those glad tidings which the messengers, +leaders of the army, brought to him over +the eastern ways, how the warriors with the glorious +queen had made a prosperous voyage over the sea +into the land of the Greeks. The emperor bade +them prepare themselves again for the journey with 1000 +the greatest haste. The warriors made no delay +when once they heard the answer, the message of +the prince. He bade them, heroes hardy of soul, +give greeting to Elene, renowned in war, if they +should survive the sea and make a prosperous 1005 +voyage unto the holy city. And Constantine furthermore +bade the messengers charge her to build +a church there on the mountain-slope for the weal +of them both, a temple of the Lord on Calvary for 1010 +the joy of Christ and the solace of men, there +where the holy rood was found, fairest of all trees +the dwellers on earth have ever known. 1015 + + +15. THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE. + +And thus she did when her friends brought many +a kind greeting over the fastness of waters from the +west. Then the queen bade seek far and near those 1020 +skilled in the arts, the best of those who could work +most wondrously in the laying of stone upon stone, +that they might raise a temple of God upon that +place. As the Lord of spirits counseled her from +the heavens, she bade deck out the rood with gold +and with gems, adorn it most artfully with precious 1025 +stones; then to seal it with locks in a casket of silver. +There hath the rood of life, best tree of +victory, dwelt since then, indestructible in its nobleness. +There shall it be ever ready, a solace for 1030 +the ill of any disease, affliction, or sorrow. Then +straightway shall men find aid and divine grace +through that holy form. + + +16. THE CONVERSION OF JUDAS. + +Then after a little space Judas received the bath +of baptism, and, cleansed [of his sins], was true to 1035 +Christ, dear to the Lord of life. His faith was +steadfast in his heart when the Spirit of comfort +had taken up his dwelling in the breast of the man, +and had urged him unto repentance. He chose the +better course, the gladness of glory, and forsook the 1040 +worse, the way of the idolater, and cast aside his +heresy, the law of unrighteousness. God, the eternal +King, Creator, and Wielder of power, was +gracious unto him. + +Then he was baptized who many times had +scorned the light; ...[1] his heart was inspired 1045 +unto the better life; he was turned unto glory. +Verily fate decreed that he should become thus filled +with faith, thus dear unto God and beloved of Christ +in the kingdom of the world. This was made manifest 1050 +when Elene bade bring unto the holy city +Eusebius, the bishop of Rome, exceeding wise amid +the councils of men, to aid in her deliberation, and +to ordain Judas into the priesthood at Jerusalem 1055 +as bishop for the people in the cities, prudently +chosen through the grace of the Spirit for the temple +of God. And in later times upon a new occasion +she wisely named him Cyriacus. Henceforth 1060 +the name of the man was changed for the better +throughout the cities--'The law of the Lord'. + +[Footnote 1: A manuscript lacuna.] + + +17. THE FINDING OF THE NAILS. + +Then again was the mind of Elene concerned +about that fair mystery with regard to the nails 1065 +which pierced the feet and hands of the Saviour, +wherewith the King of the heavens, the mighty +Prince, was bound upon the cross. The queen of +the Christians began to ask concerning them. She +bade Cyriacus that he, through the might of the 1070 +Holy Spirit, fulfil her desire still further regarding +the wondrous mystery, and that he unlock the secret +by his holy grace. And she spake this word unto +the bishop--boldly she addressed him:--'O bulwark +of heroes, thou didst rightly show forth unto me 1075 +that noble tree, the cross of the heavenly King, +whereon by heathen hands was crucified God's own +Son, the Helper of souls, the Saviour of men. Now +further the longing for knowledge doth make me +mindful of the nails. I would thou shouldst find 1080 +those that are hidden, buried deep in the earth and +shrouded in darkness. Ever doth my heart mourn, +sorrow in sadness, and rest not, until the Father +Almighty, the Lord of hosts and Saviour of men, +the Holy One from on high, shall fulfill unto me my 1085 +desire through the finding of these nails. Now +with all reverence do thou forthwith, O best of +mediators, send up thy petition unto that glorious +Being, unto the King of majesty. Do thou pray 1090 +the Glory of men that He, Almighty King, show +forth unto thee the treasure beneath the earth that +still lieth hidden, secret and concealed from men.' +Then the holy man, inspired in heart, the bishop +of the people, made steadfast his soul, and joyfully 1095 +went forth with a throng of men singing praises +unto God. Zealously Cyriacus bowed his head upon +Calvary, nor made he any secret of his thoughts, but +through the might of the Holy Spirit he called upon 1100 +God with all reverence, and prayed the Lord of +angels to reveal the unknown mystery in his new +trouble, where in that field he might earnestly seek +out the nails. + +Then the Father, the Spirit of comfort, there as 1105 +they were watching, caused a sign in the form of +fire to rise up where the precious nails were cunningly +hid in the earth by the devices of men. + +Forthwith there came a leaping flame brighter than 1110 +the sun. The people beheld a miracle shown forth +unto their queen, where, like unto the stars of heaven +or gems set in gold, out of the darkness glittered +the nails brightly, gleaming from their burial-place 1115 +beneath the surface of the earth. The people rejoiced, +the throng were glad of heart; and they said +with one accord that the miracle was of God, +although hitherto they had been long in heresy and +turned from Christ, through the death-wielding +power of the devil. Thus they spake:--'Now do 1120 +we ourselves behold the sign of victory, the true +miracle of God, whom we formerly withstood with +falsehood. Now is the course of the mystery come +into light and revealed. Wherefore may the God of +the heavenly kingdom have glory in the highest.' 1125 + +Then was the bishop of the people rejoiced anew, +he who had turned with repentance through the +Son of God. Awe-struck he took the nails, and +bore them unto the revered queen. Cyriacus had 1130 +fulfilled all the woman's wish, even as his noble +mistress bade him. Then was there the sound of +lamentation, and hot tears welling over their faces--yet +not at all for sorrow; her tears fell over the +nails. Wondrously was the desire of the queen fulfilled. 1135 +With joyous faith she laid them upon her +knees, and, rejoicing in her happiness, revered the +gift that was brought unto her as a solace for her +sadness. She gave thanks unto God, the Lord of +victories, that now she knew the truth which had oft 1140 +been foretold long before from the beginning of the +world as a comfort for the nations. She was filled +with the grace of wisdom, and the Holy Spirit of 1145 +heaven held the dwelling of her body, and guarded +her both heart and soul. Thus the almighty, victorious +Son of God had care for her thereafter. + + +18. ELENE'S DISPOSAL OF THE NAILS. + +Then she began zealously through the mysteries +of the Holy Spirit to search out the truth and the +way to glory. Verily the Lord of hosts, King 1150 +Almighty, gave aid that the queen might win her +wish in the world. From the beginning all the +prophecy was chanted in times before by the seers +of old, and thus it happened in every respect. 1155 +Through the grace of the Holy Spirit the queen +zealously began to search out with great care wherefor +she might best and most fitly for the solace of +men use the nails, and what was the will of the 1160 +Lord. Then bade she bring at once unto a secret +council an exceeding wise man, who, learned in +mind, by his wise power knew fully the rede of +sages; and she began to inquire of him what he 1165 +deemed best to be done about this. And obediently +she chose his advice. + +Earnestly he answered her:--'It is fitting that +thou hold in thy heart the word of the Lord, +His holy mystery, O best of queens, and zealously 1170 +fulfil the bidding of the king, now that God, Redeemer +of men, hath given unto thee good speed +for thy soul, and the skill of wisdom. Do thou +bid that these nails be set upon the bridle, as a bit 1175 +for the horse of the most noble among castle-ruling +kings. It shall become famed to many throughout +the world when he shall overcome each of his +enemies thereby in the contest, as with brave hearts +and brandished swords they seek the battle on either 1180 +side, and strive for the mastery there, foe against +foe. He shall have good speed in war, victory in +battle, and peace everywhere, the calm following the +strife, who holds the bridle before him upon a white 1185 +steed when his trusty heroes, far-famed in the fight, +bear shield and spear into the press of weapons. +For any man shall this be a guard invincible +against stress in war. Concerning it sang the +prophet, wise in thought, his mind saw deeply 1190 +the understanding of wisdom. These words he +spake:--"It shall be known that the horse of a king +is to be in the midst of brave heroes, decked with +bit and bridle-rings. It shall be called a holy sign 1195 +of God, and he shall be hardy and honored in war +who guides the horse."' + + +19. CONCLUSION. + +Then straightway in the presence of the nobles +Elene accomplished all. She bade deck the bridle +of the prince, gift-giver of men, and unto her own +son she sent the glorious present over the stream 1200 +of the ocean as an offering. Then she bade assemble +together in the town, in that holy city, those +whom she knew as the best among the Jews, that +race of heroes. And the queen began to teach the 1205 +throng of her dear subjects that they should steadfastly +hold to the love of the Lord, and maintain +peace one with another, and that they should hearken 1210 +unto the lore of the teacher, and the customs of the +Christians, which Cyriacus, wise in the knowledge +of books, should declare unto them. The bishopric +was well established. Often there came to +him from afar the lame, the halt, the weak, the 1215 +maimed, the bleeding, the leprous, the blind, the +poor, the sad in heart, and ever found they health +and relief there at the hands of their bishop during +all of their life. And again Elene gave unto him +gifts of great worth when she was ready for the +journey back to her own land, and when she bade 1220 +all those who glorified God in that kingdom, both +men and women, to honor in their thought with +heart and strength that great day on which the holy +rood was found, most wondrous tree of them that 1225 +have grown up from the earth, laden with leaves. +And, save for six nights ere the coming of summer +on the kalends of May, the spring was gone. May +hell's portal be closed and heaven's opened, may the 1230 +eternal kingdom of the angels be revealed with joy +unceasing, and may their part be assigned with +Mary, to each man who keepeth in memory the +most sacred festival of the cross beneath the heavens, 1235 +which the almighty King over all protected with +his arm! Finit. + + +20. EPILOGUE. + +Old and ready for death by reason of this failing +house, I thus have woven a web of words and +wondrously have gathered it up; time and again +have I pondered and sifted my thought in the prison +of the night. I knew not fully the truth concerning 1240 +the cross[1] until wisdom revealed a broader +knowledge through its marvelous power o'er the +thought of my heart. I was stained with deeds of +evil, fettered in sins, torn by doubts, girt round with 1245 +bitter needs, until the King of might wondrously +granted learning unto me as a comfort for my old +age; until he gave unto me his spotless grace, and +imbued my heart with it, revealed it as glorious, in +time broadened it, set free my body, unlocked my 1250 +heart, and loosed the power of song, which joyfully +and gladly I have used in the world. Not one time +alone, but often had I thought upon the tree of +glory, before I had the miracle revealed regarding +the glorious tree, as in the course of events I found 1255 +related in books and in writings concerning the sign +of victory. Ever until that time was the man buffeted +in the surge of sorrow, was he a weakly flaring +torch (C)[2], although he had received treasures +and appled gold in the mead-hall; wroth in heart 1260 +(Y), he mourned; a companion to need (N), he +suffered crushing grief and anxious care, although +before him his horse (E) measured the miles and +proudly ran, decked with gold. Hope (W) is +waned, and joy through the course of years; youth 1265 +is fled, and the pride of old. Once (U) was the +splendor of youth(?); now after that alloted time +are the days departed, are the pleasures of life +dwindled away, as water (L) glideth, or the rushing +floods. Wealth (F) is but a loan to each beneath 1270 +the heavens; the beauties of the field vanish +away beneath the clouds, most like unto the wind +when it riseth loud before men, roameth amid the +clouds, courseth along in wrath, and then on a sudden 1275 +becometh still, close shut in its narrow prison, +crushed by force. + +[Footnote 1: Supplying _r[=o]de_.] + +[Footnote 2: These letters are the runes which spell out Cynewulf's +name.] + +Thus shall all this world pass away, and in like +manner devouring flame shall seize upon whoever +was born into it, at that time when the +Lord himself 'with a host of angels shall come 1280 +unto judgment. There shall each man hear the +doom on all his deeds from the mouth of the judge, +and likewise shall pay the penalty for all the +foolish words ever spoken by him, and all his overbold 1285 +thoughts. Then shall the people divide into +three parts for the embrace of the flame, every man +who hath ever lived throughout the broad earth. +Those who have clung fast to the truth shall be +highest in the flame, the throng of the blessed, the 1290 +host of them that yearn for glory, the multitude of +the righteous, and thus may they endure and suffer +more lightly without distress. He tempers for +them all the glare of the flame as shall be most easy +for them and most mild. The sinful men, those 1295 +stained with evil, heroes sad of heart, shall be in the +middle place, shrouded with smoke amid the hot +surge of fire. The third part, accursed sinful foes, +false haters of men, the host of the wicked, shall be +in the depth of the surge, bound fast in flame by 1300 +reason of their former deeds, in the gripe of the +glowing coals. Nor shall they come thereafter +from the place of punishment to the memory of God, +King of glory, but they shall be cast forth, His +wrath-stirring foes, from that fierce flame into the 1305 +depths of hell. Unlike this shall it be with the +other two parts: they may look upon the Prince of +angels, the God of victories. They shall be refined +and freed from their sins, like pure gold that is all 1310 +cleansed from every alloy, refined and melted in the +surge of the furnace's fire. Thus shall each of those +men be separated and purified from all their guilt, +their deep transgressions, by the fire of the judgment. +And thereafter they may enjoy peace and 1315 +eternal well-being. The Lord of angels shall be +merciful and gracious unto them, inasmuch as they +abhorred each sin, each work of guile, and called +upon the Son of the Creator in their prayers. +Wherefore now their forms shall shine like unto the +angels, and they shall enjoy the heritage of the King 1320 +of glory for ever and ever. Amen. