The Ruler of the waves replied to him:—­
  “’Tis not in blame that I thus question thee,
  Nor to insult thee on the ocean-road.[1]
  My mind is blithe and blossoming with joy
  At thy most noble speech; not I am blithe
  Alone, for every man is glad in heart
  And comforted in soul who far or near
  Remembers in his heart what that One did,
  God’s Son on earth.  Souls unto Him were turned; 640
  With eagerness they sought the joys of heaven,
  The angels’ home, by aid of His great might.”

  [Footnote 1:  Lit. “whale-road.”]

    Straightway did Andrew answer Him again:—­
  “In thee I see an understanding heart
  Of wondrous power, the gift of victory;
  With wisdom blooms thy breast, with brightest joy. 
  Lo, I will tell to thee from first to last
  The words and wisdom of the noble Lord, 650
  As I have heard it oft from His own mouth
  When He conversed with men upon the earth. 
  Oft did great multitudes, unnumbered throngs,
  Assemble to the council of the Lord,
  And hear the teachings of the Holy One. 
  The Shield of kings, bright Giver of all bliss,
  Went to another house, where many men,
  Wise elders, came to meet Him, praising God;
  And ever men were joyful, glad of heart,
  At the Lord’s coming.

                       Likewise it befell 660
  That once of yore the Lord of victory,
  The mighty King, went on a pilgrimage;
  Eleven glorious champions alone
  Of His own people on that journey went;
  He was Himself the twelfth.  When we were come
  Unto the kingly city where was built
  The temple of the Lord with pinnacles
  High towering, famous ’mong the tribes of men,
  Beauteous in splendor—­with reviling words
  The high priest straight began to mock at Him 670
  Insultingly, from out his wicked heart;
  He oped his inmost thoughts and mischief wove;
  For in his heart he knew we followed aye
  The footsteps of our ever-righteous Lord,
  His teachings we performed; straightway he raised
  His baneful voice infect with wickedness:—­
  ’Lo, ye are wretched more than all mankind;
  Ye go upon wide wanderings, and ye fare
  On many toilsome journeys; ye give ear
  Unto a stranger’s teachings ’gainst our law;
  A prince without a portion ye proclaim; 680
  Ye say, in sooth, that with the Son of God
  Ye daily converse hold!  The rulers know
  From what beginning his high race is sprung. 
  In this land he was nourished, and was born
  A child among his kindred; at their home
  Thus are his father and his mother called—­
  As we have learned by prudent questioning—­
  Mary and Joseph; other children twain
  Were born his brothers in that family, 690
  Simon and Jacob—­Joseph’s sons they are.’ 
  So spake the counsellors of men, the lords
  Ambitious, and they thought to hide the might
  Of God; their sin returned to them again
  From whom it rose, an everlasting bane.