275
[1] Lit., 'smiths of lore.'
[2] Z. supposes _lacuna_ of one verse; W. thinks it
unnecessary.
[3] Lit., 'the woman.'
[4] Lit., 'to the sea,' or 'sea-journey.'
[5] A.-S. form retained for the sake of the accent and
alliteration.
IV.
Bade she then order the dwellers-in-city
Most skilled in lore, those far and wide
Among the Jews, each one of men,
For council-talk in meeting to come,
Who most deeply the secrets of God 280
By righteous law were able to tell.
Then was assembled from distant ways
No little crowd who Moses' law
Were able to tell. In number there were
Of thousands three of those [learned] men 285
Chosen for lore. The lovely woman
The men of the Hebrews with words gan address:
"I that most surely have learnt to know
Through secret words of prophets [of old]
In the books of God, that in days of yore 290
Ye worthy were of the glorious King,
Dear to the Lord and daring in deed.
Lo! ye that wisdom [very, Gn.] unwisely,
Wrongly, rejected, when him ye condemned
Who you from the curse through might of his glory, 295
From torment of fire, thought to redeem,
From fetters' force.
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