The sea subsided, and the boundaries
  Of ocean-stream grew calm.  Then laughed our soul,
  When under heaven’s course our eyes beheld
  The winds and waves and Terror of the deep
  Affrighted by the Terror of the Lord. 
  Therefore I say to you in very sooth,
  The ever-living God does not forsake
  A man on earth, if courage fail him not.” 460

    Thus spake the holy champion, wise of heart,
  He taught his thanes, that blessed warrior;
  He stablished his men, till suddenly
  Sleep came upon them weary by the mast. 
  The sea grew still, the onset of the waves
  Turned back again, rough tumult of the flood. 
  Then was the soul of that brave saint rejoiced,
  After that time of terror; wise in wit,
  In counsel prudent, he began to speak
  And thus unlocked the treasure of his words:—­ 470
  “I never found a better mariner,
  More skilled than thou in sea-craft, as I think,
  A stouter oarsman, one more wise in words,
  Sager in counsel.  I will beg of thee
  Yet one more boon, hero most excellent;
  Though little treasure I can give to thee,
  Jewels or beaten gold, I fain would win
  Thy friendship, if I might, most glorious lord. 
  So shalt thou gain good gifts, and blessed joy 480
  In heavenly glory, if of thy great lore
  Thou’rt bountiful to weary voyagers. 
  One art I fain would learn of thee, brave sir;
  That since the Lord, the Maker of mankind,
  Hath given might and honor unto thee,
  Thou shouldst instruct me how thou pointest out
  The course of this thy billow-riding ship,
  Thy sea-horse wet with spray.  Though sixteen times,
  In former days and late, I’ve been to sea, 490
  And rowed with freezing hands upon the deep,
  The ocean-streams—­this makes one voyage more—­
  Yet even so mine eyes have ne’er beheld
  A mighty captain steering at the stern
  Like unto thee.  Loud roars the surging flood,
  Beats on the shore; this sea-boat is full fleet;
  It fareth foamy-necked most like a bird,
  And glides upon the deep.  I surely know,
  I never saw upon the ocean-road
  Such wondrous skill in any seafarer. 500
  It is as though the ship were on the land,
  Where neither storm nor wind can make it move,
  Nor water-floods can break it, lofty-prowed;
  Yet on the sea it hasteth under sail. 
  And thou art young, defense of warriors,
  Not old in winters, rider of the surge;
  Yet in thy heart thou hast the noble speech
  Of princes, and dost wisely understand
  All words employed by men upon the earth.”

    Him answered then the everlasting Lord:—­ 510
  “Full oft it happens when we sail the sea
  That with our ships, our ocean-coursing steeds,
  We break our way across the watery roads[1]—­
  We and our seamen—­when the