Before the multitude the might of that marvelous rood. The assembly sat, their song uplifted; They mused in their minds on the mystery trees 870 Until the ninth hour when new delight grew Through a marvelous deed. --There a multitude came, Of folk not a little, and, lifted among them, There was borne on a bier by brave-hearted men Nigh to the spot --it was the ninth hour-- 875 A lifeless youth. Then was lifted the heart Of Judas in great rejoicing and gladness. He commanded them to set the soulless man, With life cut off, the corpse on the earth, Bereft of life, and there was raised aloft 880 By the proclaimer of justice, the crafty of heart, The trusty in counsel, two of the crosses Over that house of death. It was dead as before The body fast to the bier: about the chill limbs Was grievous doom. Then began the third cross 885 To be lifted aloft. There lay the body, Until above him was reared the rood of the Lord, The holy cross of heaven's King, The sign of salvation. He soon arose With spirit regained, and again were joined 890 Body and soul. Unbounded was the praise And fair of the folk. The Father they thanked And the true and sacred Son of the Almighty With gracious words. --Glory and praise be his Always without end from every creature. 829. After Constantine has accepted Christianity, his mother Helena (Elene) undertakes a pilgrimage to the Holy Land for the purpose of discovering the true cross. After many failures she finally learns where it is hidden. The passage here translated relates the discovery of the cross. _b_. ANONYMOUS POEMS OF THE CYNEWULFIAN SCHOOL THE DREAM OF THE ROOD [Critical edition: Cook, _The Dream of the Rood_, Oxford, 1905. Author: "Making all due allowance, then, for the weakness of certain arguments both pro and con, the balance of probability seems to incline decidedly in favor of Cynewulfian authorship."--Cook. Translations: English Prose: Kemble. Verse: Stephens, 1866; Morley, 1888; Miss Iddings, 1902. The poem has much in common with _Elene_, especially the intimate self-analysis. Portions of it are on the Ruthwell Cross in Dumfriesshire. It is claimed as Cynewulf's, but there is nothing to indicate this except the beauty of style, which has caused it to be called "the choicest blossom of Old English Christian poetry."]