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Elene of Cynewulf, by Cynewulf + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14781 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d57155c --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #14781 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14781) diff --git a/old/14781-8.txt b/old/14781-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5bb8308 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14781-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1829 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Elene of Cynewulf, by Cynewulf + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Elene of Cynewulf + +Author: Cynewulf + +Release Date: January 24, 2005 [EBook #14781] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELENE OF CYNEWULF *** + + + + +Produced by David Starner, Linda Cantoni, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + +YALE STUDIES IN ENGLISH + +ALBERT S. COOK, EDITOR + + +XXI + + +THE + +ELENE OF CYNEWULF + + +TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH PROSE + +BY + +LUCIUS HUDSON HOLT + +PORTER FELLOW IN ENGLISH IN YALE UNIVERSITY + + +NEW YORK + +HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY + +1904 + + +[FACSIMILE] + + + + +PREFACE + + +This translation was made from the edition of the _Elene_ issued by +Charles W. Kent in 1889 (Ginn & Co., Boston). His text is 'that of +Zupitza's second edition, carefully compared with Wülker's edition and +Zupitza's third edition, in which the results of Napier's collation are +contained.' + +The aim of this translation is to give an accurate and readable modern +English prose rendering of the Old English poetry. The translation of +Richard Francis Weymouth, entitled _A Literal Translation of Cynewulf's +Elene_, has been at hand, but I owe it practically nothing in this work. +While I trust that my rendering has not departed so far from the text +that it will be valueless to the student, yet at places it will be found +that I have to some extent expanded or contracted the literal +translation in the hope of benefiting the modern English version. + +My thanks are due to Dr. Robert K. Root and Dr. Chauncey B. Tinker of +Yale University, and to Dr. Charles H. Whitman of Lehigh University, for +examining part of the work in manuscript, and to Dr. Albert S. Cook of +Yale University for a careful reading of the proof. + +LUCIUS HUDSON HOLT. + +NEW HAVEN, +January 1, 1904. + + + + +ELENE + + +1. THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE. + +There had passed in the turn of years, as men +mark the tale of time, two hundred and thirty and +three winters over the world since the Lord God, +the Glory of kings and Light of the faithful, was +born on earth in human guise; and it was the sixth 5 +year of the reign of Constantine since he was raised +in the realm of the Romans to lead their army, a +prince of battles. He was a bulwark to his people, 10 +valiant with the shield, and gracious to his heroes; +and the prince's realm waxed great beneath the +heavens. He was a just king, a war-lord of men. +God strengthened him with majesty and might till 15 +he became a joy to many men throughout the world, +an avenger for his people when he raised aloft his +spear against their foes. + + +2. THE WAR WITH THE BARBARIANS. + +And battle was brought on him, the tumult of +strife. The people of the Huns and famous Goths 20 +gathered a host together; and the Franks and +Hugas marched forth, men fierce in fight and ripe +for war. The spears and woven mail-coats glittered, +as with shouts and clash of shields they +lifted up on high the standard of battle. Openly 25 +the fighters gathered all together, and the throng +marched forth. The wolf in the wood howled his +war-song, and hid not his secret hopes of carnage; +and at the rear of the foe the dewy-feathered eagle 30 +shrieked his note on high. + +A mighty host hastened to war through the cities, +gleaned from all the men the Hunnish king could +summon from the near-lying towns. A vast army +sallied forth--bands of picked horsemen strengthened 35 +the force of the foot-soldiers--until within a +foreign land upon the bank of the Danube these +stout-souled brandishers of the spear pitched their +camp near the water's flow, amid the tumult of the +army. They longed to overrun the realm of the 40 +Romans, and lay it waste with their hordes. + +Then were the dwellers in the cities aware of the +Huns' coming. And the emperor straightway bade +summon with the greatest speed by dispatch of the +arrow his heroes to war against the foes; bade lead +out to battle the warriors beneath the heavens. 45 +Their hearts inspired by victory, the Roman heroes +were soon girt with weapons for the fight, though +they had a lesser host for battle than circled about +the proud king of the Huns. Then the shields 50 +rang, the wood of war clashed; the king with the +host, his army, marched forth to strife, and over +their heads the raven wailed, dark, and thirsting for +the slaughter. The army was moving--trumpeters +leaped, heralds shouted commands, and horses +stamped the earth. Hastily the multitude enranked 55 +itself for strife. + +But the king was fear-smitten, awed with terror, +as he looked upon the hostile host, the army of the +Huns and Goths, that upon the river's bank at the +boundary of the Roman realm was massing its 60 +strength, an uncounted multitude. The king of the +Romans suffered bitter grief of soul, and hoped not +for his kingdom because of his small host; he had +too few warriors, trusty thanes, to encounter the +overmight of brave men in battle. 65 + + +3. THE DREAM. + +The army encamped near at hand beside the river, +nobles about their prince, for the space of a single +night after they first beheld the course of their foes. +Then unto the emperor himself in his sleep, as he 70 +slumbered among his retinue, was disclosed the +marvel of a dream, shown unto him with soul +uplifted in the hope of victory. Him thought +there appeared before him in the form of a man +a certain warrior, radiant, resplendent, brilliant, +more glorious than he ever beheld 'neath the +heavens, before or since. Then, dight with his 75 +boar-crested helmet, he started up from slumber, +and straightway the messenger, a bright herald of +glory, spake unto him and called him by his name, +while the veil of night parted asunder: 'O Constantine, +the King of angels, Wielder of fates and +Lord of hosts, hath commanded to offer thee a 80 +covenant. Fear thou not, though foreign peoples +threaten thee with terror and bitter strife. Look +to heaven, unto the Lord of glory. There shalt +thou find aid and the token of victory.' 85 + +He was soon ready at the holy one's behest; he +opened wide the secret places of his heart; he gazed +on high, as the messenger, faithful weaver of peace, +had bidden him. Over the roof of clouds he saw +the beauteous tree of glory, gleaming with treasure +and decked with gold--and the gems shone 90 +brightly. The shining tree was inscribed with letters +of brilliance and light: 'By this sign thou +shalt overcome the foe in the dread peril; by this +thou shalt stay the hated host.' + +Then the light vanished, ascended up on high, 95 +and together with it the messenger, unto the throng +of the pure ones. And the king, the leader of men, +was the blither and the freer from grief in his heart +by reason of that fair vision. + + +4. THE BATTLE. + +Then Constantine, bulwark of heroes and giver +of gifts, battle-prince of armies and glorious king, 100 +bade fashion with greatest haste a token like unto +that sign he had seen, which had been disclosed +before him in the heavens, the cross of Christ. +And at dawn, with the first gleam of day, he bade 105 +rouse the warriors and make ready for the stress of +fight, lift up the emblem of battle, take the holy +tree before them, and bear the sign of God into +the press of their foes. + +The trumpets rang loud at the army's front. 110 +The raven rejoiced at the move; the dewy-feathered +eagle scanned the march, the strife of battle-heated +men; and the wolf, fellow of the forest, raised his +song. Rife was the dread terror of battle. + +Then there was the clash of shields and the shock +of men, the bitter hand-to-hand struggle and the 115 +slaughter of hosts, when once they had passed within +an arrow's flight. On the fated folk dire enemies +hurled a shower of darts, and with might of arm +sent their spears, biting battle-adders, over the yellow +shields into the midst of their foes. But with 120 +courage undaunted the other host advanced; from +time to time they surged forward, broke the rampart +of shields, thrust their swords between, and +sternly kept their way. + +Then was the standard, the token, raised before +the armies, and they chanted the victors' song. +Over the field of battle gleamed spears and helmets 125 +of gold. The pagan host was conquered; in +merciless strife they fell. As the king of the Romans, +dauntless in battle, bade raise that holy tree, +the peoples of the Huns straight fled away, and +their warriors were scattered far and wide. Some 130 +perished in the fight, some saved themselves hardly +on the march, some, with life half-ebbed, fled to +fastnesses and nursed their strength behind barren +rocks, some seized the land near the Danube, and 135 +some were finally drowned in the river's current. +Then was the army of valiant heroes rejoiced, and +from break of day until eve they followed hard +upon the foreign foe, while the spears flew, biting 140 +battle-adders. The horde of hated shield-bearers +was lessened; but few of the army of Huns returned +thence home again. + +Then was manifest from that day's deed that +the King Almighty gave unto Constantine victory, 145 +glorious honor, and a realm beneath the heavens, +through his holy rood. And he, renowned in battle, +a bulwark of armies, returned thence home +again when the war was decided, exulting in his +spoil. Famed in the fight, a defense for heroes, the 150 +king came with a throng of thanes to visit his +cities and stud his shield with jewels. + + +5. THE ASSEMBLY. + +Then the Lord of men straight summoned the +wisest to council, those who had pondered the craft +of wisdom in writings of old and held nobly to 155 +the rede of scholars. And the prince of the people, +victory-inspired king, asked through the vast assembly +if there were any man there could tell and declare +unto him truly who the god was, giver of good 160 +gifts, 'whose sign this was which appeared unto +me so bright, the most gleaming of tokens, saved +my people, and gave unto me glory and war-speed +against my foes through the holy tree.' 165 + +But no one of them could give him any answer +in return, nor knew they full well what to say about +the victor-tree. Then spake the wisest before the +multitudes, and said that it was a sign from the King 170 +of heaven, and of that there could be no doubt. + + +6. THE CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE. + +But they who had learned the truth, who were +taught through baptism, were joyful in soul, and +their hearts were light that they might declare before 175 +the emperor the grace of the gospel: how the +Saviour of souls, revered in threefold majesty, was +born; how God's own Son was hung upon the cross +in bitter agony before the multitudes; how He freed 180 +the children of men and souls of the careworn from +the snares of devils, and gave unto them grace +through the very thing that had been disclosed to +his own sight as a sign of victory against the onrush +of foes; and how on the third day the Glory 185 +of men and Lord of all mankind rose from the +tomb and from death, and ascended into heaven. +Men wise in the mystic things of the Spirit thus said +unto the victory-inspired monarch as they had 190 +learned from Silvester. And at their hands the +prince of the people received baptism, and held to +the faith according to the will of the Lord from that +time forth throughout the length of his days. + +Then was the giver of gifts content, the king +stern in battle; a new joy was come into his heart. 195 +The Lord of the kingdom of heaven was his greatest +solace and his highest hope. Through the grace +of the Spirit he began zealously to show forth the +law of the Lord both day and night, and this ruler +of men devoted himself, far-famed and weariless, 200 +unto the service of God. Then the prince, bulwark +of peoples, brave in battle and bold with the spear, +found in the books of God with the aid of his +teachers that country where, amid the shouts of multitudes, +the Ruler of the heavens was crucified upon 205 +the cross through sinful hate; even as the ancient +enemy with lying craft led astray the people, deceived +the race of the Jews, until they crucified God +himself, the Lord of hosts; wherefore they shall 210 +suffer a direful curse in misery through a long-enduring +life. + + +7. THE JOURNEY OF ELENE. + +Then was the laud of Christ in the heart of the +emperor, and he was ever mindful of that glorious +tree. And he bade his mother fare unto the Jews +upon a journey with a throng of people, and zealously 215 +with her band of heroes to seek where the +holy tree of glory, the rood of the King, was hid +beneath the earth. + +Nor would Elene slight such a journey, nor be 220 +heedless of the word of the prince her son; but +the woman was soon ready for the welcome way, +as the bulwark of heroes and mail-clad warriors +had bidden her. And thereupon throngs of nobles 225 +made ready for the voyage over the ocean. The +ships stood ready by the shores of the sea, bound +ocean-coursers resting on the deep. + +And the journey of the queen was plainly manifest +when she sought the swell of the ocean with 230 +her company; many a noble stood there, near to +the water's edge, and from time to time crowds of +men pressed across the way. + +Then they loaded the ships with battle-dress, +shields and spears; mail-clad warriors and men and 235 +women embarked thereon. And they let the steep +ocean-speeders course over the foamy deep; often +the hull bore the shock of the billows on the ocean-way, +and the sea raised her song. Never heard 240 +I before nor since of woman leading a fairer force +upon the paths of the ocean, the streams of the deep. +There one might see, if he beheld that voyage, ships +cleave the watery way and haste beneath swelling 245 +sails, sea-coursers leap, and wave-floaters speed ahead. +The proud warriors were glad; the queen rejoiced +in the journey. + +When the ring-prowed ships had reached their +harbor in the land of the Greeks over the fastness 250 +of flood, they left their vessels, their olden water-homes, +lashed by the sea, bound with anchors, to +await upon the surging deep the fate of the men, +when the warrior queen with her band of heroes 255 +should again seek the eastern ways. Many a +woven corselet, trusty sword, and glittering battle-sark, +many a helmet and glorious boar-crest, were +there to be seen among the warriors. The spearmen, 260 +heroes about their queen, were eager for the +march. The brave fighters, heralds of the emperor, +warriors clad in armor, went forth rejoicing +into the land of the Greeks. Many a gold-set +jewel, the gift of their prince, was to be seen there +among the company. 265 + +But the blessed Elene, zealous and earnest of purpose, +was mindful of her lord's will that over fields +of battle she should seek the land of the Jews with +her trusty band of shield-bearers, her company of 270 +spearmen; and so it befell within a little space +thereafter that the multitude of men, heroes famed +in war and chieftains of spear-renown, entered into +the city of Jerusalem in a vast throng with the +noble queen. 275 + + +8. THE COUNCILS OF THE JEWS. + +Then she bade summon the wisest of the dwellers +in the cities among the Jews, far and wide, each +man of them, to come unto a council for deliberation, +those who knew how to expound justly and +fully the hidden things of God. And there was 280 +gathered together from far ways no small multitude +of those who could expound the law of Moses. +They were in number three thousand men, chosen 285 +for teaching. + +Then the well-beloved woman spake unto the +men of the Hebrews in these words:--'This have I +learned well by the mystic sayings of prophets in +the books of God, that in days of yore ye were 290 +dear unto the King of glory, loved of the Lord +and strong in his service. And lo! ye of this +knowledge unwisely and perversely cast Him forth +when ye cursed Him who thought to loose you from +your curse, your torture of fire, your servile bondage, 295 +through the might of His glory. Foully ye +spat upon the face of Him who by his noble spittle +wrought anew the light of your eyes, the cure of 300 +your blindness, and saved you oft from the unclean +spirits of devils. Ye doomed Him to death who +among a multitude of men roused from death itself +unto their former life a number of your own race. 305 +Ye blind of soul, thus have ye confounded false +with sooth, light with darkness, hate with reverence, +and have woven a crime from your evil thoughts. +Therefore doth this curse weigh you down in your +sin--ye judged that pure Power, and until this day 310 +ye have lived with clouded thoughts in heresy. Go +ye now quickly, and think upon the men most sage +in wisdom and skilled in speech, who, versed in the +knowledge of your law, hold it foremost in their 315 +hearts, and who may declare unto me truly and +devise an answer for each token whereof I may +ask them.' + +Then, sorely grieved and saddened, and burdened 320 +with fear, the men wise in law went apart, and earnestly +sought the deepest mystic words wherewith +they might answer the queen whatsoever she asked +of them, whether of good or of bad. And they 325 +found among their number a thousand of exceeding +wisdom, who most fully knew the traditions of old +among the Jews. In a great crowd they hastened +to where, upon a royal throne in majesty, the kinswoman 330 +of the emperor waited, a stately queen of +battle adorned with gold. And Elene spake before +the folk:--'Hearken, ye wise of soul, unto a holy +mystery, the word and the wisdom. Lo! ye had the +teaching of prophets how the Prince of life and Lord 335 +of might should be born in the likeness of a child. +Of him sang Moses, leader of the Israelites, and +spake this word:--"Unto you is born a child of +wondrous might in mystery, for his mother conceived 340 +him not through the love of man." Of him +king David, father of Solomon, ruler of men, a +prophet with the wisdom of age, chanted a psalm +and spake this word:--"In times afore I beheld the 345 +God of creation, the Lord of victories. He was +before my sight upon my right hand, the King of +might and Prince of majesty. Thence will I never +turn my eyes more unto life." Likewise again 350 +Isaiah the prophet, deeply moved by the Spirit of +God, spake concerning you before the multitudes in +these words: "I raised up sons and I begat children, +and unto them I gave possessions, and holy balm +for their souls; but they scorned me, loathed me 355 +with their hate, and they had no forethought, no +skill of wisdom. Even the wretched oxen, which +man doth each day drive and beat, know their well-wisher, +and in their revenge for wrong hate not +their friend who giveth them fodder. But never 360 +would the men of the Israelites take knowledge of +me, though I wrought many wonders for them +throughout my life in the world." Lo! this have +we learned in holy books, that God the Creator +gave unto you spotless glory and wealth of power, 365 +and said unto Moses how ye should hearken unto +the King of heaven, and follow His teaching. But +ye soon became weary of this, and withstood that +righteous one; ye scorned the pure Maker of all, +the Lord of lords, and pursued error against the 370 +law of God. Now go ye quickly and find once +more those who know best by wisdom's craft the +ancient scriptures, your righteous law, that with 375 +depth of soul they may give me answer.' + +Then a throng of the proud leaders, saddened in +heart, went forth as the queen had bidden them, +and found five hundred wise men of their own race +who held learning in their memory, most wisdom 380 +in their mind. And again within a little space the +lords of the city were summoned unto the hall. And +the queen, looking upon them all, spake unto them 385 +in these words:--'Oft have ye wrought foolish +deeds, ye wretched in misfortune, and scorned the +Scriptures, the lore of your fathers, but never worse +than now when ye have refused the cure of your +blindness, and withstood the truth and the right--that 390 +the Son of the Mighty One, the only-begotten +Ruler and King of kings, was born in Bethlehem. +Though ye knew the law, the words of the prophets, +yet because of your sin ye have not been willing to +confess the truth.' 