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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 
 
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 
 
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 ". .^zi^-^i^uJ .yut^/^ny » yco/i^ 
 
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- 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 
 Wiilker's edition and Zupitza's third edition, in 
 which the results of Napier's collation are con- 
 tained.' 
 
 The aim of this translation is to give an accu- 
 rate and readable modern English prose rendering 
 of the Old English poetry. The translation of 
 Richard Francis Weymouth, entitled A Literal 
 Translation of Cynewulfs Elene j 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 care- 
 ful reading of the proof. 
 
 Lucius Hudson Holt. 
 
 New Haven, 
 
 January i, 1904. 
 
OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF 
 
 ELENE 
 
 I. 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, t^3<^ 
 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 glit- 
 tered, as with shouts and clash of shields they 
 lifted up on high the standard of battle. Openly 2 5 
 the fighters gathered all together, and the throng 
 marched forth. The wotf in the wood howled his 
 
6 ELENE. 
 
 war-song, and hid not his secret hopes of carnage; 
 
 30 and at the rear of the foe the dewy-feathered ea^le 
 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 
 
 35 sallied forth- — bands of picked horsemen strength- 
 ened the force of the foot-soldiers — until within a 
 
 I 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 
 
 40 army. They longed to overrun the realm of the 
 Romans, and lay it waste with their hordes. 
 
 Then were the dwellers in the cities aware of the 
 Huns' coming. And the emperor straightway bad^ 
 summon with the greatest speed by dispatch of the 
 arrow his heroes to war against the foes; bade lead 
 
 45 out to battle the warriors beneath the heavens. 
 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 
 
 50 the proud king of the Huns. Then the shields 
 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 
 
 55 stamped the earth. Hastily the multitude enrankecj 
 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 
 
 60 boundary of the Roman realm was massing its 
 strength, an uncounted multitude. The king of the 
 
ELENE. 
 
 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. 6 5 
 
 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 7^ 
 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 : *0 Con- ^ 
 stantine, 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 treas- 
 ure and decked with gold — and the gems shone 90 
 
8 ELENE. 
 
 brightly. The shining tree was inscribed with let- 
 ters of brilliance and light: 'By this sign thou 
 shalt overcome the foe in the dread peril; by this 
 thou shalt stay the hated host.' 
 
 95 Then the light vanished, ascended up on high, 
 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 givei* 
 
 1 00 of gifts, battle-prince of armies and glorious king, 
 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. 
 
 105 And at dawn, with the first gleam of day, he bade 
 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. 
 
 no The trumpets rang loud at the army's front. 
 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 Vvas the clash of shields and the shock 
 
 1 1 5 of men, the bitter hand-to-hand struggle and the 
 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 yel- 
 
 120I0W shields into the midst of their foes. But with 
 
 ' \' 
 
ELENE. 9 
 
 courage undaunted the other host advanced; from 
 time to time they surged forward, broke the ram- 
 part 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 hel- 125 
 mets of gold. The pagan host was conquered; in 
 jmerciless strife they fell. As the king_o£ the Ro- 
 mans, 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 i jo 
 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 theJDanube, 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 re- 
 turned 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 benea th the heavens,. 
 through his holy rood^And he, renowned in bat- 
 tle, 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 1 50 
 king came with a throng of thanes to visit his 
 cities and stud his shield with jewels. 
 
lo ELENE. 
 
 5. The Assembly. 
 
 Then the Lord of men straight summoned/ the 
 wisest to council, those who had pondered the craft 
 
 155 of wisdom in writings of old and held nobly to 
 the rede of scholars. And the prince of the people, 
 victory-inspired king, asked through the vast assem- 
 bly if there were any man there could tell and declare 
 
 160 unto him truly who the god was, giver of good 
 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 
 
 165 against my foes through the holy tree.' 
 
