11.  The finding of the crosses.

When she who there held sway over the heroes understood the changed bearing of the man, she 710 straightway bade release him from his prison, his dungeon, his narrow cell.  Then quickly they did so, and took him out of the pit with care, as the queen had bidden them.  And they resolutely 715 took their way to that place upon the hill where the Lord was crucified on the cross, the Son of God and Prince of the heavenly realm.  Weakened by hunger, he knew not yet clearly where through 720 the wiles of the devil the holy rood lay hid beneath the earth, nor where it rested in its tomb, safe in a secret place, long hidden from men.

After a little while he lifted up his voice with unwonted power and spake in Hebrew:—­’O Lord 725 Jesus, thou who dost possess the power of judgment, thou who didst form the heaven and the earth and the sea, the broad expanse of waters, and all created things, by the might of thy glory; thou who didst measure out with thine own hands all the sphere of 730 this earth and of the firmament above; thou who dost sit in person, the King of victories, over the most glorious angel-kind; thou who in a mantle of light dost fare through space in surpassing majesty, the nature of man cannot rise in the flesh 735 from the earth-tainted ways unto the bright throng of the pure, the heralds of glory.  Thou didst form that host, holy and heavenly, and didst ordain it unto thy service.  Six of their number are called 740 by name in joy without end, and they are clothed about with six wings; they are adorned, and gleam brightly.  And there are four of their number ever in flight that perform the service of glory 745 before the sight of the eternal Judge, and they continually sing in holiness with clear voices the laud of the King of heaven, fairest of songs, and they chant these words in pure tones—­their name is 750 cherubim:—­“Holy is the holy God of the archangels, the Lord of hosts.  Heaven and earth are full of His majesty, and all His exceeding might is marked with His glory.”  And there are two among their number in the heavens, the victorious race, 755 whereon man bestoweth the name of seraphim.  With flaming sword they are to keep sacred the field of Paradise and the tree of life.  And fast in their grasp the drawn sword, sharp of edge, quivers, trembles, and changes its hue.  For thou dost rule, 760 O Lord God, eternally, and thou didst hurl thy sin-stained foes, the workers of iniquity, from the heavens, and the unhappy host fell to the dark abodes, into the pains of hell.  There now they suffer 765 the agony of death in a sea of fire, encompassed about with darkness, in the embrace of the dragon.  He withstood thy kingly rule, and therefore in misery, abhorred, the vilest