they must tell the folk Who at the first
Brought forth this earth all-green, and heaven above,
And where that Ruler was who stablished firm
All that great work. They durst not long delay
Fulfilment of the glorious King's command. 800
So went those prophets three, those valiant men,
And trod the earth; they let their sepulchres
Stand open, for they would straightway proclaim
The Father of creation. Then the folk
With fear was stricken, when those Princes old
Honored the King of glory with their words.
The Lord of might bade them forthwith return
To blessedness, to seek a second time
The happiness of heaven in holy peace,
And there to live in bliss for evermore. 810

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 pr