Juliana Translation
Another poem in the Anglo-Saxon Narrative Poetry Project. A verse translation of Cunewulf's Life of St. Juliana. Wrestling with devils.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Juliana I
Listen—we have heard of heroes deliberating, deed-brave men determining what occurred in the days of Maximian, who throughout middle-earth raised up persecution, an infamous king killing Christian men and felling churches—a heathen war-leader pouring out upon the grassy field the sainted blood of the God-praising, the right-performing. His realm was broad, wide and mighty across human nations—very nearly across the entire earth. (1-10)
They traveled among the cities, as he had commanded, the Emperor's awful thegns. Often they roused strife with perverted acts, those that hated the Lord's law through criminal skill. Fiend-ship was aroused, heaving up heathen idols and slaying the holy, breaking the book-crafty and burning the chosen, terrifying the champions of God with spear and flame. (11-7)
There was a certain wealthy* man of noble kind, a mighty count. He ruled over guard-cities, ever defending that ground and holding hoarded treasure in the city of Nicomedia. Often he earnestly and by duty sought an idol, heathen-worship over the word of God. His name was ascribed to be Eleusius and he had a great and renowned authority. When his mind began to yearn after the virgin Juliana* curiosity broke him. She bore in her soul the holy troth, eagerly intending that her maidenhood would be preserved for the love of Christ, pure from any sin. (18-31)
Then was that woman, with the wish of her father, betrothed to that wealthy man. Her fate he did not fully know— how she, young in spirit, despised espoused friendship. Her fear of God was greater in her mind than all the riches that abode in the possession of that nobleman. Then the wealthy one, that gold-rich man, was eager in his heart for marriage, when the woman would most promptly be prepared for him, a bride unto his home. She firmly set herself against that warrior's love, although he owned wealth acquired within hoard-locks, uncountable jewels upon the earth. (32-44a)
Condemning it all, Juliana spoke a word amongst a multitude of men: “I can say to you that you need not trouble yourself so greatly. If you adore and believe in the True God and exalt his praise, you would recognize the Comfort of Souls and I would immediately, without faltering, be prepared to submit to your desire. Likewise I say to you, if in fact you confide in an inferior god through devil-worship, or call to heathen-idols, you cannot have me nor can you compel me to sin. Never will you, through your violent spite, prepare the harsh pain of severe torments that you should turn me from these words.” (44b-57)
Then the nobleman grew swollen with fury, stained with criminal acts, hearing that woman's words. Rough and heart-blind, he ordered then a swift messenger to bring the saint's father to deliberation at once. Voices mounted up after they leaned their spears together, these war-great men. They were heathens sick in their sins, father-in-law and son-in-law. (58-65)
Then spoke the ward of realms with that woman's father and a dangerous mind, spear-holding: “Your daughter has shown me shame. She says to me— singling me out—that she does not care for my husband-love nor my conjugal ways. These great difficulties were a disgrace to me in my heart's ken. She quite viciously offers me abuse before your own people— she commanded me to worship an alien God with my wealth, —over the other Gods that we have known before— to praise him wordfully, to extol him in my mind, or else I will never possess her.”* (66-77)
Then darkened the bold father-in-law after these words Juliana's father, unbinding his mind-hoard: “I swear it by the true gods, as I find favor at their hands, or else, my prince, comfort at yours in wine-halls, if these words are true, dearest of men, which you say to me, then I will not spare her, but will give her to you, famous prince, unto your authority for her ruination. Sentence her to death, if you deem it appropriate, or allow her to live, whatever may be more preferable to you.” (78-88)
Then her father boldly went to speak with Juliana, resolute and wrath-wretched,* swollen with rage, where he knew the glad-hearted young woman kept her home. He spoke then by word: “You are my daughter, dearest and sweetest in my heart, close by the earth, the light of my eyes, Juliana! You have in foolishness taken, through your idle hostility, a way contrary to the judgment of wise men. You renounce too strongly, according to your own advice, your bridge-groom, who is better than you,* more noble in this world, more wealth-endowed in money riches. He is good to have as a friend. Therefore it is worthy that you be the lady of this man, his eternal love's blessing, yet not forsake him.” (89-104)
Juliana II