395 + +And with one accord they answered:--'Lo! we +have learned the Hebrew law that from the ark +of God our fathers knew in days of yore; but we +know not in sooth wherefore, O lady, thou hast +become thus angry with us. We know not the sin 400 +that we have wrought in this province, the wrong +we have ever done to thee.' + +Then Elene spake before the people openly, before +the multitudes this woman spake aloud:--'Go ye 405 +now quickly, and seek far and near those who have +the power of wisdom and the most skill of thought +among you, that they may show forth to me without +reserve whatsoever I ask of them.' 410 + +And they went forth from the council as the +mighty queen, strong in her cities, had bidden them, +and earnestly pondered, sad of heart, and sought +shrewdly what that sin might be that they had 415 +wrought in the province against the emperor, wherewith +the queen reproached them. + + +9. THE SPEECH OF JUDAS. + +And there spake before the people one learned in +ancient writings and wise of speech (his name was +Judas):--'I know well that she wishes to ask concerning 420 +that victor-tree whereon suffered the Lord +of hosts, God's own Son, guiltless of all evil, Him +whom, unspotted with any sin, our fathers in days 425 +of yore hung upon the high cross through hate--fearful +was that thought! Now is there great need +that we steadfastly fortify our minds not to betray +that murder, nor declare where the holy tree was +hid after the stress of strife, lest thereby the wise 430 +writings of old be cast aside, and the lore of our +fathers forsaken. For if this shall be known, it will +not be long that the race of the Israelites and the +faith of the Jews shall hold sway over the world. 435 +Thus once my father's father, prophet with the wisdom +of age and far-famed in victory--his name was +Zaccheus--gave like counsel unto my father and +spake this word, which in after times he himself told +to his son, as he turned him from the world:--"If in 440 +the days of thy life it happen that thou hear sage +men ask of the holy tree and stir up strife concerning +the rood of victory whereon the true King +was crucified, Lord of heaven and Child of all 445 +peace, then do thou, my dear son, ere death snatch +thee off, quickly declare that never shall the people +of the Hebrews, taking wise counsel together, hold +sway and rule over men, but the glory and kingdom 450 +shall endure of those who, filled with gladness from +age to age, revere and love the crucified King."' + +'Then I boldly gave answer unto my father, the 455 +aged counselor:--"How came it to pass in the +kingdom of the world that with wrathful intent +our fathers laid hands on the Holy One to put him +to death, if they had knowledge that he was Christ, 460 +the King upon the cross, true Son of the Creator, +and Saviour of souls?"' + +'And my parent gave answer unto me, wisely my +father spake:--"Recognize, O youth, the surpassing +power of God, the name of the Saviour which +may not be expressed by any man. No man on 465 +earth can search it out. Never would I visit the +council which this people held, but I ever kept +myself aloof from their sin, nor wrought shame 470 +unto my soul in any way. Many times I earnestly +withstood the unrighteous act when the wise men +sat in council, and sought in their heart how they +might crucify the Son of the Creator, the Bulwark 475 +of men and Lord of all, of angels and of mortals, +the most noble of heroes." + +'"But these foolish and wretched men could not +bring death upon Him as they weened, nor beset Him +about with agony, though He, the victorious Son of +God, for a little while yielded up His ghost upon 480 +the cross. Then the King of the heavens, the Glory +of all glory, was raised from off the rood, and abode +three nights in the tomb, within the place of darkness; +and upon the third day He arose living, Light 485 +of all light and Lord of angels, and revealed himself +unto His followers, the true Prince of victory, +resplendent in glory. Then after a little space, +Stephen, thy brother, received the bath of baptism, 490 +the faith of joy, and for the love of the Lord he +was stoned. Yet he gave not evil for evil, but in +patient suffering made intercession for his ancient +foes, and prayed the King of glory that He would +not lay to their charge this evil deed, that they 495 +deprived of life a man innocent and free from guile +through hate and the teachings of Saul. + +'"And this Saul in enmity was dooming many a +follower of Christ to torture and death, yet the 500 +Lord showed mercy unto him so that he became a +solace for many men. And in after times the God +of creation, Redeemer of men, changed his name, +and he was called Saint Paul, and of the teachers of 505 +the law no one of all those, or man or woman born +into the world, was ever better than he beneath the +span of the heavens, even though upon the hill he +bade crush Stephen, thy brother, with stones. 510 + +'"Now thou canst understand, my dear son, how +merciful is the Lord of all, if we straightway purge +ourselves of our evil deeds and cease again from +the unrighteous act, though many times we transgress 515 +against Him, and wound Him with our sins. +Wherefore I, in sooth, and in after times my dear +father, believed that the God of all glory, Giver of +life, suffered' bitter agony for the surpassing need 520 +of mankind. And now I counsel thee in secret, my +dear son, that thou never offer scorn, nor blasphemy, +nor wrathful opposition to the Son of God. Then 525 +shalt thou deserve that unto thee be granted eternal +life in heaven, the best reward of victory."' + +'Thus in days of yore, while I was still a youth, +my father instructed me, and taught me with these +true words, a man wise in sorrow--Simon was his 530 +name. And now that ye know my heart and mind, +ye perceive clearly what ye had best declare if the +queen ask us concerning that tree.' 535 + +And the wisest spake together before the assembly +in these words:--'Never heard we any other man +save now thee declare thus among this people concerning 540 +such a hidden thing. Act as thou thinkest, +O thou wise in the lore of old, if thou art questioned +among the multitude, for there is need of wisdom, +of artful words, and the learning of a seer, that +shall give answer to this noble woman before such a 545 +throng met together.' + +Then words increased: men thought, reflected, +and pondered on either side, some this way and +some that. And there came a band of thanes to +the assembly; and heralds, messengers of Cæsar, 550 +trumpeted:--'O ye counselors, the queen doth summon +you unto the royal hall, that ye may show +forth rightly the judgments of your synod. Ye +have need of prudence in the council, of wisdom in +mind.' And they, the leaders of the people, grieved 555 +in soul, were ready as they were summoned by the +bitter edict, and went unto the palace to show forth +the power of craft. + +Then the queen spake unto the Hebrews and asked +them, their hearts sorely burdened, how once the 560 +prophets, holy men, sang in the world concerning +the Son of God; and where the Lord suffered, true +Son of the Creator, for the love of souls. But they +were obdurate and mute as stones, nor would they 565 +show forth the true secret, nor in the hardness of +their hearts would they give any answer to what +she sought of them, but, set in purpose, they withstood +each word that she asked, and said that never 570 +in their lives had they heard, before nor since, one +whit of any such thing. + +Then Elene spake and answered them in anger:--'I +shall say unto you truly, and never in your life +will this be false, that if ye who stand before me 575 +persist long in this falsehood with lying craft, ye +shall be burned upon the hill in the hottest fury of +fire, and leaping flames shall consume your flesh, so +that for you this lie shall be changed into utter destruction. 580 +Nor can ye prove those words which now +in your guile ye cover up under the cloak of evil. +Ye cannot hide the deed, nor conceal its mystic +power.' + + +10. ELENE AND JUDAS. + +Then were they in the fear of death, of the +funeral-pyre, and the end of life; and there they 585 +thrust forth one of exceeding wisdom in the lore +of old, whose name was Judas, sprung from noble +lineage; and they gave him up unto the queen, +and called him a man of wondrous learning: 'He +can show forth to thee the truth, unlock the secret +of the fates, expound the just law from the beginning 590 +even to the end, according as thou dost ask +him. He is of noble race in the world, wise in +speech, the son of a prophet, outspoken in council. +And it is his nature to have sage answers and wisdom +of soul. He shall show forth to thee before 595 +the multitude with his great power the gift of wisdom, +even as thy heart desireth.' + +Then she let each man seek his own home in peace, +and took Judas alone as hostage. And she earnestly 600 +bade him tell the truth concerning the cross, +which had been long buried in a secret place. Then +Elene, the glorious queen, drew him aside by himself, +and thus spake to the lonely man:--'Two ways 650 +are ready for thee, either life or death, whichsoever +thou shalt please to choose. Declare quickly +now which one thou wilt accept.' + +And Judas made answer unto her--nor could he +rid himself of sorrow and turn away the wrath of +his ruler, but he was in the power of the queen--: 610 +'How shall it be with him who treadeth the moor +in a desert, weary, without food, and tortured +with hunger, if before his eyes a loaf and a stone +together seem hard and soft, and he knoweth them +not apart, but taketh the stone to ward off his 615 +hunger, and marketh not the loaf, turneth to want +and forsaketh the food, refuseth the better when +he hath the choice of both?' + +Then openly before the people the blessed Elene +gave him answer:--'If thou wouldst have thy life 620 +in the world and a home with the angels in the +kingdom of heaven, the reward of victory in the +sky, tell me straightway where the holy rood of +the King of glory lieth under the earth, which ye 625 +have hid now for a while from men because of the +unrighteous murder.' + +Judas answered, and his heart was heavy within +him; there was grief in his soul, and woe either +way, whether thus he forsook the joy of the 630 +heavenly realm and this present kingdom beneath +the skies, or disclosed the rood:--'How can I +reveal that which came to pass so long ago in the +course of years? Two hundred or more in number +are now vanished away--I know not the sum of 635 +them, and I cannot declare the event. Many of +wisdom, of virtue, and of learning, who were before +our time, are told among the dead. In days long +after was I born, and in my childhood, and in my +youth. I may not discover in my heart that which 640 +I know not, and which came to pass so long ago.' + +Then Elene bespake him in answer:--'Whence +cometh it that ye bear in mind so many things, +every wondrous deed, such as those which the Trojans 645 +wrought in battle? That far-famed war of +old was further in the course of years than this +holy event, and yet ye know that fully, how to +declare at once the number of all that were slain 650 +there, and of the spearmen who fell in death beneath +their shields. Ye set forth in writing the +tombs beneath the rocky cliffs, and likewise the +places and the tale of years.' + +Then Judas answered--he suffered bitter grief:--'We 655 +are mindful of that war from very need, my +dear lady, and we set forth in writing the fierce +strife and the deeds of the nations, but never have +we heard this declared unto men from the mouth 660 +of any save here and now.' + +And the noble queen gave him answer:--'Too +mightily dost thou withstand the truth and the right +concerning the tree of life, insomuch as thou spakest 665 +verily of the rood of victory before thine own +people but a little time ago, and now dost turn +to falsehood.' + +Judas again spake unto her, and said that he +uttered those words in sorrow and exceeding doubt, +that he had weened bitter hardship for himself. + +Quickly the kinswoman of Cæsar answered him:--'Lo! +we have heard it declared unto men from 670 +the holy book that the noble Child of the King, the +Son of God, was crucified on Calvary. Thou shalt +reveal thy knowledge perfectly concerning the field +where this place Calvary is, according to the teaching 675 +of the Scriptures, ere death and utter destruction +snatch thee away for thy sins, that I may thereafter +cleanse the cross to be a solace for men, according +to the will of Christ. Thus shall the Holy God, +the Lord Almighty, Glory-giver of hosts and Helper 680 +of souls, fulfill for me my desire and my inmost +longing.' + +But with stubborn heart Judas answered her:--'I +know not the place, nor aught of the field, nor +know I the event.' + +Then Elene spake with wrath in her heart:--'I 685 +swear by the Son of the Creator, by the crucified +God, that thou shalt be starved to death before the +people of thine own race, save thou forsake this +falsehood and fully declare unto me the truth.' 690 + +Then she bade men take him alive, and throw +him, guilty as he was, into a dried-up well--nor did +her subjects hesitate. And there, joyless and famished, +weighed down with chains, was he to abide +in his grief for the space of seven nights. And +upon the seventh day, weakened by sorrow, weary, 695 +and without food--his strength was broken--he +began to call aloud:--'I beseech you by the God +of the heavens that ye release me from this misery, 700 +for I am brought low by the pangs of starvation. +Joyfully will I show forth the holy tree--no longer +can I hide it now by reason of my hunger. This +durance is too fearful, this need too great, and this +torture too bitter day by day. No longer can I 705 +endure to suffer, and conceal my knowledge concerning +the tree of life, though before I was filled +with folly, and confess the truth too late.' + + +11. THE FINDING OF THE CROSSES. + +When she who there held sway over the heroes +understood the changed bearing of the man, she 710 +straightway bade release him from his prison, +his dungeon, his narrow cell. Then quickly they +did so, and took him out of the pit with care, as +the queen had bidden them. And they resolutely 715 +took their way to that place upon the hill where +the Lord was crucified on the cross, the Son of +God and Prince of the heavenly realm. Weakened +by hunger, he knew not yet clearly where through 720 +the wiles of the devil the holy rood lay hid beneath +the earth, nor where it rested in its tomb, safe in a +secret place, long hidden from men. + +After a little while he lifted up his voice with +unwonted power and spake in Hebrew:--'O Lord 725 +Jesus, thou who dost possess the power of judgment, +thou who didst form the heaven and the earth and +the sea, the broad expanse of waters, and all created +things, by the might of thy glory; thou who didst +measure out with thine own hands all the sphere of 730 +this earth and of the firmament above; thou who +dost sit in person, the King of victories, over the +most glorious angel-kind; thou who in a mantle +of light dost fare through space in surpassing +majesty, the nature of man cannot rise in the flesh 735 +from the earth-tainted ways unto the bright throng +of the pure, the heralds of glory. Thou didst form +that host, holy and heavenly, and didst ordain it +unto thy service. Six of their number are called 740 +by name in joy without end, and they are clothed +about with six wings; they are adorned, and gleam +brightly. And there are four of their number +ever in flight that perform the service of glory 745 +before the sight of the eternal Judge, and they continually +sing in holiness with clear voices the laud +of the King of heaven, fairest of songs, and they +chant these words in pure tones--their name is 750 +cherubim:--"Holy is the holy God of the archangels, +the Lord of hosts. Heaven and earth are +full of His majesty, and all His exceeding might is +marked with His glory." And there are two among +their number in the heavens, the victorious race, 755 +whereon man bestoweth the name of seraphim. +With flaming sword they are to keep sacred the field +of Paradise and the tree of life. And fast in +their grasp the drawn sword, sharp of edge, quivers, +trembles, and changes its hue. For thou dost rule, 760 +O Lord God, eternally, and thou didst hurl thy sin-stained +foes, the workers of iniquity, from the +heavens, and the unhappy host fell to the dark +abodes, into the pains of hell. There now they suffer 765 +the agony of death in a sea of fire, encompassed +about with darkness, in the embrace of the dragon. +He withstood thy kingly rule, and therefore in +misery, abhorred, the vilest of the vile, shall he +suffer and endure the servile yoke. He cannot there 770 +neglect thy commandment; he is fettered in torture, +bound in agony, the author of all sin. If it be thy +will, O King of angels, that He who was on the +cross, and was born of Mary into the world in