Classic Poem

A Voice from heaven was heard on earth
In the land of Achaia where Andrew lodged
Leading the people in the way of Life.
To the great-hearted hero the Glory of kings,
Lord of hosts and Maker of men,
Opened His mind-hoard, uttered this word:
" Go forth straightway faring afar
To seek the coasts where the Cannibals dwell
With murderous fury defending their land.
Such is their custom that in that country
No foreign man is allowed to live;
If it be that they find one defenseless there
Deadly torture and death is his lot.
In bondage of chains your brother lies
Among that people. Three nights from now
Through heathen hatred, smitten with spears,
He shall send forth his soul on a far journey
Except ere that hour you haste to help. "
Unto Him promptly Andrew replied:
" O God of heaven and Lord of glory,
How can I fare on so far a course
Over the deep ocean so soon as Thou sayest?
But this Thine angel may easily do.
From heaven he sees the ocean-stretches,
All the swan-road and the salt sea-streams,
The tumult of waves, the water-terror,
The ways that lengthen across wide lands.
I have no friends in that foreign folk,
I know not the mind of any man there,
And the ocean-ways across the cold water
To me are unknown. "
Then God made answer:
" Alas! Andrew! that ever your heart
Should be slow to this journey! Slight were the task
For God Almighty to command on earth,
Under the sun, that the city be moved
Unto this country, the stately seat
And all who live there, if the Lord of glory
Decreed it by His word. You may not weary
In this wayfaring, nor waver in heart
If you think to keep covenant, compact with God.
" At the hour be ready. In performing this errand
Can be no delay. You shall risk your life;
The path shall lead to the power of the foe
Where the crash of battle shall come upon you,
The war-might of heroes and heathen strife.
In the early dawn with the coming of day
At the ocean's margin straightway take ship
And drive through the surges on the cold sea.
My blessing go with you where you go. " . . .
Then Andrew at dawn at the break of day
Over the sand dunes strode to the shore
Keen of courage, his comrades beside him
Tramping the shingle. The ocean resounded,
The combers crashed. The hero rejoiced
When he saw at the sea's edge a broad-beamed boat.
Morning sun came, the brightest of beacons,
Heaven's candle flaming over the flood,
Holy light dawning out of the dark.
He saw there waiting three stately sailors
Geared for the voyage, great-hearted men
In their wave-boat sitting as if come from over sea.
'Twas the Lord Himself, the Leader of men,
Almighty, Eternal, with His angels twain.
They were garbed like mariners, seafaring men,
When they plunge in their keels over cold water
On a far journey o'er the flood's expanse.
Ready for sea as he stood on the shingle
Andrew bespoke them with hearty hail:
" Sea-crafty men, whence come you sailing
In your ocean-plunger, your peerless bark?
Whence have the sea-streams brought your ship
O'er the tossing main? "
The Almighty made answer
As if He wist not what man it was
Of mortal men who awaited His word,
With whom He held speech on the sandy shore:
" From the Mermedonian folk we have come faring
On a far journey. Over the flood
Dowered with speed our swift sea-stallion,
Our high-prowed courser, carried us on
Along the whale-path until at last
We came to this country urged by the waves
As the wind drove us. "
Humble of heart
Andrew made answer: " A boon I would beg
Though I've little to give of treasure or gold,
That you take us along in your tall-sided ship,
Your high-prowed floater, o'er the home of the whale
To the place of that people. And God will reward
Your kindness to us in this ocean-crossing. " . . .
The Prince of angels made reply,
The Saviour of men, from the ship's prow:
" Gladly will we bear you o'er the fishes' bath
To the land that your longing leads you to seek
When you have paid toll, the appointed tribute,
Even as sailors over the ship's side
Are willing to agree. "
Then Andrew gave answer
Friendless, penniless, making reply:
" I have no gold, no goodly treasure,
No food or riches or woven rings,
No land or linked jewels, to spur your desire
Or whet your willingness as your words suggest. "
The Sovereign of men where He sat on the gangway
Said unto Andrew o'er the breaking seas:
" How does it happen, dearest friend,
That lacking money you would make a voyage
O'er the climbing billows, past the cold cliffs,
To the far sea-limits? Have you no food
To bring you comfort, or clear water
For your refreshment, on the ocean-flood?
Hard is the life for one who long
Tries ocean-voyaging. "
Andrew in answer,
Wise of wit, his word-hoard unlocked:
" Ill befits it since God has given you
Food and fortune and worldly wealth
That you question me thus with cruel pride
And bitter word. Better a man
Hail the wayfarer with humble heart
And kindly spirit, as Christ once bade,
Our glorious Warden. We are His thanes,
His chosen champions. He is True King,
God and Ruler of celestial glory,
One Lord Eternal of every created thing, " . . .
