Sich lösen von Grabes Last; dann wird das Leben ihm kommen,
Dass all seine Sache er sagen müsse,
Und nach seinen Werken ihm werde das Urteil.
[1.] The idea that the last judgment would be preceded by a great battle between Elijah and Antichrist rests upon extra-biblical tradition; but see Mal. iv, 5.
[2.] Der des Himmels waltet, wird den Satan zum Falle bringen.
[3.] The earth; Norse midgard.
[4.] The original has muspille; whence the title.
[ V. THE HELIAND]
An Old Saxon Messiad written in the first half of the 9th century (between 814 and 840) for the purpose of familiarizing the lately converted Saxons with the life of Christ. Nothing is known of the author except that he was a learned cleric who had some skill in handling the old alliterative verse, which had now nearly run its course. A few verses are lacking at the end of the poem, which breaks off, with the story nearly all told, at line 5983. The name ‘Heliand,’ Old Saxon for ‘Savior,’ was given to the poem by Schmeller, who edited it in 1830. The selections are from Edmund Behringer’s Heleand, 1898.