The Elene of Cynewulf/Chapter 7
7. The Journey of Elene.
Then was the laud of Christ in the heart of the emperor, and he was ever mindful of that glorious tree. And he bade his mother fare unto the Jews upon a journey with a throng of people, and zealously215 with her band of heroes to seek where the holy tree of glory, the rood of the King, was hid beneath the earth.
Nor would Elene slight such a journey, nor be220 heedless of the word of the prince her son; but the woman was soon ready for the welcome way, as the bulwark of heroes and mail-clad warriors had bidden her. And thereupon throngs of nobles225 made ready for the voyage over the ocean. The ships stood ready by the shores of the sea, bound ocean-coursers resting on the deep.
And the journey of the queen was plainly manifest when she sought the swell of the ocean with230 her company; many a noble stood there, near to the water’s edge, and from time to time crowds of men pressed across the way.
Then they loaded the ships with battle-dress, shields and spears; mail-clad warriors and men and235 women embarked thereon. And they let the steep ocean-speeders course over the foamy deep; often the hull bore the shock of the billows on the ocean-way, and the sea raised her song. Never heard240 I before nor since of woman leading a fairer force upon the paths of the ocean, the streams of the deep. There one might see, if he beheld that voyage, ships cleave the watery way and haste beneath swelling245 sails, sea-coursers leap, and wave-floaters speed ahead. The proud warriors were glad; the queen rejoiced in the journey.
When the ring-prowed ships had reached their harbor in the land of the Greeks over the fastness250 of flood, they left their vessels, their olden water-homes, lashed by the sea, bound with anchors, to await upon the surging deep the fate of the men, when the warrior queen with her band of heroes255 should again seek the eastern ways. Many a woven corselet, trusty sword, and glittering battle-sark, many a helmet and glorious boar-crest, were there to be seen among the warriors. The spearmen,260 heroes about their queen, were eager for the march. The brave fighters, heralds of the emperor, warriors clad in armor, went forth rejoicing into the land of the Greeks. Many a gold-set jewel, the gift of their prince, was to be seen there among the company.265
But the blessed Elene, zealous and earnest of purpose, was mindful of her lord’s will that over fields of battle she should seek the land of the Jews with her trusty band of shield-bearers, her company of270 spearmen; and so it befell within a little space thereafter that the multitude of men, heroes famed in war and chieftains of spear-renown, entered into the city of Jerusalem in a vast throng with the noble queen.275