Elene; Judith; Athelstan, or the Fight at Brunanburh; Byrhtnoth, or the Fight at Maldon; and the Dream of the Rood Anglo-Saxon Poems   By: Anonymous

JUDITH;

ATHELSTAN, OR THE FIGHT AT BRUNANBURH;

BYRHTNOTH, OR THE FIGHT AT MALDON;

AND

THE DREAM OF THE ROOD:

Anglo Saxon Poems.

TRANSLATED BY

JAMES M. GARNETT, M.A., LL.D.,

FORMERLY PROFESSOR OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA; TRANSLATOR OF "BÉOWULF."

THIRD EDITION.

BOSTON, U.S.A.: GINN & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. The Athenæum Press. 1911.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1889, by JAMES M. GARNETT, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY JAMES M. GARNETT.

COPYRIGHT, 1911, BY JAMES M. GARNETT.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

TO PROFESSOR FRANCIS A. MARCH

CORYPHÆUS OF OLD ENGLISH STUDIES IN AMERICA

WITH SENTIMENTS OF THE HIGHEST REGARD

CONTENTS.

PAGE

PREFACE vii

INTRODUCTION ix

ELENE.

I. Constantine sees the vision of the rood 1

II. Constantine is victorious, the sign is explained, and he is baptized 4

III. Helena sets out on her journey in search of the cross, and arrives at Jerusalem 7

IV. Helena summons an assembly of the Jews learned in the law, and addresses them 10

V. The Jews consult apart, and Judas states the object of the Empress 13

VI. Judas gives the Jews the information derived from his father and grandfather 16

VII. The Jews at first refuse to act, but finally deliver up Judas to the Empress 19

VIII. Judas stubbornly denies all knowledge of the matter, but after imprisonment without food consents to speak 21

IX. They proceed to Calvary, and Judas offers a prayer for guidance 24

X. A smoke arises, Judas digs and finds three crosses. Test of the true cross 27

XI. The fiend laments that he is overcome. Judas replies to him 30

XII. Helena announces the discovery to Constantine, who orders a church to be built on the spot. Judas is baptized 32

XIII. Judas is ordained bishop of Jerusalem, and his name is changed to Cyriacus. Helena longs to recover the nails. Judas prays, digs, and finds them 35

XIV. The nails are made into a bit for Constantine's horse. Helena admonishes all to obey Cyriacus and returns home 38

XV. The writer reflects on his work, records his name; and refers to the future judgment 41

JUDITH.

IX. Holofernes prepares a banquet 44

X. Holofernes and his guests carouse. Judith is brought to his tent. Holofernes enters and falls on his bed in a drunken sleep. Judith prays for help, and cuts off the head of Holofernes 45

XI. Judith returns with the head of Holofernes to Bethulia. The people meet her in crowds. She exhorts the warriors to sally forth at dawn. They fall upon the Assyrians 49

XII. The Assyrians discover the death of Holofernes and become panic stricken. The Hebrews pursue them in flight, plunder the slain, and bestow upon Judith the arms and treasure of Holofernes 53