To her father then blessed woman gave answer, Juliana, she that had to God firmly founded her wifely friendship: “Never will I endure this prince's husband-love unless he should cultivate the God of Hosts more eagerly than he has previously done, loving with gifts him that created the light, heaven and earth and the course of the seas, the orbit of the universe. He cannot otherwise bring me to his bed. Eleusius must look with his goods for another woman for bride-love—he will have nothing here.” (105-16)
Then her fiendly father replied to her in rage— and he was not promising her ornaments: “I shall make it such, as my life endures, that if you do not abandon this crime first, if you henceforth attend to an alien god and abandon those that are dearer to us, who stand as succor to our people, then you shall succumb to death, quickly forfeiting your life through the clutch of beasts, if you do not wish to submit to the legal union, the partnership with brave Eleusius. Great is that enterprise and terrible too for one like you, one that despises our lord.” (117-29)
The blessed then gave him back answer, wise and dear to God, Juliana: “I wish to speak a truth to you, so long as I am of the living, I will not tell a lie. Never will I fear your judgments, nor are your torturing perils bitter to me, your battle-crash by which you with violent evil-doing threaten me, nor will you ever cause by your idolatry me to turn from the praise of Christ.” (130-9)
Then Affricanus was infuriated, angry and ferocious, maddened and mind-grim, the father against the daughter. Then he ordered her beaten, threatening her with torment, troubling her with tortures and spoke this speech: “Exchange your thoughts and convert these words that you spoke in folly before when you disparaged the worship of our gods.” (140-6)
Unafraid she then gave him answer through spiritual thought, Juliana: “Never will you persuade me to promise tribute by hypocrisy unto deaf and dumb devil-idols, the enemies of souls, the worst thanes of torture but I will worship the Lord of Glory, of Middle-earth and the Power Majestic— and to him alone do I entrust all things, that he may become my guarantor, my helper and savior against the hell-harmers.” (147-57)
Then Affricanus wrathfully delivered her, the father of that woman, into the power of her enemy, Eleusius. He ordered her at daybreak to be led unto his judgment seat. The crowd was astonished at the woman's beauty, the people all together. Then noble Eleusius greeted her at first, her bridegroom, with soothing words: “My sweetest shine of sun, Juliana! What gleam you have! What perpetual plenitude of grace! What fruit of youth's kind! If you will serve our gods yet and betake yourself to their protection so mild, the succor of sainted ones, then shall be turned aside from you innumerable tortures cruelly contrived, savage sorrows that are prepared for you if you do not wish to sacrifice unto our true gods.” (158-74)
Him the noble maid gave answer: “Never will you constrain me with your threats, nor will you prepare torments of such great wrath, that I would love your lord-ship, except if you renounce these false beings, your idol-worship and recognize wisely the God of Glory, Creator of Souls, the Maker of Mankind— in whose power are all created things forever.” (175-83)
Then before the people with an angry mind Eleusius spoke with boast-words, growing quite infuriated, the folk-owning man, and he ordered the woman through spite-wrack to be stretched out naked and sinless and beaten with scourges. (184-8)
The battle-warrior then laughed, speaking sarcastically: “Thus is the life-domain of our enemy seized at its start! Yet I will grant you your life, though you first spoke many unwary words and refused too strongly to adore the true gods. Your reward for your counter-thinking must be frightful tortures afterwards, unless you are reconciled and sacrifice thankworthy gifts unto them— after your vice-words setting your peace with them. (189-201a)
“Let rest this strife Juliana, this hateful civic infighting. If you, long after this, through your rashness again follow perversity, then I must be compelled to revenge, constrained by hatred, your god-breaking—your grievous strife-speech— that you with blasphemy began to contend against the best gods and the most merciful of those that men know, that this people-hood has long worshipped for themselves.” (201b-8)
Noble Juliana, heart unafraid, spoke to him: "I do not fear your judgments, accursed harm-doer, nor your baleful torments. I have as my hope Heaven-realm's Ward, the Mild Protector, the Wielder of Power, he who shields me against your shine-play,* from the grip of the fierce ones whom you consider your gods. They are lacking of every good, idle, worthless, without profit, nor may any man meet with comfort there, true concord. Though he may seek friendship for himself, he will not find there help among those devils. I have affixed my heart in the Lord, He who over every power rules wide-lived, Owner of Glory, of every victory— That is a True King." (209-24)
Juliana III
