XXVII.
SEPT. 14. THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS.
[Chiefly from The Legends of the Holy Rood, ed. Morris, 1881, pp. 98-106.]
For the confirming of our faith, and to the glory of our Lord,
we honour with songs of praise two days in the year,
on account of the Holy Rood, (ever) since it was discovered.
The Jewish folk hid it (the cross) with evil intention;
they would not that this treasure (the cross) should become a comfort to men.
But the blessed Helena afterwards discovered it there,
through the revelation of Christ, even as He marvellously manifested it;
and she divided the rood as the Lord had instructed her,
and left one portion in that same city
in which Christ had suffered, as the writings inform us,
enclosed in silver; and she went home afterwards
with the other portion of the precious tree
to her dear son (Constantine), to strengthen his faith.
Now we celebrate the day on which it (the cross) was found
in honour of our Saviour, who deigned to suffer on it;
it is after Easter in the year's course [viz. May 3 ].
And we observe in harvest-time with holy ministrations
a second festival — that on which it (the cross) was brought
again to Jerusalem, as we shall hereafter relate.
It happened, unfortunately, as very often it still does,
that the heathen nations invaded the land;
and an impious king called Cosdrue
came with a great army to the Holy Rood
where Helena had placed it, in the aforesaid Jerusalem.
Impiously bold, he harrowed then the land,
and took the Holy Rood home to his own country.
He was so uplifted and so wicked a ruler,
that he would be God; and wrought then of silver
a high steeple in the form of stone-work,
and with shining gems surrounded all the house,
and in the upper-story he wrought his throne
all of red gold; and wonderfully drew out water
by means of pipes, for he would cause rains,
as if he himself were God. But he was nevertheless very foolish,
for the rain could not be of service to many.
He laboured then still more to manifest his power,
and bade the earth to be delved secretly with craft,
so that horses ran constantly about the house,
through the secret trenches, dinning with their feet,
for he would cause thunder. Nevertheless was he witless.
He sat then in the house as High God,
and placed the Holy Rood beside his throne,
as it were for a companion in his impiety.
He then sat there from that time forth, and to his son he assigned
all his kingdom; but Christ destroyed him.
An emperor there was in those days, named Eraclius, .
a Christian and a true believer, and undaunted in war;
and he adorned his belief with good works,
and honoured God's servants with benevolent mind.
Then came Cosdrue's son against the emperor (Eraclius),
for he desired to win his kingdom in battle.
Then it was settled between them both, that they two boldly
should go to single combat on the bridge of the river,
and he who should get the victory should wield the kingdom,
without the loss of the men who had come with them.
Then they all said that if any man should
assist either of them, forthwith he should be seized
and should be cast into the river with broken legs.
They then went both on the bridge together,
and the believing (faithful) emperor killed the enemy of God,
Cosdrue's son, and he afterwards wielded
all his kingdom, and rode to Cosdrue.
Then all the army joyfully submitted to Eraclius,
and he received them and persuaded them to baptism;
and no one would make known to Cosdrue the battle (which had lately taken place),
because he was hateful to all his people.
Then Eraclius went up to the steep upper-floor,
and quickly said to the impious Cosdrue these words:
'Life I will grant thee if thou wilt forthwith believe
now on Jesus Christ, and wilt promise that thou wilt
submit to be baptized, and I will be thy friend,
and I will let thee have this land in thy possession;
but if thou dost otherwise, thou shalt be put to death.'
Then would not Cosdrue believe on Christ;
and Eraclius forthwith drew out his sword
and beheaded him, and commanded him to be buried.
He then took his younger son, a boy of ten years old,
and baptized him, and gave up to him the kingdom,
and then delivered to his (own) army the high steeple,
with all the silver; but he himself took
the gold and the gems into God's church.
Then he carried the rood, with a procession of the people,
again to Jerusalem, eagerly and joyfully.
Riding quickly, they came at last
to the aforesaid city; and the emperor sat
on a royal horse, as was most pleasing to him.
But when he would enter (the city), then was the gate closed,
so that the stones fell suddenly together,
and thus was it (the gate) wrought into a wall.
Then were they terrified on account of that wonderful token,
and forthwith looked sorrowfully to heaven,
and saw our Lord's cross gloriously shining there;
and God's angel bore it above the gate, and thus said:
'When that the heavenly king, Christ Himself, entered in
through this same gate to His own passion,
He was not clothed with purple, nor adorned with royal crown,
nor rode He through this stone gate upon a steed,
but on the back of an ass He rode meekly
as an example to men, that they should shun pride,'
And after these words the angel went up.
Lo! then the emperor quickly alighted,
thanking God for the lesson;
and he took off his purple and his girdle of pall;
then he went with naked feet and took the rood,
praising God with shedding of tears.
Then befell a divine miracle to the stone-work.
