Andreas: The Legend of St. Andrew | Page 5

appointing a bishop, Andrew returns to Achaia, followed by the prayers
of his new converts (1575-1722).
THE LEGEND OF ST. ANDREW
Lo! we have learned of Twelve in days gone by,
Who dwelt beneath
the stars, in glory rich,
Thanes of the Lord, whose courage for the

fight
Failed never, e'en when helmets crashed in war,
From that
time when they portioned each his place,
As God himself declared to
them by lot,
High King of heaven above. Renownèd men
Were they
through all the earth, and leaders bold,
Brave in the battle, warriors of
might,
When shield and hand the helmet did protect 10
Upon the
field of fate. Of that brave band
Was Matthew one, who first among
the Jews
Began to write the Gospel down in words
With wondrous
power. To him did Holy God
Assign his lot upon that distant isle

Where never yet could any outland man
Enjoy a happy life or find a
home.
Him did the murderous hands of bloody men
Upon the field
of battle oft oppress
Right grievously. That country all about,
The
folkstead of the men, was compassèd
With slaughter and with
foemen's treachery, 20
That home of heroes. Dwellers in that land

Had neither bread nor water to enjoy,
But on the flesh and blood of
stranger men,
Come from afar, that people made their feast.
This
was their custom: every foreigner
Who visited that island from
without
They seized as food--these famine-stricken men.
This was
the cruel practice of that folk,
Mighty in wickedness, most savage
foes: 30
With javelin points they poured upon the ground
The jewel
of the head, the eyes' clear sight;
And after brewed for them a bitter
draught--
These wizards by their magic--drink accursed,
Which led
astray the wits of hapless men,
The heart within their breasts, until
they grieved
No longer for the happiness of men;
Weary for food
they fed on hay and grass.
When to this far-famed city Matthew came, 40
There rose great
outcry through the sinful tribe,
That cursed throng of Mermedonians.


Soon as those servants of the Devil learned
The noble saint was
come unto their land,
They marched against him, armed with javelins;

Under their linden-shields they went in haste,
Grim bearers of the
lance, to meet the foe.
They bound his hands; with foeman's cunning
skill
They made them fast--those warriors doomed to hell-- 50
With
swords they pierced the jewel of his head.
Yet in his heart he honored

Heaven's King,
Though of the drink envenomed he had drunk,
Of
virtue terrible; steadfast and glad,
With courage unabashed, he
worshiped still
The Prince of glory, King of heaven above;
And
from the prison rose his holy voice.
Within his noble breast the praise
of Christ
Stood fast imprinted; weeping tears of woe,
With
sorrowful voice of mourning he addressed 60
His Lord victorious,
speaking thus in words:--
"Behold how these fierce strangers knit for
me
A chain of mischief, an ensnaring net.
Ever have I been zealous
in my heart
To do Thy will in all things; now in grief
The life of the
dumb cattle I must lead.
Thou, Lord, alone, Creator of mankind,

Dost know the hidden thoughts of every heart.
O Prince of glory, if it
be thy will 70
That with the sword's keen edge perfidious men
Put
me at rest, I am prepared straightway
To suffer whatsoever Thou, my
Lord,
Who givest bliss to that high angel-band,
Shalt send me as
my portion in this world,
A homeless wanderer, O Lord of hosts.
In
mercy grant to me, Almighty God,
Light in this life, lest, blinded in
this town
By hostile swords, I needs must longer bear
Reviling
words, the grievous calumny
Of slaughter-greedy men, of hated foes.
80
On Thee alone, Protector of the world,
I fix my mind, my heart's
unfailing love;
So, Father of the angels, Lord of hosts,
Bright Giver
of all bliss, to Thee I pray,
That Thou appoint me not among my foes,

Artificers of wrong forever damned,
The death most grievous on
this earth of Thine."
After these words there came to his dark cell
A sacred sign
all-glorious from heaven,
Like to the shining sun; then was it shown
90
That holy God was working aid for him.

The voice of Heaven's
Majesty was heard,
The music of the glorious Lord's sweet words,

Wondrous beneath the skies. To His true thane
Brave in the fight, in
dungeon harsh confined,
He promised help and comfort with clear
voice:--
"Matthew, My peace on earth I give to thee;
Let not thy
heart be troubled, neither mourn
Too much in mind; I will abide with
thee,
And I will loose thee from these bonds that bind 100 Thy limbs,

and loose all that great multitude
That dwells with thee in strait
captivity.
To thee I open by My holy power
The meadow radiant of
Paradise,
Brightest of splendors, dwelling-place most fair,
That
home most blessèd, where thou mayst enjoy
Glory and bliss to
everlasting life.
Suffer this people's cruelty; not long
Can faithless
men afflict thee sinfully
With chains of torment by their crafty wiles.

Straight will I send unto this heathen town 110 Andrew to be thy
comfort and defense;
He will release thee from thine enemies.
Thou
hast not long to wait; in very truth
But seven and twenty days fulfil
the time,
When, sorrow-laden, thou shalt go from hence,
Under
God's care, with victory adorned."
The