Then was there no delay; straightway the stone
Split open, and a stream came rushing out
And flowed along the ground; at early dawn
The foaming billows covered up the earth;
The ocean-flood waxed great; mead was outpoured
After that day of feasting! Mail-clad men
Shook off their slumbers; water deeply stirred
Seized on the earth; the host was sore dismayed
At terror of the flood; the youths were doomed, 1530
And perished in the deep; the rush of war
Snatched them away with tumult of the sea.
That was a grievous trouble, bitter beer;
The ready cup-bearers did not delay;
From daybreak on each man had drink to spare.
The might of waters waxed, the men wailed loud,
Old bearers of the spear; they strove to flee
The fallow stream; they fain would save their lives
And seek a refuge in the mountain caves,
Firm earth's support. An angel drove them back, 1540
Compassing all the town with gleaming fire,
With savage flames. Wild beat the sea within;
No troop of men could scape from out the walls.
The waves waxed, and the waters thundered loud;
The firebrands flew; the flood welled up in streams.
Then easy was it in that town to find
The song of sorrow sung, and grief bemoaned,
And many a heart afraid, and dirges sad.
The dreadful fire was plain to every eye, 1550
Fierce pillager, the uproar terrible;
And rushing through the air the blasts of fire
Hurled themselves round the walls; the floods grew great.
There far and wide was lamentation heard,
The cries of helpless men. Straightway began
One wretched warrior to collect the folk
Humble and sad, he spake with mournful voice:—
"Now may ye truly know that we did wrong
When we o'erwhelmed this stranger with our chains,
With bonds of torment, in the prison-house; 1560
For Fate is crushing us, most fierce and stern—
That is full clear!—And better is it far,
So hold I truth, that we with one accord
Should loose him soon as may be from his bonds,
And beg the holy man to give us help,
Comfort and aid! Full quickly we shall find
Peace after sorrow, if we seek of him."
Then Andrew knew the purpose of the folk
Within his heart; he knew the warriors' might, 1570
The pride of valiant men, was humbled low.
The waters compassed them about, and fierce
The rushing torrent flowed, the flood rejoiced,
Until the welling sea o'ertopped their breasts,
And reached their shoulders. Then the noble saint
Bade the wild flood subside, the storms to cease
About the stony cliffs. Straight walked he out
And left his prison, valiant, firm of soul,
Wise-hearted, dear to God; for him forthwith
A way was opened through the spreading stream; 1580
Calm was the field of victory, the earth
Was dry at once where'er he placed his foot.
Blithe-hearted waxed the dwellers in that town,
And glad in soul; for help was come to pass
After their grief. The flood subsided straight,
And at the saint's behest the storm was stilled,
The waters ceased. Then was the mountain cloven—
A frightful chasm—into itself it drew
The flood, and swallowed up the fallow waves,
The struggling sea—the abyss devoured it all. 1590
Yet not the waves alone it swallowed up;
But fourteen men, worst caitiffs of the throng,
Went headlong to destruction with the flood
Under the yawning earth. Then sore afraid
Was many a heart at that calamity;
They feared the slaughter both of men and wives,
A yet more wretched season of distress,
When once those sin-stained cruel murderers,
Those warriors fierce, plunged headlong down the abyss. 1600
Straightway then spake they all with one accord:—
"Now is it plain to see that one true God,
The King of every creature, rules with might—
He who did hither send this messenger
To help the people! Great is now our need
That we should follow righteousness with zeal."
Then did the saint give comfort to those men,
He cheered the throng of warriors with his words:—
"Be not too fearful, though the sinful race
Sought ruin, suffered death—the punishment 1610
Due to their sins. A bright and glorious light
On you is risen if ye but purpose well."
His prayer he sent before the Son of God,
And begged the Holy One to give His aid
Unto those youths who in the ocean-stream
Had lost their life within the flood's embrace,
So that their souls, forsaken by the Lord,
Shorn of their glory, had been borne away
To death and torments in the power of fiends.