When the emperor came with meekness to them,
then the stones parted, and the gate opened itself.
There was also another marvel, so that a winsome (delightful) odour
steamed from the holy cross, when it was on its way home,
throughout the land and filled the air;
and the people rejoiced on account of this, being filled with the odour.
No perfume could give out so delightful a smell.
And then the emperor exclaimed with joy:
' O thou marvellous rood on which Christ deigned to suffer,
and quench our sins with His precious blood!
O thou rood, shining more than the stars,
glorious on this middle earth! Greatly art thou to be loved,
O holy and winsome tree; that wast worthy to bear
the prize of all middle earth! Be mindful of this assembly
which is here gathered together for the honour of God! '
Then the emperor exalted the Holy Rood
in that same place in which it stood at first,
before the impious king, Cosdrue, took it therefrom.
On that day the true Saviour marvellously manifested
His power by means of His illustrious cross,
so that a dead man quickly arose on that day,
and four bedridden ones were there wonderfully healed,
and ten lepers, from their lingering disease,
and many maniacs regained their senses;
and many sick ones were there healed
of various diseases at the Holy Rood
for the honour of Christ. And the emperor afterwards
bestowed many goods there, and endowed God's churches
with lands and sustenance, and restored God's praise.
He went then to his royal seat, to Constantinople,
with great faith meditating upon God's greatness.
Now is the day called in Christian books
Exaltatio Sancte Crucis, that is, in English speech,
Uplifting of the Holy Rood,
because that it was exalted with great honour
on the foresaid day to the praise of the Lord.
It is, however, to wit that it (the cross) is widely distributed,
by means of frequent sections, to every land.
But the spiritual token (signification) is always with God,
ever incorruptible, though the tree be cut in pieces.
The heavenly sign of the Holy Rood
is our banner against the fierce devil,
when we bless ourselves boldly through God
with the sign of the cross and with right belief.
Though a man wave about wonderfully with his hand,
nevertheless it is not a blessing except he make the sign
of the holy cross; and forthwith the fierce fiend
will be terrified on account of the victorious token.
With three fingers must a man make the sign and bless himself
for the Holy Trinity, which is a glory-ruling God.
Sometimes priests say that Christ's betrayer,
the impious Judas, shall not hereafter be condemned
in the great day (of doom) to the deep hell;
and they say that he may excuse himself to Christ,
as if he of necessity committed that treachery against Him.
But against that we say, that Christ's word is not false;
He said concerning Judas, that it were better for him
that he were not born, than that he should be His betrayer.
Neither the Jews nor that secret traitor
were compelled by God to that horrible intention;
but when that Christ, who seeth all things,
saw their evil will. He then turned it to good,
so that their wickedness became to us for salvation.
Each man who does evil with evil will
is guilty before God, though it may benefit some;
and each man who does good with good will,
hath his reward of God, though it may do harm to some;
because the righteous judge giveth to each the reward
according as he himself determined and his will dictated to him.
Now are the Jews and the shameless traitor (Judas),
who plotted against Him, guilty of Christ's death,
though that it became to us for everlasting redemption,
and none of them shall ever come to Christ's kingdom
unless they have repented of it and turn to Christ. io
The Saviour is so merciful, that He would have mercy
upon His own murderers if they would turn
and pray for His mercy, as many of them did,
as, for instance, the centurion who wickedly pierced Him (Christ)
in His holy side, and afterwards turned to Him;
this centurion was named Longinus.
He saw then how suddenly the sun became dark
from midday until noon ( p.m.), and all middle earth trembled,
and rocks burst asunder; then he turned to Christ,
smiting his breast, and saying loudly,
Vere Filius Dei est hie — Truly this (man) is the Son of God.
He then renounced his employment, and proceeded to the apostles,
and was by them instructed in the faith,
and with baptism was washed from his former deeds.
Then he distributed all his goods in alms,
and lived in purity as Christ's own servant (thane)
in great abstinence, and preached to the heathen
the true faith and forgiveness of sins;
and put down idolatry, and performed miracles
in God's name, until a certain cruel judge
put him to death with great torments.
But he wrought many marvels before the judge,
amid the torments, and blinded the judge
through the power of God, that men might know
how merciful is the Saviour who had so magnified him.
Then was he beheaded for the sake of that Saviour,
whom he had before cruelly wounded on the cross,
and he (now) dwells eternally in glory with Him.
The heathen judge who put him to death
was named Octavius; but he came afterwards
to the place where he was slain, and sought his body,
praying for forgiveness with weeping and lamentation.
Then forthwith he saw with sound eyes,
being enlightened by the same (Being) who had before made him blind.
And then the judge sumptuously buried
the body of Longinus, and believed on Christ,
ever glorifying God until he departed this life.
Glory and praise be to the benevolent God,
who reigneth ever eternally. AMEN.