Elene IX

When Elene, wielding power over her warriors,
heard of Judas’s bearing, she quickly ordered that he
be allowed up from the nearness and from the constraining chasm,
up from that cruel house. This her men immediately carried out,
and they mercifully let him up from his imprisonment,
just as the queen had commanded. Then they stepped
stiff-hearted to that place upon the hill that the Lord
had before been hanged, Heaven-realm’s Warden,
the God-Child, on the gallows. However, he knew not
readily, humbled through hunger, where that Holy Rood,
through the fiend’s wiles was covered by the earth,
it remained in its bed, its death-rest, for a long time,
secreted fast from the people. Judas lofted up a word,
revealing his courage, and he spoke in Hebrew: (709-24)

“Redeeming Lord, you that owns power over all judgment,
and you that worked through the might of your glory
heaven and earth and the tempestuous waves,
the embrace of the broad sea, together with all creation.
And you measure out with your hands the entire firmament
and the high-heavens, and you yourself sit, Wielder of Victories,
over the most noble of angel-kin, who fare throughout
the skies wound in light—great is their power and majesty.
Nor can the kindred of men climb up there from the earth-ways
in their body-house amid the illuminated host, the heralds of glory.
You have created them and set them into your service,
holy and heavenly. (725-42)

“Among them there are six orders named in perpetual joy,
those who are surrounded by and adorned with six wings,
shining in fairness. Among them there are four who in flight
eternally observe the majestic service before the face of the Eternal Deemer,
singing forevermore in glory with a clear voice the praises
of the Heaven-king, the lovely spirit of songs, and they speak
these words with voices unstained—their name is the Cherubim:
‘Blessed is the holy
God of the High-angels,
the Wielder of Armies!
Filled with glory
is the heaven and earth
and the high-majesty
is revealed in glory!’
There are two more among them, victory-kin in the sky,
that men call Seraphim by name. One must hold Paradise-plain
and the holy Tree of Life with a fiery sword. The hardened edge
quakes, the patterned blade shivers, and it alters its shade
in his terrifying grip. (743-59a)

“These things you, Lord God, will wield forever—and you cast out
the foolish, the guilt-working, the sinful wretches from the heavens.
Then that accursed shoal beneath the shadow-house must be
felled to the earth, in a damnation of torments, where they now endure
within the welling flame, the killing pain in the embrace of dragons,
encased in the darkness. He withsook your judging sovereignty—
therefore he must suffer in miseries, foulest of all foulness,
and stained endure a slave’s bondage. There he cannot, cast away
your word, the author of all sin, fastened in tortures, bound in pain. (759b-71)

“Should it be your will, Ruler of Angels, that he shall govern
who was hung upon the cross, who through Mary was conceived
in middle-earth in the form of a child, the Prince of Angels—
and if he were not your sinless son, he never would have performed
so many true miracles in this world’s realm during the count of his days;
nor would you have awakened him from death so gloriously,
Wielder of Peoples, before the masses, if he were not the child of your glory
through that illuminated woman—do it now, Father of Angels,
show forth your sign. Just as you obeyed that blessed man,
Moses at prayer, so that you, God of Might, revealed unto that noble man
at that seasonable time under the mountainous slope the bones of Joseph,
so I wish to entreat you, Joy of Hosts, should it be your will,
through that bright creation, so that gold-hoard be revealed,
that was hidden long ago. (772-92a)

“Let there rise up now, First of Life, a breeze-bouncing smoke
from this blessed spot of land beneath the orbit of the heavens.
I will believe in you the better the more firmly I establish my spirit,
my hope unwavering upon the crucified Christ, so that he might
truly be the Savior of my soul, Eternal Almighty, the King of Israel,
who will rule perpetual mansions of Glory in the heavens
for ever and ever without end.” (792b-801)

Elene VIII (after a long delay)

