Andreas: The Legend of St. Andrew | Page 6

their battle-armor sang;?Their spears they brandished, angry in their hearts,?Under the roof of shields; they fain would see?Whether those hapless men were yet alive,?Who fast in chains within their prison-walls 130 Had dwelt a while in comfortless abode,?And which one they might first for their repast?Rob of his life after the time ordained.?They had set down, those slaughter-greedy foes,?In runic characters and numerals?The death-day of those men, when they should serve?As food unto that famine-stricken tribe.?Then clamored loudly that cold-hearted brood;?Throng pressed on throng; their cruel counsellors?Recked not at all of mercy or of right.?Oft did their souls, led by the devil's lore, 140 Under the dusky shadows penetrate,?When in the might of beings ever-cursed?They put their trust. They found that holy man,?Prudent of mind, within his prison dark,?Awaiting bravely what the radiant King,?Creator of the angels, should vouchsafe.?Then was accomplished, all except three nights,?The appointed time, the season foreordained,?Which those fierce wolves of war had written down,?At end of which they planned to break his bones, 150 And, parting straight his body and his soul,?To portion out as food to old and young?The body of the slain, a welcome feast;?They cared not for the soul, those greedy men,?How after death the spirit's pilgrimage?Might be decreed. So every thirty nights?They held their feast; most fierce was their desire?To tear with bloody jaws the flesh of men 160 To be their food. Then He, who with strong might?Stablished this world, was mindful how that saint?Abode in misery 'mongst stranger men,?Fast bound in chains--that saint who for His sake?Had suffered from the Hebrews, had withstood?The magic incantations of the Jews.
Where in Achaia holy Andrew dwelt,?Guiding his people in the way of life, 170 A voice was heard from out the heavens above.?To him, that steadfast saint, the Lord of hosts,?Glory of kings, Creator of mankind,?Unlocked the treasure of His heart, and thus?In words He spake:--"Thou shalt go forth and bear?My peace, and journeying shalt fare where men,?Devourers of their kind, possess the land,?And hold their home secure by murderous might.?This is the custom of that multitude:?Within their land they spare no stranger's life,?But when those evil-doers chance to find?A helpless wight in Mermedonia, 180 Death must be dealt and cruel murder done.?I know that 'mongst those townsmen, fast in chains,?Thy brother dwells, that saint victorious.?It lacks but three nights of the time ordained,?When, midst that people, by the hard-gripped spear,?In struggle with the heathens, he must needs?Send forth his soul all ready to depart;?Unless thou come before the appointed time."
Straightway did Andrew answer him again:?"My Lord, how can I o'er the ocean deep 190 My course accomplish, to that distant shore,?As speedily as Thou, O King of glory,?Creator of the heavens, dost command??That road thine angel can more easily?Traverse from heaven; he knows the watery ways,?The salt sea-streams, the wide path of the swan,?The battle of the surf against the shore,?The terror of the waters, and the tracks?Across the boundless land. These foreign men?Are not my trusty friends, nor do I know?In any wise the counsels of this folk; 200 To me the cold sea-highways are unknown."
Him answered then the everliving Lord:--?"Alas, O Andrew, that thou shouldst be slow?To undertake this journey, since for God,?Almighty One, it were not hard to bring?That city hither, 'neath the circling sun,?Unto this country, o'er the ways of earth--?The princely city famous, with its men--?If He, the Lord of Glory, with a word 210 Should bid it. So thou mayst not hesitate?To undertake this journey, nor art thou?Too weak in wit, if thou but keepest well?The faithful covenant with thy Lord. Be thou?Prepared against the hour, for there can be?No tarrying on this errand. Thou shalt go?And bear thy life into the grasp of men?Full violent, where 'gainst thee shall be raised?The strife of warfare, with the battle-din?Of heathens, and the warriors' martial might.?Even to-morrow with the early dawn, 220 At the sea's border thou shalt straightway go?On shipboard, and upon the waters cold,?Over the ocean[1], break thy speedy way.?Thou hast My blessing over all the earth,?Wherever thou shalt fare!" The Holy One,?Ruler and Guardian, archangels' King,?The world's Defense, betook Him to His home,?That glorious home, where souls of righteous men?After the body's fall shall life enjoy.?So in that town this mission was decreed 230 Unto the noble champion; not abashed?In mind was he, but steadfast for the deed?Heroic; hardy-hearted, firm in soul,?No skulker he from battle, but prepared?For warfare, in God's struggle stout and bold.
[Footnote 1: Lit. "bath-road."]
So at the dawning, when the day first broke,?He gat him o'er the sand-downs to the sea,?Valiant in heart, and with him went his thanes?To walk upon the shingle, where the waves?Loud thundered, and the streams of ocean beat?Against the shore. Full glad was that brave saint?To see upon the sands a galley fair 240 Wide-bosomed. Then, behold,