Page:The Elene of Cynewulf.djvu/26

 the Lord of lords, and pursued error against the law of God. Now go ye quickly and find once more those who know best by wisdom’s craft the ancient scriptures, your righteous law, that with depth of soul they may give me answer.’

Then a throng of the proud leaders, saddened in heart, went forth as the queen had bidden them, and found five hundred wise men of their own race who held learning in their memory, most wisdom in their mind. And again within a little space the lords of the city were summoned unto the hall. And the queen, looking upon them all, spake unto them in these words:—‘Oft have ye wrought foolish deeds, ye wretched in misfortune, and scorned the Scriptures, the lore of your fathers, but never worse than now when ye have refused the cure of your blindness, and withstood the truth and the right—that the Son of the Mighty One, the only-begotten Ruler and King of kings, was born in Bethlehem. Though ye knew the law, the words of the prophets, yet because of your sin ye have not been willing to confess the truth.’

And with one accord they answered:—‘Lo! we have learned the Hebrew law that from the ark of God our fathers knew in days of yore; but we know not in sooth wherefore, O lady, thou hast become thus angry with us. We know not the sin that we have wrought in this province, the wrong we have ever done to thee.’

Then Elene spake before the people openly, before the multitudes this woman spake aloud:—‘Go ye now quickly, and seek far and near those who have the power of wisdom and the most skill of thought among you, that they may show forth to me without reserve whatsoever I ask of them.’