Then blessed Elene plainly gave him answer before her earls:
“If you wish to have a home in heaven-realm with the angels
as well as a life here on earth, victory’s recompense in the sky,
say to me quickly where that cross of the Heaven-King abides,
holy under the soil, that you all have concealed for some time,
through men of murder with evil deeds. (?) (619-26)

Judas’s soul was sadder, hot about his heart, and woe at both ends,
whether he relinquished both hope for heaven’s realm in his mind
and this present rule under the skies, or whether he did not
then reveal the Cross, as he spoke: “How can I find what has been so long
since missing in the course of winters? It is now a great number;
two hundred years or more reckoned by count have hastened away.
I can not relate it nor do I know that exact number.
There is now many wise and good counselors that have come before us,
keen-witted men. I was born in my youth in a later time afterwards,
a boy-young man. I know not what I know not, nor may I find
in my spirit what occurred so long ago.” (627-41)

Elene spoke to him in reply: “How does it happen that among
this human nation that you know so fully in your memory
all the individual deeds of the Trojans done through battle?
That was much further ago, the open ancient struggle,
than was this noble occurrence, by the course of years.
You readily know how to relate it quickly, what slaughters
there were in body count, what spear-playing warriors
were fallen in death, under the shelter of shields.
You have set it in writing the tombs beneath the stone cliffs
and their location as well, and the count of winters.” (642-54)

Judas spoke, bearing his sorrow-sadness: “We remember,
my lady, those army-works clearly out of necessity,
and we have committed that warrior-strife to writing, the bearing of nations,
but we have never heard of this cross through the mouth of any man,
to be revealed to men except here and now.” (655-61)

The noble queen gave him answer: “You deny too strongly
the truth and the right concerning that Tree of Life,
and you said just a little while ago truly about the victory-tree
among your people, and now you turn to a lie.” (662-66)

Judas replied to her, saying that he spoke about it in sorrow
and in the greatest doubt, believing that humiliating affliction
awaited him. Quickly Caesar’s kinswoman spoke to him:
“So, we have heard it, through the holy books revealed to men
of the Prince-Child of the King who was hanged on Calvary,
God’s own Spirit-son. You must wholly inform this wisdom,
just as the writings tell, concerning that place where the location
of Calvary may be found, before a killing seize you,
a death for your sins, so that I can cleanse that place afterwards,
by the desire of Christ and as a service to men, so that Holy God
may fulfill, the Mighty Prince, the purpose of my heart
and my only desire, the Glory-Giver of Armies, the Comforter of Souls.” (667-82a)

To her Judas spoke, stiff-hearted: “I don’t know anything
about that place, and of neither the field
nor the matter know I one whit.” (682b-84)

Elene responded with an angry heart:
“I swear by the Son of the Maker, the Hanged God,
that you must be killed by hunger before your kinsmen,
unless you abandon these lyings
and patently reveal to me the truth!” (685-90)

Then she ordered her companions to lead him still living
and shove him in his guilt—her servants made no delay—
into a dry well, where he, lacking support, dwelt
for the space of seven nights in his sorrow under the harm-closure,
tortured by hunger, clung to with chains. Upon the seventh day,
he began to call out, exhausted with hurts, miserable and meat-lacking;
his strength was sapped: “I beseech you by the God of the Heavens,
that you allow me up from these torments, humbled from the pains of hunger.
I will eagerly reveal that Holy Tree, now I can conceal it no longer
out of hunger. This imprisoning is too much, this cruel compulsion
so severe and this pain too harsh in my count of days.
I can no longer withstand it, nor hide that Tree of Life,
although I was before driven through with foolishness—
now I realize the truth myself too late.” (691-708)

Elene, part VII

Here is the seventh part of Elene for your Old E delectation. This section features Judas's great metaphor of the man confronted by a loaf and a stone in the desert. This stanza felt very complicated and difficult: I had to render its idioms into more modern ones, perhaps choosing the stone of my own. I'll only know until I have chewed on it for a bit. Please let me know how you like it...

-------------------------

VII.