Then it seemed base to the folk-leader to be unable to turn the heart of that woman, or her intentions. He ordered her to be seized by the hair and heaved up onto a high branch, where she, sun-bright, should suffer blows, strife unstintingly fierce for six hours of the day, and he ordered her forthwith to be taken down again and he commanded her be led to prison. Within her was the praise of Christ fast wound within her heart-lock;* in her mild heart, a strength unbroken. (225-35)
The prison door was bolted closed then by the work of hammers. The holy woman abode within pledge-fast. Always she praised the Glory-King in her heart, Heaven-realm's God, the Savior of Men, within her constraining cell, covered with darkness. The Holy Spirit was her enduring companion. (235-42a)
Then came suddenly into the closed hall the enemy of heroes skilled in evil. He wore the shape of an angel— a soul's foe skilled in afflicting songs, a captive of Hell, who spoke to the sainted one: “Why do you suffer, dearest and most worthy to the Glory-King, our Lord? This deemer has prepared the worst tortures for you, endless pain, if you do not wish, wise-minded, to make sacrifice and propitiate his gods. Be hasty, as he orders you led out hence, so that you quickly offer up some gift, a victory offering, before you seize your death, a murder before his multitude. Then you shall escape the judge's ire, blessed virgin.” (242b-257)
She swiftly asked then, she who was unafraid, pleasing to Christ, whence his origins were. To her the wrack-kin replied: “I am an angel of God sailing from above, a noble thane, and to you sent holy from the heights. For you severe tortures with slaughter-grim wounds are decreed as deadly punishment. God orders you be commanded, child of the Wielder, to protect yourself from them." (258-66)
Juliana was then, on account of its fearful message to her, terrified by that monster, the terror that spoke in words, the adversary of glory. Then she firmly fastened her spirit, the young and innocent woman, and called out to God: “Now I wish to ask you, O Shelter of Warriors, Eternal Almighty, by the noble creation that you, Father of Angels, established at the start, do no permit me to turn aside from the praise of your blessed gift, as this herald who stands before me bids me with his fear-spell. So I wish to ask you, gentle Lord, the Glory of Kings, to reveal what this thane might be, bouncing in the breeze, and who instructs me upon a rough road away from you.” (267-86)
Then the heart of Juliana was gladdened, judgment-blessed. She grabbed that devil… (287-8)
[at least one folio is missing from the Exeter Book at this point]
… to sell the King of All Kings unto his death. Moreover, I contrived it so that champion wounded the Wielder while the multitude watched, so that both blood and water sought the earth together there. Moreover, I incited Herod in his heart so that he ordered the head of John the Baptist be cut off when the holy man rebuked him wordfully for his wife-love and his unlawful marriage.* Also I instructed, guile-minded, Simon Magus to raise strife against Christ's chosen thanes and stretch out slander to the holy men through deep error saying that they were sorcerers. (289-301)
“I endeavored with evil tricks when I seduced Nero to order Christ's thanes Peter and Paul be killed and, before, Pontius Pilate with my teachings to hang the Wielder of Heaven upon the cross, the Mighty Maker. Likewise I instructed Ægias unwisely to order Andrew be hung upon a high tree, so that he sent his spirit up from the gallows into the Face of Glory. Thus have I performed so many wrathful bales with my brothers, dark with sins, that I cannot relate them all or tell them fully nor count the number of torments, the grim hate-thoughts. (302-16a)
The holy woman answered him by the Spirit's gift, Juliana: “You must speak further yet, Enemy of Mankind, of your mission here, and of who sent you to me.” (315b-8)
The wretched monster gave answer to her, seized by fear, hopeless of peace: “Listen. My father, the king of hell-citizens sent me on this journey here to you, from that narrow home. in his sorrow-house, he is more eager for every evil than I. Then he sends us to convert the mind of the soothfast by wicked deceit, to turn them away from their salvation. We are sad-minded, frightened in spirit— He is not a merciful lord, but a terrifying prince. If we have not done anything evil, we dare not afterwards come anywhere near his presence. (319-31)
“Then he sends them forth, throughout the wide earth, thanes from the darkness, ordering them to wage violence, and if we are met upon the mould-way either far or near, and are found, then the devils bind us and in welling flame we are beaten with scourges. If the mind of the soothfast is not perverted through our hindrances, the heart of the holy, we suffer the hardest and worst tortures by sore blows. Now you can understand the truth in your own heart, that I was forced by oppression and threatened with miserable days until I sought you out.” (332-44)
