Page:The Elene of Cynewulf.djvu/28

 thee off, quickly declare that never shall the people of the Hebrews, taking wise counsel together, hold sway and rule over men, but the glory and kingdom shall endure of those who, filled with gladness from age to age, revere and love the crucified King.

‘Then I boldly gave answer unto my father, the aged counselor:—“How came it to pass in the kingdom of the world that with wrathful intent our fathers laid hands on the Holy One to put him to death, if they had knowledge that he was Christ, the King upon the cross, true Son of the Creator, and Saviour of souls?

‘And my parent gave answer unto me, wisely my father spake:—“Recognize, O youth, the surpassing power of God, the name of the Saviour which may not be expressed by any man. No man on earth can search it out. Never would I visit the council which this people held, but I ever kept myself aloof from their sin, nor wrought shame unto my soul in any way. Many times I earnestly withstood the unrighteous act when the wise men sat in council, and sought in their heart how they might crucify the Son of the Creator, the Bulwark of men and Lord of all, of angels and of mortals, the most noble of heroes.”

But these foolish and wretched men could not bring death upon Him as they weened, nor beset Him about with agony, though He, the victorious Son of God, for a little while yielded up His ghost upon the cross. Then the King of the heavens, the Glory of all glory, was raised from off the rood, and abode three nights in the tomb, within the place of darkness; and upon the third day He arose living, Light of all light and Lord of angels, and revealed him-