Part 3 (1/2)

Then fell to earth that hero wise in words, Begging protection, and he asked his Lord:-- ”How did it happen, Ruler of mankind, 920 That, sinning 'gainst the Savior of men's souls, I knew Thee not upon the ocean-way Good as Thou art? there spake I many words, More than I should in presence of my G.o.d.”

Him answered straightway G.o.d all-powerful:-- ”Thou didst not sin so grievously as when Thou madest protest in Achaian land That on far journeyings thou couldst not go, Nor come unto the town, accomplis.h.i.+ng Thy way within three days, the time ordained, 930 As o'er the struggling waves I bade thee fare.

Thou knowest better now that easily I can advance and further any man Who is My friend whithersoe'er I will.

Quickly arise, and straightway learn My will, Man highly blessed; so shall the Father bright Adorn thee with His wondrous gifts, with strength And wisdom unto all eternity!

Go thou into the town, within the walls, Where bides thy brother; for I know full well 940 Matthew thy kinsman is afflicted sore With deadly wounds at wicked traitors' hands, Beset with cunning snares. Him shalt thou seek And loose from hate of foes, with all that band Who dwell with him in strangers' cruel chains Balefully bound. Forthwith he shall receive In this world recompense, and high reward In heaven, as I have promised unto him.

Now, Andrew, thou shalt straightway risk thy life 950 Into the foeman's grasp; for thee is war Ordained with grievous sword-blows; with sore wounds Thy body shall be rent; thy blood shall flow In floods like water. But those foes may not Give o'er thy life to death, though heavy strokes, The blows of sinful men, thou undergo.

Endure that grief; let not the heathens' might Turn thee aside, nor bitter strife of spears, That thou depart from G.o.d who is thy Lord.

Be eager aye for glory, bear in mind 960 How it was widely known to many men, Through many lands, that sinners mocked at Me Bound fast in chains, reviled Me with their words, Struck Me and scourged Me; with their taunting speech Those sinful men could not declare the truth.

When 'mong the Jews I hung upon the cross, When high the rood was raised, a certain man Let forth the blood from out My wounded side Upon the ground. Full many grievous woes I suffered on the earth; I wished to give 970 A high example to you by My grace, Which shall be known 'mong men of foreign land.

Many there are within this famous town Whom thou shalt turn unto the light of heaven In My name, though they have in days gone by Accomplished many deeds of violence.”

The Holy One departed, King of kings, In blessedness to seek the heavens above, That purest home; there is for every man Glory enow, for those who can attain. 980

That much-enduring man, brave for the fight, Obeyed G.o.d's word; he went into the town Forthwith, that steadfast warrior, with might Endowed, courageous-hearted, true to G.o.d; He walked along the street, the path his guide, In such wise that no one could him behold, No sinful man could see, for on the mead The Lord victorious had covered him, That chief beloved, with His protecting care And His high favor. So the n.o.ble saint 990 Nigh to the prison pressed his way in haste, The champion of Christ. He saw a band Of heathens gathered, seven warders there Before the gate; death s.n.a.t.c.hed them all away; They perished powerless; the fierce rush of death Clutched them all b.l.o.o.d.y. Then the holy saint Prayed to the gracious Father in his heart; He praised on high the goodness and the power Of Heaven's King. The door forthwith gave way At holy Andrew's touch; then entered in 1000 The hero brave with thoughts of courage bold.

The heathens there were sleeping drunk with blood; With their own blood they stained the field of death.

Matthew he saw within that murderous den, The warrior stout, within the prison mirk, Singing the praise of G.o.d, and wors.h.i.+ping The angels' King. Alone he sat in grief In that drear dwelling. On this earth once more His brother dear he saw--a holy saint Beheld a holy saint--and hope grew strong. 1010 Up rose he quick to meet him, thanking G.o.d That 'neath the sun they had at last beheld Each other hale and sound. New joy and love Dwelt with those brethren twain; each in his arms Enclosed the other; they embraced and kissed.

Unto the heart of Christ both saints were dear.

A holy radiance bright as heaven above Shone round about them, and their hearts welled up With joy. Then first did Andrew greet in words 1020 His n.o.ble comrade, that G.o.d-fearing man: He told him of the battle that must come, The fight of hostile men:--

After these words those brothers knelt and prayed, Those thanes of glory, and they sent their prayer Up to the Son of G.o.d; and Matthew too Within the prison called upon his G.o.d, 1030 Sought from the Savior succor and relief Before he should be slain by battle-might Of heathen men. Then from the prison strong, Freed from their bonds, protected by the Lord, He led two hundred men and forty-eight Rescued from woe; not one he left behind Within the prison-walls fast bound in chains; And women too, besides this mult.i.tude, Fifty less one he saved, o'erwhelmed with fear. 1040 Glad were they to depart, in haste they went, Nor waited longer in that house of woe The outcome of the struggle. Matthew went Leading that mult.i.tude, as Andrew bade, Under G.o.d's keeping; on that longed-for way He covered them with clouds, lest enemies, Their ancient foes, should come to work them harm With arrows' flight; there did those valiant saints Take counsel with each other, faithful friends, Before they parted; each of those brave men 1050 Stablished the other with the hope of heaven; The pains of h.e.l.l they warded off by words.

So did the warriors with them, battle-brave, Tried champions, with their holy voices praise The Lord of fate, whose glory ne'er shall end.