Juliana IV
Then the holy woman asked wordfully the enemy of heroes, the workman of crime, the originator of sinful deeds. “You must speak to me further, enemy of souls, about how you grievously harm, by falling into sins, the soothfast encompassed round with guilt.” (345-351a)
To her the fiend answered, a faithless wretch, and spoke his words: “I will make it known to you, blessed virgin, of every evil from the start forth unto the end that I, wounded by sins, have performed— and not just a few times—so that by this you may plainly know yourself that this is the truth, and not at all lies. I believed and reckoned it certain, an audacious thought, that I could, without difficulty and by my own craft, turn you away from your salvation, so that you renounced the Heaven-King, the Lord of Victories, and bowed down to an inferior, sacrificed to the Origin of Sins. (352b-62a)
“Thus I turn the minds of soothfast men through varying forms. Where I find him making steadfast his spirit to the desire of God, I am soon ready to bear horrible thoughts against him, the multifold lusts of the mind and dark errors, through delusions uncountable. (362b-68)
“I sweeten in him the desires for sin, the wicked loves of his heart, so that he, quickly for evil deeds attached to his crimes, hears my teachings. I enflame him very strongly in these sins so that he, burning, ceases his prayers, stepping willfully—he can not abide in the place of prayer firm as a foundation for long on account of the love of his crimes. And so I conduct a hateful dread to the man whom I begrudge life and the clarity of belief, and he wishes to hear my teachings through the desires of his mind and to perform sins. He shall afterwards turn away, deprived of all good virtues. (369-81)
“If I meet any powerful or mind-proud champions of the Maker who against my arrows' flight will not bend far thence from the battle but heaves up his board against them, mind-wise, a holy shield, his ghostly war-dress, who will not betray his God—but bold in his prayers he makes a stand, fast in a foot-band so I must flee far thence, low-minded, deprived of comfort, in the grip of gleeds, mourning my care, so that I can not with craft of strength go against him with war, but sad I should seek others lacking in courage, under the bristle of standards, the more sluggish warrior who I can puff up with my leaven, and hinder from warfare. Although he in the strength of God may begin spiritually, I will be immediately ready, so that I look through all his thought, how established he might be his inward strength, how he has built his defenses. (382-401a)
“I open up the gate of his wall through reproach; the tower will be pierced, opened by its apeture, then first I dispatch to him through arrow-flight into his breast-self bitter thoughts by varied desires of the mind, so that it seems better to himself to perform sins instead of the praise of God, lusts of the body. I am an eager teacher so that he may live according to my wicked customs,* averted certainly from the law of Christ, his heart troubled for me as power in the pit of his sins. I care more, and more eagerly about the spirit, the ruin of the soul, than for the body-house, that which must become in this world the comfort of worms and is commended to a lair in the earth.” (401b-17a)
Then again the woman spoke: “Speak, wretched shape, spirit unclean, ruler of darkness, how do you associate yourself in the company of the clean? You, pledge-less, labored of old against Christ and drew along a struggle, plotting against holy men. For you was the pit of hell delved below, where you, harassed by your misery on account of your over-pride, sought a home. I supposed that you must be the more cautious— and the more cowardly—in such meeting against the sooth-fast, one that often withstood your will by the Glory-King. (417b-28)
The accursed one addressed her, that wretched miscreant: “Say to me first how you, daring through deep thought, became thus battle-bold beyond all of woman-kind so that you clapped me fast thus in chains, in every way defenseless. You placed your trust in God Eternal, He that Sits in Majesty, Maker of Man-kind, such as I founded hope in my father, the king of hellish citizens. (429-37)
“Then I am dispatched against sooth-fast people, that I might convert their minds in wicked deeds, their hearts from health. At times my desire is restrained by their resistance, my hope for holy ones, just as sorrow befalls me here on my campaign. I know that much too late myself: now I, a sin-worker, have to suffer shame over this for a long time. (438-45)
“Therefore I beg of you through the power of the Highest, the grace of the Heaven-King, who upon the rood-tree suffered, Lord of Majesty, that you have mercy upon me in my wanting, so that I miserable may not wholly perish, even though I, thus rashly and dull-wittedly sought you on my journey, where I did not expect such an unhappy time as this.
