Page:The Elene of Cynewulf.djvu/50

 Mary, to each man who keepeth in memory the most sacred festival of the cross beneath the heavens, which the almighty King over all protected with his arm! Finit.

Old and ready for death by reason of this failing house, I thus have woven a web of words and wondrously have gathered it up; time and again have I pondered and sifted my thought in the prison of the night. I knew not fully the truth concerning the cross until wisdom revealed a broader knowledge through its marvelous power o’er the thought of my heart. I was stained with deeds of evil, fettered in sins, torn by doubts, girt round with bitter needs, until the King of might wondrously granted learning unto me as a comfort for my old age; until he gave unto me his spotless grace, and imbued my heart with it, revealed it as glorious, in time broadened it, set free my body, unlocked my heart, and loosed the power of song, which joyfully and gladly I have used in the world. Not one time alone, but often had I thought upon the tree of glory, before I had the miracle revealed regarding the glorious tree, as in the course of events I found related in books and in writings concerning the sign of victory. Ever until that time was the man buffeted in the surge of sorrow, was he a weakly flaring torch (C), although he had received treasures and appled gold in the mead-hall; wroth in heart