Page:The Elene of Cynewulf.djvu/25

 the folk:—‘Hearken, ye wise of soul, unto a holy mystery, the word and the wisdom. Lo! ye had the teaching of prophets how the Prince of life and Lord of might should be born in the likeness of a child. Of him sang Moses, leader of the Israelites, and spake this word:—“Unto you is born a child of wondrous might in mystery, for his mother conceived him not through the love of man.” Of him king David, father of Solomon, ruler of men, a prophet with the wisdom of age, chanted a psalm and spake this word:—“In times afore I beheld the God of creation, the Lord of victories. He was before my sight upon my right hand, the King of might and Prince of majesty. Thence will I never turn my eyes more unto life.” Likewise again Isaiah the prophet, deeply moved by the Spirit of God, spake concerning you before the multitudes in these words: “I raised up sons and I begat children, and unto them I gave possessions, and holy balm for their souls; but they scorned me, loathed me with their hate, and they had no forethought, no skill of wisdom. Even the wretched oxen, which man doth each day drive and beat, know their well-wisher, and in their revenge for wrong hate not their friend who giveth them fodder. But never would the men of the Israelites take knowledge of me, though I wrought many wonders for them throughout my life in the world.” Lo! this have we learned in holy books, that God the Creator gave unto you spotless glory and wealth of power, and said unto Moses how ye should hearken unto the King of heaven, and follow His teaching. But ye soon became weary of this, and withstood that righteous one; ye scorned the pure Maker of all,