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AN ANTHOLOCxY OF ANGLO-SAXON POETEY

PRESENTED TO EXETER CATHEDRAL BY LEOFRIC, FIRST BISHOP

OF EXETER (1050-1071), AND STILL IN THE POSSESSION

OF THE DEAN AND CHAPTER,

EDITED FROM THE MANUSCRIPT, WITH A TRANSLATION, NOTES, INTRODUCTION, ETC.,

BY

ISRAEL GOLLANCZ, M.A.,

LATE SCHOLAR OF CHRIST's COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE ; QUAIN STUDENT, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON ; EDITOR OF ' PRE-TUDOR TEXTS.'

' I. iHycjl (EngltBc bof be gehtuilcum b''ifl»i" O'l koStoisau gctooiht ; ' One Gi'eat English Book on all sorts of subjects wrought in verse.'

Leo/ric^s Donations.

PART I. POEMS I— VIIL

LONDON;

PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY,

BY KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNEK & CO., LLMITED,

PATEKNOSTER HOUSP:, CHARING CROSS ROAD, W.C. MDCCCXCV.

HOV 2U9AT 44007

TO

DE. JOHN PEILE

MASTER OF CHRIST S COLLEGE

THIS WORK

IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED

\MY'

PREFATORY NOTE.

It is ])roposed to issue the present edition of the ' Exeter Book ' in three parts. Part II, completing the text will, in all probability, be ready for publication by January, 1894. Part III, containing notes, introductions, indexes, will follow in due course. The Manumissions, Charters, and other Documents prefixed to the MS. will form a supplementary brochure. The entire work will, it is hoped, be completed by the end of 1895. In accordance with the Society's present practice the accompanying instalment is published in advance. All the longer poems of the Codex will be found therein ; in bulk it represents about three -fifths of the whole. The Editor begs leave to point out that the notes at the bottom of the page are strictly limited to variations from the MS., which has been scrupulously followed. Italic letters, when not otherwise commented on, represent the customary Anglo-Saxon contractions ; the small clarendon type, used occasionally after stops, indicates that in the original the size of the respective letters is intermediate between ordinary small and capital letters. No attempt has been made to normalize the spelling of the text, and in matters of interpretation the reading of the MS. has been preferred to plausible emendations. It is surprising to find how often the MS. is correct. Difficult and doubtful passages will be duly discussed in the fuller ' Notes and Illustrations,' (Part III) ; meanwhile, the translation may perhaps serve as a fairly adequate commentary to the text.

p f< 1. 0.

Jum, 1893. "I \ )^

CONTENTS OF PAET I.

^

Dedication Prefatory Note I. Christ . II. Saint Guthlac

III. AZARIAH .

IV. The Phcenix . V. Saint Juliana

VI. The Wanderer VII. The Endowments of Men VIII. A Father's Instruction

PAGE V

vii

2

104

188 200 242 286 292 300

CORRIGENDA

Page 104, line 3, for ham read Jjam ,, 304 (footnote), for 83 read 82 .» 305* li^ie 75, for them. rea(7 them.

Gollancz' Exeter Booh.

^

THE EXETER BOOK.

[I. CHRIST. A. THE NATIVITY]

* cyninge • *[fol. 8 a.]

(5u eart se weall-stan J^e t5a wyrlitan lu wi(5-wurpon to weorce wel fe gerisetS f)8et fu heafof^ sie healle mserre and gesomnige side weallas fseste gefoge flint unbrsecne pddt geond eort5-b[2/n]g eall eagna gesibj^e wundrien to worlde vvuldres ealdor- gesweotula nu J^urb searo-crseft J^in sylfes weorc so(5-f8est sigor-beorbt and sona forlset weall wit5 wealle nu is ]:>am weorce j^earf f set se crse/tga cume and se cyning sylfa and )3onne gebete nu gebrosnad is bus under brofe be faet bra gescop leomo laemena nu sceal lif-frea }?one wergan beap wraf)um abreddan earme from egsan swa be oft dyde eala ]>u reccend and f»u ribt cyning se l?e locan bealde^ lif ontynetS eadga us siges of rum forwyrned wlitigan wil-sif»es gif bis weorc ne deag

4 MS. heafo«. 7. MS. b [yri] g. The g just visible. After b there is ivhat I take to be the upper part of a curxed y still traceable, resembling m shape an o (certainly not a u). eagna ; ori^/inallt/ -nan, the erased n v-mble 10 MS forl^t (i. e. se). 12. MS. crsestga. 14- hra can hardly be read

owing to the action of some liquid on 8 a, 8 b. 18. MS. K 20. eadga :

16

20

I. CHRIST. A. THE NATIVITY.

I.

to the King.

Thou art the wall-stone that the workmen once

rejected from the work : well it beseemeth thee,

that thou shouldst be head of the noble hall, 4

and join together with firm fastening

the spacious walls, the flint unbreakable,

so that, throughout earth's cities, all things endowed with sight

may wonder evermore, 0 Prince of glory ! 8

Through thy skill let thine own work now appear

firm, gloriously bright, and forthwith leave

wall against wall. Now is there need for the work

that the Craftsman and the King Himself should come, 12

and should then restore the house beneath the roof,

which now is waste. He formed the body,

the limbs of clay ; now shall He, Lord of life,

deliver the abject band from foes, 16

the wretched ones from terror, as He oft did.

O thou Ruler and thou just King!

He who holdeth the locks, who openeth life !

bless us with victory, with a bright career, 20

denied unto another, if his work be worthless.

after ga, which comes at the end of the line, a small piece of parchment has been cut out : at most one letter could have been on it, hut probably none at all. 21. wil-sijjes, the last two letters can Hcarcely be read, and all the letters are barely visible.

B 2

L-

4 T. CHKIST. 22-54.

huru we for [)earfe f)as word sprecatS

[nu gemcei'stjgm^ |:one l^e mon gescop

pddi he ne hete • ' * ceose sprecan 24

cearfulra ping pe we in carcerne

sitta^ sorgende sunnan wi[Z-s]i'S

hwonne us lif-frea leoht ontyne

weor'Se ussum mode to mund-boran 28

and Ipsdt tydre gewitt tire bewinde

gedo nsic Jjses wyrtSe f>e he to wuldre forlet

pa, we hean-lice hweorfan sceoldan

to pis enge lond e'Sle bescyrede 32

for]?on secgan maeg se tSe sotS sprice'S

f>8et he ahredde j^a for-hwyrfed wses

frum-cyn fira wses seo fsemne geong

m8egt5 manes leas l^e he ''him to meder geceas • *[8 6.] 36

J^set W8es geworden butan weres frigum

]?8et f)urh bearnes gebyrd bryd eacen wear'6

neenig efenlic J)am eer ne sij?]:>an

in worlde ge wear's wifes gearnung 40

f)8et degol wses dryhtnes geryne j

eal giofu gsest-lic grund-sceat geond-spreot •

]|?8er wisna fela wear(5 inlihted

lare long-sume purla lifes fruman • 44

pe 3er under ho'Sman biholen Isegon

witgena wot5-song ]?a se waldend cwom

se]?e reorda gehwaes ryne gemiclatS

Sara pe geneahhe noman scyppendes 48

]?urh ho[r]scne had hergan willaS •

eala sibbe gesihS Sa^ic^a hierusalem •

cyne-stola cyst cristes burg-lond

engla ef)el-stol and p&, ane in ]3e 52

saule soS-faestra simle gerestatS

wuldrum hremge nsefre wommes tacn

23. gia.'S. Five or six letters are quite faded before -giaS. 24. hete

• ceose, the MS. is hardly readable here ; two or three letters are obliterated

I. CHRIST. A. THE NATIVITY. 5

Verily iu our need w^e speak these words,

(we beseech) Him Avho created niau

that He may not choose to speak in hate 24

the doom of us so sorrowful, who in prison

sit yearning for the sun's bright course,

until the Lord of life revealeth the light to us,

until He become our soul's protector, 28

and \vreathe the feeble mind with splendour :

may He make us thus worthy, whom He hath admitted unto

glory, when we must needs depart in abject plight unto this narrow land, bereft of home. 32

Verily he may say it who speaketh truth, that when the race of men was all depraved, He saved it. Young was the maiden,

a damsel sinless, whom He chose for His mother. 36

It came to pass without man's wooing, that the bride was great by child-conception. Never before or after in the world I

was any meed of woman like to that ; 40 '

it was a secret mystery of the Lord ;

all ghostly grace o'erspread earth's region ; '

then many a thing became enlightened

through life's Creator, precepts of ancient day, 44

which erewhile in darkness lay concealed, the sages' songs prophetic, when the Ruler came,' He who enlargeth the course of every word of those that, in their wisdom, wish 48

to praise enow the name of their Creator.