the 775 +form of a child, the Lord of the heavenly host, shall +rule--and were He not thy Son, free from guile, +never could He have wrought such a multitude +of true miracles day after day in the world; 780 +nor wouldst thou, O Lord of the peoples, so gloriously +have raised Him from the dead before the +nations, were He not thy Son in glory by that holy +maid--then do thou, O Father of angels, now show +forth thy sign. Even as thou didst hearken unto 785 +the words of that holy seer, Moses, in prayer, when +thou, O God of power, didst reveal unto the noble +man in due time the bones of Joseph beneath the +mountain-side, so would I, O God of hosts, if it be +thy will, beseech thee in the name of that fair being 790 +that thou, Creator of souls, wilt disclose unto me +this treasure-house that long has been hidden from +men. Do thou now, O Prince of life, let rise up +beneath the span of the heavens from this smiling 795 +field a misty smoke. Then shall I trust in thee +better, and the more firmly establish my soul in +undoubting joy upon the crucified Christ, that He +is truly the Saviour of souls, eternal, omnipotent, +and King of the Israelites, and that He shall rule 800 +for ever in glory without end the everlasting dwellings +in the heavens.' + +Then from that place a mist rose up beneath the +skies, like unto smoke. Thereupon was the soul +of the man exalted, and he clapped his hands unto 805 +the heavens, wise and blessed. And Judas spake, +sage in thought:--'Now have I truly perceived in +the hardness of my heart that thou art the Saviour +of the world. Thanksgiving without end be thine, 810 +O God of might, who sittest in majesty, that unto +me in my misery and my sin thou dost uncover the +secrets of the fates by thy glory. Now I would +pray thee, O Son of God, Giver of gifts to men, +inasmuch as I know thou art revealed and born the 815 +Glory of all kings, that thou never more be mindful +of my guilt, O my Creator, which I have wrought +not a few times against thee. Let me, O God of +power, dwell with holy joy among the number of 820 +the kingdom in that fair city where my brother is +exalted in glory, for he, Stephen, held covenant with +thee, even though he was stoned. He hath the +reward of the fight, joy unceasing, and the wonders 825 +that he wrought are set forth in books.' + +Then, glad and zealous, he digged in the earth +under the sod for the tree of glory until he uncovered +and came upon three crosses together in a +mournful home, hid twenty feet below, concealed 830 +in their dark grave beneath the steep cliff, and covered +over with sand, even as in days of yore the 835 +host of the sinful, the race of the Jews, had clothed +them over with earth. They stirred up hatred +against the Son of God, as they would not have +done had they not hearkened to the teachings of +the prince of evil. + +And his soul was gladdened with great joy, and 840 +his heart strengthened by that holy tree, and his +spirit exalted within him as he beheld the holy sign +in the earth. With his hands he seized upon the +wondrous tree of glory, and in the midst of the +people raised it aloft from its earthy grave. Then 845 +strangers and heroes entered into the town. + + +12. THE MIRACLE OF THE TRUE CROSS. + +Thereupon the glad and zealous man set forth +the three trees of victory before Elene in open view. 850 +The queen rejoiced in her heart at the deed, and +asked on which of those trees the Son of the King, +Giver of joy to men, was crucified: 'Lo! we heard +it declared from the holy book that two suffered +with Him, and He Himself was the third on the 855 +cross. All the heavens grew dark in that woful +hour. Say, if thou knowest, on which of these +trees the Lord of angels and Prince of glory suffered.' + +But Judas could not declare unto her fully concerning 860 +that tree of victory, on which the Saviour, +the conquering Son of God, was hung, for he wist +it not assuredly. Then he bade set the crosses with +tumult in the midst of the fair city, there to abide 865 +until the King Almighty should show forth a miracle +before the people through that tree of glory. +With souls uplifted in their victory, they sat themselves +down about the rood, and with earnest +thought raised their voices in song until the ninth +hour, when they had new joy, gloriously gained. 870 +For many came there, no small multitude, and +among the press of men close by on a bier they +brought one who was dead, a young man, lifeless; +and it was the ninth hour. + +And there was the heart of Judas gladdened with 875 +great joy. He bade them set down upon the earth +him whose soul had fled, the body forsaken of life, +the dead man, and he himself, wise and earnest +revealer of truth, raised up in his arms two of those 880 +crosses over the lifeless frame. But the body, fast +on its couch, was dead as before. The limbs were +cold, enwrapped with their dire fate. Then the +third, the holy one, was raised aloft. The body 855 +waited until the rood, the cross of the King of +heaven, the true sign of victory, was laid upon the +man; then he straightway rose up, restored in spirit, +both body and soul together. And there was great 890 +laud raised among the people; they revered the +Father, and honored the true Son of the King in +their speech. To Him be glory and thanksgiving +without end from all creatures. + + +13. JUDAS AND THE DEVIL. + +Then, as ever should be, was the miracle which 895 +the Lord of hosts, Giver of life, had wrought for +the salvation of mankind, impressed upon the minds +of the people. But there the fiend, the devil from +hell, dire monster mindful of evil, sinning with his 900 +lies, rose up into the air, flying, and spake thus:--'Lo! +what man is this who doth again in the +ancient enmity destroy my following, swell the +olden hatred, and waste my possessions? Continual 905 +strife is this. No longer may the souls of them +that work evil dwell among my possessions, since +now a stranger hath come, whom I counted fast +in his sins, and hath robbed me of my every right 910 +and of all my wealth. This is not a just deed. +The Saviour, who was raised up in Nazareth, hath +done me many an evil, acts of deep hatred. As he +grew up from childhood, he ever turned to himself 915 +my possessions, nor now can any justice succeed +[against him]. His kingdom is broad over the +world, while my teaching is weakened beneath the +heavens. I dare not despise this cross with scoffing +laugh. Lo! the Saviour hath again shut me into 920 +my narrow home, smitten with woe. Once I was +filled with joy by a Judas: but now, again by a +Judas, am I humbled, bereft of possessions, abhorred, +and friendless. But I know how to discover 925 +again by my sin a way of return hereafter from +the home of the damned. I shall incite against thee +another king who shall persecute thee, and shall +forsake thy teaching and follow my ways of 930 +evil; then will he cast thee into the darkest and +worst of terrors, that thou, racked with pain, mayst +vehemently renounce the crucified King, whom thou +didst formerly obey.' + +Then the wise Judas, daring hero in strife, 935 +answered him (the Holy Spirit was granted unto +him with strength, a love hot as fire, a knowledge +welling up through the learning of a warrior); and +he spake this word, filled with wisdom:--'Thou +needst not so mightily, ever mindful of evil, renew 940 +sorrow and enkindle strife, O sinful prince of murder, +inasmuch as the mighty King, who hath awakened +with His word many of the dead, doth thrust +thee into the nether depths, thou worker of iniquity, 945 +into the abyss of torture, bereft of joy. Know thou +full clearly that thou in folly didst forsake the +brightest of lights and the love of the Lord and that +glorious faith, and that thou hast since dwelt in a 950 +bath of fire, burdened with tortures and seared with +flame, and that there, with hatred in thy soul, thou +shalt ever suffer woe and misery without end.' + +Elene heard how the foe and the friend struggled +together, the glorious and the foul on opposite sides, 955 +the sinful and the blessed. And she was the gladder +in heart as she heard that the hellish enemy, the +Prince of evil, was vanquished; she marveled at +the wisdom of the man, how in so little time +he was so filled with faith, and how he who had 960 +ever been so ignorant was imbued with knowledge. +And she thanked God, the King of glory, that +through the Son of God the joy of both these things +was come unto her--on the one hand at the sight 965 +of the tree of victory, and on the other at this +faith which she so clearly understood as a glorious +gift in the breast of this man. + + +14. THE EMBASSY TO CONSTANTINE. + +Then was the fair news of the morning manifest +among the nation, spread far throughout the people, +to the vexation of many who would keep secret the 970 +law of the Lord. It was heralded through the cities, +as far as the sea embosoms the land, through every +town, that the rood of Christ, buried of yore in the +earth, had been found, best emblem of victory of +them that were raised aloft before or since, holy 975 +beneath the heavens. Unto the Jews, men of misfortune, +it was a most bitter grief and most hated +of fates that they could change neither it nor the +joy of the Christians in the world. Then the queen 980 +bade messengers from her noble company make +them ready with haste, for they were to seek the +lord of the Romans over the deep sea, and declare +unto that warrior in person the best of glad tidings--how +the tree of victory, that had been hidden a long 985 +time before to grieve the holy ones, the Christian +people, had been discovered and found in the earth +through the grace of the Creator. + +Then was the soul of the king rejoiced at that 990 +fair news, and his heart filled with gladness. And +in the city there was no want of richly-clad questioners +concerning what was come from afar. The +greatest comfort in the world, a joyful soul, was 995 +come unto him at those glad tidings which the messengers, +leaders of the army, brought to him over +the eastern ways, how the warriors with the glorious +queen had made a prosperous voyage over the sea +into the land of the Greeks. The emperor bade +them prepare themselves again for the journey with 1000 +the greatest haste. The warriors made no delay +when once they heard the answer, the message of +the prince. He bade them, heroes hardy of soul, +give greeting to Elene, renowned in war, if they +should survive the sea and make a prosperous 1005 +voyage unto the holy city. And Constantine furthermore +bade the messengers charge her to build +a church there on the mountain-slope for the weal +of them both, a temple of the Lord on Calvary for 1010 +the joy of Christ and the solace of men, there +where the holy rood was found, fairest of all trees +the dwellers on earth have ever known. 1015 + + +15. THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE. + +And thus she did when her friends brought many +a kind greeting over the fastness of waters from the +west. Then the queen bade seek far and near those 1020 +skilled in the arts, the best of those who could work +most wondrously in the laying of stone upon stone, +that they might raise a temple of God upon that +place. As the Lord of spirits counseled her from +the heavens, she bade deck out the rood with gold +and with gems, adorn it most artfully with precious 1025 +stones; then to seal it with locks in a casket of silver. +There hath the rood of life, best tree of +victory, dwelt since then, indestructible in its nobleness. +There shall it be ever ready, a solace for 1030 +the ill of any disease, affliction, or sorrow. Then +straightway shall men find aid and divine grace +through that holy form. + + +16. THE CONVERSION OF JUDAS. + +Then after a little space Judas received the bath +of baptism, and, cleansed [of his sins], was true to 1035 +Christ, dear to the Lord of life. His faith was +steadfast in his heart when the Spirit of comfort +had taken up his dwelling in the breast of the man, +and had urged him unto repentance. He chose the +better course, the gladness of glory, and forsook the 1040 +worse, the way of the idolater, and cast aside his +heresy, the law of unrighteousness. God, the eternal +King, Creator, and Wielder of power, was +gracious unto him. + +Then he was baptized who many times had +scorned the light; ...[1] his heart was inspired 1045 +unto the better life; he was turned unto glory. +Verily fate decreed that he should become thus filled +with faith, thus dear unto God and beloved of Christ +in the kingdom of the world. This was made manifest 1050 +when Elene bade bring unto the holy city +Eusebius, the bishop of Rome, exceeding wise amid +the councils of men, to aid in her deliberation, and +to ordain Judas into the priesthood at Jerusalem 1055 +as bishop for the people in the cities, prudently +chosen through the grace of the Spirit for the temple +of God. And in later times upon a new occasion +she wisely named him Cyriacus. Henceforth 1060 +the name of the man was changed for the better +throughout the cities--'The law of the Lord'. + +[Footnote 1: A manuscript lacuna.] + + +17. THE FINDING OF THE NAILS. + +Then again was the mind of Elene concerned +about that fair mystery with regard to the nails 1065 +which pierced the feet and hands of the Saviour, +wherewith the King of the heavens, the mighty +Prince, was bound upon the cross. The queen of +the Christians began to ask concerning them. She +bade Cyriacus that he, through the might of the 1070 +Holy Spirit, fulfil her desire still further regarding +the wondrous mystery, and that he unlock the secret +by his holy grace. And she spake this word unto +the bishop--boldly she addressed him:--'O bulwark +of heroes, thou didst rightly show forth unto me 1075 +that noble tree, the cross of the heavenly King, +whereon by heathen hands was crucified God's own +Son, the Helper of souls, the Saviour of men. Now +further the longing for knowledge doth make me +mindful of the nails. I would thou shouldst find 1080 +those that are hidden, buried deep in the earth and +shrouded in darkness. Ever doth my heart mourn, +sorrow in sadness, and rest not, until the Father +Almighty, the Lord of hosts and Saviour of men, +the Holy One from on high, shall fulfill unto me my 1085 +desire through the finding of these nails. Now +with all reverence do thou forthwith, O best of +mediators, send up thy petition unto that glorious +Being, unto the King of majesty. Do thou pray 1090 +the Glory of men that He, Almighty King, show +forth unto thee the treasure beneath the earth that +still lieth hidden, secret and concealed from men.' +Then the holy man, inspired in heart, the bishop +of the people, made steadfast his soul, and joyfully 1095 +went forth with a throng of men singing praises +unto God. Zealously Cyriacus bowed his head upon +Calvary, nor made he any secret of his thoughts, but +through the might of the Holy Spirit he called upon 1100 +God with all reverence, and prayed the Lord of +angels to reveal the unknown mystery in his new +trouble, where in that field he might earnestly seek +out the nails. + +Then the Father, the Spirit of comfort, there as 1105 +they were watching, caused a sign in the form of +fire to rise up where the precious nails were cunningly +hid in the earth by the devices of men. + +Forthwith there came a leaping flame brighter than 1110 +the sun. The people beheld a miracle shown forth +unto their queen, where, like unto the stars of heaven +or gems set in gold, out of the darkness glittered +the nails brightly, gleaming from their burial-place 1115 +beneath the surface of the earth. The people rejoiced, +the throng were glad of heart; and they said +with one accord that the miracle was of God, +although hitherto they had been long in heresy and +turned from Christ, through the death-wielding +power of the devil. Thus they spake:--'Now do 1120 +we ourselves behold the sign of victory, the true +miracle of God, whom we formerly withstood with +falsehood. Now is the course of the mystery come +into light and revealed. Wherefore may the God of +the heavenly kingdom have glory in the highest.' 1125 + +Then was the bishop of the people rejoiced anew, +he who had turned with repentance through the +Son of God. Awe-struck he took the nails, and +bore them unto the revered queen. Cyriacus had 1130 +fulfilled all the woman's wish, even as his noble +mistress bade him. Then was there the sound of +lamentation, and hot tears welling over their faces--yet +not at all for sorrow; her tears fell over the +nails. Wondrously was the desire of the queen fulfilled. 1135 +With joyous faith she laid them upon her +knees, and, rejoicing in her happiness, revered the +gift that was brought unto her as a solace for her +sadness. She gave thanks unto God, the Lord of +victories, that now she knew the truth which had oft 1140 +been foretold long before from the beginning of the +world as a comfort for the nations. She was filled +with the grace of wisdom, and the Holy Spirit of 1145 +heaven held the dwelling of her body, and guarded +her both heart and soul. Thus the almighty, victorious +Son of God had care for her thereafter. + + +18. ELENE'S DISPOSAL OF THE NAILS. + +Then she began zealously through the mysteries +of the Holy Spirit to search out the truth and the +way to glory. Verily the Lord of hosts, King 1150 +Almighty, gave aid that the queen might win her +wish in the world. From the beginning all the +prophecy was chanted in times before by the seers +of old, and thus it happened in every respect. 