. . . . . . . . Heart-care oppressed
The Roman ruler; of his realm he despaired;
He was lacking in fighters; too few were his warriors,
His close comrades to conquer in battle
65 Their eager enemy. The army encamped,
Earls about their aetheling, at the edge of the stream,
Where they spread their tents for the space of the
night,
After first they had found their foes approach.
To Caesar himself in his sleep there came
70 A dream as he lay with his doughty men,
To the valiant king a vision appeared:
It seemed that he saw a soldier bright,
Glorious and gleaming in the guise of a man
More fair of form than before or after
75 He had seen under the skies. From his sleep he awoke,
Hastily donned his helmet. The herald straightway,
The resplendent messenger spoke unto him,
Named him by name --the night vanished away:
"O Constantine, the King of angels bids--
80 The Master Almighty, to make thee a compact,
The Lord of the faithful. No fear shouldst thou have,
Though foreign foes bring frightful war,
And horrors unheard of! To heaven now look,
To the Guardian of glory: Thou shalt gain there support,
85 The sign of victory!"
Soon was he ready
To obey the holy bidding, and unbound his heart,
And gazed on high, as the herald had bade him,
The princely Peace-weaver. With precious jewels adorned,
He saw the radiant rood over the roof of clouds,
90 Gorgeous with gold and gleaming gems.
The brilliant beam bore these letters
Shining with light: "Thou shalt with this sign
Overcome and conquer in thy crying need
The fearsome foe." Then faded the light,
95 And joining the herald, journeyed on high
Unto the clean-hearted company. The king was the blither,
And suffered in his soul less sorrow and anguish,
The valiant victor, through the vision fair.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
92. This is a translation of the famous Latin motto _in hoc signo
vinces_.