Lord victorious, speaking thus in words:—
  "Behold how these fierce strangers knit for me
  A chain of mischief, an ensnaring net.
  Ever have I been zealous in my heart
  To do Thy will in all things; now in grief
  The life of the dumb cattle I must lead.
  Thou, Lord, alone, Creator of mankind,
  Dost know the hidden thoughts of every heart.
  O Prince of glory, if it be thy will 70
  That with the sword's keen edge perfidious men
  Put me at rest, I am prepared straightway
  To suffer whatsoever Thou, my Lord,
  Who givest bliss to that high angel-band,
  Shalt send me as my portion in this world,
  A homeless wanderer, O Lord of hosts.
  In mercy grant to me, Almighty God,
  Light in this life, lest, blinded in this town
  By hostile swords, I needs must longer bear
  Reviling words, the grievous calumny
  Of slaughter-greedy men, of hated foes. 80
  On Thee alone, Protector of the world,
  I fix my mind, my heart's unfailing love;
  So, Father of the angels, Lord of hosts,
  Bright Giver of all bliss, to Thee I pray,
  That Thou appoint me not among my foes,
  Artificers of wrong forever damned,
  The death most grievous on this earth of Thine."

    After these words there came to his dark cell
  A sacred sign all-glorious from heaven,
  Like to the shining sun; then was it shown 90
  That holy God was working aid for him.
  The voice of Heaven's Majesty was heard,
  The music of the glorious Lord's sweet words,
  Wondrous beneath the skies. To His true thane
  Brave in the fight, in dungeon harsh confined,
  He promised help and comfort with clear voice:—
  "Matthew, My peace on earth I give to thee;
  Let not thy heart be troubled, neither mourn
  Too much in mind; I will abide with thee,
  And I will loose thee from these bonds that bind 100
  Thy limbs, and loose all that great multitude
  That dwells with thee in strait captivity.
  To thee I open by My holy power
  The meadow radiant of Paradise,
  Brightest of splendors, dwelling-place most fair,
  That home most blessèd, where thou mayst enjoy
  Glory and bliss to everlasting life.
  Suffer this people's cruelty; not long
  Can faithless men afflict thee sinfully
  With chains of torment by their crafty wiles.
  Straight will I send unto this heathen town 110
  Andrew to be thy comfort and defense;
  He will release thee from thine enemies.
  Thou hast not long to wait; in very truth
  But seven and twenty days fulfil the time,
  When, sorrow-laden, thou shalt go from hence,
  Under God's care, with victory adorned."
  The Holy One, Defense of all mankind,
  The angels' Lord, departed to the land
  High in the heavens—He is the King by right, 120
  Steadfast He rules supreme in all the world.

    Exalted high was Matthew at the voice
  New-heard. The veil of darkness slipped away,
  Vanished in haste; and straightway came the light,
  The murmuring sound of early reddening dawn.
  The host assembled; heathen warriors
  Thronged in great crowds; their battle-armor sang;
  Their spears they brandished, angry in their hearts,
  Under the roof of shields; they fain would see
  Whether those hapless men were yet alive,
  Who fast in chains within their prison-walls 130
  Had dwelt a while in comfortless abode,
  And which one they might first for their repast
  Rob of his life after the time ordained.
  They had set down, those slaughter-greedy foes,
  In runic characters and numerals
  The death-day of those men, when they should serve
  As food unto that famine-stricken tribe.
  Then clamored loudly that cold-hearted brood;
  Throng pressed on throng; their cruel counsellors
  Recked not at all of mercy or of right.
  Oft did their souls, led by the devil's lore, 140
  Under the dusky shadows penetrate,
  When in the might of beings ever-cursed
  They put their trust. They found that holy man,
  Prudent of mind, within his prison dark,
  Awaiting bravely what the radiant King,
  Creator of the angels, should vouchsafe.
  Then was accomplished, all except three nights,
  The appointed time, the season foreordained,
  Which those fierce wolves of war had written down,
  At end of which they planned to break his bones, 150
  And, parting straight his body and his soul,
  To portion out as food to old and young
  The body of the slain, a welcome feast;
  They cared not for the soul, those greedy men,
  How after death the spirit's pilgrimage
  Might be decreed. So every thirty nights
  They held their feast; most fierce was their desire
  To tear with bloody jaws the flesh of men 160
  To be their food. Then He, who with strong might
  Stablished this world, was mindful how that saint
  Abode in misery 'mongst stranger men,
  Fast bound in chains—that saint who for His sake
  Had suffered from the Hebrews, had withstood
  The magic incantations of the Jews.

    Where in Achaia holy Andrew dwelt,
  Guiding his people in the way of life, 170
  A voice was heard from out the heavens above.
  To him, that steadfast saint, the Lord of hosts,
  Glory of kings, Creator of mankind,
  Unlocked the treasure of His heart, and thus
  In words He spake:—"Thou shalt go forth and bear
  My peace, and journeying shalt fare where men,
  Devourers of their kind, possess the land,
  And hold their home secure by murderous might.
  This is the custom of that multitude:
  Within their land they spare no stranger's life,
  But when those evil-doers chance to find
  A helpless wight in Mermedonia, 180
  Death must be dealt and cruel murder done.
  I know that 'mongst those townsmen, fast in chains,
  Thy brother dwells, that saint victorious.
  It lacks but three nights of the time ordained,
  When, midst that people, by the hard-gripped spear,
  In struggle with the heathens, he must needs
  Send forth his soul all ready to depart;
  Unless thou come before the appointed time."

    Straightway did Andrew answer him again:
  "My Lord, how can I o'er the ocean deep 190
  My course accomplish, to that distant shore,
  As speedily as Thou, O King of glory,
  Creator of the heavens, dost command?
  That road thine angel can more easily
  Traverse from heaven; he knows the watery ways,
  The salt sea-streams, the wide path of the swan,
  The battle of the surf against the shore,
  The terror of the waters, and the tracks
  Across the boundless land. These foreign men
  Are not my trusty friends, nor do I know
  In any wise the counsels of this folk; 200
  To me the cold sea-highways are unknown."

    Him answered then the everliving Lord:—
  "Alas, O Andrew, that thou shouldst be slow
  To undertake this journey, since for God,
  Almighty One, it were not hard to bring
  That city hither, 'neath the circling sun,
  Unto this country, o'er the ways of earth—