That me from these sufferings ye may release, 700
Humbled by hunger.  Of that holy tree
Shall I willingly tell, now longer I may not
For hunger conceal it.  This bond is too strong,
Distress too severe, and this misery too hard
In number of days.  I may not endure it, 705
Nor longer conceal of the tree of life,
Though with folly before I was thoroughly filled,
And the truth too late I myself have perceived.”

   [1] Or, ‘war,’ Gn.; ‘further oft,’ Gm.

IX.

When she that heard, who men there ordered,
The man’s behavior, she quickly commanded 710
That him from confinement and out of his dungeon,
From the narrow abode, they should release. 
They hastily that did soon perform
And him with honor then led they up
From out of the prison as them the queen bade. 715
Stepped they then to the place, the firm-in-mind,
Upon the hill on which the Lord
Before was hanged, heaven-kingdom’s Ward,
God’s child, on the cross, and yet knew he not well,
Weakened by hunger, where the holy rood 720
Through cunning of foe[1] enclosed in earth, 721-2
Long firm in its bed concealed from men,
Remained in its grave.  Now raised he his voice,
Unmindful[2] of might, and in Hebrew he spake:  725
“Saviour Lord, thou hast power of rule,
And thou didst create through the might of thy glory
Heaven and earth and the boisterous sea,
The ocean’s wide bosom, all creatures alike,
And thou didst measure with thine own hands 730
All the globe of the earth and the heaven above,
And thou thyself sittest, Wielder of victories,
Above the noblest order of angels,
That fly through the air encircled with light,
Great might of glory.  There mankind may not 735
From the paths of earth ascend on high
In bodily form with that bright host,
Heralds of glory.  These wroughtest thou,
And for thine own service them didst thou set,
Holy and heavenly.  Of these in the choir 740
In joy eternal six are named,
Who are surrounded with six wings apiece,
[With them are] adorned, [and] fair they shine. 
Of these are four who ever in flight
The service of glory attend upon 745
Before the face of the Judge eternal,
Continually sing in glory the praise,
With clearest voices, of the King of heaven,
Most beauteous of songs, and say these words
With voices pure (their name Cherubim):  750
’Holy is the holy God of archangels,
Ruler of hosts.  Full of his glory
Are heaven and earth and all the high powers
With glory distinguished,’ There are two among