 But no one of them could give him any answei* 
 in return, nor knew they full well what to say about 
 the victor-tree. Then spake the wisest before the 
 
 1 70 multitudes, and said that it was a sign from the King 
 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 
 
 175 their hearts were light that they might declare be- 
 fore 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 
 
 1 80 in bitter agony before the multitudes; how He freed 
 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 on- 
 
 185 rush of foes; and how on the third day the Glory 
 of men and Lord of all mankind rose from the 
 tomb and from death, and ascended into heaven. 
 
ELENE. 1 1 
 
 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 great- 
 est 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 mul- \ ^ 
 titudes, 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, de- 
 ceived 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 zeal- 2 1 5 
 ously with her band of heroes to seek where the 
 holy tree of glory, the rood of the King, was hid 
 beneath the earth. 
 
 -0, 
 
12 ELENE. 
 
 2 20 Nor would Elene slight such a journey, nor be 
 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 
 
 225 had bidden her. And thereupon throngs of nobles 
 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 mani- 
 
 230 fest when she sought the swell of the ocean with 
 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, 
 
 235 shields and spears; mail-clad warriors and men and 
 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- 
 
 240 way, and the sea raised her song. Never heard 
 
 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 
 
 245 cleave the watery way and haste beneath swelling 
 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 
 
 250 harbor in the land of the Greeks over the fastness' 
 of flood, they left their vessels, their olden waters 
 homes, lashed by the sea, bound with anchors, to 
 await upon the surging deep the fate of the men, 
 
 255 when the warrior queen with her band of heroes 
 should again seek the eastern ways. Many a 
 woven corselet, trusty sword, and glittering battle- 
 
ELENE. 13 
 
 sark, many a helmet and glorious boar-crest, were 
 there to be seen among the warriors. The spear- 260 
 men, heroes about their queen, were eager for the 
 march. The brave fighters, heralds of the em- ^ 
 peror, 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 pur- 
 pose, 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 deliberar 
 tion, 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 S ocf o 
 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 
 
14 ELENE. 
 
 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 
 
 295 your curse, your torture of fire, your servile bond- 
 age, through the might of His glory. Foully ye / 
 spat upon the face of Him who by his noble spittle^- 
 
 300 wrought anew the light of your eyes, the cure of 
 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 
 
 305 unto their former life a number of your own race. 
 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 
 
 3 10 sin — ye judged that pure Power, and until this day" 
 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 
 
 315 knowledge of your law, hold it foremost in their 
 hearts, and who may declare unto me truly and 
 devise an answer for each token whereof I may 
 ask them.' 
 
 320 Then, sorely grieved and saddened, and burdened 
 with fear, the men wise in law went apart, and ear- 
 nestly sought the deepest mystic words wherewith 
 they might answer the queen whatsoever she asked 
 
 325 of them, whether of good or of bad. And they 
 \ r^"'^ 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 
 
 330 to where, upon a royal throne in majesty, the kins- 
 woman of the emperor waited, a stately queen of 
 battle adorned with gold. And Elene spake before 
 
ELENE. 15 
 
 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: — ^^nto you is born a child of 
 wondrous might in mystery, for his mother con- 340 
 ceived 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 Hfe in the world." j 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, 
 
1 6 ELENE. 
 
 370 the Lord of lords, and pursued error against the 
 law of God. Now go ye quickly and find once 
 more those who know best by wisdom's craft the 
 
 375 ancient scriptures, your righteous law, that with 
 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 
 
 380 who held learning in their memory, most wisdom 
 in their mind. And again v/ithin a little space the 
 lords of the city were summoned unto the hall. And 
 
 385 the queen, looking upon them all, spake unto them 
 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 
 
 390 blindness, and withstood the truth and the right — 
 that 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 
 
 395 confess the truth.' 
 
 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 
 
 400 become thus angry with us. We know not the sin 
 that we have wrought in this province, the wrong 
 we have ever done to thee.' 
 
 Then Elene spake before the people openly, before 
 
 405 the multitudes this woman spake aloud : — 'Go ye 
 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 with- 
 
 410 out reserve whatsoever I ask of them.' 
 