1155 +Through the grace of the Holy Spirit the queen +zealously began to search out with great care wherefor +she might best and most fitly for the solace of +men use the nails, and what was the will of the 1160 +Lord. Then bade she bring at once unto a secret +council an exceeding wise man, who, learned in +mind, by his wise power knew fully the rede of +sages; and she began to inquire of him what he 1165 +deemed best to be done about this. And obediently +she chose his advice. + +Earnestly he answered her:--'It is fitting that +thou hold in thy heart the word of the Lord, +His holy mystery, O best of queens, and zealously 1170 +fulfil the bidding of the king, now that God, Redeemer +of men, hath given unto thee good speed +for thy soul, and the skill of wisdom. Do thou +bid that these nails be set upon the bridle, as a bit 1175 +for the horse of the most noble among castle-ruling +kings. It shall become famed to many throughout +the world when he shall overcome each of his +enemies thereby in the contest, as with brave hearts +and brandished swords they seek the battle on either 1180 +side, and strive for the mastery there, foe against +foe. He shall have good speed in war, victory in +battle, and peace everywhere, the calm following the +strife, who holds the bridle before him upon a white 1185 +steed when his trusty heroes, far-famed in the fight, +bear shield and spear into the press of weapons. +For any man shall this be a guard invincible +against stress in war. Concerning it sang the +prophet, wise in thought, his mind saw deeply 1190 +the understanding of wisdom. These words he +spake:--"It shall be known that the horse of a king +is to be in the midst of brave heroes, decked with +bit and bridle-rings. It shall be called a holy sign 1195 +of God, and he shall be hardy and honored in war +who guides the horse."' + + +19. CONCLUSION. + +Then straightway in the presence of the nobles +Elene accomplished all. She bade deck the bridle +of the prince, gift-giver of men, and unto her own +son she sent the glorious present over the stream 1200 +of the ocean as an offering. Then she bade assemble +together in the town, in that holy city, those +whom she knew as the best among the Jews, that +race of heroes. And the queen began to teach the 1205 +throng of her dear subjects that they should steadfastly +hold to the love of the Lord, and maintain +peace one with another, and that they should hearken 1210 +unto the lore of the teacher, and the customs of the +Christians, which Cyriacus, wise in the knowledge +of books, should declare unto them. The bishopric +was well established. Often there came to +him from afar the lame, the halt, the weak, the 1215 +maimed, the bleeding, the leprous, the blind, the +poor, the sad in heart, and ever found they health +and relief there at the hands of their bishop during +all of their life. And again Elene gave unto him +gifts of great worth when she was ready for the +journey back to her own land, and when she bade 1220 +all those who glorified God in that kingdom, both +men and women, to honor in their thought with +heart and strength that great day on which the holy +rood was found, most wondrous tree of them that 1225 +have grown up from the earth, laden with leaves. +And, save for six nights ere the coming of summer +on the kalends of May, the spring was gone. May +hell's portal be closed and heaven's opened, may the 1230 +eternal kingdom of the angels be revealed with joy +unceasing, and may their part be assigned with +Mary, to each man who keepeth in memory the +most sacred festival of the cross beneath the heavens, 1235 +which the almighty King over all protected with +his arm! Finit. + + +20. EPILOGUE. + +Old and ready for death by reason of this failing +house, I thus have woven a web of words and +wondrously have gathered it up; time and again +have I pondered and sifted my thought in the prison +of the night. I knew not fully the truth concerning 1240 +the cross[1] until wisdom revealed a broader +knowledge through its marvelous power o'er the +thought of my heart. I was stained with deeds of +evil, fettered in sins, torn by doubts, girt round with 1245 +bitter needs, until the King of might wondrously +granted learning unto me as a comfort for my old +age; until he gave unto me his spotless grace, and +imbued my heart with it, revealed it as glorious, in +time broadened it, set free my body, unlocked my 1250 +heart, and loosed the power of song, which joyfully +and gladly I have used in the world. Not one time +alone, but often had I thought upon the tree of +glory, before I had the miracle revealed regarding +the glorious tree, as in the course of events I found 1255 +related in books and in writings concerning the sign +of victory. Ever until that time was the man buffeted +in the surge of sorrow, was he a weakly flaring +torch (C)[2], although he had received treasures +and appled gold in the mead-hall; wroth in heart 1260 +(Y), he mourned; a companion to need (N), he +suffered crushing grief and anxious care, although +before him his horse (E) measured the miles and +proudly ran, decked with gold. Hope (W) is +waned, and joy through the course of years; youth 1265 +is fled, and the pride of old. Once (U) was the +splendor of youth(?); now after that alloted time +are the days departed, are the pleasures of life +dwindled away, as water (L) glideth, or the rushing +floods. Wealth (F) is but a loan to each beneath 1270 +the heavens; the beauties of the field vanish +away beneath the clouds, most like unto the wind +when it riseth loud before men, roameth amid the +clouds, courseth along in wrath, and then on a sudden 1275 +becometh still, close shut in its narrow prison, +crushed by force. + +[Footnote 1: Supplying _r[=o]de_.] + +[Footnote 2: These letters are the runes which spell out Cynewulf's +name.] + +Thus shall all this world pass away, and in like +manner devouring flame shall seize upon whoever +was born into it, at that time when the +Lord himself 'with a host of angels shall come 1280 +unto judgment. There shall each man hear the +doom on all his deeds from the mouth of the judge, +and likewise shall pay the penalty for all the +foolish words ever spoken by him, and all his overbold 1285 +thoughts. Then shall the people divide into +three parts for the embrace of the flame, every man +who hath ever lived throughout the broad earth. +Those who have clung fast to the truth shall be +highest in the flame, the throng of the blessed, the 1290 +host of them that yearn for glory, the multitude of +the righteous, and thus may they endure and suffer +more lightly without distress. He tempers for +them all the glare of the flame as shall be most easy +for them and most mild. The sinful men, those 1295 +stained with evil, heroes sad of heart, shall be in the +middle place, shrouded with smoke amid the hot +surge of fire. The third part, accursed sinful foes, +false haters of men, the host of the wicked, shall be +in the depth of the surge, bound fast in flame by 1300 +reason of their former deeds, in the gripe of the +glowing coals. Nor shall they come thereafter +from the place of punishment to the memory of God, +King of glory, but they shall be cast forth, His +wrath-stirring foes, from that fierce flame into the 1305 +depths of hell. Unlike this shall it be with the +other two parts: they may look upon the Prince of +angels, the God of victories. They shall be refined +and freed from their sins, like pure gold that is all 1310 +cleansed from every alloy, refined and melted in the +surge of the furnace's fire. Thus shall each of those +men be separated and purified from all their guilt, +their deep transgressions, by the fire of the judgment. +And thereafter they may enjoy peace and 1315 +eternal well-being. The Lord of angels shall be +merciful and gracious unto them, inasmuch as they +abhorred each sin, each work of guile, and called +upon the Son of the Creator in their prayers. +Wherefore now their forms shall shine like unto the +angels, and they shall enjoy the heritage of the King 1320 +of glory for ever and ever. Amen. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Elene of Cynewulf, by Cynewulf + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELENE OF CYNEWULF *** + +***** This file should be named 14781-8.txt or 14781-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/7/8/14781/ + +Produced by David Starner, Linda Cantoni, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Elene of Cynewulf + +Author: Cynewulf + +Release Date: January 24, 2005 [EBook #14781] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELENE OF CYNEWULF *** + + + + +Produced by David Starner, Linda Cantoni, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + +YALE STUDIES IN ENGLISH + +ALBERT S. COOK, EDITOR + + +XXI + + +THE + +ELENE OF CYNEWULF + + +TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH PROSE + +BY + +LUCIUS HUDSON HOLT + +PORTER FELLOW IN ENGLISH IN YALE UNIVERSITY + + +NEW YORK + +HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY + +1904 + + +[FACSIMILE] + + + + +PREFACE + + +This translation was made from the edition of the _Elene_ issued by +Charles W. Kent in 1889 (Ginn & Co., Boston). His text is 'that of +Zupitza's second edition, carefully compared with Wuelker's edition and +Zupitza's third edition, in which the results of Napier's collation are +contained.' + +The aim of this translation is to give an accurate and readable modern +English prose rendering of the Old English poetry. The translation of +Richard Francis Weymouth, entitled _A Literal Translation of Cynewulf's +Elene_, has been at hand, but I owe it practically nothing in this work. +While I trust that my rendering has not departed so far from the text +that it will be valueless to the student, yet at places it will be found +that I have to some extent expanded or contracted the literal +translation in the hope of benefiting the modern English version. + +My thanks are due to Dr. Robert K. Root and Dr. Chauncey B. Tinker of +Yale University, and to Dr. Charles H. Whitman of Lehigh University, for +examining part of the work in manuscript, and to Dr. Albert S. Cook of +Yale University for a careful reading of the proof. + +LUCIUS HUDSON HOLT. + +NEW HAVEN, +January 1, 1904. + + + + +ELENE + + +1. THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE. + +There had passed in the turn of years, as men +mark the tale of time, two hundred and thirty and +three winters over the world since the Lord God, +the Glory of kings and Light of the faithful, was +born on earth in human guise; and it was the sixth 5 +year of the reign of Constantine since he was raised +in the realm of the Romans to lead their army, a +prince of battles. He was a bulwark to his people, 10 +valiant with the shield, and gracious to his heroes; +and the prince's realm waxed great beneath the +heavens. He was a just king, a war-lord of men. +God strengthened him with majesty and might till 15 +he became a joy to many men throughout the world, +an avenger for his people when he raised aloft his +spear against their foes. + + +2. THE WAR WITH THE BARBARIANS. + +And battle was brought on him, the tumult of +strife. The people of the Huns and famous Goths 20 +gathered a host together; and the Franks and +Hugas marched forth, men fierce in fight and ripe +for war. The spears and woven mail-coats glittered, +as with shouts and clash of shields they +lifted up on high the standard of battle. Openly 25 +the fighters gathered all together, and the throng +marched forth. The wolf in the wood howled his +war-song, and hid not his secret hopes of carnage; +and at the rear of the foe the dewy-feathered eagle 30 +shrieked his note on high. + +A mighty host hastened to war through the cities, +gleaned from all the men the Hunnish king could +summon from the near-lying towns. A vast army +sallied forth--bands of picked horsemen strengthened 35 +the force of the foot-soldiers--until within a +foreign land upon the bank of the Danube these +stout-souled brandishers of the spear pitched their +camp near the water's flow, amid the tumult of the +army. They longed to overrun the realm of the 40 +Romans, and lay it waste with their hordes. + +Then were the dwellers in the cities aware of the +Huns' coming. And the emperor straightway bade +summon with the greatest speed by dispatch of the +arrow his heroes to war against the foes; bade lead +out to battle the warriors beneath the heavens. 45 +Their hearts inspired by victory, the Roman heroes +were soon girt with weapons for the fight, though +they had a lesser host for battle than circled about +the proud king of the Huns. Then the shields 50 +rang, the wood of war clashed; the king with the +host, his army, marched forth to strife, and over +their heads the raven wailed, dark, and thirsting for +the slaughter. The army was moving--trumpeters +leaped, heralds shouted commands, and horses +stamped the earth. Hastily the multitude enranked 55 +itself for strife. + +But the king was fear-smitten, awed with terror, +as he looked upon the hostile host, the army of the +Huns and Goths, that upon the river's bank at the +boundary of the Roman realm was massing its 60 +strength, an uncounted multitude. The king of the +Romans suffered bitter grief of soul, and hoped not +for his kingdom because of his small host; he had +too few warriors, trusty thanes, to encounter the +overmight of brave men in battle. 65 + + +3. THE DREAM. + +The army encamped near at hand beside the river, +nobles about their prince, for the space of a single +night after they first beheld the course of their foes. +Then unto the emperor himself in his sleep, as he 70 +slumbered among his retinue, was disclosed the +marvel of a dream, shown unto him with soul +uplifted in the hope of victory. Him thought +there appeared before him in the form of a man +a certain warrior, radiant, resplendent, brilliant, +more glorious than he ever beheld 'neath the +heavens, before or since. Then, dight with his 75 +boar-crested helmet, he started up from slumber, +and straightway the messenger, a bright herald of +glory, spake unto him and called him by his name, +while the veil of night parted asunder: 'O Constantine, +the King of angels, Wielder of fates and +Lord of hosts, hath commanded to offer thee a 80 +covenant. Fear thou not, though foreign peoples +threaten thee with terror and bitter strife. Look +to heaven, unto the Lord of glory. There shalt +thou find aid and the token of victory.' 85 + +He was soon ready at the holy one's behest; he +opened wide the secret places of his heart; he gazed +on high, as the messenger, faithful weaver of peace, +had bidden him. Over the roof of clouds he saw +the beauteous tree of glory, gleaming with treasure +and decked with gold--and the gems shone 90 +brightly. The shining tree was inscribed with letters +of brilliance and light: 'By this sign thou +shalt overcome the foe in the dread peril; by this +thou shalt stay the hated host.' + +Then the light vanished, ascended up on high, 95 +and together with it the messenger, unto the throng +of the pure ones. And the king, the leader of men, +was the blither and the freer from grief in his heart +by reason of that fair vision. + + +4. THE BATTLE. + +Then Constantine, bulwark of heroes and giver +of gifts, battle-prince of armies and glorious king, 100 +bade fashion with greatest haste a token like unto +that sign he had seen, which had been disclosed +before him in the heavens, the cross of Christ. +And at dawn, with the first gleam of day, he bade 105 +rouse the warriors and make ready for the stress of +fight, lift up the emblem of battle, take the holy +tree before them, and bear the sign of God into +the press of their foes. + +The trumpets rang loud at the army's front. 110 +The raven rejoiced at the move; the dewy-feathered +eagle scanned the march, the strife of battle-heated +men; and the wolf, fellow of the forest, raised his +song. Rife was the dread terror of battle. + +Then there was the clash of shields and the shock +of men, the bitter hand-to-hand struggle and the 115 +slaughter of hosts, when once they had passed within +an arrow's flight. On the fated folk dire enemies +hurled a shower of darts, and with might of arm +sent their spears, biting battle-adders, over the yellow +shields into the midst of their foes. But with 120 +courage undaunted the other host advanced; from +time to time they surged forward, broke the rampart +of shields, thrust their swords between, and +sternly kept their way. + +Then was the standard, the token, raised before +the armies, and they chanted the victors' song. +Over the field of battle gleamed spears and helmets 125 +of gold. The pagan host was conquered; in +merciless strife they fell. As the king of the Romans, +dauntless in battle, bade raise that holy tree, +the peoples of the Huns straight fled away, and +their warriors were scattered far and wide. Some 130 +perished in the fight, some saved themselves hardly +on the march, some, with life half-ebbed, fled to +fastnesses and nursed their strength behind barren +rocks, some seized the land near the Danube, and 135 +some were finally drowned in the river's current. +Then was the army of valiant heroes rejoiced, and +from break of day until eve they followed hard +upon the foreign foe, while the spears flew, biting 140 +battle-adders. The horde of hated shield-bearers +was lessened; but few of the army of Huns returned +thence home again. + +Then was manifest from that day's deed that +the King Almighty gave unto Constantine victory, 145 +glorious honor, and a realm beneath the heavens, +through his holy rood. And he, renowned in battle, +a bulwark of armies, returned thence home +again when the war was decided, exulting in his +spoil. Famed in the fight, a defense for heroes, the 150 +king came with a throng of thanes to visit his +cities and stud his shield with jewels. + + +5. THE ASSEMBLY. + +Then the Lord of men straight summoned the +wisest to council, those who had pondered the craft +of wisdom in writings of old and held nobly to 155 +the rede of scholars. And the prince of the people, +victory-inspired king, asked through the vast assembly +if there were any man there could tell and declare +unto him truly who the god was, giver of good 160 +gifts, 'whose sign this was which appeared unto +me so bright, the most gleaming of tokens, saved +my people, and gave unto me glory and war-speed +against my foes through the holy tree.' 165 + +But no one of them could give him any answer +in return, nor knew they full well what to say about +the victor-tree. Then spake the wisest before the +multitudes, and said that it was a sign from the King 170 +of heaven, and of that there could be no doubt. + + +6. THE CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE. + +But they who had learned the truth, who were +taught through baptism, were joyful in soul, and +their hearts were light that they might declare before 175 +the emperor the grace of the gospel: how the +Saviour of souls, revered in threefold majesty, was +born; how God's own Son was hung upon the cross +in bitter agony before the multitudes; how He freed 180 +the children of men and souls of the careworn from +the snares of devils, and gave unto them grace +through the very thing that had been disclosed to +his own sight as a sign of victory against the onrush +of foes; and how on the third day the Glory 185 +of men and Lord of all mankind rose from the +tomb and from death, and ascended into heaven. +Men wise in the mystic things of the Spirit thus said +unto the victory-inspired monarch as they had 190 +learned from Silvester. And at their hands the +prince of the people received baptism, and held to +the faith according to the will of the Lord from that +time forth throughout the length of his days. + +Then was the giver of gifts content, the king +stern in battle; a new joy was come into his heart. 