When the ring-prowed ships had reached their harbor in the land of the Greeks over the fastness 250 of flood, they left their vessels, their olden water-homes, lashed by the sea, bound with anchors, to await upon the surging deep the fate of the men, when the warrior queen with her band of heroes 255 should again seek the eastern ways.  Many a woven corselet, trusty sword, and glittering battle-sark, many a helmet and glorious boar-crest, were there to be seen among the warriors.  The spearmen, 260 heroes about their queen, were eager for the march.  The brave fighters, heralds of the emperor, warriors clad in armor, went forth rejoicing into the land of the Greeks.  Many a gold-set jewel, the gift of their prince, was to be seen there among the company. 265

But the blessed Elene, zealous and earnest of purpose, was mindful of her lord’s will that over fields of battle she should seek the land of the Jews with her trusty band of shield-bearers, her company of 270 spearmen; and so it befell within a little space thereafter that the multitude of men, heroes famed in war and chieftains of spear-renown, entered into the city of Jerusalem in a vast throng with the noble queen. 275

8.  The councils of the Jews.

Then she bade summon the wisest of the dwellers in the cities among the Jews, far and wide, each man of them, to come unto a council for deliberation, those who knew how to expound justly and fully the hidden things of God.  And there was 280 gathered together from far ways no small multitude of those who could expound the law of Moses.  They were in number three thousand men, chosen 285 for teaching.

Then the well-beloved woman spake unto the men of the Hebrews in these words:—­’This have I learned well by the mystic sayings of prophets in the books of God, that in days of yore ye were 290 dear unto the King of glory, loved of the Lord and strong in his service.  And lo! ye of this knowledge unwisely and perversely cast Him forth when ye cursed Him who thought to loose you from your curse, your torture of fire, your servile bondage, 295 through the might of His glory.  Foully ye spat upon the face of Him who by his noble spittle wrought anew the light of your eyes, the cure of 300 your blindness, and saved you oft from the unclean spirits of devils.  Ye doomed Him to death who among a multitude of men roused from death itself unto their former life a number of your own race. 305 Ye blind of soul, thus have ye confounded false with sooth, light with darkness, hate with reverence, and have woven a crime from your evil thoughts.  Therefore doth this curse weigh you down in your sin—­ye judged that pure Power, and until this day 310 ye have lived with clouded thoughts in heresy.  Go ye now quickly, and think upon the men most sage in wisdom and skilled in speech, who, versed in the knowledge of your law, hold it foremost in their 315 hearts, and who may declare unto me truly and devise an answer for each token whereof I may ask them.’