X.

Then out of that place a vapor arose Like smoke 'neath the heavens. Thére was rejoiced The mind of the man. With both his hands, 805 Happy and láw-clever, upward he clapped. Judas exclaimed, clever in thought: "Now I in truth myself have known In my hardened heart that thou art the Saviour Of [this] mid-earth. To thee, God of might, 810 Sitting in glory, be thanks without end, That to me so sad and so full of sin Thou revealed'st in glory the secrets of fate. Now, Son of God, to thee will I pray, Will-giver of peoples, now I know that thou art 815 Declared and born of all kings the Glory, That thou no longer be of my sins, Those which I committed by no means seldom, O Maker, mindful. Let mé, God of might, Amid the number of thine own kingdom 820 With the army of saints my dwelling have In that bright city, where is my brother Honored in glory, for that faith with thee He, Stephen, kept, though with handfuls of stones He was pelted to death. War's meed he has, 825 Fame without end. There are in books The wonders he wrought, in writings, made known." Then gan he glad for the tree of glory, Constant in zeal, delve in the earth Beneath the turf, so thát at twenty 830 Feet by measure he found far concealed, Down in the depths hidden in the earth 'Neath cover of darkness,--there found he three Of roods together within the sad house Buried in sand, as in days of old 835 The host of the wicked covered with earth, The folk of the Jews. 'Gainst the child of God Hatred they raised, although they should not, If the lore they'd not heard of the father of lies. Then wás his mind greatly rejoiced, 840 His heart was strengthened by that holy tree, His spirit inspired, when the beacon he saw Holy 'neath earth. With his hands he clasped The cross[1] of glory, and it raised 'mid the crowd From its grave in the earth. The guests on foot, 845 The æthelings, went on into the city. They set there in sight three victor-trees The firm-minded earls 'fore Helena's feet,[2] Courageous in heart. The queen rejoiced In the depth of her soul, and then gan ask 850 On which of those trees the Son of the Ruler, Joy-giver of heroes, hangèd had been. "Lo! thát we have heard through holy books By tokens declared, that two with-him [Also] suffered, and himself was the third 855 On the tree of the rood. All heaven was dark On that terrible day. Say, if thou canst, On which of these three the Prince of the angels Suffered [his doom], the Shepherd of glory." Her Judas might not (he knew not full well) 860 Plainly inform of the victor-wood, On which one the Saviour uplifted had been, Victor-son of God, ere he bade them set Within the middle of that great city The trees with clamor, and there await 865 Till to him declared the Almighty King The wonder 'fore the folk of that tree of glory. The victor-famed sat, their song they raised, The wise in rede, 'round the three roods Until the ninth hour; new joy they had 870 With wonder found. Then came there a crowd, No little folk, and a man deceased They brought on a bier with heap of men In neighborhood [nigh] (ninth hour it was), A lifeless youth. Then Judas was there 875 In thought of his heart greatly rejoiced. He bade then set the soul-less [youth], Deprived of life the corpse on the earth, The lifeless one, and up he raised, Declarer of truth, two of the crosses, 880 The wise, in his arms o'er that fated house, Plunged deep in thought. It was dead as before, Corpse fast on its bier: the limbs were cold, Clad in distress. Then wás the third Holy upraised. The body awaited 885 Until over it the Ætheling's [cross], His rood, was upraised, Heaven-king's tree, True token of victory. Soon he arose Ready in spirit, both together Body and soul. There praise was uplifted 890 Fair 'mid the folk. The Father they honored, And also the true Son of the Ruler They praised in words. Be glory and thanks To Him without end from all His creatures.

[1] Lit., 'joy-wood.'

[2] Lit., 'knee.'