ELENE. 17 
 
 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 41 5 
 wrought in the province against the emperor, where- 
 with 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 con- 420 
 cerning 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 42 5 
 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 wise430 
 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 wis- 
 dom 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 concern- 
 ing 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 
 
1 8 ELENE. 
 
 thee off, quickly declare that never shall the people 
 of the Hebrews, taking wise counsel together, hold 
 
 450 sway and rule over men, but the glory and kingdom 
 shall endure of those who, filled with gladness from 
 age to age, revere and love the crucified King." ' 
 
 45 5 Then I boldly gave answer unto my father, the 
 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 
 
 460 to death, if they had knowledge that he was Christ, 
 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 surpass- 
 ing power of God, the name of the Saviour which 
 
 465 may not be expressed by any man. No man on 
 earth can search it out. Never would I visit the 
 council which this people held, but I ever kept 
 
 470 myself aloof from their sin, nor wrought shame 
 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 
 
 475 might crucify the Son of the Creator, the Bulwark 
 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 
 
 480, God, for a little while yielded up His ghost upon 
 
 the cross. Then the King of the heavens, the Glory 
 
 I of all glory, was raised from off the rood, and abode 
 
 three nights in the tomb, within the place of dark- 
 
 485 ness; and upon the third day He arose living. Light 
 of all light and Lord of angels, and revealed him- 
 
ELENE. 19 
 
 self 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 trans- 5 1 5 
 gress 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.'* ' 
 
20 ELENE. 
 
 \ Thus in days of yore, while I was still a youth, 
 my father instructed me, and taught me with these 
 
 53otrue words, a man wise in sorrow — Simon was his 
 name. And now that ye know my heart and mind, 
 ye perceive clearly what ye had best declare if the 
 
 535 queen ask us concerning that tree/ 
 
 And the wisest spake together before the assembly 
 in these words: — 'Never heard we any other man 
 
 540 save now thee declare thus among this people con- 
 cerning such a hidden thing. Act as thou thinkest, 
 O thou wise in the lore of old, if thou art ques- 
 tioned among the multitude, for there is need of wis- 
 dom, of artful words, and the learning of a seer, that 
 
 545 shall give answer to this noble woman before such a 
 
 throng met together.' 
 
 y 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 
 
 5 50 the assembly; and heralds, messengers of Caesar, 
 trumpeted : — 'O ye counselors, the queen doth sum- 
 mon 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 
 
 555 mind.* And they, the leaders of the people, grieved 
 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 
 
 560 them, their hearts sorely burdened, how once the 
 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 
 
 565 were obdurate and mute as stones, nor would they 
 show forth the true secret, nor in the hardness of 
 
ELENE. 21 
 
 their hearts would they give any answer to what 
 she sought of them, but, set in purpose, they with- 
 stood each word that she asked, and said that never 5 7^ 
 in their Hves 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 de- 580 
 struction. 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 begin- 590 
 ning 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 wis- 
 dom of soul. He shall show forth to thee before 595 
 the multitude with his great power the gift of wis- 
 dom, even as thy heart desireth.' 
 
22 ELENE. 
 
 Then she let each man seek his own home in peace, 
 
 600 and took Judas alone as hostage. And she ear- 
 nestly 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 him- 
 
 605 self, and thus spake to the lonely man : — Two ways 
 are ready for thee, either life or death, whichso- 
 ever 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 
 
 610 his ruler, but he was in the power of the queen — : 
 '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 
 
 615 not apart, but taketh the stone to ward off his 
 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 
 
 620 gave him answer: — Tf thou wouldst have thy life 
 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 
 
 625 the King of glory lieth under the earth, which ye 
 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 
 
 630 way, whether thus he forsook the joy of the 
 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 
 
ELENE. 23 
 
 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 Tro- 645 
 jans 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 be- 
 neath 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 165 5 
 — 'We 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 spak- 665 
 est 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. 
 
 .^^^TrT 
 
 -TV*' 
 
 .^^^r 
 
24 ELENE. 
 
 Quickly the kinswoman of Caesar answered him : 
 
 670 — 'Lo! we have heard it declared unto men from 
 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 
 
 675 where this place Calvary is, according to the teach- 
 
 j ing 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, 
 
 680 the Lord Almighty, Glory-giver of hosts and Helper 
 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 
 
 Y know I the event.' 
 
