16. THE CONVERSION OF JUDAS.

Then after a little space Judas received the bath

of baptism, and, cleansed [of his sins], was true to 1035

Christ, dear to the Lord of life. His faith was

steadfast in his heart when the Spirit of comfort

had taken up his dwelling in the breast of the man,

and had urged him unto repentance. He chose the

better course, the gladness of glory, and forsook the 1040

worse, the way of the idolater, and cast aside his

heresy, the law of unrighteousness. God, the eternal

King, Creator, and Wielder of power, was

gracious unto him.

Then he was baptized who many times had

scorned the light; ...[1] his heart was inspired 1045

unto the better life; he was turned unto glory.

Verily fate decreed that he should become thus filled

with faith, thus dear unto God and beloved of Christ

in the kingdom of the world. This was made manifest 1050

when Elene bade bring unto the holy city

Eusebius, the bishop of Rome, exceeding wise amid

the councils of men, to aid in her deliberation, and

to ordain Judas into the priesthood at Jerusalem 1055

as bishop for the people in the cities, prudently

chosen through the grace of the Spirit for the temple

of God. And in later times upon a new occasion

she wisely named him Cyriacus. Henceforth 1060

the name of the man was changed for the better

throughout the cities--'The law of the Lord'.

[Footnote 1: A manuscript lacuna.]

The Elene of Cynewulf translated into English prose · 第 30 / 34 题