Part 2 (1/2)
The candle of the sky grew straightway dark, The winds waxed strong, the waves whirled, and the surge Leapt high, the ropes creaked, dripping with the waves; The Terror of the waters rose, and stood Above them with the might of mult.i.tudes.
The thanes were sore afraid, not one of them Dared hope that he would ever reach the land, Of those who by the sea had sought a s.h.i.+p With Andrew, for as yet they did not know 380 Who pointed out the course for that sea-bark.
[Footnote 1: Lit. ”whale-sea.”]
When he had eaten, then the faithful thane, Saint Andrew, thanked the n.o.ble Counselor, Upon the ocean, on the oar-swept sea:-- ”For this repast may G.o.d, the righteous Lord, Ruler of hosts, who sheds the light of life, Grant thee reward, and give thee for thy food The bread of heaven, e'en as thou hast shown Good will and kindness to me on the deep. 390 My thanes, these warriors young, are sore afraid; Loud roars the raging, overwhelming sea; The ocean is all troubled, deeply moved; And weary is my band, my company Of valiant-hearted men, afflicted sore.”
The Lord of men gave answer from the helm:-- ”Our s.h.i.+p shall bear us back across the flood Unto the land, and there thy men can wait Upon the sh.o.r.e until thou come again.” 400 Straightway those men gave answer unto him, Thanes much-enduring; they would not consent To leave alone upon the vessel's prow Their master dear, and choose themselves the land.
”O whither shall we turn us, lordless men, Mourning in heart, forsaken quite by G.o.d, Wounded with sin, if we abandon thee?
We shall be odious in every land, Hated of every folk, when sons of men, Courageous warriors, in council sit 410 And question which of them did best stand by His lord in battle, when the hand and s.h.i.+eld, Worn out by broadswords on the battle-plain, Suffered sore danger in the sport of war.”
Then spake the n.o.ble Lord, the faithful King; Straightway He lifted up His voice and said:-- ”If, as thou sayst, thou art indeed a thane Of Him who sits enthroned in majesty, All-glorious King, expound His mysteries, How 'neath the sky He taught speech-uttering men. 420 Long is this journey o'er the fallow flood; Comfort the hearts of thy disciples; great Is yet our way across the ocean-stream, And land is far to seek; the sea is stirred, The waves beat on the sh.o.r.e. Yet easily Can G.o.d give aid to men who sail the deep.”
Then Andrew wisely stablished by his words His followers, those heroes glorious:-- ”Ye did consider when ye put to sea That ye would bear your life unto a folk 430 Of foemen; ye would suffer death for love Of G.o.d, would give your life within the realm Of dark-skinned Ethiopians. I know Myself that there is One who s.h.i.+eldeth us, The Maker of the angels, Lord of hosts.
Rebuked and bridled by the King of might, The Terror of the waters shall grow calm, The leaping sea. So once in days of yore Within a bark upon the struggling waves We tried the waters, riding on the surge, And very fearful seemed the sad sea-roads. 440 The ocean-floods beat fierce against the sh.o.r.es; Oft wave would answer wave; and whiles upstood From out the ocean's bosom, o'er our s.h.i.+p, A Terror on the breast of our sea-boat.
There on that ocean-courser bode His time The glorious G.o.d, Creator of mankind, Almighty One. The men were filled with fear, They sought protection, mercy from the Lord.
And when that company began to call, The King straightway arose, and stilled the waves, 450 The seething of the waters--He who gives Bliss to the angels; He rebuked the winds; The sea subsided, and the boundaries Of ocean-stream grew calm. Then laughed our soul, When under heaven's course our eyes beheld The winds and waves and Terror of the deep Affrighted by the Terror of the Lord.
Therefore I say to you in very sooth, The ever-living G.o.d does not forsake A man on earth, if courage fail him not.” 460
Thus spake the holy champion, wise of heart, He taught his thanes, that blessed warrior; He stablished his men, till suddenly Sleep came upon them weary by the mast.
The sea grew still, the onset of the waves Turned back again, rough tumult of the flood.
Then was the soul of that brave saint rejoiced, After that time of terror; wise in wit, In counsel prudent, he began to speak And thus unlocked the treasure of his words:-- 470 ”I never found a better mariner, More skilled than thou in sea-craft, as I think, A stouter oarsman, one more wise in words, Sager in counsel. I will beg of thee Yet one more boon, hero most excellent; Though little treasure I can give to thee, Jewels or beaten gold, I fain would win Thy friends.h.i.+p, if I might, most glorious lord.
So shalt thou gain good gifts, and blessed joy 480 In heavenly glory, if of thy great lore Thou'rt bountiful to weary voyagers.
One art I fain would learn of thee, brave sir; That since the Lord, the Maker of mankind, Hath given might and honor unto thee, Thou shouldst instruct me how thou pointest out The course of this thy billow-riding s.h.i.+p, Thy sea-horse wet with spray. Though sixteen times, In former days and late, I've been to sea, 490 And rowed with freezing hands upon the deep, The ocean-streams--this makes one voyage more-- Yet even so mine eyes have ne'er beheld A mighty captain steering at the stern Like unto thee. Loud roars the surging flood, Beats on the sh.o.r.e; this sea-boat is full fleet; It fareth foamy-necked most like a bird, And glides upon the deep. I surely know, I never saw upon the ocean-road Such wondrous skill in any seafarer. 500 It is as though the s.h.i.+p were on the land, Where neither storm nor wind can make it move, Nor water-floods can break it, lofty-prowed; Yet on the sea it hasteth under sail.