O sight of peace ! holy Jerusalem ! choicest of royal thrones I citadel of Christ ! the native seat of angels and of the just, 52

the souls of whom alone rest in thee ever, exulting in their glories. Never the sign of crime

before ceose. 26. wi[/-s]i0, the italiciserl letters are almost obliterated.

31. MS. )?e. 33. Be 6e is harrlly visible. 49. MS. lioscne.

6 T. CHRIST. 55-85.

in J?am eard-gearde eawed weorf)et5 •

ac })e firina gehwylc feor abugetS 56

wserg'So and gewiiines bist to wuldre full

halgan hyhtes swa J)u gehaten eart

sioh nu sylfa f»e geond )?as sidan gesceaft

swylce rodores hrof rume geond-wlitan 60

ymb healfa gehwone hu )?ec heofones cyning

si"(5e gesecetS and sylf cymeS

mine's eard in J^e swa hit ser gefyrn

witgan wis-faeste wordum saegdon 64

cySdon cristes gebyrd cwsedon f>e to frofre

burga bet-licast • nu is f>8et beam cymen

awaecned to wyrpe weorcum ebrea •

bringet5 blisse f>e benda onlyse"S 68 '

nij?um genetSde nearo-*J)earfe conn *[9«.]

hu se earma sceal are gebidan : — : 7

[11.]

EAla wifa wynn geond wuldres f»rym • fserane freo-licast • ofer ealne foldan sceat 72

Jjses ]>Q aefre sund-buend secgan hyrdon • arece us ])ddi geryne )?8et ]>e of roderum cwom hu ]:)U eacnunge sefre onfenge

bearnes J^urh gebyrde and pone gebed-scipe 76

sefter mon-wisan mod ne cu(5es • ne we so'S-lice swylc ne gefrugnan in ser-dagum sefre gelimpan

J?8et (Su in sundur-giefe swylce befenge 80

ne we Jjsere wyrde wenan ]?urfon toweard in tide huru treow in ]?e weor'5-licu wunade nu )?u wuldres f)rym

bosme gebsere and no gebrosnad wear(5 84

meeg'S-had se micla swa eal manna beam

70. One line space between the sections.

I. CHRIST. A. THE NATIVITY. ^

shall in that dwelling-place be seen,

but every sin shall flee afar from thee, 56

all curse and conflict ; thou art gloriously full

of holy promise, as thou art named.

See now thyself how the wide creation

and heaven's roof surveyeth thee all about 60

on every side, and how the King of heaven

seeketh thee in His course, and cometh Himself,

and taketh His dwelling in thee, as erewhile in days of yore

the wisest prophets spake in words ; 64

they made known the birth of Christ and told it for thy comfort,

thou best of cities ! Now the Child is come,

awakened to destroy the Hebrews' v/orks ;

He bringeth thee joy; He looseneth thy bonds; 68

He hath adventured Him for men ; He knoweth their dire need, —

how the wretched must await compassion.

II.

* Oh thou joy of women in the glory of glories ! maiden the fairest o'er all the region of the earth, 72

that the ocean-dwellers have ever heard tell of, unfold to us the mystery that came to thee from the skies, how thou didst ever receive increase

by child-conception, and yet thou knewest not 76

communion after human fashion. Truly we have not heard that ever in days of yore the like hath happened,

such as thou in special grace receivedst, 80

nor may we hope the thing to come to pass in future time. Verily the faith that dwelt in thee was worshipful, since thou didst bear within thy bosom the flower of glory, and thy great maidenhood 84

was not destroyed. All the children of men

8 T. CHRIST. 86-119.

sorgum sawatS swa eft ripat5

cenna'S to cwealine cwse'S sio eadge mseg

symle sigores full Banctsi maria • 88

hwset is J)eos wundrung J^e ge wafia'S

and geoinrende geh})um msena'S

sunu solimae somod his dohtor

fricgacS J^urh fyrwet hu ic fsemnan-had 92

mund minne geheold and eac modor gewear'S

mgere meotudes suna forj^an J^set monnuin nis

cu'S geryne ac crist onwrah

in dauides dyrre meegan • 96

f>set is euan scyld eal for-pynded

wserg'Sa dworpen and gewuldrad is

se heanra hdd hylit is onfangen

f)set nu bletsung mot bsem gerasene 100

werum and wifum 4 to worulde fop's

in ]^am up-lican engla dreame •

* mid so(5-f8eder symle wunian • * [9 b.]

eala earendel engla beorhtast 104

ofer middan-geard monnum sended

and so'S-fsesta sunnan leoma

torht ofer tunglas pu. tida gehwane

of sylfum Ipe symle inlihtes • 108

swa 'pu god of gode gearo acenned

sunu so]?an feeder swegles in wuldre

butan anginne sefre wsere •

Swa J3ec nu for J»earfum Jjin agen geweorc 112

bideS }?urh byldo J^set Ipu. J^a beorhtan us •

sunnan onsende and Ipe sylf cyme

Ipsdt tSu inleohte J^a pe longe ser •

prosme bef)ealite and in J>eostrum her 116

Bseton sin-neahtes synnum bifealdne

deorc dea]:es sceadu dreogan sceoldan •

nu we hyht-fulle hselo gelyfaS

91. MS. solim§ (i.e. se). 113. byldo conectedfrom hyldo. 118. sceadu, d corrected from S.

I. CHRIST. A. THE NATIVITY. \)

as they sow in sorrow, so afterwards they reap,

they bring forth for death.' Spake the blessed maiden,

ever full of triumph, the holy Mary : — 88

' What is this wonder which ye wonder at, and bemoan and grievously lament, thou son and thou daughter of Salem ?

Ye ask enquiringly how I preserved 92

my maidenhood, my plighted troth, and yet became great mother of the Creator's Son. Verily to men the mystery is not known ; but Christ revealed in David's beloved kinswoman, 96

that the guilt of Eve is all concluded, the curses overthrown, and the humbler sex is glorij&ed. Hope is gained

that now for both alike, for men and women, 100

blessing may for evermore abide, amid the harmony of angels high above, with the Father of truth, to all eternity.'

