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.
