the onrush of foes; and how on the third day the Glory 185 of men and Lord of all mankind rose from the tomb and from death, and ascended into heaven.  Men wise in the mystic things of the Spirit thus said unto the victory-inspired monarch as they had 190 learned from Silvester.  And at their hands the prince of the people received baptism, and held to the faith according to the will of the Lord from that time forth throughout the length of his days.

Then was the giver of gifts content, the king stern in battle; a new joy was come into his heart. 195 The Lord of the kingdom of heaven was his greatest solace and his highest hope.  Through the grace of the Spirit he began zealously to show forth the law of the Lord both day and night, and this ruler of men devoted himself, far-famed and weariless, 200 unto the service of God.  Then the prince, bulwark of peoples, brave in battle and bold with the spear, found in the books of God with the aid of his teachers that country where, amid the shouts of multitudes, the Ruler of the heavens was crucified upon 205 the cross through sinful hate; even as the ancient enemy with lying craft led astray the people, deceived the race of the Jews, until they crucified God himself, the Lord of hosts; wherefore they shall 210 suffer a direful curse in misery through a long-enduring life.

7.  The journey of Elene.

Then was the laud of Christ in the heart of the emperor, and he was ever mindful of that glorious tree.  And he bade his mother fare unto the Jews upon a journey with a throng of people, and zealously 215 with her band of heroes to seek where the holy tree of glory, the rood of the King, was hid beneath the earth.

Nor would Elene slight such a journey, nor be 220 heedless of the word of the prince her son; but the woman was soon ready for the welcome way, as the bulwark of heroes and mail-clad warriors had bidden her.  And thereupon throngs of nobles 225 made ready for the voyage over the ocean.  The ships stood ready by the shores of the sea, bound ocean-coursers resting on the deep.

And the journey of the queen was plainly manifest when she sought the swell of the ocean with 230 her company; many a noble stood there, near to the water’s edge, and from time to time crowds of men pressed across the way.

Then they loaded the ships with battle-dress, shields and spears; mail-clad warriors and men and 235 women embarked thereon.  And they let the steep ocean-speeders course over the foamy deep; often the hull bore the shock of the billows on the ocean-way, and the sea raised her song.  Never heard 240 I before nor since of woman leading a fairer force upon the paths of the ocean, the streams of the deep.  There one might see, if he beheld that voyage, ships cleave the watery way and haste beneath swelling 245 sails, sea-coursers leap, and wave-floaters speed ahead.  The proud warriors were glad; the queen rejoiced in the journey.