Lo ! thou bright ray, brightest of angels 104

sent to men upon this middle-earth, and sun-beam true and constant, bright beyond the stars, thou from thyself

illuminest for ever all the tides of time. 108

Even as thou, God indeed begotten of God, Son of the true Father, wast ever without beginning in the heaven's glory,

so now thine own work in its need 112

prayeth thee boldly that thou send us the bright sun, and that thou thyself come, to enlighten those who long since

were wrapt in darkness, and here in gloom 116

sat the long night shrouded in sin : death's dark shadow had they to endure. Hopeful now, we trust the salvation

10 I. CHRIST. 120-153.

j^urh f)9et word goiles weorodum brungeii 120

pe on frym'b'e wges feeder aelmihtigum

efen-ece mid god and nu eft geweartS

flsesc firena leas J^set seo fsemne gebser

geomrum to geoce god waes mid us 124

gesewen butan synnum somod eardedon

mihtig nieotudes beam and se moimes sunu

gej^weere on J^eode we pees f>onc magon

secgan sige-dryhtne symle bi gewyrhtum 128

psds pe he hine sylfne us sendan wolde •

eala gsesta god hu pn gleawlice

mid noman ryhte nemned wsere

emmanuhel swa hit engel gecwsetS 132

aerest on ebresc J?8et is eft gereht

rume bi gerynum nu is rodera weard

god sylfa mid us swa j^aet gomele gefyrn

ealra cyninga cyning and J^one clsenan eac 136

sacerd so?S-lice saegdon toweard •

swa se msere iu melehisedech •

gleaw in gaeste god-J>rym on-*wrah *[10 a.]

eces alwaldan se waes 3d bringend 140

lara Isedend [?am longe his

hyhtan hider-cyme swa him gehaten wses

Jjsette sunu nieotudes sylfa wolde

gefaelsian foldan meegt^e • 144

swylce grundas eac gsestes maegne

si))e gesecan nu hie softe pses

bidon in bendum hwonne beam godes

cwome to cearigum for]?on cwaedon swa 148

suslum geslaehte nu J^u sylfa cum

heofones heah-cyning bring us haelo-lif

werigum wite-J^eowum wope forcymenum

bitrum bryne-tearum is seo bot gelong 152

eal aet pe anum ofer-J?earfum

133. MS. est. 153. About Jive letterft obliterated after anum.

T. CHRIST. A. THE NATIVITY. 11

brought to the hosts of men through the word of God, 120

which was in the beginning co-eternal

with the Almighty Father, with God, and is now become

flesh void of blemish, that the maiden bare,

as a help for the troubled. God was seen among us 124

without sin; together they dwelt,

the Creator's mighty Son and the son of man,

in peace among folk. Wherefore we must ever,

dutifully, say thanks unto the Lord triumj)hant 128

that He was willing to send to us Himself.

Oh, God of all spirits ! how wisely Thou wast named with name aright

Emmanuel ! as the angel spake the word 132

in Hebrew first, which fully in its secret meaning is thus interpreted : — ' Now is the Guardian of the skies, God Himself, with us ': even as in days of yore old men declared aright that the King 136

of all kings and eke the pure priest was to come ; thus long ago the great Melcliizedec, the wise of spirit, revealed the majesty divine of the eternal Ruler ; he was the law-bringer, 140

the bringer of doctrine, unto those who long- hoped for His advent, for it was promised them that the Son Himself of the Creator

would purify the races of earth, 144

and also in His course would seek the abyss, by the might of His spirit. Patiently now have they waited in their bonds until God's Child should come to the afflicted ; therefore spake thus 148

those cast in torments : ' Come thou now thyself, high King of heaven, bring salvation unto us, weary thralls, worn out with weeping,

with bitter burning tears. The remedy resteth 152

alone in Thee for the overmuch oppressed.

12 T. CHRIST. 154-183.

haeftas hyge-geomre hider [gesece

ne Icetj 'pe behindan • J^onne J?u heonan cyrre

msenigo J^us micle ac pu miltse on us 156

gecytS cyne-lice crist nergende

wuldres aejpeling ne Iset awyrgde ofer us

onwald agan leef us ecne gefean

wuldres J?ines pedt pec weorcSien 160

weoroda wuldor-cyning J?a f)u geworhtes ser

hondum J^inum |du in hean-nissum

wanast wide ferh mid waldend fseder: 7

[III.]

6 Ala ioseph min iacobes beam 164

mseg dauides maeran cyninges . nu )3U freode scealt fseste gedselan alsetan lufan mine • Ic lungre eam

deope gedrefed dome bereafod* 168

fortSon ic worn for pe worde hsebbe sidra sorga and sdr-cwida •

hearmes gehyred and me *hosp sprecacS *[lOt.] torn-worda fela ic tearas sceal 172

geotan geomor-mod • god esipe mseg gehaelan hyge-sorge heortan minre afrefran fea-sceaftne ♦ eala fsemiie geong

msegtS maria • hwset bemurnest "Su 1 76

cleopast cearigende ne ic culpan in pe incan senigne sefre onfunde • womma geworlitra and })u pa word spricest swa pn sylfa sie synna gehwylcre 180

firena gefylled ic to fela lisebbe J58es byrd-scypes bealwa«oiifongen • hu mseg ic ladigan laj^an sprsece

154. About ten letters quite faded after hider. 163. One line space between the sections.

r. CHRIST. A. THE NATIVITY, 13

n.^it us here, captives sad in spirit, nor leave behind thee, when thou turnst from hence, so great a throng! but royally show forth 156

thy mercy unto us, Christ the Saviour I Prince of Glory ! let not the accursed have power over us : grant us thy glory's

endless joy, that those may worship thee, 160

great Lord of hosts, whom thou first wroughtest with thy hands. Thou in the high places dwellest for ever with the all-ruling Father.'

III.

[Mary.] ' Lo, Joseph mine, child of Jacob, 164

kinsman of the great King David,

must thou forthwith renounce thy troth,

and leave my love ? ' [Joseph.] ' Very deeply

am I troubled, bereft of honour, 168

for because of thee I have heard, in words,

much great grief, many sorry speeches,

much insult, and they utter scorn against me,

and many angry words: sad in mind 172

I must shed tears. God may easily

heal the deep sorrow of my heart,

and comfort me distressed. Alas, young damsel,

Mary maiden!' [Mary.] 'Why mournest thou 176

and lamentest sorrowing 1 Never found I

fault in thee or any cause of blame

for evil done, and yet thou speakest such words,

as thou thyself wert filled with every sin 180

and all transgression.* [Joseph.] * Too much bale

have I received from this conce}jtioii.

How can I escape the hateful words,

14 1. CUEIST. 184-217.

oppe andswdvc a;iiige fiiidan • 184

wrajjum to-wif)ere is psdt wide cutS

f>8et ic of ]pam torhtaii temple dryhtnes

oiifeiig freo-lice fgemnan claeiie

womma lease • and nu gehwjrled is

f)urh nat-hwylces me iiawf^er deag

secge ne swige gif ic sotS sprece •

|?onne sceal dauides dohtor sweltan

stanum astyrfed gen strengre is 192

)?aet ic mor)?or hele scyle man-swara •

la]? leoda gehwam lifgan si|3j)an

fracotS in folcum Ipa, seo fsemne onwrah •

ryht-geryno and f>us reordade • 196

Sots ic secge J^urh sunu meotudes

gsesta geocend J^set ic gen ne conn

)?urh gemsec-scipe monnes ower

senges on eorSan ac me eaden wear(5 200

geongre in geardum f>8et me gabrihel

heofones heag-engel heelo gebodade.

