The Elene of Cynewulf/Chapter 3
3. The Dream.
The army encamped near at hand beside the river, nobles about their prince, for the space of a single night after they first beheld the course of their foes. Then unto the emperor himself in his sleep, as he70 slumbered among his retinue, was disclosed the marvel of a dream, shown unto him with soul uplifted in the hope of victory. Him thought there appeared before him in the form of a man a certain warrior, radiant, resplendent, brilliant, more glorious than he ever beheld ’neath the heavens, before or since. Then, dight with his75 boar-crested helmet, he started up from slumber, and straightway the messenger, a bright herald of glory, spake unto him and called him by his name, while the veil of night parted asunder: ‘O Constantine, the King of angels, Wielder of fates and Lord of hosts, hath commanded to offer thee a80 covenant. Fear thou not, though foreign peoples threaten thee with terror and bitter strife. Look to heaven, unto the Lord of glory. There shalt thou find aid and the token of victory.’85
He was soon ready at the holy one’s behest; he opened wide the secret places of his heart; he gazed on high, as the messenger, faithful weaver of peace, had bidden him. Over the roof of clouds he saw the beauteous tree of glory, gleaming with treasure and decked with gold—and the gems shone90 brightly. The shining tree was inscribed with letters of brilliance and light: ‘By this sign thou shalt overcome the foe in the dread peril; by this thou shalt stay the hated host.’
Then the light vanished, ascended up on high,95 and together with it the messenger, unto the throng of the pure ones. And the king, the leader of men, was the blither and the freer from grief in his heart by reason of that fair vision.