Juliana V
Then that beautiful woman, the light of glory, spoke wordfully to that pledge-breaker: “You must confess more wicked deeds, humiliated spirit of hell, before you may go hence— what iniquity, what great evil works by dark error, have you accomplished, against the children of men?” (454-60a)
To her that devil replied: “Now I learn it by your speech,* that I must speak my mind, constrained by compulsion as you command me, to suffer your affliction. This miserable time is full strong, this punishment excessive. I have to suffer and tolerate all things in your judgment, to uncover my dark and stained deeds, which I have plotted for an age. Often I have stolen the sight, blinding countless warriors by wicked thoughts, the kindred of men, covering the light of their eyes with a cowl of mist, through the poisonous spear-point and storms of darkness, and I have crushed the feet of some through evil contrivances, others I have brought into burning, into the blazes' embrace, so that the last of his tracks was visible.* (460b-75a)
“Also I did unto some so that the blood spewed from their bone-locks, so that they with sudden peril gave up their ghost through the welling of their veins. Others on a sea-voyage were drowned upon the way of waters, on the ocean-flood, by my skill under the gloomy gushing. Some I delivered unto the cross so that they gave up their life, dreary, upon the high gallows. Others I incited by my teaching to make strife so that they in sudden peril renewed old grudges, drinking beer. I poured out for them crime from the cup, so that they lose their soul in the wine-hall through sword-grabbing, hastening fated from the flesh-home, seeking sore wounds. When I find some without the mark of God, heedless and unblessed, then I boldly slay them by various deaths with my own hands and devilish devices. (475b-94a)
“Even though I sit a summer-long day,* I could not relate all the suffering that I have performed as evil, early and late, indeed since the heavens and the way of stars were reared, the earth was fastened and the first humans, Adam and Eve, from whom I snatched away life and instructed them so that they abandoned the love of the Lord, his eternal blessed gift, and their bright happy home, so that wretchedness became them both forever and so upon their heirs, the darkest of sinful deeds— How much more endless evil must I recount? (494b-506a)
“I have borne it all—cruel crimes throughout human nations, those that have happened in the wide ages from the start of the world for the kindred of men, the earls upon the earth. There was none among them that have dared to touch me thus boldly as you now do, holy with your hands. There were none of these mindful men across the earth through holy might, none of the high-fathers or prophets. Even though the God of Multitudes, the King of Glory, revealed to them the spirit of wisdom, his boundless gift, nevertheless I might approach the way to them. (506b-518a)
There was none of them who have laden me with bonds so boldly* or whelmed me over with calamity, before now when you seized me fast and overcame my great strength, which my father gave me, the enemy of man-kind, when he ordered me to venture, a prince from the darkness, so that I had to sweeten your sins for you. There sorrow befell me, a heavy hand-struggle. I need not rejoice over this errand in the company of my kinsmen after this sore suffering, when I must render unto mine a sorrowful account in our gloomy home.” (518b-530a)
Then Eleusius the noblemen, a cruel-minded man, ordered Juliana, holy in heart, to be lead out from her narrow house unto his doom-seat to speak with the heathens. She, sainted and inspired in her breast, dragged with her that unbelieving devil, fastened in bonds. Then he, wretched and careful, lamented his errand, bewailed his pain, bewept his bad fortune, speaking wordfully: (530b-38)
“I entreat you, my lady Juliana, before the peace of God, to work me no further insult, no disgrace in front of these earls, more than you have done already, when you overwhelmed the wisest under the prison's shadow, the king of the hell-dwellers in the city of fiends; he is our father, the evil prince of murder. So, you have chastised me by your soreful swats! I know as truth that I have never met, before or since, in worldly realms a woman like you—more bold in your thoughts, nor more cross-timbered* of all womankind! It is clear to me that you have become in all things unabashed and wise in mind.” (539-553a)