The words of speeches multiplied, and men counseled
about either half, some hither, some thither, deliberating
and pondering. Then came a company of thanes
to that warlike assembly. The heralds called out,
the messengers of Caesar: “The queen invites you
warriors to the hall, so that you may rightly relate
your assembly’s judgment. There is need of your advice
at the moot-hall, your heart’s wisdom.”
They were ready, sad-souled princes of the people,
when they were invited by hard commandment;
to go to the house, to prove the power of their craft. (547-58a)

Then the queen began to address the Hebrew men with words,
asking the soul-weary about their ancient writings, how in the world
their prophets sang before, ghost-holy men, about the Child of God,
where the Prince suffered, the True Son of the Maker, for the souls’ love.
They were stiff, harder than stone—they did not wish to make known
that mystery nor speak any answer to her, her bitter enemies,
of anything she asked them, yet they gave exception to every word,
fixed in their purpose, which she asked them. They said that they
had never heard, early or late, any whit of such things in their lives. (558b-72)

Elene spoke and said to them in wrath: “I wish to speak a truth
unto you all, and this will never become a lie upon my life:
if you who stand before me persist longer in these lies,
with shameful untruths, a blazing pyre will grasp you on the hilltop,
the hottest of battle-flames, and the bouncing fires will destroy
your raw flesh. Your lies must lead you unto a world’s-parting.
Nor can you prove these words that you have for a while now
unrightly covered beneath an unclean corner, nor can you
conceal these deeds, nor obscure their deep power.” (573-84a)

Then they were anticipating their deaths, their pyre and their life’s-end,
and there they handed over one of them ready-witted of lore—
he was named Judas by his kinsmen— him they gave unto the queen,
saying that he was exceptionally wise: “He can make known the truth
to you, draw back the mystery of events, just as you wordfully ask him,
the law from its beginning forth unto the end.
He is on earth of noble kindred, wise of word-craft
and a prophet’s son, bold in assembly. It is innate to him
that he has keen answers and skill in his breast.
He will reveal to you before this mingling of men,
the gift of wisdom, through great power, just as your mind desires.” (584b-97)

Elene allowed everyone to seek their own homes in peace,
and held Judas alone as a hostage, and then eagerly commanded
him to rightfully teach her about that cross that had been long secreted
in its grave, and she called him apart on his own. Elene spoke
to that lone man, the glory-blessed queen: “There are two ways ready for you,
either life or death, just as whichever you prefer to choose.*
Now quickly reveal to which condition do you wish to consent.” (598-608)

Judas spoke with her—he could not avoid that sorrow
nor avert the lady’s malice, for he was in the queen’s power—
“How can it be for one treading the wilderness,
miserable and meat-lacking in the wasteland,
pressed by hunger, and then he happens upon a loaf
and a stone both together in his sight, hard and soft,
so that he grabs the stone to be a comfort against his hunger,
heeding not the bread, turning toward starvation,
and renouncing the meal, scorning the better of the two,
when he has both at hand?” (609-18)

Elene VI online

“Then I gave answer boldly unto my father, the old law-counselor:
‘How could it happen in this worldly realm that our fathers
would wish to send by their hands upon that Holy One
unto the soul-fire through wrathful understanding
if they knew beforehand that he was the Christ, the King in the heavens,
the true Son of the Maker, the Savior of Souls?” (454-61)

“Then my elder replied to me, wise of spirit, my father speaking:
‘Think, young man, about the high-power of God, the name of the Redeemer.
That word is unspeakable by any mortal man, nor can man
discover it by oneself upon the mould-way. Never did I seek those counsels
that those people wished to seek, but always did I hold myself
aloof from those sins, working no shame at all in my spirit.
I, often and eagerly, made contest against the unrighteous,
when the wise elders held debate, seeking in their souls
how they might hang up the Son of the Maker, the Helm of Men,
The Lord of All, of angel and man, the Child Most Noble.
Nor could they so foolish afflict him with death,
men accursed, as they had intended before, to beset
him with wounds, although he after awhile on the gallows
sent forth his soul, the Victorious Son of God. (462-81a)

