his earth,
And glorious victory. Full many a man
Shall bear Me witness at the judgment day,
That all this beauteous world, the heavens and earth,
Shall fall in ruin, before a single word
Which I have spoken with My mouth shall fail. 1440
Look now where thou hast walked, and where thy blood
Was spilled, where from thy wounds the path was stained
With spots of blood. No more harsh injury
Can they do unto thee by stroke of spears
Who most have harmed thee by their cruel deeds."
Then looked behind him that dear champion,
Even as the glorious King commanded him;
Fair flowering trees beheld he standing there,
With blossoms decked, where he had shed his blood.

Then spake in words that shield of warriors:-- 1450
"Ruler of nations, thanks and praise to Thee
And glory in heaven both now and evermore,
For that Thou didst not leave me in my woe,
Alone, a stranger, Lord of victory!"
So to the Lord that doer of great deeds
Gave praise with holy voice until the sun
In glorious brightness went beneath the waves.

Then yet a fourth time those fierce-hearted foes,
The leaders of the folk, brought back the prince
Unto his prison; for they hoped to turn 1460
In the dark night the hero's mighty soul.
Then came the Lord unto that prison-house,
Glory of warriors, and with words of cheer
The Guide of life, the Father of mankind,
Greeted His thane and bade him once again
Soundness enjoy:--"From henceforth and for aye
Thou shalt no more bear woe from armed men."

Freed from the bondage of his grievous pains, 1470
The mighty saint arose and thanked his God.
His beauty was not marred, nor was the hem
Loosed from his cloak, nor lock from off his head;
No bone was broken, and no bloody wounds
Were in his body, and no injured limb
Wet with his blood through wounding stroke of sword;
But there he stood by God's most noble might
Whole as before, giving to Him the praise.

Lo, I awhile the story of the saint--
The song of praise of him who did the deeds--
Have set forth here in words, a tale well known, 1480
Beyond my power; much is there yet to tell--
A weary task--what he in life endured,
From the beginning on! A wiser man
Upon the earth than I account myself
Must in his heart invent it, one who knows
From the beginning all the misery
Which bravely he endured in cruel wars.
Yet in sma