At that moment the woman allowed the devil after his time of suffering to seek the shadows in the dark earth, the adversary of souls, in pain of torment. He knew more readily, that messenger of malice, to speak of it before his kinsmen, torture's thanes, how it befell him on his journey. (553b-58)
Juliana VI
[MS folio missing]
“… eagerly before they praised [him] on high and his holy word, they said truly that he alone wielded all victories over all of creation, and eternal blessed gifts.” (559b-63a)
Then came an angel of God, blazing with bangles and thrust the fire to the side, freeing and fortifying her clean of guilts, free of vices, and scattering the ferociously hungry tongues of flame where the holy woman stood, the maiden more bold, in their midst, unhurt. (563b-68)
That for the rich man was a distress to endure— he would change it, if he could, for the whole world. Eleusius, flecked with many sins, sought how he could most painfully, through the worst of torments, devise her soul's death. Nor was the enemy too slow— he instructed the nobleman to make an earthen vessel, by wonder-craft and the terrifying howls of warriors, ordering it to be set it around with wooden beams and forest timber. Then the obstinate creature commanded that men fill that earth-bowl with lead, and then ordered the pyre, the greatest of fires, be kindled: it was surrounded by brands on all sides. The bath welled with heat. (569-81)
Swiftly then, Eleusius, swollen with rage, ordered the woman sinless and devoid of fault, to be shoved into the surging lead. Then the fire became separated and scattered. Lead burst wide, hot and hungry— Warriors were terrified, seized by the rush. There were five and seventy of the heathen host forburned through the searing sneeze. Yet Juliana the holy woman stood uninjured in her beauty. Nothing of her hem or garment, her hair or skin, was damaged by the fire, neither body or limb. She stood in the flames totally unharmed, saying thanks for all to the Lord of Lords. Then the deemer became stormy and mind-savage; he began to tear his clothes and bared and gnashed his teeth. He raged in his wits as if he were a wild beast, roaring sad-minded and cursing his gods, because their power could not withstand a woman's will. (582-600a)
Juliana, the maid of glory, was resolute and unafraid, mindful of her strength and the desire of the Lord. Then the wretched judge ordered her put to death by sword-bite, holy at heart, deprived of her head, chosen by Christ. Her death would be no profit to him, after he further knew its consequences. (600b-06)
Then was the hope of the holy woman renewed and the mind of the maiden greatly gladdened, after she heard the hero deliberate his evil counsel, that the conclusion of her struggle-days must come— her life released. Then Eleusius, full of sins, ordered Juliana, chaste and chosen, to be led unto her sinless death. Then came suddenly that humbled hell-ghast singing a harmful song, wretched and unhappy—that same cursed devil whom she had bound and beaten with torments— he called for the crowd, filled with sorrowful songs: (607-18)
“Requite it with affliction now, that she has despised the power of our gods, and degraded me most strongly, so that I became a traitor. Let her obtain the hateful rewards through the sword's spoor, achieve your olden enmity, enveloped in your sins. I remember the sorrow, how I endured in one night countless afflictions and sufferings, fast in bonds, innumerable evils.” (619-27a)
Then blessed Juliana looked towards the furious one, hearing the devil of hell sing his misery. The enemy of mankind began then to take flight, seeking torments, and spoke a word: “Woe to me, a ruined thing! There is now a great chance that she will soon humiliate a wretched me with evil disaster, just as she did to me before.” (627b-34)
