the towns
  Upon earth’s bosom; I am your defense. 
  No gold nor silver treasures need ye bear
  Upon this journey.  I will freely give
  All things that ye may need.’  Lo, thou thyself
  Mayst hear the story of our journeying 340
  With thoughtful mind.  Right quickly shall I learn
  What kindness thou wilt show us on our way.”

  The Lord eternal answered him again:—­

“If ye are thanes of Him who did exalt
His glory o’er the world, as ye declare,
And ye have kept the Holy One’s commands,
I’ll gladly bear you o’er the ocean-streams,
As ye do beg me.”

                  Then upon the bark
  They went, bold, valiant men; the heart of each 350
  Was filled with joy upon the tossing main. 
  Then Andrew, on the rolling of the waves,
  Begged for that seaman mercy from the King
  Who rules in glory; thus he spake in words:—­
  “May God, the Lord of men, give unto thee
  Exceeding honor—­happiness on earth,
  Riches in glory—­since thou hast made known
  Thy goodness to me on my journeying!”
  He sat him by the Guardian of the sea,
  That noble saint beside his noble Lord. 
  I never heard men tell of comelier ship 360
  Laden with sumptuous treasures.  In it sat
  Great heroes, glorious lords, and beauteous thanes. 
  Then spake the ever-living noble Lord,
  Almighty King; he bade his angel go,
  His glorious retainer, go and give
  Meat to the desolate to comfort him
  Upon the seething flood, that he might bear
  The life upon the rushing of the waves
  With greater ease.  Then was the ocean[1] stirred
  And deeply troubled, then the horn-fish played, 370
  Shot through the raging deep; the sea-gull gray,
  Greedy for slaughter, flew in circling flight. 
  The candle of the sky grew straightway dark,
  The winds waxed strong, the waves whirled, and the surge
  Leapt high, the ropes creaked, dripping with the waves;
  The Terror of the waters rose, and stood
  Above them with the might of multitudes. 
  The thanes were sore afraid, not one of them
  Dared hope that he would ever reach the land,
  Of those who by the sea had sought a ship
  With Andrew, for as yet they did not know 380
  Who pointed out the course for that sea-bark.

  [Footnote 1:  Lit. “whale-sea.”]

    When he had eaten, then the faithful thane,
  Saint Andrew, thanked the noble Counselor,
  Upon the ocean, on the oar-swept sea:—­
  “For this repast may God, the righteous Lord,
  Ruler of hosts, who sheds the light of life,
  Grant thee reward, and give thee for thy food
  The bread of heaven, e’en as thou hast shown
  Good will and kindness to me on the deep. 390
  My thanes, these warriors young, are sore afraid;
  Loud roars the raging, overwhelming sea;