And thou art young, defense of warriors, Not old in winters, rider of the surge; Yet in thy heart thou hast the n.o.ble speech Of princes, and dost wisely understand All words employed by men upon the earth.”
Him answered then the everlasting Lord:-- 510 ”Full oft it happens when we sail the sea That with our s.h.i.+ps, our ocean-coursing steeds, We break our way across the watery roads[1]-- We and our seamen--when the tempest comes, And many times we suffer sore distress Upon the waves, though sailing bravely on We end our journey; for the seething flood Can hinder no man 'gainst the Maker's will.
The power of life He holds--He who doth bind The billows, and doth threaten and rebuke The dusky waves. With justice He shall rule 520 The nations--He who raised the firmament, And made it fast with His own hands; who wrought And did uphold; and with His glory filled Bright Paradise--so was the angels' home Made blessed by His sole eternal might.
[Footnote 1: Lit. ”bath-road.”]
The truth is manifest and clear to all, That thou art thane most excellent of Him, The King who sits enthroned in majesty; Because the swelling ocean knew thee straight, The circuit of the raging ocean knew 530 That thou didst have the Holy Spirit's gifts.
The sea, the mingling waves, turned back again; Still grew the Terror, the wide-bosomed flood; The waves subsided straightway when they saw That G.o.d had girt thee with His covenant, He who did stablish by His own strong might The blessedness of glory without end.”
Then spake with holy voice the champion Valiant of heart; he magnified the King Who rules in glory, speaking thus in words:-- 540 ”Blest art Thou, King of men, Redeeming Lord; Thy power endureth ever; near and far Thy name is holy, bright with majesty, Renowned in mercy 'mong the tribes of men.
There lives no man beneath the vault of heaven, Ruler of nations, Savior of men's souls, No one of mortal race, who can declare How gloriously Thou dealest Thy good gifts, Or tell their number. It is manifest That Thou has been most gracious to this youth. 550 And hast adorned him with Thy holy grace, Young as he is; for he is wise in wit And in discourse of words. I never found A mind more prudent in a man so young.”
The Glory of kings, the Source and End of all, Gave answer from the s.h.i.+p and boldly asked:-- ”Tell, if thou canst, O prudent-minded thane, How on the earth it ever came to pa.s.s That faithless men, the nation of the Jews, Raised blasphemy against the Son of G.o.d 560 With hearts of wickedness. Unhappy men, Cruel, malicious, they did not believe In Him who gave them life, that He was G.o.d, Though many miracles among the tribes He showed full clear and manifest; but they, Guilt-laden men, knew not the Royal Child, Him that was born a comfort and defense Unto mankind, to all who dwell on earth.
In wisdom and in power of speech increased The n.o.ble Prince; and aye the Lord of might 570 Showed forth his wonders to that stubborn folk.”
Straightway did Andrew answer him again:-- ”How could it happen 'mong the tribes of men That thou, my friend, hast never heard men tell The Savior's power, how He made known His grace Throughout the world--Son of the Mighty One.
Speech gave He to the dumb; the deaf did hear; The halt and lepers He made glad in heart, Those who long time had suffered, sick of limb, Weary and weak, fast bound in misery. 580 Throughout the towns the blind received their sight, Full many men upon the plains of earth He woke from death by His almighty word; And many another miracle He showed, Royally famous, by His mighty strength.
Water He blessed before the mult.i.tude, And bade it turn to wine, a better kind, For happiness of men. Likewise He fed Five thousand of mankind with fishes twain 590 And with five loaves; the companies sat down With hearts fatigued, rejoicing in their rest, All weary after wandering; on the ground Where pleased them best the men received their food.
Lo, thou mayst hear, good sir, how, while He lived, The Lord of glory by His words and deeds Showed love to us-ward, led us by His lore To that fair home of joy where men may dwell Freely with angels in high blessedness-- Even they who after death go to the Lord.” 600
Again the Ruler of the waves unlocked The treasure of His words, and boldly spake:-- ”That I may truly know, I pray thee tell Whether thy Lord showed forth His miracles-- Which on the earth for comfort of mankind Full many times He worked--before men's sight, Where bishops, scribes, and princes held discourse Sitting in council. For it seems to me That out of envy they contrived this guile, 610 Led by deep error and the Devil's lore; Those men foredoomed to death too readily Gave ear to wicked traitors; their ill fate Deceived, misled them, gave them counsel false; Weary 'mong weary men they soon must bear Torments and biting flames in Satan's arms.”
Straightway did Andrew answer him again:-- ”I tell thee truly that He ofttimes worked Wonder on wonder in the sight of men, 620 Before their rulers; and in secret too The Lord of men did deeds of public good, Which he devised for their eternal peace.”
Him answered then the sure Defense of kings:-- ”Couldst thou, wise hero, warrior strong of heart, Tell me in words the wonders that He showed In secret, when, as oft, ye sat alone In converse with the Lord who rules the skies?”
Straightway did Andrew answer him again:-- ”Why dost thou question me with crafty speech, My dearest lord, thou who dost truly know 630 By virtue of thy wisdom every hap.”