ssegde so S- lice J?8et me swegles gsest

leoman onlyhte sceolde ic lifes prjm. 204

geberan beorlitne sunu beam eacen godes

torhtes tir-fruma[7^] nu ic his tempel eam

gefremed butan facne in me frofre gsest

ge-*eardode nu ]?u ealle forlset *[11 a.\ 208

sare sorg-ceare saga ecne Iponc

mserum meotodes sunu fjset ic his modor geweartS

fsemne for'S se-J^eah and J?u faeder cweden

woruld-cund bi wene sceolde witedom 212

in him sylfum beon so^e gefylled •

eala J^u so'Sa and f)u sib-sum a

ealra cyninga cyning crist ael-mihtig

liu f>u 8er weere eallum geworden 216

worulde J^rymmum mid J^inne vvuldor-faeder

206. MS. tir-fruma.

r. CHRIST. A. THE NATIVITY. 15

or how can I find any answer 184

'gainst my foes 1 'Tis widely known

that from the glorious temple of the Lord,

I joyfully received a maiden pure

and spotless; and now all is changed, 188

through whom I know not. Neither availeth me,

to speak or to be silent ; speak I the truth,

then must David's daughter die,

slain with stones ; yet is it harder 192

to conceal crime, to be doomed to live hereafter

perjured, hateful unto all the folk,

accursed 'mong men.' Then the maid unravelled

the true mystery, and thus she spake : 196

' Truly I say, by the Son of the Creator, the Saviour of souls, that yet I know not in fellowship any man

anywhere on earth ; but it was granted me, 200

while young and in my home, that Gabriel, heaven's archangel, bade me hail, and truly said that heaven's spirit

should with his ray illumine me, that I should bear 204

life's glory, an illustrious son, the mighty Child of God, of the bright Creator. Now, without guilt, am I become His temple ; the spirit of comfort

hath dwelt within me. Dismiss thou then 208

all sorry care, and say eternal thanks

unto the Lord's great Son that I have become His mother, nathless a maiden still, and thou, according to the hope, art called His earthly father, should the prophecy 212

be fulfilled aright in Him Himself.'

O thou true and thou peaceful King of all kings, Christ Almighty !

how wast thou, with thy glorious Father, 216

existent before all the world's estates,

16 1. CHRIST. 218-251.

cild acenned )?urh his crselt arid meaht •

nis aenig nu eorl under lyfte

secg searo-):)oncol to J?8es switSe gleaw* 220

f>e f)a3t asecgan msege sund buendum •

areccan mid ryhte hu j^e rodera weard

set frymt^e genom him to freo-bearne

f)8et wses ))ara J^inga f»e her f)eoda cynn 224

gefrugnen mid folcum set fruman serest

geworden under wolcnum )?8et witig god

lifes ord-fruma leoht and ):)ystro

gedaelde dryhtlice and him W8ss domes ge weald 228

and ]:>a wisan ahead weoroda ealdor •

nu sie geworden for]^ a to widan feore •

leoht lixende gefea lifgendra gehwam

f>e in cneorissum cende weor(5en 232

and f>a sona gelomp f)a hit swa sceolde

leoma leohtade leoda maegjjum

torht mid tunglum sefter )?on tida bigong

sylfa sette j^set |?u sunu wsere 236

efen-eardigende mid ):)inne engan frean

ser ]5on oht fjisses aefre gewurde •

J5U eart seo snyttro J^e Jjas sidan gesceaft

mid f)i waldende worhtes ealle • 240

forj^on nis eenig j^ees horse ne J^ses hyge-creeftig

J^e J>in from-*cyn msege fira bearnum *[116.]

sweotule gesef)an cum nu sigores weard

meotod mon-cynnes and ]:»ine milftse her 244

arffest ywe us is eallum neod

f)8et we Yui medren-cynn motan cunnan

ryht-geryno nu we areccan ne msegon

f)8Rt fsedren-cynn • fier owihte 248

J5u ]:)isne middan-geard milde geblissa

f>urh 'Sinne her-cyme hselende crist*

and ]?a gyldnan geatu \)q in gear-dagum

244. MS. milstse.

I. CHRIST. A. THE NATIVITY. 17

a child begotten by His skill and might !

There is not now any man under heaven,

any one cunning and so very wise, 220

who can tell unto the ocean-dwellers,

and expound aright, how the Warden of the skies

took thee in the beginning for his noble child.

Of those things which the race of men 224

hath learnt among the nations here, first in the beginning

it came to pass beneath the clouds, that the wise God,

Life's Beginner, parted in lordly wise

light and darkness; and His was the wielding of decree, 228

and thus He, Lord of hosts, declared:

'Let there be now for ever and for ever a bright-shining joy for each of living men who in their generations shall be born!' 232

And so anon it came to pass, when it was to be, — a splendour shining bright amidst the stars lighted, in the course of ages, the races of mankind. Himself He had ordained that thou, the Son, shouldst be, 236 co-dwelling with thy only Lord, ere aught of this had ever come to pass. Thou art the Wisdom, who with the Ruler wroughtest all this wide creation : 240

wherefore there is no man so wise or so profound, that he can truly show thy origin unto the sons of men. Come now, Lord of triumph, Creator of mankind, and graciously show forth 244

thy mercy here : we all desire that we may know thy mother-kin, a mystery indeed ; we cannot now expound further at all the kin paternal. 248

Bless thou kindly this middle- earth by thy coming hither, Saviour Christ ! and the golden gates that in days of old

c

18 1. CHRIST. 252-282.

ful longe 3er bilocen stodan 252

heofona heah frea hat ontynan

and usic }>onne gesece f)urh J^in sylfes gong

eatS-mocl to eorf)an us is })inra arna Jjearf*

hafa(S se awyrgda wulf tostenced 356

deor daed-scua dryhten J»in eowde

wide towrecene J?8et t5u waldend aer

blode gebohtes J)aet se bealo-fulla

hynetS heard-lice and him on haeft nime'S 260

ofer usse nioda lust forjjon we nergend ]?e

bidda'5 georn-lice breost-gehygdum

J)8et Jju hrsed-lice helpe gefremme

wergum wreccan j^set se wites bona • 264

in helle grund hean gedreose

and |?in hond-geweorc hselej^a scyppend

mote arisan and on ryht cuman

to j^am up-cundan 9e]:»elan rice • 268

f)onan us aer J^urh syn-lust se swearta gaest

forteah and forty Ide faet we tires wone

a butan ende sculon ermj^u dreogan

butan ]?u usic J^on ofost-licor ece dryhten 272

aet f>am leod-sceaf)an lifgende god

helm alwihta hreddan wille : 7

[IV.]

eAla J^u maera middan-geardes seo claeneste cwen *ofer eor]?an *[12 a.] 276

f^ara [/]e gewurde to widan feore hu f)ec mid ryhte ealle reord-berend hatatS and secga"5 haele"5 geond foldan

blif)e mode )?aet \>\x bryd sie 280

}?8es selestan swegles bryttan • Swylce ]?a hyhstan on heofonum eac

257. eowde; d corrected from "S. 274. S^ace of about the third of a

I. CHRIST. A. THE NATIVITY. 19

full Jong ago stood locked, 252

do thou, high Lord of heaven, bid open,

and visit us then, coming thy very self

humbly to earth ! We need thy gracious favour !

The accursed wolf, the beast of darkness, 256

hath scattered, Lord, thy flock,

dispersed it far and wide ; what thou, Omnipotent, of old

didst buy with thy blood, the baleful one

cruelly oppresseth, and taketh it in bondage, 260

despite our anxious longing. Wherefore, Saviour,

we pray thee earnestly, with our heart's inmost thoughts,

that speedily thou grant help unto us,

weary wretches, that the mind's destroyer 264

may fall low down to hell's abyss,

and that thy handiwork. Creator of all men,

may then arise and come aright

unto the noble realm in heaven above, 268

whence erst the swart spirit, through our love of sin,

beguiled us and misled us, so that, void of glory,

we must ever without end bear misery,

unless thou, O Lord eternal, living God, 272

Helm of all created things, wilt free us

the more speedily from man's destroyer.