“‘Then from the cross the Wielder of the Heavens was lifted,
the Majesty of All Majesties, and three nights later
he was waiting in his tomb under the close of darkness,
and upon the third day, the Light of All Lights arose,
Princes of Angels, and before his thanes, the True Lord of Victories,
revealed himself, bright of joy. (481b-89a)

“‘Then your brother took on after a time the bath of baptism,
the radiant belief. Then for the love of the Lord,
Stephen was stoned to death; he yielded not evil for evil,
but trouble-strong spoke for his olden enemies,
begging the Triumph-King that he not set those woe-deeds
upon the Jews as their punishment—that they out of envy
deprived a unguilted man of his life, free from sin, by Saul’s lesson,
just as he through fiend-ship judged many of Christ’s folk
to death. Yet again the Lord showed mercy to him, so that he became
a comfort to many people, afterward the God of Creation
The Savior of Men, changed his name and he after that was called
Saint Paul by name, and there was never another better law-learned man
than him under the shelter of the skies ever since,
born of woman or man in this world, although he bade
Stephen to be killed with stones upon the hill, your own brother. (489b-510)

“‘Now you can hear, my dear man, how honor-fast is the Sovereign of All,
though we often make crime against him by the wound of sins,
if we soon make remedy for our harmful deeds and desist
from transgressions again. Therefore I truly and my dear father
since believe that the God of All Majesties suffered,
the Teacher of Life, with hateful torments for the over-need of men.
Therefore I will teach you through mystery-songs, my dearest boy,
so that you will never do blasphemy, envy nor wicked accusations,
grim responses against God’s Child. Then you will merit the eternal life
that will be given to you in heaven, the best victory-prize.’ (511-27)

“Thus my father in former-days taught me wordfully, ungrown,
instructing me with true sayings—his name was Simon,
a man wise through anxiety. Now you all know readily
what seems best to you to reveal, if this queen of ours
inquires about that tree, now you know my
soul’s understanding and my heart-thoughts.” (528-35)

Then the wisest among that group of men spoke in reply
to Judas, wordfully: “Never have we heard of any warrior
among this nation, no other thane except you who now
makes it known about such a secret event.
Do what seems best, you wise in ancient-songs,
if you are asked in that company of men. That man needs wisdom,
sly words, and the perspicuity of a prophet, who must give answer
to that noble woman before such an army at council.” (536-46)

That's it for Elene V!

Then they went away from the council, just as the mighty queen,
bold among the cities, had commanded them do. Sorrow-minded,
eagerly considering, they sought with the crafty thinkers what sin
it might be that, in that people, they might have done against the Caesar,
of which that queen accused them. Then there before the nobles,
one spoke up, ready-wise in his songs, crafty of words—
his name was Judas: “I know readily that she wishes to ask
about that victory-tree upon which the Wielder of Nations suffered,
lacking of all sins, God’s own son, who guiltless of any crime,
through hate our fathers was hanged on a high beam in former-days.
That was a terrible thought! (411-26a)

“Now there is much need that we firmly establish our spirits,
that we do not become an informer to that murder, nor
to where that holy tree was buried after the battle-strife,
unless we should destroy the wise and ancient writings
and forsake the teaching of our fathers. It will not be long
after that that the lineage of Israel or the belief of our earls
will be possible to reign any longer across middle-earth
if this become known. So said my grandfather,
victory-strong, he was called Sachius, a wise and aged prophet,
to my own father and my father unto his son,*
when he departed from this world, he spoke to me this word: (426b-440)

‘If it happens to you in the days of your life that you hear
wise men asking about the holy tree, rearing up strife
about that victory-tree upon which the True King was hanged,
the Warden of Heaven’s realm, Warrior of All Peace,
then you must reveal it quickly, my dear son, before killing
seizes you. Never after that can the Hebrew people,
deliberating counsel, hold reign or rule over the multitude,
except that they shall live forever and ever filled with joy
of the majesty and the lordship—*
they will praise and love the hanging king.’” (441-53)

"þurh hwæt," l. 400

I am having trouble getting a good translation out of the following lines:

“Hwæt, we Ebreisce æ leornedon,
þa on fyrn-dagum fæderas cuðon
æt godes earce, ne we geare cunnon
þurh hwæt ðu ðus hearde, hlæfdige, us
eorre wurde.