195 +The Lord of the kingdom of heaven was his greatest +solace and his highest hope. Through the grace +of the Spirit he began zealously to show forth the +law of the Lord both day and night, and this ruler +of men devoted himself, far-famed and weariless, 200 +unto the service of God. Then the prince, bulwark +of peoples, brave in battle and bold with the spear, +found in the books of God with the aid of his +teachers that country where, amid the shouts of multitudes, +the Ruler of the heavens was crucified upon 205 +the cross through sinful hate; even as the ancient +enemy with lying craft led astray the people, deceived +the race of the Jews, until they crucified God +himself, the Lord of hosts; wherefore they shall 210 +suffer a direful curse in misery through a long-enduring +life. + + +7. THE JOURNEY OF ELENE. + +Then was the laud of Christ in the heart of the +emperor, and he was ever mindful of that glorious +tree. And he bade his mother fare unto the Jews +upon a journey with a throng of people, and zealously 215 +with her band of heroes to seek where the +holy tree of glory, the rood of the King, was hid +beneath the earth. + +Nor would Elene slight such a journey, nor be 220 +heedless of the word of the prince her son; but +the woman was soon ready for the welcome way, +as the bulwark of heroes and mail-clad warriors +had bidden her. And thereupon throngs of nobles 225 +made ready for the voyage over the ocean. The +ships stood ready by the shores of the sea, bound +ocean-coursers resting on the deep. + +And the journey of the queen was plainly manifest +when she sought the swell of the ocean with 230 +her company; many a noble stood there, near to +the water's edge, and from time to time crowds of +men pressed across the way. + +Then they loaded the ships with battle-dress, +shields and spears; mail-clad warriors and men and 235 +women embarked thereon. And they let the steep +ocean-speeders course over the foamy deep; often +the hull bore the shock of the billows on the ocean-way, +and the sea raised her song. Never heard 240 +I before nor since of woman leading a fairer force +upon the paths of the ocean, the streams of the deep. +There one might see, if he beheld that voyage, ships +cleave the watery way and haste beneath swelling 245 +sails, sea-coursers leap, and wave-floaters speed ahead. +The proud warriors were glad; the queen rejoiced +in the journey. + +When the ring-prowed ships had reached their +harbor in the land of the Greeks over the fastness 250 +of flood, they left their vessels, their olden water-homes, +lashed by the sea, bound with anchors, to +await upon the surging deep the fate of the men, +when the warrior queen with her band of heroes 255 +should again seek the eastern ways. Many a +woven corselet, trusty sword, and glittering battle-sark, +many a helmet and glorious boar-crest, were +there to be seen among the warriors. The spearmen, 260 +heroes about their queen, were eager for the +march. The brave fighters, heralds of the emperor, +warriors clad in armor, went forth rejoicing +into the land of the Greeks. Many a gold-set +jewel, the gift of their prince, was to be seen there +among the company. 265 + +But the blessed Elene, zealous and earnest of purpose, +was mindful of her lord's will that over fields +of battle she should seek the land of the Jews with +her trusty band of shield-bearers, her company of 270 +spearmen; and so it befell within a little space +thereafter that the multitude of men, heroes famed +in war and chieftains of spear-renown, entered into +the city of Jerusalem in a vast throng with the +noble queen. 275 + + +8. THE COUNCILS OF THE JEWS. + +Then she bade summon the wisest of the dwellers +in the cities among the Jews, far and wide, each +man of them, to come unto a council for deliberation, +those who knew how to expound justly and +fully the hidden things of God. And there was 280 +gathered together from far ways no small multitude +of those who could expound the law of Moses. +They were in number three thousand men, chosen 285 +for teaching. + +Then the well-beloved woman spake unto the +men of the Hebrews in these words:--'This have I +learned well by the mystic sayings of prophets in +the books of God, that in days of yore ye were 290 +dear unto the King of glory, loved of the Lord +and strong in his service. And lo! ye of this +knowledge unwisely and perversely cast Him forth +when ye cursed Him who thought to loose you from +your curse, your torture of fire, your servile bondage, 295 +through the might of His glory. Foully ye +spat upon the face of Him who by his noble spittle +wrought anew the light of your eyes, the cure of 300 +your blindness, and saved you oft from the unclean +spirits of devils. Ye doomed Him to death who +among a multitude of men roused from death itself +unto their former life a number of your own race. 305 +Ye blind of soul, thus have ye confounded false +with sooth, light with darkness, hate with reverence, +and have woven a crime from your evil thoughts. +Therefore doth this curse weigh you down in your +sin--ye judged that pure Power, and until this day 310 +ye have lived with clouded thoughts in heresy. Go +ye now quickly, and think upon the men most sage +in wisdom and skilled in speech, who, versed in the +knowledge of your law, hold it foremost in their 315 +hearts, and who may declare unto me truly and +devise an answer for each token whereof I may +ask them.' + +Then, sorely grieved and saddened, and burdened 320 +with fear, the men wise in law went apart, and earnestly +sought the deepest mystic words wherewith +they might answer the queen whatsoever she asked +of them, whether of good or of bad. And they 325 +found among their number a thousand of exceeding +wisdom, who most fully knew the traditions of old +among the Jews. In a great crowd they hastened +to where, upon a royal throne in majesty, the kinswoman 330 +of the emperor waited, a stately queen of +battle adorned with gold. And Elene spake before +the folk:--'Hearken, ye wise of soul, unto a holy +mystery, the word and the wisdom. Lo! ye had the +teaching of prophets how the Prince of life and Lord 335 +of might should be born in the likeness of a child. +Of him sang Moses, leader of the Israelites, and +spake this word:--"Unto you is born a child of +wondrous might in mystery, for his mother conceived 340 +him not through the love of man." Of him +king David, father of Solomon, ruler of men, a +prophet with the wisdom of age, chanted a psalm +and spake this word:--"In times afore I beheld the 345 +God of creation, the Lord of victories. He was +before my sight upon my right hand, the King of +might and Prince of majesty. Thence will I never +turn my eyes more unto life." Likewise again 350 +Isaiah the prophet, deeply moved by the Spirit of +God, spake concerning you before the multitudes in +these words: "I raised up sons and I begat children, +and unto them I gave possessions, and holy balm +for their souls; but they scorned me, loathed me 355 +with their hate, and they had no forethought, no +skill of wisdom. Even the wretched oxen, which +man doth each day drive and beat, know their well-wisher, +and in their revenge for wrong hate not +their friend who giveth them fodder. But never 360 +would the men of the Israelites take knowledge of +me, though I wrought many wonders for them +throughout my life in the world." Lo! this have +we learned in holy books, that God the Creator +gave unto you spotless glory and wealth of power, 365 +and said unto Moses how ye should hearken unto +the King of heaven, and follow His teaching. But +ye soon became weary of this, and withstood that +righteous one; ye scorned the pure Maker of all, +the Lord of lords, and pursued error against the 370 +law of God. Now go ye quickly and find once +more those who know best by wisdom's craft the +ancient scriptures, your righteous law, that with 375 +depth of soul they may give me answer.' + +Then a throng of the proud leaders, saddened in +heart, went forth as the queen had bidden them, +and found five hundred wise men of their own race +who held learning in their memory, most wisdom 380 +in their mind. And again within a little space the +lords of the city were summoned unto the hall. And +the queen, looking upon them all, spake unto them 385 +in these words:--'Oft have ye wrought foolish +deeds, ye wretched in misfortune, and scorned the +Scriptures, the lore of your fathers, but never worse +than now when ye have refused the cure of your +blindness, and withstood the truth and the right--that 390 +the Son of the Mighty One, the only-begotten +Ruler and King of kings, was born in Bethlehem. +Though ye knew the law, the words of the prophets, +yet because of your sin ye have not been willing to +confess the truth.' 395 + +And with one accord they answered:--'Lo! we +have learned the Hebrew law that from the ark +of God our fathers knew in days of yore; but we +know not in sooth wherefore, O lady, thou hast +become thus angry with us. We know not the sin 400 +that we have wrought in this province, the wrong +we have ever done to thee.' + +Then Elene spake before the people openly, before +the multitudes this woman spake aloud:--'Go ye 405 +now quickly, and seek far and near those who have +the power of wisdom and the most skill of thought +among you, that they may show forth to me without +reserve whatsoever I ask of them.' 410 + +And they went forth from the council as the +mighty queen, strong in her cities, had bidden them, +and earnestly pondered, sad of heart, and sought +shrewdly what that sin might be that they had 415 +wrought in the province against the emperor, wherewith +the queen reproached them. + + +9. THE SPEECH OF JUDAS. + +And there spake before the people one learned in +ancient writings and wise of speech (his name was +Judas):--'I know well that she wishes to ask concerning 420 +that victor-tree whereon suffered the Lord +of hosts, God's own Son, guiltless of all evil, Him +whom, unspotted with any sin, our fathers in days 425 +of yore hung upon the high cross through hate--fearful +was that thought! Now is there great need +that we steadfastly fortify our minds not to betray +that murder, nor declare where the holy tree was +hid after the stress of strife, lest thereby the wise 430 +writings of old be cast aside, and the lore of our +fathers forsaken. For if this shall be known, it will +not be long that the race of the Israelites and the +faith of the Jews shall hold sway over the world. 435 +Thus once my father's father, prophet with the wisdom +of age and far-famed in victory--his name was +Zaccheus--gave like counsel unto my father and +spake this word, which in after times he himself told +to his son, as he turned him from the world:--"If in 440 +the days of thy life it happen that thou hear sage +men ask of the holy tree and stir up strife concerning +the rood of victory whereon the true King +was crucified, Lord of heaven and Child of all 445 +peace, then do thou, my dear son, ere death snatch +thee off, quickly declare that never shall the people +of the Hebrews, taking wise counsel together, hold +sway and rule over men, but the glory and kingdom 450 +shall endure of those who, filled with gladness from +age to age, revere and love the crucified King."' + +'Then I boldly gave answer unto my father, the 455 +aged counselor:--"How came it to pass in the +kingdom of the world that with wrathful intent +our fathers laid hands on the Holy One to put him +to death, if they had knowledge that he was Christ, 460 +the King upon the cross, true Son of the Creator, +and Saviour of souls?"' + +'And my parent gave answer unto me, wisely my +father spake:--"Recognize, O youth, the surpassing +power of God, the name of the Saviour which +may not be expressed by any man. No man on 465 +earth can search it out. Never would I visit the +council which this people held, but I ever kept +myself aloof from their sin, nor wrought shame 470 +unto my soul in any way. Many times I earnestly +withstood the unrighteous act when the wise men +sat in council, and sought in their heart how they +might crucify the Son of the Creator, the Bulwark 475 +of men and Lord of all, of angels and of mortals, +the most noble of heroes." + +'"But these foolish and wretched men could not +bring death upon Him as they weened, nor beset Him +about with agony, though He, the victorious Son of +God, for a little while yielded up His ghost upon 480 +the cross. Then the King of the heavens, the Glory +of all glory, was raised from off the rood, and abode +three nights in the tomb, within the place of darkness; +and upon the third day He arose living, Light 485 +of all light and Lord of angels, and revealed himself +unto His followers, the true Prince of victory, +resplendent in glory. Then after a little space, +Stephen, thy brother, received the bath of baptism, 490 +the faith of joy, and for the love of the Lord he +was stoned. Yet he gave not evil for evil, but in +patient suffering made intercession for his ancient +foes, and prayed the King of glory that He would +not lay to their charge this evil deed, that they 495 +deprived of life a man innocent and free from guile +through hate and the teachings of Saul. + +'"And this Saul in enmity was dooming many a +follower of Christ to torture and death, yet the 500 +Lord showed mercy unto him so that he became a +solace for many men. And in after times the God +of creation, Redeemer of men, changed his name, +and he was called Saint Paul, and of the teachers of 505 +the law no one of all those, or man or woman born +into the world, was ever better than he beneath the +span of the heavens, even though upon the hill he +bade crush Stephen, thy brother, with stones. 510 + +'"Now thou canst understand, my dear son, how +merciful is the Lord of all, if we straightway purge +ourselves of our evil deeds and cease again from +the unrighteous act, though many times we transgress 515 +against Him, and wound Him with our sins. +Wherefore I, in sooth, and in after times my dear +father, believed that the God of all glory, Giver of +life, suffered' bitter agony for the surpassing need 520 +of mankind. And now I counsel thee in secret, my +dear son, that thou never offer scorn, nor blasphemy, +nor wrathful opposition to the Son of God. Then 525 +shalt thou deserve that unto thee be granted eternal +life in heaven, the best reward of victory."' + +'Thus in days of yore, while I was still a youth, +my father instructed me, and taught me with these +true words, a man wise in sorrow--Simon was his 530 +name. And now that ye know my heart and mind, +ye perceive clearly what ye had best declare if the +queen ask us concerning that tree.' 535 + +And the wisest spake together before the assembly +in these words:--'Never heard we any other man +save now thee declare thus among this people concerning 540 +such a hidden thing. Act as thou thinkest, +O thou wise in the lore of old, if thou art questioned +among the multitude, for there is need of wisdom, +of artful words, and the learning of a seer, that +shall give answer to this noble woman before such a 545 +throng met together.' + +Then words increased: men thought, reflected, +and pondered on either side, some this way and +some that. And there came a band of thanes to +the assembly; and heralds, messengers of Caesar, 550 +trumpeted:--'O ye counselors, the queen doth summon +you unto the royal hall, that ye may show +forth rightly the judgments of your synod. Ye +have need of prudence in the council, of wisdom in +mind.' And they, the leaders of the people, grieved 555 +in soul, were ready as they were summoned by the +bitter edict, and went unto the palace to show forth +the power of craft. + +Then the queen spake unto the Hebrews and asked +them, their hearts sorely burdened, how once the 560 +prophets, holy men, sang in the world concerning +the Son of God; and where the Lord suffered, true +Son of the Creator, for the love of souls. But they +were obdurate and mute as stones, nor would they 565 +show forth the true secret, nor in the hardness of +their hearts would they give any answer to what +she sought of them, but, set in purpose, they withstood +each word that she asked, and said that never 570 +in their lives had they heard, before nor since, one +whit of any such thing. + +Then Elene spake and answered them in anger:--'I +shall say unto you truly, and never in your life +will this be false, that if ye who stand before me 575 +persist long in this falsehood with lying craft, ye +shall be burned upon the hill in the hottest fury of +fire, and leaping flames shall consume your flesh, so +that for you this lie shall be changed into utter destruction. 