Elene

Elene is an Old English poem written by the Anglo-Saxon poet Cynewulf. It tells the story of Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, who is credited with discovering the True Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The poem is divided into two parts: the first half describes Helena's journey to the Holy Land and her search for the cross, while the second half focuses on her return to Rome and the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity.Throughout the poem, Cynewulf emphasizes the importance of faith and the power of the cross to overcome evil. He also explores the themes of redemption and forgiveness, as Helena is portrayed as a sinner who is able to find salvation through her discovery of the cross.Elene is considered one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature, and it is notable for its use of alliteration and complex poetic structures. It is also significant for its historical and religious content, as it provides insights into the early Christian church and the conversion of the Roman Empire.And Elene gave answer unto him: ""How doth it chance among this people that ye have such store of legend in remembrance, of all heroic deeds even as the Trojans waged them in their war? Farther away in the circle of years was that famous strife of olden time than this sublime event. Full well do ye know to reckon swiftly the number of all those done to death in slaughter, the tale of spearmen slain, fallen beneath their shields.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.