'Lord of the house,' Gn. Cf. W.
[6] The Bishop of Rome.
III.
Then was in bliss the giver of treasure,
The battle-brave king. To him was new joy 195
Inspired in his soul; greatest of comforts
And highest of hopes was heaven's Defence.
Then gan he God's law by day and by night
Through gift of the Spirit with zeal proclaim,
And truly himself devoted he eagerly, 200
Gold-friend of men, to the service of God,
Spear-famed, unfaltering. Then found the aetheling,
Defence of his folk, through learned men,[1]
War-brave, spear-bold, in books of God,
Where had been hanged with shouts of the host 205
On tree of the rood the Ruler of heaven
Through envy and hate, just as the old fiend
Misled with his lies, the people deceived,
The race of the Jews, so that God himself
They hanged, Lord of hosts: hence in misery shall they 210
For ever and ever punishment suffer.
Then praise of Christ by the Caesar was
In the thoughts of his mind[2] always remembered
For that great tree, and his mother he bade
Go on a journey with a band of men 215
To [land of] the Jews, earnestly seek
With host of warriors where that tree of glory
Holy 'neath earth hidden might be,
The noble King's rood.
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