That we should ne’er be scathed by foeman’s sword, 1420
No member of our bodies be destroyed,
No bone nor sinew left beside the way;
That no lock should be lost from off our heads,
If we would keep Thy teachings faithfully.
My sinews now are loosed, my blood is spilled
My hair lies scattered wide upon the ground,
And death were dearer far than this sad life.”
Then spake a voice unto that
steadfast man;
The King of glory’s words resounded
clear:— 1430
“Weep not, O man beloved, at this
thy woe;
Too hard it is not for thee; with My aid,
With My protection, I will hold thee up,
And compass thee about with My great might.
All power is given to Me upon this earth,
And glorious victory. Full many a
man
Shall bear Me witness at the judgment
day,
That all this beauteous world, the heavens
and earth,
Shall fall in ruin, before a single word
Which I have spoken with My mouth shall
fail. 1440
Look now where thou hast walked, and where
thy blood
Was spilled, where from thy wounds the
path was stained
With spots of blood. No more harsh
injury
Can they do unto thee by stroke of spears
Who most have harmed thee by their cruel
deeds.”
Then looked behind him that dear champion,
Even as the glorious King commanded him;
Fair flowering trees beheld he standing
there,
With blossoms decked, where he had shed
his blood.
Then spake in words that shield
of warriors:— 1450
“Ruler of nations, thanks and praise
to Thee
And glory in heaven both now and evermore,
For that Thou didst not leave me in my
woe,
Alone, a stranger, Lord of victory!”
So to the Lord that doer of great deeds
Gave praise with holy voice until the
sun
In glorious brightness went beneath the
waves.
Then yet a fourth time those
fierce-hearted foes,
The leaders of the folk, brought back
the prince
Unto his prison; for they hoped to turn
1460
In the dark night the hero’s mighty
soul.
Then came the Lord unto that prison-house,
Glory of warriors, and with words of cheer
The Guide of life, the Father of mankind,
Greeted His thane and bade him once again
Soundness enjoy:—“From
henceforth and for aye
Thou shalt no more bear woe from armed
men.”
Freed from the bondage of
his grievous pains, 1470
The mighty saint arose and thanked his
God.
His beauty was not marred, nor was the
hem
Loosed from his cloak, nor lock from off
his head;
No bone was broken, and no bloody wounds
Were in his body, and no injured limb
Wet with his blood through wounding stroke
of sword;
But there he stood by God’s most
noble might
Whole as before, giving to Him the praise.