 685 Then Elene spake with wrath in her heart: — *I 
 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 
 
 690 falsehood and fully declare unto me the truth.' 
 
 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 fam- 
 ished, weighed down with chains, was he to abide 
 in his grief for the space of seven nights. And 
 
 695 upon the seventh day, weakened by sorrow, weary, 
 and without food — his strength was broken — ^he 
 began to call aloud: — T beseech you by the God 
 
 700 of the heavens that ye release me from this misery, 
 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 
 
ELENE. 25 
 
 torture too bitter day by day. No longer can I 705 
 endure to suffer, and conceal my knowledge con- 
 cerning the tree of life, though before I was filled 
 with folly, and confess the truth too late/ 
 
 II. 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 7 1 S 
 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 72 5 
 Jesus, thou who dost possess the power of judgment, \^^^...4^ 
 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 
 
26 ELENE. 
 
 that host, holy and heavenly, and didst ordain it 
 
 740 unto thy service. Six of their number are called 
 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 
 
 745 ever in flight that perform the service of glory 
 before the sight of the eternal Judge, and they con- ' 
 tinually sing in holiness with clear voices the laud 
 of the King of heaven, fairest of songs, and they 
 
 750 chant these words in pure tones — their name is 
 ^cherubim: — ''Holy is the holy God of the arch- 
 angels, 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 -^ 
 
 755 their number in the heavens, the victorious race, 
 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, 
 
 760 trembles, and changes its hue. For thou dost rule, 
 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 
 
 765 abodes, into the pains of hell. There now they suf- 
 fer 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 
 
 770 suffer and endure the servile yoke. He cannot there 
 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 
 
 775 cross, and was born of Mary into the world in the 
 form of a child, the Lord of the heavenly host, shall 
 
ELENE. 27 
 
 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; 7^^ 
 nor wouldst thou, O Lord of the peoples, so glori- 
 ously have raised Him from the dead before the 
 nations, were He nor thy Son in glory by that holy , 
 maid — then do thou, O Father of angels, now show S^. 
 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 smil- 795 
 ing 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 dwell- 
 ings 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 
 
28 ELENE. 
 
 pray thee, O Son of God, Giver of gifts to men, 
 
 8 1 5 inasmuch as I know thou art revealed and born the 
 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 
 
 820 power, dwell with holy joy among the number of 
 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 
 
 825 reward of the fight, joy unceasing, and the wonders 
 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 uncov- 
 ered and came upon three crosses together in a 
 
 830 mournful home, hid twenty feet below, concealed 
 in their dark grave beneath the steep cliff, and cov- 
 
 835 ered over with sand, even as in days of yore the 
 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. 
 
 840 And his soul was gladdened with great joy, and 
 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 
 
 845 people raised it aloft from its earthy grave. Then 
 strangers and heroes entered into the town. 
 
ELENE. 29 
 
 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 th^^se 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 suf- 
 fered.' 
 
 But Judas could not declare unto her fully con- 860 
 cerning 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 mira- 
 cle before the people through that tree of glory. 
 With souls uplifted in their victory, they sat them- 
 selves 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 
 revfeler of truth, raised up in his arms two of those 880 
 crosses over the lifeless frame. But the body, fast 
 
30 ELENE. 
 
 on its couch, was dead as before. The limbs were 
 cold, enwrapped with their dire fate. Then the 
 
 885 third, the holy one, was raised aloft. The body 
 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, 
 
 890 both body and soul together. And there w^as great 
 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. 
 
