Cynewulf

“ 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! ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”