580 +Nor can ye prove those words which now +in your guile ye cover up under the cloak of evil. +Ye cannot hide the deed, nor conceal its mystic +power.' + + +10. ELENE AND JUDAS. + +Then were they in the fear of death, of the +funeral-pyre, and the end of life; and there they 585 +thrust forth one of exceeding wisdom in the lore +of old, whose name was Judas, sprung from noble +lineage; and they gave him up unto the queen, +and called him a man of wondrous learning: 'He +can show forth to thee the truth, unlock the secret +of the fates, expound the just law from the beginning 590 +even to the end, according as thou dost ask +him. He is of noble race in the world, wise in +speech, the son of a prophet, outspoken in council. +And it is his nature to have sage answers and wisdom +of soul. He shall show forth to thee before 595 +the multitude with his great power the gift of wisdom, +even as thy heart desireth.' + +Then she let each man seek his own home in peace, +and took Judas alone as hostage. And she earnestly 600 +bade him tell the truth concerning the cross, +which had been long buried in a secret place. Then +Elene, the glorious queen, drew him aside by himself, +and thus spake to the lonely man:--'Two ways 650 +are ready for thee, either life or death, whichsoever +thou shalt please to choose. Declare quickly +now which one thou wilt accept.' + +And Judas made answer unto her--nor could he +rid himself of sorrow and turn away the wrath of +his ruler, but he was in the power of the queen--: 610 +'How shall it be with him who treadeth the moor +in a desert, weary, without food, and tortured +with hunger, if before his eyes a loaf and a stone +together seem hard and soft, and he knoweth them +not apart, but taketh the stone to ward off his 615 +hunger, and marketh not the loaf, turneth to want +and forsaketh the food, refuseth the better when +he hath the choice of both?' + +Then openly before the people the blessed Elene +gave him answer:--'If thou wouldst have thy life 620 +in the world and a home with the angels in the +kingdom of heaven, the reward of victory in the +sky, tell me straightway where the holy rood of +the King of glory lieth under the earth, which ye 625 +have hid now for a while from men because of the +unrighteous murder.' + +Judas answered, and his heart was heavy within +him; there was grief in his soul, and woe either +way, whether thus he forsook the joy of the 630 +heavenly realm and this present kingdom beneath +the skies, or disclosed the rood:--'How can I +reveal that which came to pass so long ago in the +course of years? Two hundred or more in number +are now vanished away--I know not the sum of 635 +them, and I cannot declare the event. Many of +wisdom, of virtue, and of learning, who were before +our time, are told among the dead. In days long +after was I born, and in my childhood, and in my +youth. I may not discover in my heart that which 640 +I know not, and which came to pass so long ago.' + +Then Elene bespake him in answer:--'Whence +cometh it that ye bear in mind so many things, +every wondrous deed, such as those which the Trojans 645 +wrought in battle? That far-famed war of +old was further in the course of years than this +holy event, and yet ye know that fully, how to +declare at once the number of all that were slain 650 +there, and of the spearmen who fell in death beneath +their shields. Ye set forth in writing the +tombs beneath the rocky cliffs, and likewise the +places and the tale of years.' + +Then Judas answered--he suffered bitter grief:--'We 655 +are mindful of that war from very need, my +dear lady, and we set forth in writing the fierce +strife and the deeds of the nations, but never have +we heard this declared unto men from the mouth 660 +of any save here and now.' + +And the noble queen gave him answer:--'Too +mightily dost thou withstand the truth and the right +concerning the tree of life, insomuch as thou spakest 665 +verily of the rood of victory before thine own +people but a little time ago, and now dost turn +to falsehood.' + +Judas again spake unto her, and said that he +uttered those words in sorrow and exceeding doubt, +that he had weened bitter hardship for himself. + +Quickly the kinswoman of Caesar answered him:--'Lo! +we have heard it declared unto men from 670 +the holy book that the noble Child of the King, the +Son of God, was crucified on Calvary. Thou shalt +reveal thy knowledge perfectly concerning the field +where this place Calvary is, according to the teaching 675 +of the Scriptures, ere death and utter destruction +snatch thee away for thy sins, that I may thereafter +cleanse the cross to be a solace for men, according +to the will of Christ. Thus shall the Holy God, +the Lord Almighty, Glory-giver of hosts and Helper 680 +of souls, fulfill for me my desire and my inmost +longing.' + +But with stubborn heart Judas answered her:--'I +know not the place, nor aught of the field, nor +know I the event.' + +Then Elene spake with wrath in her heart:--'I 685 +swear by the Son of the Creator, by the crucified +God, that thou shalt be starved to death before the +people of thine own race, save thou forsake this +falsehood and fully declare unto me the truth.' 690 + +Then she bade men take him alive, and throw +him, guilty as he was, into a dried-up well--nor did +her subjects hesitate. And there, joyless and famished, +weighed down with chains, was he to abide +in his grief for the space of seven nights. And +upon the seventh day, weakened by sorrow, weary, 695 +and without food--his strength was broken--he +began to call aloud:--'I beseech you by the God +of the heavens that ye release me from this misery, 700 +for I am brought low by the pangs of starvation. +Joyfully will I show forth the holy tree--no longer +can I hide it now by reason of my hunger. This +durance is too fearful, this need too great, and this +torture too bitter day by day. No longer can I 705 +endure to suffer, and conceal my knowledge concerning +the tree of life, though before I was filled +with folly, and confess the truth too late.' + + +11. THE FINDING OF THE CROSSES. + +When she who there held sway over the heroes +understood the changed bearing of the man, she 710 +straightway bade release him from his prison, +his dungeon, his narrow cell. Then quickly they +did so, and took him out of the pit with care, as +the queen had bidden them. And they resolutely 715 +took their way to that place upon the hill where +the Lord was crucified on the cross, the Son of +God and Prince of the heavenly realm. Weakened +by hunger, he knew not yet clearly where through 720 +the wiles of the devil the holy rood lay hid beneath +the earth, nor where it rested in its tomb, safe in a +secret place, long hidden from men. + +After a little while he lifted up his voice with +unwonted power and spake in Hebrew:--'O Lord 725 +Jesus, thou who dost possess the power of judgment, +thou who didst form the heaven and the earth and +the sea, the broad expanse of waters, and all created +things, by the might of thy glory; thou who didst +measure out with thine own hands all the sphere of 730 +this earth and of the firmament above; thou who +dost sit in person, the King of victories, over the +most glorious angel-kind; thou who in a mantle +of light dost fare through space in surpassing +majesty, the nature of man cannot rise in the flesh 735 +from the earth-tainted ways unto the bright throng +of the pure, the heralds of glory. Thou didst form +that host, holy and heavenly, and didst ordain it +unto thy service. Six of their number are called 740 +by name in joy without end, and they are clothed +about with six wings; they are adorned, and gleam +brightly. And there are four of their number +ever in flight that perform the service of glory 745 +before the sight of the eternal Judge, and they continually +sing in holiness with clear voices the laud +of the King of heaven, fairest of songs, and they +chant these words in pure tones--their name is 750 +cherubim:--"Holy is the holy God of the archangels, +the Lord of hosts. Heaven and earth are +full of His majesty, and all His exceeding might is +marked with His glory." And there are two among +their number in the heavens, the victorious race, 755 +whereon man bestoweth the name of seraphim. +With flaming sword they are to keep sacred the field +of Paradise and the tree of life. And fast in +their grasp the drawn sword, sharp of edge, quivers, +trembles, and changes its hue. For thou dost rule, 760 +O Lord God, eternally, and thou didst hurl thy sin-stained +foes, the workers of iniquity, from the +heavens, and the unhappy host fell to the dark +abodes, into the pains of hell. There now they suffer 765 +the agony of death in a sea of fire, encompassed +about with darkness, in the embrace of the dragon. +He withstood thy kingly rule, and therefore in +misery, abhorred, the vilest of the vile, shall he +suffer and endure the servile yoke. He cannot there 770 +neglect thy commandment; he is fettered in torture, +bound in agony, the author of all sin. If it be thy +will, O King of angels, that He who was on the +cross, and was born of Mary into the world in the 775 +form of a child, the Lord of the heavenly host, shall +rule--and were He not thy Son, free from guile, +never could He have wrought such a multitude +of true miracles day after day in the world; 780 +nor wouldst thou, O Lord of the peoples, so gloriously +have raised Him from the dead before the +nations, were He not thy Son in glory by that holy +maid--then do thou, O Father of angels, now show +forth thy sign. Even as thou didst hearken unto 785 +the words of that holy seer, Moses, in prayer, when +thou, O God of power, didst reveal unto the noble +man in due time the bones of Joseph beneath the +mountain-side, so would I, O God of hosts, if it be +thy will, beseech thee in the name of that fair being 790 +that thou, Creator of souls, wilt disclose unto me +this treasure-house that long has been hidden from +men. Do thou now, O Prince of life, let rise up +beneath the span of the heavens from this smiling 795 +field a misty smoke. Then shall I trust in thee +better, and the more firmly establish my soul in +undoubting joy upon the crucified Christ, that He +is truly the Saviour of souls, eternal, omnipotent, +and King of the Israelites, and that He shall rule 800 +for ever in glory without end the everlasting dwellings +in the heavens.' + +Then from that place a mist rose up beneath the +skies, like unto smoke. Thereupon was the soul +of the man exalted, and he clapped his hands unto 805 +the heavens, wise and blessed. And Judas spake, +sage in thought:--'Now have I truly perceived in +the hardness of my heart that thou art the Saviour +of the world. Thanksgiving without end be thine, 810 +O God of might, who sittest in majesty, that unto +me in my misery and my sin thou dost uncover the +secrets of the fates by thy glory. Now I would +pray thee, O Son of God, Giver of gifts to men, +inasmuch as I know thou art revealed and born the 815 +Glory of all kings, that thou never more be mindful +of my guilt, O my Creator, which I have wrought +not a few times against thee. Let me, O God of +power, dwell with holy joy among the number of 820 +the kingdom in that fair city where my brother is +exalted in glory, for he, Stephen, held covenant with +thee, even though he was stoned. He hath the +reward of the fight, joy unceasing, and the wonders 825 +that he wrought are set forth in books.' + +Then, glad and zealous, he digged in the earth +under the sod for the tree of glory until he uncovered +and came upon three crosses together in a +mournful home, hid twenty feet below, concealed 830 +in their dark grave beneath the steep cliff, and covered +over with sand, even as in days of yore the 835 +host of the sinful, the race of the Jews, had clothed +them over with earth. They stirred up hatred +against the Son of God, as they would not have +done had they not hearkened to the teachings of +the prince of evil. + +And his soul was gladdened with great joy, and 840 +his heart strengthened by that holy tree, and his +spirit exalted within him as he beheld the holy sign +in the earth. With his hands he seized upon the +wondrous tree of glory, and in the midst of the +people raised it aloft from its earthy grave. Then 845 +strangers and heroes entered into the town. + + +12. THE MIRACLE OF THE TRUE CROSS. + +Thereupon the glad and zealous man set forth +the three trees of victory before Elene in open view. 850 +The queen rejoiced in her heart at the deed, and +asked on which of those trees the Son of the King, +Giver of joy to men, was crucified: 'Lo! we heard +it declared from the holy book that two suffered +with Him, and He Himself was the third on the 855 +cross. All the heavens grew dark in that woful +hour. Say, if thou knowest, on which of these +trees the Lord of angels and Prince of glory suffered.' + +But Judas could not declare unto her fully concerning 860 +that tree of victory, on which the Saviour, +the conquering Son of God, was hung, for he wist +it not assuredly. Then he bade set the crosses with +tumult in the midst of the fair city, there to abide 865 +until the King Almighty should show forth a miracle +before the people through that tree of glory. +With souls uplifted in their victory, they sat themselves +down about the rood, and with earnest +thought raised their voices in song until the ninth +hour, when they had new joy, gloriously gained. 870 +For many came there, no small multitude, and +among the press of men close by on a bier they +brought one who was dead, a young man, lifeless; +and it was the ninth hour. + +And there was the heart of Judas gladdened with 875 +great joy. He bade them set down upon the earth +him whose soul had fled, the body forsaken of life, +the dead man, and he himself, wise and earnest +revealer of truth, raised up in his arms two of those 880 +crosses over the lifeless frame. But the body, fast +on its couch, was dead as before. The limbs were +cold, enwrapped with their dire fate. Then the +third, the holy one, was raised aloft. The body 855 +waited until the rood, the cross of the King of +heaven, the true sign of victory, was laid upon the +man; then he straightway rose up, restored in spirit, +both body and soul together. And there was great 890 +laud raised among the people; they revered the +Father, and honored the true Son of the King in +their speech. To Him be glory and thanksgiving +without end from all creatures. + + +13. JUDAS AND THE DEVIL. + +Then, as ever should be, was the miracle which 895 +the Lord of hosts, Giver of life, had wrought for +the salvation of mankind, impressed upon the minds +of the people. But there the fiend, the devil from +hell, dire monster mindful of evil, sinning with his 900 +lies, rose up into the air, flying, and spake thus:--'Lo! +what man is this who doth again in the +ancient enmity destroy my following, swell the +olden hatred, and waste my possessions? Continual 905 +strife is this. No longer may the souls of them +that work evil dwell among my possessions, since +now a stranger hath come, whom I counted fast +in his sins, and hath robbed me of my every right 910 +and of all my wealth. This is not a just deed. +The Saviour, who was raised up in Nazareth, hath +done me many an evil, acts of deep hatred. As he +grew up from childhood, he ever turned to himself 915 +my possessions, nor now can any justice succeed +[against him]. His kingdom is broad over the +world, while my teaching is weakened beneath the +heavens. I dare not despise this cross with scoffing +laugh. Lo! the Saviour hath again shut me into 920 +my narrow home, smitten with woe. Once I was +filled with joy by a Judas: but now, again by a +Judas, am I humbled, bereft of possessions, abhorred, +and friendless. But I know how to discover 925 +again by my sin a way of return hereafter from +the home of the damned. I shall incite against thee +another king who shall persecute thee, and shall +forsake thy teaching and follow my ways of 930 +evil; then will he cast thee into the darkest and +worst of terrors, that thou, racked with pain, mayst +vehemently renounce the crucified King, whom thou +didst formerly obey.' + +Then the wise Judas, daring hero in strife, 935 +answered him (the Holy Spirit was granted unto +him with strength, a love hot as fire, a knowledge +welling up through the learning of a warrior); and +he spake this word, filled with wisdom:--'Thou +needst not so mightily, ever mindful of evil, renew 940 +sorrow and enkindle strife, O sinful prince of murder, +inasmuch as the mighty King, who hath awakened +with His word many of the dead, doth thrust +thee into the nether depths, thou worker of iniquity, 945 +into the abyss of torture, bereft of joy. Know thou +full clearly that thou in folly didst forsake the +brightest of lights and the love of the Lord and that +glorious faith, and that thou hast since dwelt in a 950 +bath of fire, burdened with tortures and seared with +flame, and that there, with hatred in thy soul, thou +shalt ever suffer woe and misery without end.' + +Elene heard how the foe and the friend struggled +together, the glorious and the foul on opposite sides, 955 +the sinful and the blessed. And she was the gladder +in heart as she heard that the hellish enemy, the +Prince of evil, was vanquished; she marveled at +the wisdom of the man, how in so little time +he was so filled with faith, and how he who had 960 +ever been so ignorant was imbued with knowledge. +And she thanked God, the King of glory, that +through the Son of God the joy of both these things +was come unto her--on the one hand at the sight 965 +of the tree of victory, and on the other at this +faith which she so clearly understood as a glorious +gift in the breast of this man. + + +14. THE EMBASSY TO CONSTANTINE. + +Then was the fair news of the morning manifest +among the nation, spread far throughout the people, +to the vexation of many who would keep secret the 970 +law of the Lord. It was heralded through the cities, +as far as the sea embosoms the land, through every +town, that the rood of Christ, buried of yore in the +earth, had been found, best emblem of victory of +them that were raised aloft before or since, holy 975 +beneath the heavens. Unto the Jews, men of misfortune, +it was a most bitter grief and most hated +of fates that they could change neither it nor the +joy of the Christians in the world. Then the queen 980 +bade messengers from her noble company make +them ready with haste, for they were to seek the +lord of the Romans over the deep sea, and declare +unto that warrior in person the best of glad tidings--how +the tree of victory, that had been hidden a long 985 +time before to grieve the holy ones, the Christian +people, had been discovered and found in the earth +through the grace of the Creator. + +Then was the soul of the king rejoiced at that 990 +fair news, and his heart filled with gladness. And +in the city there was no want of richly-clad questioners +concerning what was come from afar. The +greatest comfort in the world, a joyful soul, was 995 +come unto him at those glad tidings which the messengers, +leaders of the army, brought to him over +the eastern ways, how the warriors with the glorious +queen had made a prosperous voyage over the sea +into the land of the Greeks. The emperor bade +them prepare themselves again for the journey with 1000 +the greatest haste. The warriors made no delay +when once they heard the answer, the message of +the prince. He bade them, heroes hardy of soul, +give greeting to Elene, renowned in war, if they +should survive the sea and make a prosperous 1005 +voyage unto the holy city. And Constantine furthermore +bade the messengers charge her to build +a church there on the mountain-slope for the weal +of them both, a temple of the Lord on Calvary for 1010 +the joy of Christ and the solace of men, there +where the holy rood was found, fairest of all trees +the dwellers on earth have ever known. 