IV.

O thou glorious lady of this middle-world ! thou purest woman throughout the earth, 276

of those that were from time eternal, how rightly do all men with gift of speech upon this earth name thee, and say,

blithe in their hearts, that thou art bride 280

of heaven's chief Lord ! So too the highest in the heavens,

line hekveen the sections. 277. MS. j^ara ege wurde; a letter erased

before ege.

C 2

20 I. CHRIST. 283-315.

cristes Jjegnas cweJ)atS aTid singacS

\>ddi f>u sie hlsefdige halgum meahtum 284

wuldor-weorudes and worl[cZ]-cundra

hada under heofonum and hel-wara •

forj^on ]?u J^aet ana ealra monna

gej^ohtest f)rymlice f)rist-hycgende 288

J)8et J?u Jjinne mseg'S-had meotude brohtes

sealdes butan synnum nan swylc ne cwom

aenig of)er ofer ealle men

bryd beaga hroden ]:>e f>a beorlitan lac 292

to heofon-hame hlutre mode

sijjfan sends for(5on heht sigores fruma

his heah-bodan hider gefleogan •

of his maegen-Jjrymme and |:e meahta sped 296

snude cy"San J^aet ]>\x sunu dryhtnes

J?urh clsene gebyrd cennan sceolde

monnum to miltse and ]?e maria ior^

efne unwemme a gehealden 300

eac we f)8et gefrugnon J^set gefyrn bi \>e •

sotS-faest ssegde sum wo"5-bora

in eald-dagum esaias

]58et he wsere gelaeded Jjset he lifes gesteald 304

in J?am ecan ham eal sceawode •

wlat f>a swa wis-fsest witga geond J^eod-land

o]?f)aet he gestarode f>8er gestaf)elad wees

sej^elic ingong eal waes gebunden 308

deoran since duru ormaete

wundur-clommum bewrif)en wende swi'Se

\)dii senig elda sefre meahte

8wa faestlice fore-scyttelsas 312

on ecnesse o in-hebba

o}>f)e 'Saes ceaster-hlides clustor onlucan •

ser him *godes engel J)urh glaedne gef)onc *[12 6«]

285. MS. worl cundra. 302. wo?5-bora ; there is a hyphen in MS. ; proh- ahly added by a later hand, as the ink is rather paler than that of the letters.

I. CHRIST. A. THE NATIVITY. 21

the thanes of Christ, declare and sing,

that thou, by holy might, art lady 284

of the host of glory, and of the ranks of men on earth 'neath heaven, and of those that dwell in hell, for that thou alone of all mankind

nobly didst resolve in thy high thoughts, 288

to bring thy maidenhood unto the Lord, and give it sinlessly. There hath not come among all men such another

ring-adorned bride, who would send again 292

with spirit pure the glorious gift

unto the heavenly home. Wherefore the Lord triumphant bade His arch-angel hither fly

from His great glory, and anon make known to thee 296

His might's avail, that thou, in pure conception, shouldst bear the Son of the Supreme, in mercy to mankind, and nathless, Mary,

hold thee e'en unspotted evermore. 300

Eke have we heard what long ago the poet truly spake concerning thee, in days of old, to wit, Isaiah,

that he was led where he beheld aright 304

life's dwelling-place in the eternal home ; looked then the wise soothsayer o'er all land, till that he gazed where there was placed

a noble door- way ; all bound about 308

with precious metal was the door immense, begirt with wondrous bands; he pondered deeply, how any mortal man might ever

raise those bolts so firmly fixed, 312

ever unto all eternity, . or unlock the fastening of that city-gate, until God's angel joyfully to him

22 I. CHRIST. 316-349.

J?a wisan onwrali and J^cet word acwaetS 316

ic f>e maeg secgan J^aet sotS geweartS

feet "Sas gyldnan gatu giet surne sif)C

god sylf wile gaestes msegne

gefselsian fseder sel-mihtig 320

and ^p\\v\\ J^a fsestan locu foldan neosan

and hio '^onne sefter him ece stonde(5

simle singales swa beclysed

\>(!et nsenig oj^er nymjje nergend god 324

hy aefre ma eft onluce'S •

nu fjoet is gefylled }?set se froda }?a

mid eagum J^ser on-wlatade •

J?u eart j^set weall-dor ]?urh ]>q waldend frea 328

sene on J?as eorSan ut-sicSade

and efne swa J^ec gemette meahtum gehrodene

claene and gecorene crist ael-mihtig

swa "Se sefter him engla }?eoden 333

eft unmsele selces [binges

lio))U-c8egan bileac lifes brytta

iowa us nu J^a are f)e se engel f>e

godes spel-boda gabriel brohte 336

huru Jjaes bidda'S burg-sittende

J)set c5u pa frofre folcum cytSe

))inre sylfre sunu si]5f)an we motan

an-modlice ealle hyhtan 340

nu we on f)8et beam foran breostum stariatS

gep)inga us nu ]?ristum wordum

J)8et he us ne Isete leng owihte

in f>isse dea'S-dene gedwolan hyran 344

ac f)8et he usic geferge in faeder-rice

)?8er we sorg-lease sij)]pan motan

wunigan in wuldre mid weoroda god •

eala f)u halga heofona dryhten 348

]:>u mid fseder ]5inne gefyrn wsere

339. MS. motam.

I. CHRIST. A. THE NATIVITY. 23

disclosed the way and spake these words : — 316

' I may tell thee (what truly came to pass), that these golden gates yet on a time God Himself will make resplendent,

the Almighty Father, by His spirit's might, 320

and will visit earth through these firm gates, and after Him shall they remain for ever, to all eternity, so firmly closed,

that not any other save the Saviour God 324

shall ever open them again.'

Now is fulfilled what the wise man then with eyes there looked upon :

thou art the wall-door ; through thee the Lord, the Ruler 328 proceeded once unto this earth ; and even thus He found thee all arrayed in might, pure and choice. He, Christ Ahnighty;

thus the Prince of angels, the Lord of life, 332

closed thee, all unblemished, after Him again, as with a wondrous key. Show us now the grace that the angel Gabriel, God's messenger, brought unto thee ! 336

Verily we city-dwellers pray for this, that thou reveal to men their comfort,

thine own son. Hereafter we may *

all with one accord rejoice, 34°

now that we behold the child upon thy breast : plead now for us with earnest words that He suffer us not any longer

to obey error in this vale of death, 344

but that He lead us to the Father's realm, where sorrowless hereafter we may abide in glory, with the Lord of hosts.

O thou holy Lord of heaven, 34^

thou with thy Father wast of old

24 I. CHRIST. 350-381.

efen-wesendc in pzxm sej^elun ham •

naes senig f)a giet engel geworden

ne )?ses miclan mg6gen-J?rymmes nan • 352

t5e in roderum up rice biwitigatS

f>eodnes )?ry(S-gesteald * and his f)egnunga • [*13a.]

pa pu serest wsere mid J^one ecan frean

sylf settende f)as sidan gesceaft • 356

hrade bryten-grundas baem inc is gemaene

heah-ggest hleofaest we J?e haelend crist

p)urh ca'S-medu ealle biddatS

pa&t pu gehyre haefta stefne 360

pinrsL med-f>io\va nergende god

nu we sind geswencte f)urh ure sylfra gewill

habbatS wrsec-msecgas wergan gaestas

hetlen hel-sceaf)a hearde genyrwad 364

gebunden bealo-rapum is seo bot gelong

eall aet pe anum ece dryhten •

hreow-cearigum help f»8et fin hider-cyme

afrefre fea-sceafte J^eah we fsehj^o wi'S J^ec 368

J)urh firena lust gefremed haebben •

Ara nu onbehtum and usse yrm})a ge})enc

hu loe tealtriga'5 tydran mode

hwearfia'5 heanlice cym nu haelej^a cyning 372

lie lata to lange us is lissa f)earf

pset pn us ahredde and us haelo-giefe

so(5-f9est sylle f)9et we sif)f)an forS

f>a sellan J?ing symle moten 376

gepeon on ]?eode J>inne wilJan : 7

[V.]

eAla sf;o wlitige weortS-mynda full heah aiid halig heofon-cund J^rynes brade geblissad geond bryten-wongas 380

psi mid ryhte sculon reord-berende

361. MS. med. 371. MS. J>e. 377. One-line space behveen (he sections.

I. CHRIST. A. THE NATIVITY. 25

co-eval in that noble home.