Glad-hearted, Andrew walked about the town Unto the place where he had heard was met A concourse of his cruel enemies, 1060 Until he found beside the border-path A brazen pillar standing near the road.

He sat him by its side; pure love had he And contemplation high, the angels' bliss; There waited he, within the city-walls, What deed of war should be vouchsafed to him.

Then gathered straight the leaders of the folk Their mighty troops; unto the prison strong The faithless host of heathen warriors Came fully armed, where late their captive thralls 1070 Had suffered woe within the prison mirk.

They weened and wished, those stubborn-hearted foes, That they might make those foreign men their meat, Food for the mult.i.tude; their hope was vain, For, coming with their troops, those spearmen fierce Found prison-doors wide open, and the work Of hammers all unloosed, the watchmen dead.

So back they turned, those luckless warriors, Robbed of their joy, to bear the tidings sad; They told the folk that of the stranger men, 1080 The men of foreign speech, not one they found Remaining in that prison-house alive; But there upon the ground all stained with gore, Lifeless the watchmen lay, robbed of their souls, Mere slaughtered bodies. At that sudden news Dismayed was many a captain of the host, Sad and cast down at thoughts of famine stern, That pale guest at the board. No better way They knew than on the dead to make their feast For their own sustenance; in a single hour 1090 The bed of death was spread by cruel fate For all those watchmen.

Then, as I have heard, A gathering of the townsmen was proclaimed; The heroes came, a host of warriors Riding on horses, brave men on their steeds Exchanging speech; skilled were they at the spear.

So in the meeting-place the people all Were gathered, and they bade the lot decide Among them, who should first give up his life 1100 For food unto the rest; they cast the lots With h.e.l.lish craft; before their heathen G.o.ds They counted them. Behold, the lot did fall Upon an aged chieftain, one who was A counselor among the n.o.ble lords, In front rank of the host. Soon was he bound In fetters fast, despairing of his life.

Then cried that chieftain fierce with voice of woe, Proclaiming he would give his own young son Into their power as ransom for his life. 1110 With thankful hearts they took his offering, For greedily they l.u.s.ted after food, Sad-minded men; no joy had they in wealth, Nor hope in h.o.a.rded riches; they were sore Oppressed with hunger, for the famine dire Held cruel sway. Then many a warrior And hero battle-bold was fired in heart To struggle for the life of that young man; The sign of woe was published far and wide Throughout the town to many a hero brave, 1120 That they should seek in troops the young man's death, That, young and old, they should receive their share As food to keep their lives. The heathen priests Straightway collected there a mult.i.tude Of dwellers in that town; loud shouts arose.

Bound there before the throng the youth began To sing with mournful voice a song of woe; The wretched thrall begged succor of his friends; But no relief nor mercy could he find From that fierce folk to give him back his life. 1130 Those monstrous fiends had sought hostility; It was their purpose that the sword's sharp edge Made hard by blows, and stained with marks of fire, In foeman's hand should take his life away.

But Andrew thought it grievous, hard to bear, A public wrong, that one so innocent Should forthwith lose his life. That people's hate Was very fierce; the warriors, valiant thanes 1140 l.u.s.ting for murder, rushed upon the youth; They wished straightway to break his head with spears.

But G.o.d, the Holy One, from heaven above Defended him against the heathen throng; He bade their weapons melt away like wax In the fierce onset, that his bitter foes Should scathe him not with might of hostile swords.

So from his woe and from that people's hate The youth was loosed. To G.o.d, the Lord of lords, 1150 Be thanks for all, because He giveth might To every man who wisely seeketh aid From Him on high! There is eternal peace Ever prepared for those who can attain.

Then in that town was lamentation heard, Loud outcry of the throng; heralds proclaimed And mourned the lack of food; there stood they sad, Held fast by hunger; the high-towering halls-- Their wine-halls--all were empty; they possessed No wealth to enjoy at that unhappy hour. 1160 The wise men sat apart in council sad, Talked of their woe; no joy was in their land.

Thus would one hero oft another ask:-- ”Let him who has good counsel in his heart, And wisdom, hide it not! The hour is come Exceeding woful; great is now the need That we should hear the words of prudent men.”

Then to that band the Devil straight appeared All black and ugly, and he had the form Of one accursed. The Prince of death began, 1170 The limping imp of h.e.l.l, with wicked heart To accuse the holy man; this word he spake:-- ”A certain prince is come into your town, A stranger journeying from a distant land; Andrew I heard him called. He worked you scath But lately, when he led a company Great beyond measure from your prison strong; And now these deeds of harm ye may with ease Wreak on their author; let your weapons' point, 1180 Your hard-edged iron, hew his body down, Doomed to destruction. Go now boldly forth, That ye may overcome your foe in war.”

Straightway did Andrew answer him again:-- ”Why dost thou impudently teach this folk, And urge them unto battle? Hast thou felt The fiery torment hot in h.e.l.l, and yet Leadest an army forth, a troop to war?

Thou art a foe to G.o.d, the Lord of hosts; Why dost thou thus heap up thy wretchedness?

Shaft of the devil, whom Almighty G.o.d 1190 Bent humble down and into darkness hurled, Where the King of kings did cover thee with chains; And they who keep the covenant of G.o.d Have called thee Satan ever since that hour.”