d us o'er the whale's road with the flood,
Our sea-horse fleet, all girt about with speed,
Until we reached the country of this folk,
Sea-beaten, as the wind did drive us on."

Then Andrew humbly answered him again:-- 270
"I fain would beg thee, though but little store
Of jewels or of treasure I can give,
That thou wouldst bring us in thy lofty ship,
Over the ocean[1] on thy high-beaked boat,
Unto that people; thou shalt meed receive
From God, if kindness thou but show to us
Upon our journey."

[Footnote 1: Lit. "whale's home."]

The Defense of kings,
Maker of angels, answered from His ship:--
"Wide-faring foreigners can never dwell
There in that country, nor enjoy the land; 280
But in that city they must suffer death
Who thither bring their lives from distant shores.
And dost thou wish to traverse the wide main,
That thou mayst spill thy life in bitter war?"

To him did Andrew answer give again:--
"Our hearts' strong hope and yearning drives us forth
To seek that country and that far-famed town,
If thou, most noble sir, wilt show to us
Thy gracious kindness on the wave-tossed deep."

Then from His vessel's prow, the angels' Lord, 290
The Savior of mankind, replied to him:--
"Gladly and freely we will carry thee
Across the ocean[1], e'en to that far land
Which thy desire doth urge thee so to seek,
When thou shalt give us the accustomed sum,
Thy passage-money; so upon our bark
We seamen will grant honor unto you."

[Footnote 1: Lit. "fish's bath."]

Then straightway Andrew spake to him in words,
That friendless saint:--"I have no beaten gold, 300
No treasures, neither wealth nor sustenance,
No golden clasps, no land, nor bracelets woven,
That thy desire I now may satisfy,
Thy worldly wishes, as thou sayst in words."
The Prince of Men gave answer where He sat
Upon the gangway, o'er the dashing surge:--
"How comes it thou wouldst visit, my dear friend,
The sea-hills, boundaries of the ocean-streams,
To seek a vessel by the cold sea-cliffs 310
All penniless? Hast thou no store of bread
To comfort thee upon the ocean-road,
Or pure drink for thy thirst? The life is hard
For him who journeys far upon the flood."

In answer then did Andrew, wise in wit,
Unlock to him the treasure of his words:--
"It is not seemly that with arroganc