1015 + + +15. THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE. + +And thus she did when her friends brought many +a kind greeting over the fastness of waters from the +west. Then the queen bade seek far and near those 1020 +skilled in the arts, the best of those who could work +most wondrously in the laying of stone upon stone, +that they might raise a temple of God upon that +place. As the Lord of spirits counseled her from +the heavens, she bade deck out the rood with gold +and with gems, adorn it most artfully with precious 1025 +stones; then to seal it with locks in a casket of silver. +There hath the rood of life, best tree of +victory, dwelt since then, indestructible in its nobleness. +There shall it be ever ready, a solace for 1030 +the ill of any disease, affliction, or sorrow. Then +straightway shall men find aid and divine grace +through that holy form. + + +16. THE CONVERSION OF JUDAS. + +Then after a little space Judas received the bath +of baptism, and, cleansed [of his sins], was true to 1035 +Christ, dear to the Lord of life. His faith was +steadfast in his heart when the Spirit of comfort +had taken up his dwelling in the breast of the man, +and had urged him unto repentance. He chose the +better course, the gladness of glory, and forsook the 1040 +worse, the way of the idolater, and cast aside his +heresy, the law of unrighteousness. God, the eternal +King, Creator, and Wielder of power, was +gracious unto him. + +Then he was baptized who many times had +scorned the light; ...[1] his heart was inspired 1045 +unto the better life; he was turned unto glory. +Verily fate decreed that he should become thus filled +with faith, thus dear unto God and beloved of Christ +in the kingdom of the world. This was made manifest 1050 +when Elene bade bring unto the holy city +Eusebius, the bishop of Rome, exceeding wise amid +the councils of men, to aid in her deliberation, and +to ordain Judas into the priesthood at Jerusalem 1055 +as bishop for the people in the cities, prudently +chosen through the grace of the Spirit for the temple +of God. And in later times upon a new occasion +she wisely named him Cyriacus. Henceforth 1060 +the name of the man was changed for the better +throughout the cities--'The law of the Lord'. + +[Footnote 1: A manuscript lacuna.] + + +17. THE FINDING OF THE NAILS. + +Then again was the mind of Elene concerned +about that fair mystery with regard to the nails 1065 +which pierced the feet and hands of the Saviour, +wherewith the King of the heavens, the mighty +Prince, was bound upon the cross. The queen of +the Christians began to ask concerning them. She +bade Cyriacus that he, through the might of the 1070 +Holy Spirit, fulfil her desire still further regarding +the wondrous mystery, and that he unlock the secret +by his holy grace. And she spake this word unto +the bishop--boldly she addressed him:--'O bulwark +of heroes, thou didst rightly show forth unto me 1075 +that noble tree, the cross of the heavenly King, +whereon by heathen hands was crucified God's own +Son, the Helper of souls, the Saviour of men. Now +further the longing for knowledge doth make me +mindful of the nails. I would thou shouldst find 1080 +those that are hidden, buried deep in the earth and +shrouded in darkness. Ever doth my heart mourn, +sorrow in sadness, and rest not, until the Father +Almighty, the Lord of hosts and Saviour of men, +the Holy One from on high, shall fulfill unto me my 1085 +desire through the finding of these nails. Now +with all reverence do thou forthwith, O best of +mediators, send up thy petition unto that glorious +Being, unto the King of majesty. Do thou pray 1090 +the Glory of men that He, Almighty King, show +forth unto thee the treasure beneath the earth that +still lieth hidden, secret and concealed from men.' +Then the holy man, inspired in heart, the bishop +of the people, made steadfast his soul, and joyfully 1095 +went forth with a throng of men singing praises +unto God. Zealously Cyriacus bowed his head upon +Calvary, nor made he any secret of his thoughts, but +through the might of the Holy Spirit he called upon 1100 +God with all reverence, and prayed the Lord of +angels to reveal the unknown mystery in his new +trouble, where in that field he might earnestly seek +out the nails. + +Then the Father, the Spirit of comfort, there as 1105 +they were watching, caused a sign in the form of +fire to rise up where the precious nails were cunningly +hid in the earth by the devices of men. + +Forthwith there came a leaping flame brighter than 1110 +the sun. The people beheld a miracle shown forth +unto their queen, where, like unto the stars of heaven +or gems set in gold, out of the darkness glittered +the nails brightly, gleaming from their burial-place 1115 +beneath the surface of the earth. The people rejoiced, +the throng were glad of heart; and they said +with one accord that the miracle was of God, +although hitherto they had been long in heresy and +turned from Christ, through the death-wielding +power of the devil. Thus they spake:--'Now do 1120 +we ourselves behold the sign of victory, the true +miracle of God, whom we formerly withstood with +falsehood. Now is the course of the mystery come +into light and revealed. Wherefore may the God of +the heavenly kingdom have glory in the highest.' 1125 + +Then was the bishop of the people rejoiced anew, +he who had turned with repentance through the +Son of God. Awe-struck he took the nails, and +bore them unto the revered queen. Cyriacus had 1130 +fulfilled all the woman's wish, even as his noble +mistress bade him. Then was there the sound of +lamentation, and hot tears welling over their faces--yet +not at all for sorrow; her tears fell over the +nails. Wondrously was the desire of the queen fulfilled. 1135 +With joyous faith she laid them upon her +knees, and, rejoicing in her happiness, revered the +gift that was brought unto her as a solace for her +sadness. She gave thanks unto God, the Lord of +victories, that now she knew the truth which had oft 1140 +been foretold long before from the beginning of the +world as a comfort for the nations. She was filled +with the grace of wisdom, and the Holy Spirit of 1145 +heaven held the dwelling of her body, and guarded +her both heart and soul. Thus the almighty, victorious +Son of God had care for her thereafter. + + +18. ELENE'S DISPOSAL OF THE NAILS. + +Then she began zealously through the mysteries +of the Holy Spirit to search out the truth and the +way to glory. Verily the Lord of hosts, King 1150 +Almighty, gave aid that the queen might win her +wish in the world. From the beginning all the +prophecy was chanted in times before by the seers +of old, and thus it happened in every respect. 1155 +Through the grace of the Holy Spirit the queen +zealously began to search out with great care wherefor +she might best and most fitly for the solace of +men use the nails, and what was the will of the 1160 +Lord. Then bade she bring at once unto a secret +council an exceeding wise man, who, learned in +mind, by his wise power knew fully the rede of +sages; and she began to inquire of him what he 1165 +deemed best to be done about this. And obediently +she chose his advice. + +Earnestly he answered her:--'It is fitting that +thou hold in thy heart the word of the Lord, +His holy mystery, O best of queens, and zealously 1170 +fulfil the bidding of the king, now that God, Redeemer +of men, hath given unto thee good speed +for thy soul, and the skill of wisdom. Do thou +bid that these nails be set upon the bridle, as a bit 1175 +for the horse of the most noble among castle-ruling +kings. It shall become famed to many throughout +the world when he shall overcome each of his +enemies thereby in the contest, as with brave hearts +and brandished swords they seek the battle on either 1180 +side, and strive for the mastery there, foe against +foe. He shall have good speed in war, victory in +battle, and peace everywhere, the calm following the +strife, who holds the bridle before him upon a white 1185 +steed when his trusty heroes, far-famed in the fight, +bear shield and spear into the press of weapons. +For any man shall this be a guard invincible +against stress in war. Concerning it sang the +prophet, wise in thought, his mind saw deeply 1190 +the understanding of wisdom. These words he +spake:--"It shall be known that the horse of a king +is to be in the midst of brave heroes, decked with +bit and bridle-rings. It shall be called a holy sign 1195 +of God, and he shall be hardy and honored in war +who guides the horse."' + + +19. CONCLUSION. + +Then straightway in the presence of the nobles +Elene accomplished all. She bade deck the bridle +of the prince, gift-giver of men, and unto her own +son she sent the glorious present over the stream 1200 +of the ocean as an offering. Then she bade assemble +together in the town, in that holy city, those +whom she knew as the best among the Jews, that +race of heroes. And the queen began to teach the 1205 +throng of her dear subjects that they should steadfastly +hold to the love of the Lord, and maintain +peace one with another, and that they should hearken 1210 +unto the lore of the teacher, and the customs of the +Christians, which Cyriacus, wise in the knowledge +of books, should declare unto them. The bishopric +was well established. Often there came to +him from afar the lame, the halt, the weak, the 1215 +maimed, the bleeding, the leprous, the blind, the +poor, the sad in heart, and ever found they health +and relief there at the hands of their bishop during +all of their life. And again Elene gave unto him +gifts of great worth when she was ready for the +journey back to her own land, and when she bade 1220 +all those who glorified God in that kingdom, both +men and women, to honor in their thought with +heart and strength that great day on which the holy +rood was found, most wondrous tree of them that 1225 +have grown up from the earth, laden with leaves. +And, save for six nights ere the coming of summer +on the kalends of May, the spring was gone. May +hell's portal be closed and heaven's opened, may the 1230 +eternal kingdom of the angels be revealed with joy +unceasing, and may their part be assigned with +Mary, to each man who keepeth in memory the +most sacred festival of the cross beneath the heavens, 1235 +which the almighty King over all protected with +his arm! Finit. + + +20. EPILOGUE. + +Old and ready for death by reason of this failing +house, I thus have woven a web of words and +wondrously have gathered it up; time and again +have I pondered and sifted my thought in the prison +of the night. I knew not fully the truth concerning 1240 +the cross[1] until wisdom revealed a broader +knowledge through its marvelous power o'er the +thought of my heart. I was stained with deeds of +evil, fettered in sins, torn by doubts, girt round with 1245 +bitter needs, until the King of might wondrously +granted learning unto me as a comfort for my old +age; until he gave unto me his spotless grace, and +imbued my heart with it, revealed it as glorious, in +time broadened it, set free my body, unlocked my 1250 +heart, and loosed the power of song, which joyfully +and gladly I have used in the world. Not one time +alone, but often had I thought upon the tree of +glory, before I had the miracle revealed regarding +the glorious tree, as in the course of events I found 1255 +related in books and in writings concerning the sign +of victory. Ever until that time was the man buffeted +in the surge of sorrow, was he a weakly flaring +torch (C)[2], although he had received treasures +and appled gold in the mead-hall; wroth in heart 1260 +(Y), he mourned; a companion to need (N), he +suffered crushing grief and anxious care, although +before him his horse (E) measured the miles and +proudly ran, decked with gold. Hope (W) is +waned, and joy through the course of years; youth 1265 +is fled, and the pride of old. Once (U) was the +splendor of youth(?); now after that alloted time +are the days departed, are the pleasures of life +dwindled away, as water (L) glideth, or the rushing +floods. Wealth (F) is but a loan to each beneath 1270 +the heavens; the beauties of the field vanish +away beneath the clouds, most like unto the wind +when it riseth loud before men, roameth amid the +clouds, courseth along in wrath, and then on a sudden 1275 +becometh still, close shut in its narrow prison, +crushed by force. + +[Footnote 1: Supplying _r[=o]de_.] + +[Footnote 2: These letters are the runes which spell out Cynewulf's +name.] + +Thus shall all this world pass away, and in like +manner devouring flame shall seize upon whoever +was born into it, at that time when the +Lord himself 'with a host of angels shall come 1280 +unto judgment. There shall each man hear the +doom on all his deeds from the mouth of the judge, +and likewise shall pay the penalty for all the +foolish words ever spoken by him, and all his overbold 1285 +thoughts. Then shall the people divide into +three parts for the embrace of the flame, every man +who hath ever lived throughout the broad earth. +Those who have clung fast to the truth shall be +highest in the flame, the throng of the blessed, the 1290 +host of them that yearn for glory, the multitude of +the righteous, and thus may they endure and suffer +more lightly without distress. He tempers for +them all the glare of the flame as shall be most easy +for them and most mild. The sinful men, those 1295 +stained with evil, heroes sad of heart, shall be in the +middle place, shrouded with smoke amid the hot +surge of fire. The third part, accursed sinful foes, +false haters of men, the host of the wicked, shall be +in the depth of the surge, bound fast in flame by 1300 +reason of their former deeds, in the gripe of the +glowing coals. Nor shall they come thereafter +from the place of punishment to the memory of God, +King of glory, but they shall be cast forth, His +wrath-stirring foes, from that fierce flame into the 1305 +depths of hell. Unlike this shall it be with the +other two parts: they may look upon the Prince of +angels, the God of victories. They shall be refined +and freed from their sins, like pure gold that is all 1310 +cleansed from every alloy, refined and melted in the +surge of the furnace's fire. Thus shall each of those +men be separated and purified from all their guilt, +their deep transgressions, by the fire of the judgment. +And thereafter they may enjoy peace and 1315 +eternal well-being. The Lord of angels shall be +merciful and gracious unto them, inasmuch as they +abhorred each sin, each work of guile, and called +upon the Son of the Creator in their prayers. +Wherefore now their forms shall shine like unto the +angels, and they shall enjoy the heritage of the King 1320 +of glory for ever and ever. Amen. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Elene of Cynewulf, by Cynewulf + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELENE OF CYNEWULF *** + +***** This file should be named 14781.txt or 14781.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/7/8/14781/ + +Produced by David Starner, Linda Cantoni, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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