The line itself is not too difficult, and I think I've toggled everything into place except the prepositional phrase "þurh hwæt" --assuming that it is a prepositional phrase-- Where do these words go? The problem seems to be that the final part of this sentence is already modified within an inch of its syntax, bearing the weight of both "geare" (readily) and "hearde" (sternly, severely).

Checking in with older translations was not very helpful either. Kennedy, my preferred translator (love love his edition of the Cynewulf poems), provides this as a translation:

Lo, we have learned the Hebraic law, which in the days of old our fathers knew, at the ark of the convenant of God, nor know we well (geare) wherefore thus heavily (hearde), O Lady, thou art become wrathful against us (p. 99)

And Bradley gives it like this:

But we have learned the Hebrew law which in days long since our fathers knew at the ark of God, and we do not readily (geare) understand why you, lady, have been so sternly (hearde) angry with us.

In neither case does "þurh hwæt" seem to appear (unless Kennedy's "wherefore" translates it, which I guess could be a possibility). What's more aggravating is that the adjective "hwæt" (meaning "Quick, active, vigorous, stout, bold, brave") does not seem to be declined. If it is prepositional phrase, it means something like "through, or by means of active, quick, or bold men," or could be translated roughly as "quickly, boldly."

I really don't know. Perhaps you have a solution you'd like to share with me?

* Update: Thanks to Paul for pointing me in the right direction *

* And silly me for not remembering that hwæt is a declined form of hwa! *

Elene V has tumbled out

Below please find the lion's share of Elene's fifth part. Today I just kept going and going with the translation and ended up with a whole pile of lines. Some I am allowing to cool before posting them, others I have posted prematurely and have had to make some corrections or changes. Read below and see what you think...


V.

“So—we have heard this through the holy books that the Lord
gave you renown not-ignoble,* the Maker gave you plenty of power.
He said unto Moses how you must heed the Heaven-King,
and perform his teachings. Soon this vexed you,
and you had opposed the Righteous One, rejecting the Radiant
shaper of us all, the Lord of Lords, and persisting in error
over the rightness of God. Now you go swiftly and find again
those men that best know the ancient books by craft of wisdom,
your law-rights, that know how to say answers to me
through their broad spirits.” (364-76)

Then the proud-hearted went back in a band, mind-sorrowing,
just as the queen ordered them to. They found five hundred
prescient men, selected from among their companions,
who held the most learning-craft through heart’s memory,
in the wisdom of their spirits. They were invited to the hall again
in very little time, the wardens of the city. The queen began
to address them wordfully, looking over them all. (377-85)

“Often you have performed foolish deeds, cursed wrack-kin,
and despised the writing, the teaching of your fathers,
but never more than now when you rejected the cure
for your blindness, and you withsake the truth and the right,
that the son of the Wielder was born in Bethlehem,
the only Son and King, the Greatest of Nobles.
Although you know the law, the words of the prophets,
you do not wish to recognize, sin-working, the truth.” (386-95)

The wise Jews then answered her with one heart:
“Listen, we have learned the Hebrew law, which in days past
our fathers have known at the Ark of God. We do not readily know
so far why you are severely wrathful with us, lady.
We know not what sin that we have performed in this folk-share,
nor any great evil we have made against you.”
(396-403)

Elene spoke and before those earl said, the woman addressed
them plainly, loud before the multitude:
“Go away quickly now, and apart seek out the wise among you,
who has the most power and mind-craft, bold enough to reveal
honestly every thing that I ask them. (404-10)