Clasped by the Wooden Cross

"Homer once sang of his Hellenes and Trojans
and Vergil composed verse about the descendants of Romulus;
Let us sing about the kindly deeds of the king of Heaven
whom the world never ceases joyously to praise.
Homer and Vergil took pleasure in speaking about the flames that brought
sudden destruction to Troy and about the struggles of their heroes,
but our delight is to sing of Christ
drenched in blood after vanquishing the prince of this world.
They were both learned in how to compose falsehoods
with an appearance of truth and how to deceive an Arcadian verse;
we prefer to sing hymns of fine praise
to the power of the Father and His true wisdom.
Let us therefore hold the supreme victories of Christ
as brilliant stars in our minds.
Behold the four corners of the world are clasped by the wooden cross."

John Scotus (A.D. 810-877)