To tear with bloody jaws the flesh of men 160
  To be their food.  Then He, who with strong might
  Stablished this world, was mindful how that saint
  Abode in misery ’mongst stranger men,
  Fast bound in chains—­that saint who for His sake
  Had suffered from the Hebrews, had withstood
  The magic incantations of the Jews.

    Where in Achaia holy Andrew dwelt,
  Guiding his people in the way of life, 170
  A voice was heard from out the heavens above. 
  To him, that steadfast saint, the Lord of hosts,
  Glory of kings, Creator of mankind,
  Unlocked the treasure of His heart, and thus
  In words He spake:—­“Thou shalt go forth and bear
  My peace, and journeying shalt fare where men,
  Devourers of their kind, possess the land,
  And hold their home secure by murderous might. 
  This is the custom of that multitude: 
  Within their land they spare no stranger’s life,
  But when those evil-doers chance to find
  A helpless wight in Mermedonia, 180
  Death must be dealt and cruel murder done. 
  I know that ’mongst those townsmen, fast in chains,
  Thy brother dwells, that saint victorious. 
  It lacks but three nights of the time ordained,
  When, midst that people, by the hard-gripped spear,
  In struggle with the heathens, he must needs
  Send forth his soul all ready to depart;
  Unless thou come before the appointed time.”

    Straightway did Andrew answer him again: 
  “My Lord, how can I o’er the ocean deep 190
  My course accomplish, to that distant shore,
  As speedily as Thou, O King of glory,
  Creator of the heavens, dost command? 
  That road thine angel can more easily
  Traverse from heaven; he knows the watery ways,
  The salt sea-streams, the wide path of the swan,
  The battle of the surf against the shore,
  The terror of the waters, and the tracks
  Across the boundless land.  These foreign men
  Are not my trusty friends, nor do I know
  In any wise the counsels of this folk; 200
  To me the cold sea-highways are unknown.”

    Him answered then the everliving Lord:—­
  “Alas, O Andrew, that thou shouldst be slow
  To undertake this journey, since for God,
  Almighty One, it were not hard to bring
  That city hither, ’neath the circling sun,
  Unto this country, o’er the ways of earth—­
  The princely city famous, with its men—­
  If He, the Lord of Glory, with a word 210
  Should bid it.  So thou mayst not hesitate
  To undertake this journey, nor art thou
  Too weak in wit, if thou but keepest well
  The faithful covenant with thy Lord.  Be thou
  Prepared against the hour, for there can be
  No tarrying on this errand.  Thou shalt go
  And bear thy life into the grasp of men
  Full violent, where ’gainst thee