Eternal God answered:
" If, as you say, you are His servants
Who raised up heaven high above earth,
And have kept the law of the Holy Lord,
Gladly will I sail you over the sea-flood
As you have begged. " Then the heroes brave,
Bold of spirit, embarked in the ship
And their hearts rejoiced in the ocean-journey. . . .
There the saint took seat near to the Shipman,
Noble beside noble. Never did I hear
Of fairer vessel more richly freighted
With stately treasure. Within it sat
Glorious princes, and goodly thanes.
And the Powerful Prince, Eternal and Mighty,
Bade His angel, His honored thane,
Bring food to nourish those needy men
On the thronging billows, that they might the better
Endure their lot on the surging deep.
Then the depths were troubled. The horn-fish dart
Gliding through ocean; the gray gull wheeled
Searching for carrion. The sun grew dark,
A gale arose and great waves broke;
The sea-streams were stirred. Halyards were humming,
Sails were drenched. Sea-terror grew
In the welter of waves. The thanes were adread
Who sailed with Andrew on the ocean-stream,
Nor hoped with life ever to come to land.
Not yet was it known Who steered their ship
Through the breaking seas.
Then again the saint
As a loyal thane thanked his Great Leader
On the ocean-highway, the oar-stirred sea,
Because his strength had been stayed with food.
" For this repast may the Righteous Ruler
Author of life, and Lord of hosts,
Grant you reward, and give you for food
The bread of heaven because you accorded me
Love and good will on the mountainous waves.
My youthful warriors, willing thanes,
Are sorely troubled. The sea resounds,
The surging ocean; the depths are stirred,
Terribly shaken. My troop are aghast,
My force of brave followers deeply dismayed. "
Then from the helm spoke the Maker of men:
" Let us steer the ship, our floater, to shore
O'er the ocean-main and there let your men
Tarry on land until you return. "
But straightway the eorls, strong to endure,
Gave Him answer; they would not agree
That they should forsake at the vessel's stem
Their beloved leader and choose the land:
" If we desert you whither shall we wander
Lordless and lonely, lacking all good?
We shall be loathed in every land,
Hated of all men where valiant heroes
Sit in assembly holding debate
Who best has bolstered his lord in battle
When hand and buckler were bearing the brunt,
Hacked with swords, on the field of fate. " . . .
Then the waves subsided, the sea's fierce tumult;
The rush of the waters was turned away.
The saint's heart was happy that the terror was past.
Sage of counsel he began to speak,
Wise of wit he unlocked his word-hoard:
" Never have I met more skillful mariner
Or more sea-crafty than you seem to me;
No stouter sailor, none sager in counsel
Or wiser in word. A boon I would beg
Illustrious eorl, though it's little I have
Of goodly treasure or gifts of gold.
Gladly would I gain, O glorious Prince,
Your welcome friendship if I may win it,
And you shall have grace and holy hope
In heavenly glory if you'll graciously share
Your wise counsels with sea-weary men.
O noble hero, since the Maker of men,
Our King, has granted you glory and might,
One art from you I am eager to learn:
If you will teach me how you sail your ship,
Your spray-drenched floater, across the sea.
" Sixteen voyages early and late
It has been my lot to sail in my sea-boat
With freezing hands as I smote the sea,
The ocean-stream. This now is another.
Never have I known one like to you
Of the sons of men steering over stem.
The roaring billows beat on the strand;
Full swift is this bark and most like a bird
Foamy-necked faring over the waves.
Full well I know I never have seen
In any sailor more wondrous sea-craft.
Most like it is as if on land
The boat stood still where wind and storm
Could stir it not, nor breaking billows
Shatter the high prow; yet it speeds over ocean
Swift under sail. You yourself are young,
O warden of warriors, man of the sea;
Not many your winters! Yet in your mind
You have an eorl's answers; in any assembly
You have wise understanding of every word. "
God the Eternal made answer to Andrew:
" Oft it befalls on the watery way
That storms arise as we break through the billows
In ships with sailors, in our ocean-steeds.
At times it goes hard with us on the high seas
Even though we survive the perilous voyage.
But never may Ocean work ill to any
Against God's will. He governs life
Who binds the seas, Who bridles and fetters
The dark flood. Over every folk
He rules by right Who raised up the heavens,
With His hands fastened and fixed their support.
That bright habitation He filled with bliss,
By His sole might blessed the abode of angels.
" Now is it known and clearly disclosed
That you are His servant Who sits in glory,
For the sea perceived, the circle of ocean,
That you had the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The billows abated, the tumult of breakers;
The terror was stilled and the wide-stretching waves.
The seas subsided when the water saw
That He Whose might shaped heavenly glory
In His safe-keeping held you close. "