As yet there was not any angel formed,

nor any of the mighty host of glory, 352

which guardeth the kingdom in the skies above,

the noble dwelling of the Lord and of His thanes,

when Thou first, with the eternal Lord,

wast Thyself founding all this wide creation, 356

this broad expanse of earth. Ye twain have fellowship

with the protecting Spirit. O Saviour Christ,

in lowliness we all beseech thee,

that thou hear the voice of the?e thy captives, 360

of thy hard-pressed slaves, O Saviour God !

How are we troubled through our own desires !

Us wretched exiles have the accursed sprites,

the hateful hell-fiends cruelly constrained, 364

and bound with baleful cords. The cure resteth

all with Thee alone, O Lord eternal.

Help the wretched so that thine advent here

may comfort the forlorn, though through our lust of sin 368

we have engaged in feud 'gainst Thee.

Favour now thy servants, and regard our miseries,

how we stumble being feeble-minded,

and wander abjectly. Come now, O King of men, 372

tarry not too long 1 We need thy mercy,

that thou deliver us, and give us truly

thy healing grace, so that henceforward

we may for ever, in this world, 376

do the better things, and work thy will.

V.

0 beauteous and worshipful, high and holy, heavenly Trinity,

widely blessed throughout the plains of earth, 380

whom all the wretched dwellers upon earth.

<

26 I. CHRIST. 382-415.

earme eortS-ware calle meegene

hergan heal ice nu us heelend god

wserfsest oiiwrah pcet we hine witan motaii 384

forj^on hy dsed-hwaete dome geswitJde

pcet sotS-fseste seraphinnes cyiin

uppe mid englum a bremende

unaf>reotendum {jrymmum * singatS *[13 6.] 388

ful healice hludan stefne

fsegre feor and neah habbaj? folgoj^a

cyst mid cyninge him f)8et crist forgeaf

f)8et hy mot an his set-wiste eagum brucan 392

simle singales swegle gehyrste

weortSian waldend wide and side

and mid hyra fij?rum frean gel-mihtges

onsyne wear[(?2a](5 ecan dryhtnes 396

and ymb f>eoden-stol fringacS georne

hwylc hyra nehst rasege ussum nergende

flihte lacan fri(5-geardum in

lofiaS leof-licne and in leohte him -400

pa, word cwef aS and wuldriat5

se]:'elne ord-fruman ealra gesceafta • t

halig eart f>u halig heah-engla brego

BO'S sigores frea simle ])u bist halig 404

dryhtna dryhten a ]:»in dom wunac5

eort5-lic mid aeldum in selce tid

wide geweor}?ad f)u eart weoroda god

forj^on pn gefyldest foldan and rodoras -^ 408

wigendra hleo wuldres J^ines

helm al-wihta sie pe in heannessum

ece hselo and in eor]?an lof

beorht mid beornum }?u gebletsad leofa 412

pe in dryhtnes noman duge]:>um cwome

heanum to hrof)re j^e in heah)?um sie

a butan ende ece herenis •

396. MS. wear©.

I. CHRIST. A. THE NATIVITY. 27

endowed with speech, must rightly with all power

praise highly, for now the trusty Saviour

hath revealed God unto us that we may know Him ; 3S4

wherefore they, the zealous ones, the glory-crowned,

the race of Seraphim, the true and just,

above 'mid angels ever praising,

sing in unwearying numbers, 388

full highly and with strain exalted,

sweetly, far and near. They have the choicest

service with their King. Christ granted them

that with their eyes they may enjoy His being, 393

and for ever ceaselessly adore the Ruler

far and wide, wrapt in bright harmony :

and with their wings they guard the presence

of the Lord Almighty, the eternal King, 396

and throng around the throne, all eager

which one of them may nearest to our Saviour

disport in flight within the courts of peace ;

they praise the Loved One, and in His light 400

these words they speak to Him, and glorify

the noble source of all created things : —

' Holy art thou, holy, Lord of archangels, true Lord of triumph, ever art thou holy, 404

Kings of kings, ever thy glory liveth, on earth 'mong men to all eternity, honoured far and wide. Thou art God of hosts, for thou hast filled the earth and heavens, 408

Shield of warriors, with thy glory; Helm of all things, endless Hosanna be to thee in the highest, and on earth 'mong men

noble praise. Abide thou blessed, 412

that in the Lord's name camest unto men, to comfort the dejected : in the high heavens eternal praise be thine, world without end.'

28

T. CHRIST. 416-446.

eala hwset pant is wraec-lic wrixl in wera life

psctte mon-cynnea milde scyppend

onfeng set fsemnan flsesc unwemme

and sio weres friga w'iiit ne cuf)e

ne J)urh ssed ne cwom sigores agend

monnes ofer moldan ac pset wses ma crseft

ponne hit eor(5-buend ealle cu|:)an

)?urh geryne hu he rodera f>rim

heofona heah frea helpe gefremede

monna cynne [purh * his modor hrif *[14a.]

and swa forS gongende folca nergend

his forgif-nesse gumum to helpe

dsele'S dogra gehwam dryhten weoroda

forjjon we hine dom-hwate daedum and wordum

hergen hold-lice psdt is healic rsed

monna gehwylcum J^e gemynd hafa'S

f)8et he symle oftost and inlocast

and georn-licost god weorJ)ige

he him J^sere lisse lean forgilde'S

se gehalgoda hselend sylfa

efne in J^am e'Sle J^aer he aer ne cwora

in lifgendra londes wynne

f)8er he gesselig sif))?an eardatS

ealne widan feorh wima'S butan ende : — Amen : 7

416

420

424

428

432

436

[B. THE ASCENSION.]

n^'y V DV GEORNLICE GiEST-gerynum 1 ^^ mon se maera mod-crsefte sec I ^l l^urh sefan snyttro f)8et f)u sd^ wite

-A- ^ hu f»8et geeode j^a se sel-mihtiga

acenned weart5 p)urh clsenne had

si]5j?an he marian msegtSa weolman

maerre meowlan mund-heals j?( ceas •

440

444

419. MS. niht (/or uiht = wiht). 439. Tivo-line space between the sections.

I. CHRIST. B. THE ASCENSION. 29

Lo ! what a wondrous change is this in the life of men, 416 that the benign Creator of mankind took from a damsel flesh immaculate, nor knew she aught of love of man,

nor came the Lord of triumph down to earth * 420

through seed of man ; but it was greater craft than all the men that dwell on earth might know, how He, the glory of the skies, through mystery, the heaven's high Lord, framed help 424

for mankind, through his mother's womb. And aye unceasingly the Saviour of mankind dealeth each day his forgiveness unto folk,

to help them; He, the Lord of hosts. 428

Wherefore must we praise Him faithfully, zealous in deed and word. This is a noble rede for every one of men that hath a mind,

that aye most often and most inwardly, 432

and most yearningly, he worship God. He will recompense him for the love, yea, the hallowed Saviour himself,

e'en in the country where he came ne'er before, 436

in the joy of the land of the living, where happy ever after he shall dwell, and rest for evermore, time without end. Amen.