Saint Andrew's prayer was pleasing unto God, 1620
Almighty One, the Counselor of men;
He bade the youths, those whom the flood had slain,
Rise up unscathed in body from the ground.
Then straightway stood there up among the throng
Many an ungrown child, as I have heard;
Body and soul were joined again in one,
Though but a short time gone in flood's fierce rush
They all had lost their lives. Then they received
True baptism and the covenant of peace, 1630
The pledge of glory, God's protecting grace,
Freedom from punishment. The valiant saint,
The craftsman of the King, then bade them build
A church, and make a temple of the Lord
Upon the spot where those young men arose
By baptism, even where the flood sprang forth.
From far and wide the warriors of that town
Gathered in throngs; both men and women said
That they would faithfully obey his word,
Receive the bath of baptism joyfully 1640
According to God's will, and straightway leave
Their devil-worship and their ancient shrines.
Then noble baptism was exalted high
Among that folk, the righteous law of God
Established 'mong those men—a mighty boon
Unto their country—and the church was blessed.
The messenger of God appointed one,
A man of wisdom tried, of prudent speech,
To be a bishop in that city bright
Over the people, and he hallowed him
By virtue of his apostolic power 1650
Before the multitude for their behoof,—
His name was Platan. Strictly Andrew bade
That they should keep his teachings zealously,
And should work out salvation for their souls.
He told them he was eager to depart,
And fain would leave that city bright with gold,
Their revelry and wealth, their bounteous halls,
And seek a ship beside the breaking sea.
Hard was it for the multitude to bear
That he, their leader, would no longer dwell 1660
Among them there. But as he journeyed forth
The glorious God straightway appeared to him,
The Lord of hosts, and to His thane He said:—
"[Why dost thou leave this people in such haste?
For hardly have they turned them from their sin],
This nation from their crimes. Their minds for death
Are longing, sad of heart they go about,
Their grief bemoaning, men and women both;
Weeping has come among them, woful hearts,
[Since thou across the floods in thy sea-bark]
Wilt haste away. Thou shalt not leave this flock
In joy so new, but in My holy Name 1670
Fast stablish thou their hearts! Within this town,
Abide, O shield of warriors, in their halls
Richly adorned, the space of seven nights,
Then with My favor thou shalt go thy way."
So once again that brave and mighty saint
Returned to seek the Mermedonian town.
In wisdom and in speech the Christians waxed,
After their eyes beheld the glorious thane,
The noble King's apostle. In the way
Of faith he guided them; with glory bright
He made them strong; a countless multitude 1680
Of glorious men he led to blessedness,
Toward that most holy home in Heaven's realm,
Where Father, Son, and Holy Comforter
In blessed Trinity hold mighty rule,
World without end, within those mansions fair.
Likewise the saint attacked their idol-shrines,
Banished their devil-worship, and put down
Their errors. Mighty grief and hard to bear
Was that for Satan, when he saw them turn 1690
With hearts of gladness from the halls of hell
At Andrew's teaching to that land more bright,
Where fiends and evil spirits never come.
Then was the number of the days fulfilled
Which God had set, and had commanded him
That he should linger in that wind-swept town;
And quickly he made ready for the waves
With joyful heart; he wished once more to seek
Achaia in his ocean-coursing ship; 1700
(There was he doomed to lose his life and die
A death of violence. This deed was fraught
With little laughter for his murderer;
To the jaws of hell he went, and since that day
No solace has that friendless wretch e'er found.)
Then in great companies, as I have heard,
They led unto his ship their master dear,
Men sad of soul; the heart of many a one
Was welling hot in grief within his breast.
They brought the zealous champion to his ship 1710
Beside the sea-cliffs, and upon the shore
They stood and mourned while they could still behold
The joy of princes sailing o'er the waves,
The path of seals. They praised the glorious King;
The throngs cried out aloud, and thus they spake:—
"One and eternal is the God who rules
O'er all created things; throughout the earth
His might and His dominion far and near
Are magnified. His glory over all
Shines on His saints in heavenly majesty 1720
Among the angels now and evermore
In splendor fair. He is a noble King!"