 895 Then, as ever should be, was the miracle which 
 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 
 
 900 hell, dire monster mindful of evil, sinning with his 
 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 
 
 905 olden hatred, and waste my possessions? Continual 
 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 
 
 910 in his sins, and hath robbed me of my every right 
 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 
 
 915 grew up from childhood, he ever turned to himself 
 my possessions, nor now can any justice succeed 
 [against him]. His kingdom is broad over the 
 world, while my teaching is weakened beneath the 
 
ELENE. 31 
 
 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, ab- 
 horred, and f riendless.*" But I know how to discover 92 5 
 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 mur- 
 der, inasmuch as the mighty King, who hath awak- 
 ened 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, 95 5 
 the sinful and the blessed. And she was the gladder 
 
32 ELENE. 
 
 in heart as she heard that the helHsh enemy, the 
 Prince of evil, was vanquished; she marveled at 
 the wisdom of the man, how in so little time 
 
 960 he was so filled with faith, and how he who had 
 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 
 
 965 was come unto her — on the one hand at the sight 
 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, 
 
 970 to the vexation of many who would keep secret the 
 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 
 
 975 them that were raised aloft before or since, holy 
 beneath the heavens. Unto the Jews, men of mis- 
 fortune, it was a most bitter grief and most hated 
 of fates that they could change neither it nor the 
 
 980 joy of the Christians in the world. Then the queen ^ 
 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 — 
 
 985 how the tree of victory, that had been hidden a long 
 time before to grieve the holy ones, the Christian 
 people, had been discovered and found in the earth 
 through the grace of the Creator. 
 
ELENE. 33 
 
 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 ques- 
 tioners concerning what was come from afar. The 
 greatest comfort in the world, a joyful soul, was 995 
 come unto him at these glad tidings which the mes- 
 sengers, 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 fur- 
 thermore 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 10 10 
 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 
 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 
 
 020 
 
34 ELENE. 
 
 1025 and with gems, adorn it most artfully with precious 
 stones ; then to seal it with locks in a casket of sil- 
 ver. There hath the rood of life, best tree of 
 victory, dwelt since then, indestructible in its noble- 
 
 i03Qness. There shall it be ever ready, a solace for 
 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 
 
 1035 of baptism, and, cleansed [of his sins], was true to 
 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 
 
 1040 better course, the gladness of glo,ry, and forsook the 
 worse, the way of the idolater, and cast aside his 
 heresy, the law of unrighteousness. God, the eter-\ 
 nal King, Creator, and Wielder of power, was ) 
 gracious unto him. 
 
 Then he was baptized who many times had 
 
 1045 scorned the light; . . } his heart was inspired 
 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 
 
 1050 in the kingdom of the world. This was made mani- 
 fest 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 
 
 1055 to ordain Judas into the priesthood at Jerusalem 
 as bishop for the people in the cities, prudently 
 
 * A manuscript lacuna. 
 
OF 
 
 ELENE. 35 
 
 chosen through the grace of the Spirit for the tem- 
 ple of God. And in later times upon a new occa- i^ 
 sion she wisely named him Cynacus. Henceforth 1060 
 the name of the man was changed for the better 
 throughout the cities^The law of the Lord'. 
 
 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 : — *0 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:-^ ver 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 
 
36 ELENE. 
 
 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 
 
 1095 of the people, made steadfast his soul, and joyfully 
 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 
 
 1 1 00 through the might of the Holy Spirit he called upon 
 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. 
 
 1 105 Then the Father, the Spirit of comfort, there as 
 they were watching, caused a sign in the form of 
 fire to rise up where the precious nails were cun- l-'-^^- 
 ningly hid in the earth by the devices of men. 
 , 1 1 10 Forthwith there came a leaping flame brighter than \ 
 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 
 
 1 1 1 5 the nails brightly, gleaming from their burial-place 
 beneath the surface of the earth. The people re- 
 joiced, 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 
 
 1 120 power of the devil. Thus they spake: — 'Now do 
 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 
 
 1 12 5 the heavenly kingdom have glory in the highest.' 
 
