man shall this be a guard invincible against stress in war.  Concerning it sang the prophet, wise in thought, his mind saw deeply 1190 the understanding of wisdom.  These words he spake:—­“It shall be known that the horse of a king is to be in the midst of brave heroes, decked with bit and bridle-rings.  It shall be called a holy sign 1195 of God, and he shall be hardy and honored in war who guides the horse."’

19.  Conclusion.

Then straightway in the presence of the nobles Elene accomplished all.  She bade deck the bridle of the prince, gift-giver of men, and unto her own son she sent the glorious present over the stream 1200 of the ocean as an offering.  Then she bade assemble together in the town, in that holy city, those whom she knew as the best among the Jews, that race of heroes.  And the queen began to teach the 1205 throng of her dear subjects that they should steadfastly hold to the love of the Lord, and maintain peace one with another, and that they should hearken 1210 unto the lore of the teacher, and the customs of the Christians, which Cyriacus, wise in the knowledge of books, should declare unto them.  The bishopric was well established.  Often there came to him from afar the lame, the halt, the weak, the 1215 maimed, the bleeding, the leprous, the blind, the poor, the sad in heart, and ever found they health and relief there at the hands of their bishop during all of their life.  And again Elene gave unto him gifts of great worth when she was ready for the journey back to her own land, and when she bade 1220 all those who glorified God in that kingdom, both men and women, to honor in their thought with heart and strength that great day on which the holy rood was found, most wondrous tree of them that 1225 have grown up from the earth, laden with leaves.  And, save for six nights ere the coming of summer on the kalends of May, the spring was gone.  May hell’s portal be closed and heaven’s opened, may the 1230 eternal kingdom of the angels be revealed with joy unceasing, and may their part be assigned with Mary, to each man who keepeth in memory the most sacred festival of the cross beneath the heavens, 1235 which the almighty King over all protected with his arm!  Finit.

20.  Epilogue.

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 1240 the cross[1] 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 1245 bitter needs, until the King of might wondrously granted learning unto me as a comfort for my old age;