Then was she conducted near to the border-land and to that place where they rough-souled through hateful violence intended to kill her. She began then to teach the people and to strengthen their praise from their sins and promise them comfort, the way to glory, and spoke these words: “Remember the joy of warriors and the splendor of glory, the hope of the holy, the God of heaven-angels. He is so worthy, that all the nations and all the kindred of angels up in heaven praise him, the high power, where help is nearby eternal for all lifetime, to those who must have it. (635-46)
“Therefore I, dear people, wish to teach you to secure your house with law-doing, lest with sudden blasts the winds throw it down. The strong wall must withstand the storm's showers more firmly, the sinning purposes. Establish yourself with peaceful love and illuminated belief, establish your foundation, resolute, upon the living stone. Hold in your hearts the true faith and peace among you by the desire of your minds and holy mystery. Then the Almighty Father gives to you all his mercy, where you all possess comfort at the power of God, the most need after your trouble-songs.* (647-60a)
“Because you know not your departure from here at the end of your life, it seems to me prudent that you, watching against the battle-rush of your foes, keep vigilance, lest your sworn enemy hinder your way to glory's citadel. Beg the Child of God, the Prince of Angels, the Lord of Man-kind, the Giver of Victories to be merciful to me. May peace be among you, and perpetual true love.” (660b-69a)
At that moment Juliana's soul was led away from her body to its lengthy joys by the blow of the sword. (669b-71a)
Then the malicious Eleusius sought the sea-stream, fearful at heart, upon a ship accompanied by a throng of his harmers— he bounced across the water's flood for a long while upon the swan-road. Death seized them all, that band of men and himself among them before they sailed to land through terrible chastisement. There were thirty and four of the kindred of warriors deprived of their souls through the whelm of waves, underlings with their lord, deprived of comfort, without hope, they sought their hell. (671b-82)
Nor needed those thanes in the home of darkness, that band of retainers in the deep pit, turn towards their first-spear for their allotted treasure, so that they in the wine-hall across the beer benches might receive rings, or appled gold. (683-88a)
Unlike them, the body of the holy woman was conducted with praise-songs, by a great many unto its mould-grave, so that they, a mighty folk brought it within the city. There ever since with the passing of years the praise of God was lifted until this very day, with great majesty among that fellowship. (688b-95a)
Epilogue
There is a great need for me for that holy woman to effect me help, when the dearest of all shall be parted from me, the two brothers united shall be torn apart, their great heart-love. My soul shall part from my body upon a journey—I myself do not know where— in ignorance of its destination. From this place I shall seek another, faring forth according to my former works and my olden deeds. (695b-703a)
Mournful will mankind (CYN) depart. The king will be stern, the Giver of Victories, when, flecked by sins, the sheep (EWU), terrified, await what, according to their deeds, he will judge them, as a reward of life. The watery floods (LF) will tremble, lowering themselves sorrowfully.* (703b-09a)
I remember all that pain, wounded by the sins that I, late and early, have wrought in this world, what I must lament with mournful tears. There was one time too late, so that I was ashamed afore of my evil deeds, while ghost and body together fared uninjured upon the earth. I will have need of mercies then, so that the holy woman may intercede with that highest of kings. (709b-717a)
A great heart's sorrow reminds me of this need. I pray that every man of humankind who recites this song, earnest and mindful, will remember me by my own name, and pray to the Lord, the Helm of the Heavens, Wielder of Powers, to provide me help on that greatest of days, the Father, the Spirit of Comfort, on that awful day, the Deemer of Deeds, and his dear Son, when their Threeness sits in majesty as a singularity, the kindred of man, through that glorious creation, and decrees by his works the reward of every man. Forgive us, Great God so that we may find your aspect, Joy of Nobles, merciful on that famous day— Amen. (717b-31)