Lo, thou mayst hear, dear youth, how He performed
By His commands full many miracles;
Yet even so those people blind of heart
Did not believe His teachings. I could tell
Many more deeds which He, the Prince of heaven,
Wrought on the earth—a great and famous tale:
Such deeds as thou couldst never understand,
Nor comprehend in heart, though thou art wise."
Thus Andrew all day long showed forth the lore
Of holy Jesus in his words, until
A sleep came sudden o'er him as he sailed 820
Upon the whale's road nigh to Heaven's King.
The Lord of life then bade His angels bear
That saint beloved over the beating waves,
And gently carry him upon their breasts
Under the Father's care across the floods,
While sleep was on him weary of the sea.
So journeying through the air he reached the land
And came unto the city, which the King
Of angels bade him seek; the messengers
Departed joyful to their home on high. 830
They left the holy man, that gracious saint,
Beside the highway, 'neath the vault of heaven,
Peacefully sleeping near the city wall
And near his foes malignant all night long,
'Till God sent forth the candle of the day
Brightly to shine. Vanished the shadows dark
Beneath the welkin; then the torch of heaven,
The clear light of the sky, came forth and shone
Above the town. The warrior brave awoke
And gazed upon the fields; before the gates 840
Steep hills high towered; about the hoary cliff
Stood buildings wrought of many-colored tiles,
Great towers, and wind-swept walls. The sage straight knew
That he had reached the Mermedonian land,
E'en as the Father of mankind declared,
When He prescribed that journey. On the ground
He saw his own disciples, valiant men,
Beside him deep in sleep. He straight began
To wake the warriors; thus he spake in words:— 850
"Lo, I can tell you one truth manifest,
That yesterday upon the ocean-stream
A noble Hero bore us o'er the sea.
The Glory of kings, the Ruler of mankind,
Was sailing in that ship; I knew His words,
Though He did hide the beauty of His face."
His noble followers answered him again,
Giving reply from out their inmost souls:—
"Our journey, Andrew, will we tell to thee,
That wisely thou mayst understand in heart:— 860
A sleep came o'er us weary of the sea,
And eagles came across the struggling waves
In flight, exulting in their mighty wings,
And while we slept they took our souls away;
With joy they bore us flying through the air,
Gracious and bright, rejoicing in their speed;
And gently they caressed us, while they hymned
Continual praise; there was unceasing song
Throughout the sky; a beauteous host was there, 870
A glorious multitude. The angels stood
About the Prince, the thanes about their Lord,
In thousands; in the highest they gave praise
With holy voice unto the Lord of lords;
The angel-band rejoiced. We there beheld
The holy patriarchs and a mighty troop
Of martyrs; to the Lord victorious
That righteous throng sang never-ending praise;
And David too was with them, Jesse's son,
The King of Israel, blessed warrior, 880
Come to Christ's throne. Likewise we saw you twelve
All standing there before the Son of God,
Full glorious men of great nobility;
Archangels holy throned in majesty
Did serve you; happy is it for the man
Who may enjoy that bliss. High joy was there,
Glory of warriors, an exalted life;
Nor was there sorrow there for any man.
Drear exile, open torment is the lot
Of him who must be stranger to those joys, 890
And wander wretched when he goes from hence."
Exceeding glad was holy Andrew's heart
Within his breast, soon as he heard the speech
Of his disciples, that above all men
God should so high esteem them, and this word
Spake then the brave defense of warriors:—
"Lo, now I clearly see, Lord God, that Thou,
Glory of kings, wast very nigh to me
On the ocean-road, when on that ship I went;
Though on the beating sea I did not know 900
The Lord of angels, Savior of men's souls!
Be gracious unto me, Almighty God,
Bright King of mercy! on the ocean-stream
Full many words I spake; but now I know
Who bore me o'er the sea-floods on His ship
With honor high; He is for all mankind
A Spirit of comfort; there is ready help,
And mercy from the Highest unto all
Who seek of Him—the gift of victory."
Straightway before his eyes the Lord appeared, 910
The Prince of glory, King of all that lives,
Like to a youth in form, and thus he spake:—
"Hail to thee, Andrew, and thy faithful band;
Rejoice in heart, for I am thy defense,
That wicked foes may never harm thy soul,
Fierce-hearted workers of iniquity."
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 God."
Him answered straightway God 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, accomplishing
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 God 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 God's word; he went into the town
Forthwith, that steadfast warrior, with might
Endowed, courageous-hearted, true to God;
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 noble 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 snatched them all away;
They perished powerless; the fierce rush of death
Clutched them all bloody. 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 God, and worshiping
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 God
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 noble comrade, that God-fearing man:
He told him of the battle that must come,
The fight of hostile men:—
* * * * *