Straightway did Andrew answer
him again:—
“Why dost thou impudently teach
this folk,
And urge them unto battle? Hast thou
felt
The fiery torment hot in hell, and yet
Leadest an army forth, a troop to war?
Thou art a foe to God, the Lord of hosts;
Why dost thou thus heap up thy wretchedness?
Shaft of the devil, whom Almighty God
1190
Bent humble down and into darkness hurled,
Where the King of kings did cover thee
with chains;
And they who keep the covenant of God
Have called thee Satan ever since that
hour.”
Again the Adversary by his
words,
With fiendish craft urged on the folk
to fight:—
“Now do you hear the foeman of your
tribe,
Him who has wrought most harm unto this
host!
Andrew it is, who thus disputes with me
In cunning words before the throng of
men.” 1200
Then to the townsmen was the signal given;
Up leaped they valiant with
the shout of hosts,
And to the city-gates the warriors thronged
Bold ’neath their banners; with
their spears and shields,
In mighty troops they pressed unto the
fight.
Then spake the Lord of hosts,
Almighty God,
And said these words unto His valiant
thane:—
“O Andrew, thou shalt do a deed
of might;
Shrink not before this host, but thy brave
heart
Strengthen against the strong! The
hour is nigh 1210
When these blood-thirsty men shall weigh
thee down
With torments and cold chains. Reveal
thyself,
Make firm thy soul, and strengthen thy
brave heart,
That they may recognize My power in thee!
They cannot and they may not, crime-stained
men,
Deal death unto thy body ’gainst
My will,
Though thou shalt suffer many evil blows
From murderers. Lo, I abide with
thee!”
After these words there came
a countless throng,
False leaders with their troops of shield-clad
men, 1220
Angry at heart. Straight rushed they
out and bound
Saint Andrew’s hands, soon as the
joy of lords
Revealed himself, and they could see him
there
Boldly triumphant. Many a warrior
Lusted for battle on that field of death,
Among the host of men. Little they
cared
What recompense hereafter they should
find.
They gave command to lead their hated
foe
Over the country, and from time to time
1230
To drag him fiercely as they could contrive.
Savage, they haled him, cruel-hearted
foes,
Through mountain-caves, about the stony
cliffs,
Far as their stone-paved streets and highways
stretched—
The ancient work of giants—through
the town.
A tumult and a mighty outcry rose
Within the city from the heathen host.
With grievous wounds was Andrew’s
body pained,
Broken and wet with blood, which welled
in streams 1240
All hot with gore; yet had he in his breast
Courage undoubting; and his noble mind
Was free from sin, though he was doomed
to bear
Such bitter suffering from his heavy wounds.