Andreas: The Legend of St. Andrew | Page 9

hero most excellent;?Though little treasure I can give to thee,?Jewels or beaten gold, I fain would win?Thy friendship, 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 ship,?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 shore; 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 ship 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 noble 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 ships, 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 blessèd 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 God 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 ship and boldly asked:--?"Tell, if thou canst, O prudent-minded thane,?How on the earth it ever came to pass?That faithless men, the nation of the Jews,?Raised blasphemy against the Son of God 560 With hearts of wickedness. Unhappy men,?Cruel, malicious, they did not believe?In Him who gave them life, that He was God,?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 noble 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 multitude,?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