B. TFIE ASCENSION.

I.

Seek thou now eagerly with all thy power of mind, 440

with the secrets of thy spirit, thou great man, that thou mayst know aright, through thy soul's wisdom, how it came about, when the Almighty

was born into the world in purity, 444

after he chose out Mary as protector, choicest of maidens ! damsel renowned !

30 I. CHRIST. 447-482.

f>aet pipv in hwituin hrseglum geweretle

eiiglas ne oSeowcIun pa se 8ef)eling cwom 448

beorn in betlem bodan wseron gear we

J?a Jjurh hleof)or-cwide hyrdum cyt^don

ssegdon sot5ne gefean J^aette sunu wsere

in middan-geard meotudes acenned 452

in betleme hwae)?re in bocum ne cwiS

psei hy in hwitum ))8er hrseglum o'Sywden •

in pa sej^elan tid swa hie eft dydon •

t5a se brega msera • to bethania 456

*f)eoden J^rym-fa^st his J^egna gedryht *[146.]

gela'Sade leof weorud hy Ipses lareowes

on J^am wil-daege word ne gehyrwdon

hyra sinc-giefan sona wseron gearwe 460

hseletS mid hlaford to J^aere halgan byrg

|?8er him tacna fela tires brytta

onwrah wuldres helm word-gerynum

serjjon up-stige dn-cenned sunu 464

efen-ece beam agnum feeder

fses ymb feowertig Ipe he of foldan ser

from deatSe aras dagena rimes •

haefde ]?a gefylled swa ser biforan sungon 468

witgena word geond woruld innan

J)urh his f)rowinga ]:>egnas heredon •

lufedun leof-wendum lifes agend

fseder frum-sceafta he him faegre f)8es 472

leofum gesif>um lean aefter geaf

and })set word acwaetS waldend engla

gefysed frea mihtig to faeder rice

gefeotS ge on fer'S'Se nsefre ic from-hweorf'e 476

ac ic lufan symle laeste wi(5 eowic

and eow meaht giefe and mid-wunige

awo to ealdre Ipsdt eow sefre ne biS

f)urh gife mine godes onsien • 480

Para's nu geond ealne • yrmenne grund •

geond wid-wegas • wcoredum cycSa'S •

T. CHRIST. B. THE ASCENSION. 31

tliat there appeared not angels then arrayed

in robes of white, when the Prince, the Chief, 448

came into Bethlehem. Angels were ready,

who revealed in accents clear and told

to shepherds the sure joy that there was born

in middle-earth, in Bethlehem, 453

a Son of the Creator ; yet in books it saith not

that they appeared there at that glorious tide,

in robes of w^iite, e'en as they did anon,

when the great Leader in Bethany, 456

the Lord majestic, gathered His band of thanes,

the host beloved; on that welcome day

they slighted not the word of their Teacher,

of their bounteous Dispenser ; soon were they dight, 460

men with their master, for the holy city :

there splendour's Lord, the Helm of glory,

revealed full many a sign to them in mystic words,

ere He arose, only begotten Son, 464

Child with his own Father co-eternal,

forty numbered days after he had first

ascended from the earth, from death.

Then had he fulfilled the prophets' words, 468

as they had sung before throughout the world, —

yea, by his passion. His thanes lauded Him,

they praised lovingly the Lord of life,

the Father of creation ! Wherefore in aftertime 472

he nobly recompensed His beloved comrades,

and these words spake He, Prince of angels,

mighty Lord, wdiile hastening to his Father's realm : —

' Rejoice ye in spirit, ne'er will I turn away, 476

but I will show my love towards you ever, and grant you might and abide with you ever to all eternity, and through my grace ye shall ne'er know the want of sustenance. 480

Go now o'er all the spacious earth, o'er the wide ways, announce to men,

32 T. CHRIST. 483-516.

bodiaS and brematS • beorhtne geleafaii •

and fulwiaS folc under roderum • 484

hweorfat5 to heofonum • hergas breota)? •

fyllatS and feogatS • feond-scype dwaesca'S •

sibbe sawat5 • on sefan manna •

J^urh nieahta sped • ic eow mid-wunige • 48S

forts on frofre • and eow fritSe bealde •

strengtSu staf)ol-f8estre • *on stowa gehware • *[15a.]

■^a weartS semninga sweg on lyftc •

hlud gehyred • heofon-engla f)reat • '492

weorud wlite-scyne • wuldres aras •

cwomun on cor(5re • cyning ure gewat •

]?urh J>8es temples hrof • f)8er hy to-segun •

f)a )?e leofes f)a gen • last weardedun • 496

on J^am J^ing-stede • f)egnas gecorene •

gesegon hi on heahj^u • hlaford stigan •

god -beam of grundum • him waes geomor sefa •

hat set heortan • hyge murnende • 500

J^ges f)e hi swa leofne • leng ne mostun •

geseon under swegle • song ahofun •

aras ufan-cunde • 8ef)eling heredmi •

lofedun lif-fruman • leohte gefegun • 504

\)Q of f)8es haelendes • heafelan lixte •

gesegon hy sel-beorhte • englas twegen •

fsegre ymb \xjet frum-bearn • fraetwum blican •

cyninga wuldor • cleopedon of heahj^u • 508

wordum wrset-licum • ofer wera mengu •

beorhtan reorde- hwset bidatS ge

galilesce • guman on hwearfte •

Nu ge sweotule geseo'S • so^ne dryhten • 512

on swegl faran . si gores agend •

wile up heonan • eard gestigan •

sej^elinga ord • mid f>as engla gedryht •

ealra folca fruma • feeder e}?el-st611 : 7 5^6

496. ilf>S. weardeduin. 503. M*S. heredum. 516. One line space

between the sections.

I. CHRIST. B. THE ASCENSION. 33

preach and proclaim the bright belief,

and baptize folk beneath the skies, 484

turn them to heaven ; break idols,

cast them down and hate them ; extinguish enmity,

sow peace within the minds of men,

by virtue of your powers. I will ever stay with you 488

in solace, and will keep you in peace

with steadfast strength in every place ! '

Then suddenly, a sound was heard loud in the air ; a band of heavenly angels, 492

the messengers of glory, a beauteous host, in legion came ; our king departed through the temple's roof, where they beheld, they who watched still the dear One's track, 496

the chosen thanes, there in the meeting-place, — they saw the Lord, the Child divine, ascend from earth into the heights : their souls were sad, their spirit's grief was hot within their hearts, 500

for now they might no longer see 'neath heaven One so beloved. Then raised a song the messengers celestial, praised they the Prince, they lauded life's Creator, joyed they in the light 504

which glistened from the Saviour's head, saw they angels twain, resplendent, fair, shining in splendour 'round that first-born Child, the glory of all kings ; they cried out from on high 508

in wondrous words over the hosts of men, with voices clear : ' Why bide ye here, and stand about, ye Galilean men?

Now see ye the true King, the Lord of victory, 512

manifestly wending to the skies; the Chief of princes with these hosts of angels, the Lord of all mankind, up from hence will soar unto His native home, His Father-land.' 516

D

I

34

I. CHRIST. Si7~S4^'

[II.]

