holtwudu - this is an unique compound and many editors have chosen to emend from "holmudu" to "holtwudu" - forest tree. Swanton cites in comparison the "crux fidelis" verse from the hymn "Pange lingua" and the Exaltation Antiphons from the York Breviary "Super omnia ligna cedrorum tu sola excelsior". However, he also suggests the possibility (and adopts as his glossary reading) that "holm" has its Old Saxon sense of "hill", the hill being Calvary. This would give the sense that the "risen" Cross is exalted above its earlier existence as the gallows. More commonly "holm" has been taken in its most usual OE sense of "water" . The expected sense of "water+wood" would be "ship" (cf. sundwudu, sawudu) which would be inappropriate in context. Kaske discusses the relationship of the tree of the Cross with the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in Paradise. In Genesis 2:9-10 these trees are specifically situated next to water: ". . . The tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden;" - If this interpretation is adopted the sense of the line would seem to be that the Cross is exalted above the trees of Paradise. Such an unusualæmeaning for a compound like "holmwudu" presumes a certain type of knowledge and exegetical background in the expected audience The comparison with the exaltation of Mary above all women however, does suggest a less specific meaning for "holmwudu" and favours the emendation to "holtwudu". Elene 1011b-1014a þær sio halige rod/ gemeted wæs, mærost beama/ .þara þe gefrugnon foldbuende/ on earðwege - "where the holy Cross, the most famous of trees of which those dwelling on earth have heard was found" has a similar general comparison.