After these words the crowd stood listening;
  All silent were they through the spacious hall. 
  The elders then began again to say,
  Those sinful men—­the truth they did not know!—­
  That it was magic art and sorcery
  That made the shining stone to talk to men. 
  Evil was blossoming in their hearts, and hate
  Welled hot as fire within their wicked breasts,
  A serpent, foe to joy, a poison dire; 770
  And by their words of mocking were revealed
  Their doubting hearts and thoughts of wickedness,
  With murder girt about.  Then did the Lord
  Command the stone, that mighty work, to go
  Along the way, from out the open place,
  To tread the paths of earth, the meadows green,
  To bear God’s message into Canaan land,
  And in God’s name command that Abraham
  And his descendants twain should rise again
  From out their sepulchre, and leave their place 780
  Of rest beneath the earth, take up their limbs,
  Receive a soul again and youth’s estate;
  That those wise patriarchs should come once more
  Among mankind, to tell the folk what God
  It was that they had known by His own might.

    It went and journeyed on the border-paths
  As mighty God, Creator of mankind,
  Commanded it, until it came to Mamre
  All dazzling bright, as God had bidden it. 
  There had the bodies of those patriarchs 790
  Long time lain hid.  It bade them straight arise
  From out the earth, those princes, Abraham,
  Isaac, and Jacob, leaving their deep sleep
  To meet their God; it bade them to prepare
  To come before the presence of the Lord;
  For they must tell the folk Who at the first
  Brought forth this earth all-green, and heaven above,
  And where that Ruler was who stablished firm
  All that great work.  They durst not long delay
  Fulfilment of the glorious King’s command. 800
  So went those prophets three, those valiant men,
  And trod the earth; they let their sepulchres
  Stand open, for they would straightway proclaim
  The Father of creation.  Then the folk
  With fear was stricken, when those Princes old
  Honored the King of glory with their words. 
  The Lord of might bade them forthwith return
  To blessedness, to seek a second time
  The happiness of heaven in holy peace,
  And there to live in bliss for evermore. 810

    Lo, thou mayst hear, dear youth, how He performed
  By His commands full many miracles;
  Yet even so those people blind of heart
  Did not believe His teachings.  I could tell
  Many more deeds which He, the Prince of heaven,
  Wrought on the earth—­a great and famous tale: 
  Such deeds as thou couldst never understand,
  Nor comprehend in heart, though thou art wise.” 
  Thus Andrew all day long showed forth the lore
  Of holy Jesus in his words, until
  A sleep came sudden o’er him as he sailed 820
  Upon the whale’s road nigh to Heaven’s King.