III.

Thén was in bliss the giver of treasure, The battle-brave king. To him was new joy 195 Inspired in his soul; greatest of comforts And highest of hopes was heaven's Defence. Then gan he God's law by day and by night Through gift of the Spirit with zeal proclaim, And truly himself devoted he eagerly, 200 Gold-friend of men, to the service of God, Spear-famed, unfaltering. Then found the ætheling, Defence of his folk, through learned men,[1] War-brave, spear-bold, in books of God, Whére had been hanged with shouts of the host 205 On tree of the rood the Ruler of heaven Through envy and hate, just ás the old fiend Misled with his lies, the people deceived, The race of the Jews, so that God himself They hanged, Lord of hosts: hence in misery shall they 210 For ever and ever punishment suffer. Then praise of Christ by the Cæsar was In the thoughts of his mind[2] always remembered For that great tree, and his mother he bade Gó on a journey with a band of men 215 To [land of] the Jews, earnestly seek With host of warriors where that tree of glory Holy 'neath earth hidden might be, The noble King's rood. Helena would not On that expedition be slow to start, 220 Nor that joy-giver's command neglect, Her own [dear] son's, but soon she[3] was ready For the wished-for journey, as the helmet of men, Of mail-clad warriors, her had commanded. Gan then with speed the crowd of earls 225 Hasten to ship.[4] The steeds of the sea 'Round the shore of the ocean ready were standing, Cabled sea-horses, at rest on the water. Then plainly was known the voyage of the lady, When the welling of waves she sought with her folk. 230 There many a proud one at Wendel-sea Stood on the shore. They severally hastened Over the mark-paths, band after band, And then they loaded with battle-sarks, With shields and spears, with mail-clad warriors, 235 With men and women, the steeds of the sea. Then they let o'er the billows the foamy ones go, The high wave-rushers. The hull oft received O'er the mingling of waters the blows of the waves. The sea resounded. Not since nor ere heard I 240 On water-stream a lady lead, On ocean-street, a fairer force. There might he see, who that voyage beheld, Burst o'er the bath-way the sea-wood, hasten 'Neath swelling sails, the sea-horse play, 245 The wave-floater sail. The warriors were blithe, Courageous in mind; queen joyed in her journey. After to haven the ringèd-prowed O'er the sea-fastness had finished their course To the land of the Greeks, they let the keels 250 At the shore of the sea beat by the breakers, The old sea-dwellings at anchor fast, On the water await the fate of the heroes, When the warlike queen with her band of men Over the east-ways should seek them again. 255 There wás on [each] earl easily seen The braided byrnie and tested sword, Glittering war-weeds, many a helmet, Beautiful boar-sign. The spear-warriors were, Men 'round victor-queen, prepared for the march, 260 Brave war-heroes. They marched with joy Into land of the Greeks, the Cæsar's heralds, Battle-warriors with armor protected. There wás to be seen treasure-gem set 'Mid that army-host, gift of their lord. 265 [Then] wás the blessed Helena mindful, Bold in her thought, of the prince's will, Eager in mind, in that shé of the Jews, O'er the army-fields with tested band Of warriors-with-shields, the land was seeking, 270 With host of men; so it after befell In little while that thát force of men, War-famed heroes, to Híerusalem[5] Came to the city the greatest of crowds, Spear-famed earls, with the noble queen. 275

[1] Lit., 'smiths of lore.'

[2] Z. supposes _lacuna_ of one verse; W. thinks it unnecessary.

[3] Lit., 'the woman.'

[4] Lit., 'to the sea,' or 'sea-journey.'

[5] A.-S. form retained for the sake of the accent and alliteration.