ELENE. 37 
 
 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 1 1 3^ 
 fulfilled all the woman's wish, even as his noble 
 mistress bade him. ^^hen 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 f ul- 1 1 3 5 
 filled. 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 1 140 
 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, vic- 
 torious 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 11 50 
 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. 11 55 
 Through the grace of the Holy Spirit the queen 
 zealously began to search out with great care where- 
 for she might best and most fitly for the solace of 
 men use the nails, and what was the will of the 11 60 ^"-^^ 
 
38 ELENE. 
 
 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 
 
 1 165 sages; and she began to inquire of him what he / 
 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, 
 
 1 1 70 His holy mystery, O best of queens, and zealously 
 fulfil the bidding of the king, now that God, Re- 
 deemer of men, hath given unto thee good speed 
 for thy soul, and the skill of wisdom. Do thou " 
 
 1 175 bid that these nails be set upon the bridle, as a bit 
 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 
 
 1 1 80 and brandished swords they seek the battle on either 
 side, and strive for the mastery there, foe against 
 foe. He shall have good speed in war, victory in I 
 battle, and peace everywhere, the calm following the 
 
 1 185 strife, who holds the bridle before him upon a white 
 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 
 
 1 1 90 prophet, wise in thought, his mind saw deeply 
 
 the understanding of wisdom. These words he 
 
 spake : — *Tt shall be known that the horse of a king 
 
 I is to be in the midst of brave heroes, decked with 
 
 1 195 bit and bridle-rings. It shall be called a holy sign 
 of God, and he shall be hardy and honored in war 
 who guides the horse." ' 
 
ELENE. 39 
 
 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 ^Ibrious present over the stream I20(\ 
 of the ocean as an offering. Then she bade assem- 
 ble 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 ^^05 
 throng of her dear subjects that they should stead- 
 fastly hold to the love of the Lord, and maintain 
 peace one with another, and that they should hearken 12 10 
 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 bishop- 
 ric was well established. Often there came to 
 him from afar the lame, the halt, the weak, the 1 2 1 5 
 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 ^220 
 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 
 heirs portal be closed and heaven's opened, may the ^230 
 eternal kingdom of the angels be revealed with joy 
 unceasing, and may their part be assigned with 
 
40 ELENE. 
 
 Mary, to each man who keepeth in memory the 
 1235 most sacred festival of the cross beneath the heavens, 
 which the almighty King over all protected with 
 his arm ! Finit. 
 
 20. Epilogue. 
 
 Old and ready for death by reason of this fail- 
 ing 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 
 
 1240 of the night. I knew not fully the truth concern- 
 ing the cross' until wisdom revealed a broader 
 knowledge through its marvelous power o'er the 
 thought of my heart. I was stained with deeds of 
 
 1245 evil, fettered in sins, torn by doubts, girt round with 
 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 
 
 1250 time broadened it, set free my body, unlocked my 
 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 
 
 1255 the glorious tree, as in the course of events I found 
 related in books and in writings concerning the sign 
 of victory. Ever until that time was the man buf- 
 feted in the surge of sorrow, was he a weakly flar- 
 ing torch (C)^ although he had received treasures 
 
 1260 and appled gold in the mead-hall; wroth in heart 
 
 * Supplying rode. 
 
 ^ These letters are the runes which spell out Cynewulfs name. 
 
ELENE. 41 
 
 (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 rush- 
 ing floods. Wealth (F) is but a loan to each be- 1270 
 neath 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 sud- 1275 
 den becometh still, close shut in its narrow prison, 
 crushed by force. 
 
 Thus shall all this world pass away, and in like 
 manner devouring flame shall seize upon who- 
 ever was born into it, at that time when the 
 Lord himself Vith 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 
 •~v foolish w^ords ever spoken by him, and all his over- 1285 
 bold thoughts. Then shall the people divide into 
 three parts for the embrace of the flame, every mart^-v 
 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 
 4he 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 
 
/ 
 
 42 ELENE. 
 
 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 
 
 1300 in the depth of the surge, bound fast in flame by 
 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 
 
 1305 wrath-stirring foes, from that fierce flame into the 
 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 
 
 1 3 1 o and freed from their sins, like pure gold that is all , 
 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 judg- 
 
 iS^Sment. And thereafter they may enjoy peace and 
 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 
 
 1320 angels, and they shall enjoy the heritage of the King 
 of glory for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
y 
 
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