their lives
  And seek a refuge in the mountain caves,
  Firm earth’s support.  An angel drove them back, 1540
  Compassing all the town with gleaming fire,
  With savage flames.  Wild beat the sea within;
  No troop of men could scape from out the walls. 
  The waves waxed, and the waters thundered loud;
  The firebrands flew; the flood welled up in streams.

    Then easy was it in that town to find
  The song of sorrow sung, and grief bemoaned,
  And many a heart afraid, and dirges sad. 
  The dreadful fire was plain to every eye, 1550
  Fierce pillager, the uproar terrible;
  And rushing through the air the blasts of fire
  Hurled themselves round the walls; the floods grew great. 
  There far and wide was lamentation heard,
  The cries of helpless men.  Straightway began
  One wretched warrior to collect the folk
  Humble and sad, he spake with mournful voice:—­
  “Now may ye truly know that we did wrong
  When we o’erwhelmed this stranger with our chains,
  With bonds of torment, in the prison-house; 1560
  For Fate is crushing us, most fierce and stern—­
  That is full clear!—­And better is it far,
  So hold I truth, that we with one accord
  Should loose him soon as may be from his bonds,
  And beg the holy man to give us help,
  Comfort and aid!  Full quickly we shall find
  Peace after sorrow, if we seek of him.”

    Then Andrew knew the purpose of the folk
  Within his heart; he knew the warriors’ might, 1570
  The pride of valiant men, was humbled low. 
  The waters compassed them about, and fierce
  The rushing torrent flowed, the flood rejoiced,
  Until the welling sea o’ertopped their breasts,
  And reached their shoulders.  Then the noble saint
  Bade the wild flood subside, the storms to cease
  About the stony cliffs.  Straight walked he out
  And left his prison, valiant, firm of soul,
  Wise-hearted, dear to God; for him forthwith
  A way was opened through the spreading stream; 1580
  Calm was the field of victory, the earth
  Was dry at once where’er he placed his foot. 
  Blithe-hearted waxed the dwellers in that town,
  And glad in soul; for help was come to pass
  After their grief.  The flood subsided straight,
  And at the saint’s behest the storm was stilled,
  The waters ceased.  Then was the mountain cloven—­
  A frightful chasm—­into itself it drew
  The flood, and swallowed up the fallow waves,
  The struggling sea—­the abyss devoured it all. 1590
  Yet not the waves alone it swallowed up;
  But fourteen men, worst caitiffs of the throng,
  Went headlong to destruction with the flood
  Under the yawning earth.  Then sore afraid
  Was many a heart at that calamity;
  They feared the slaughter both of men and wives,
  A yet more wretched season of distress,
  When once those sin-stained cruel murderers,
  Those warriors fierce, plunged headlong down the abyss. 1600