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Page 10
[1] Lit., 'smiths of lore.'
[2] Z. supposes _lacuna_ of one verse; W. thinks it
unnecessary.
[3] Lit., 'the woman.'
[4] Lit., 'to the sea,' or 'sea-journey.'
[5] A.-S. form retained for the sake of the accent and
alliteration.
IV.
Bade she then order the dwellers-in-city
Most skilled in lore, those far and wide
Among the Jews, each one of men,
For council-talk in meeting to come,
Wh� most deeply the secrets of God 280
By righteous law were able to tell.
Then was assembled from distant ways
No little crowd who Moses' law
Were able to tell. In number there were
Of thousands three of th�se [learned] men 285
Chosen for lore. The lovely woman
The men of the Hebrews with words gan address:
"I th�t most surely have learnt to know
Through secret words of prophets [of old]
In the books of God, that in days of yore 290
Ye worthy were of the glorious King,
Dear to the Lord and daring in deed.
Lo! y� that wisdom [very, Gn.] unwisely,
Wrongly, rejected, when him ye condemned
Who you from the curse through might of his glory, 295
From torment of fire, thought to redeem,
From fetters' force. Ye filthily spat
On h�s fair face who light of the eyes
From blindness [restored], a remedy brought
To you anew by that noble spittle, 300
And often preserved you fr�m the unclean
Spirits of devils. This one to death
Ye gan adjudge, who self from death
Many awakened 'mong host of men
Of your own race to the former life. 305
So blinded in mind ye gan conjoin
Lying with truth, light with darkness,
Hatred with mercy, with evil thoughts
Ye wickedness wove; therefore the curse
You guilty oppresses. The purest Might 310
Ye gan condemn, and have lived in error,
In thoughts benighted, until this day.
Go ye now quickly, with prudence select
Men firm in wisdom, crafty in word,
Who y�ur own law, with excellence skilled, 315
In thoughts of their minds most thoroughly have,
Who to me truly are able to say,
Answer to tell for you hencef�rth
Of each one of tokens that I from thee seek."
They went then away sorry-in-mind, 320
The law-clever earls, oppressed with fear,
Sad in their grief, earnestly sought
The wisest men in secrets of words,
That they to the queen might answer well
Both of good and of ill, as sh� from them sought. 325
Then th�y 'mong the host a thousand of men
Found clever in mind wh� the old story
Among the Jews most readily knew.
Then they pressed in a crowd where in pomp awaited
On kingly throne the C�sar's mother,[1] 330
Stately war-queen with gold adorned.
Helena spake and said 'fore the earls:
"Hear, clever in mind, the holy secret,
Word and wisdom. Lo! y� the prophets'
Teaching received, h�w the Life-giver 335
In form of a child incarnate became,
Ruler of might. Of him Moses sang
And spake this [word],[2] warden of Israel:
'To y�u shall be born a child in secret
Renowned in might, though his mother shall n�t 340
Be filled with fruit through love of a man.'
Of him David the king a kingly psalm sang,
The wise old sage, father of Solomon,
And spake this word, prince of warriors:
'The God of creation before me I saw, 345
Lord of victories. He w�s in my sight,
Ruler of hosts, upon my right hand,
Guardian of glory. Thence turn I n�t
Ever in life my countenance from him.'[3]
So it again of you Isaiah 350
'Fore the people, the prophet, foretold in words,
Thinking profoundly by spirit of the Lord:
'I raised upon high sons young in years,
And children begat, to whom glory I gave,
Heart-comfort holy: but th�y me rejected, 355
With enmity hated, forethought possessed not,
Wisdom of mind, and the wretched cattle,
That on each day one drives and strikes,
Their well-doer know, not at �ll with revenge
Bear hate to their friends who give them fodder. 360
And the folk of Israel never were willing
Me to acknowledge, though many for them,
In worldly course, of wonders I wrought.'[4]
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