"TTTE mid Jjyslice • J^reate Winn's •

' * ofer lieofona gelilidu • liluford fergan • to fsere beorhtan byrg- mid fjas blitSan gedryt- ealra sige-bearna • ]:?8et seleste • 520

*an(l sdpe\este • pe ge her onstariatS • and in frofre geseotS* fraetwum blicnn • *[15 6.] wile eft swa-J?eah • eortSan msegtSe •

sylfa gesecan • side herge • 524

and ])onne gedeman • d?eda gehwylce • J^ara (5e gefremedon • folc under roderum • ■Sa wees wuldres weard • wolcniiw bifen t •

heah-engla cyning • ofer hrofas upp • 528

haligra helm • hyht wses geniwad • blis in burgum • }?urh pses beornes cyme • gesset sige-hremig • on |?a swif'ran hand •

ece ead-fruma* jignum feeder* 532

gewitan him J^a gongan • to hierusalem • hseletS hyge-rofe • in (5a halgan burg • geomor-mode • [)onan hy god nyhst •

up-stigende • eagum segun • 536

hyra wil-gifan • )?aer wses wopes bring • torne bitolden • wees seo treow lufu • hat set heortan • hre^er innan weoll •

beorn breost-sefa • bidon ealle f)ser • 540

)?egnas J)rym-fulle • j^eodnes gehata • in l^aere torhtan by rig- tyn niht |^a-gen» swa him sylf bibead • swegles agend •

8er J)on up-stige • ealles waldend • 544

on heofona gehyld hwite cwoman* eorla ead-giefan • englas to-geanes •

527. ilCS'. bifengun. 539. If/S, hreder. c^^o. MS. h^orn, an erasure

o

between b and o ; bidan.

I. CIITITST. B. THE ASCENSION. 35

II.

'Fain would we o'er the vaults of heaven conduct the Lord with all this company, this joyous band, unto the shining burgh.'

*He whom ye gaze on here, the best 520

and noblest of all the sons of triumph, He whom ye see in solace shining resplendently, will surely yet again with ample host

Himself revisit all the races of the earth, 524

and then will judge each single deed that folk beneath the heavens have performed.'

Then was glory's Guardian, the archangels' King, the Helm of holy men, wrapt in clouds 528

high o'er the roofs. Joy and bliss were renewed within the cities, at the Prince's coming. On His own Father's right hand sat He down triumjDhant, the eternal Source of good. 532

Then went they journeying to Jerusalem, unto that holy burgh, the valiant men sad in spirit, from that spot where they had seen so late with their own eyes God rise aloft, 536

their kind Dispenser : there was unbroken weepingj their faithful love was overwhelmed with grief, hot in their hearts their spirits boiled within, their breast-thoughts burned. All His glorious thanes 540

awaited there the Lord's behests, witliin the noble city, yet ten nights, as Himself the Lord of heaven bade,

ere He, Omnipotent, ascended high 544

to heaven's keeping, and white angels came toward the bounteous Prince of warrior-men.

D 2

36 T. CHRIST. 547-580.

"Sset is wel cwetlen • swa gewritu secgatS •

\)(et him al-beorhte englas togeanes • 548

in j^a halgan tid • licapum cvvoman •

sigan on swegle • ]:»a wses symbla msest •

geworden in wuldre • wel J^set gedafenacS •

Ipsdt to J»3ere blisse • beorhte gewerede • 552

in J^ses J^eodnes burg • f)egnas cwoman •

weorud wlite-scyne • gesegon wil-cuman •

on heah-setle • heofones waldend •

folca feorh-giefan • fraetwum * ealles waldend *[16a.] 556

middan-geardes and msegen-J^rymmes

hafatS nu se halga helle bireafod

ealles J^ses gafoles Ipe hi gear-dagum

in ]?8et orlege unryhte svvealg • 560

nu sind forcumene and in cwic-susle

gehynde and gehaefte in helle grund

duguj^um bidseled deofla cempan

ne meahtan wi]:>er-brogan wige spowan 564

wsepna wyrpum sif)]:>an wuldres cyning

heofon-rices helm hilde gefremede

wi]5 his eald-feondum dnes meahtum

J)3er he of hsefte ahlod huj^a maeste • 568

of feonda by rig folces unrim •

J)isne ilcan f)reat Ipe ge her on-staria'5

wile nu gesecan sawla nergend

gsesta gief-stol godes agen beam 572

sefter gu'S-plegan nu ge geare cunnon

hwset se hlaford is se Jjisne here IsedetS

nu ge from-lice freondum to-geanes

gongatS glsed-mode geatu ontyna(5 • 576

wile into eow ealles waldend

cyning on ceastre cor(5re ne lytle

fyrn-weorca fruma folc gelaedan

in dreama dream "Se he on deoflum genom 580

me

548. MS. selbeorhte. 564. MS. ne,ahtan.

I. CHRIST. B. THE ASCENSION. 37

It is well-spoken, as the Scriptures say,

that all-bright angels at that holy tide 548

in legions came, descending in the clouds

to meet Him ; then the greatest jubilee

arose within the Glory. 'Tis well befitting

that His servants came to the Beatitude, 552

into the Prince's city, brightly clad,

a beauteous host : they saw the welcome Guest

on His high throne, the heaven's Lord,

Source of men's life, ruling in splendour all, — 556 1 n^

the middle-earth and the majestic host.

Now hath the holy One despoiled hell of all the tribute that in ancient days

it basely gorged within that place of strife. 560

Now are they quelled, the devils' champions, in living torture humbled and held bound, bereft of prowess, in hell's abyss :

the hostile foes might not speed in battle 564

with weapon-thrusts, when He, the King of glory, the Helm of heaven's realm, waged war, with his sole might, against his ancient foes. Then drew He forth from durance the best spoil, ^68

a folk unnumbered from the burgh of fiends, this very band which ye gaze on here. Now will He visit the spirits' throne of grace the proper Child of God, Saviour of souls, 572

after the war-play. Now ye know right well what Lord is He that leadeth this company ; now boldly go ye forward to meet friends,

joyful in spirit. Open, O ye gates ! 576

the Lord of all, the King, creation's Source, will lead through you unto the city, unto the joy of joys, with host not small, the folk which from the devils He hath ruft, 5?o

38 T. ciiiiisT. f)8i-6ii.

O'

Jjurli his sylfes sygor sib sceal gemocne

engluw a7id seklum d Tor's lieoiian

wesan wide-ferh • wter is set-somne

godes and monna gsest-halig treow 584

lufu lifes hyht and ealles leohtes gefea^

hwsat we nu gehyidan hu j^ret hselu-bearn

Ipurh his hyder-cyme hals eft forgeaf

gefreode a7id gefreoj^ade folc under wolcnum 588

msere meotudes sunu pwt nu monna gehwylc

cwic *J?endan her wunat geceosan mot *[16 6.]

swa helle hienj)u swa heofones m8erf)u

swa Ipcet leohte leoht swa 'Sa laf»an niht 592

swa ]:'rymmes f>r8ece swa J^rystra wrsece •

swa mid dryhten dream • swa mid deoflum hream •

swa wite mid wraj^um swa wuldor mid arum

swa lif swa dea(5 swa him leofre biS 596

to gefren^manne J?enden flsesc and gsest

wuniatS in worulde wuldor J^aes age

f)rynysse f>rym })onc butan eude : 7

[III.]

TTViET is J^ses wyrSe j^ce^te wer-)?eode 600

-*-^ secgen dryhtne j^onc dugut5a gehwylcre

pe us suS and eer simle gefremede

J^urh monig-fealdra msegna geryno*

he us cet giefetS and sehta sped 604

welan ofer wid-lond and weder Upe

under swegles hleo sunne and mona

aej)elast tungla eallum scinatS

heofon-condelle hselef>um on eortSan 608

dreosecS deaw and ren duguSe weccalp

to feorh-nere fira cynne

ieca'5 eorS-welan • pses we ealles sculon

599. One line s^ave between the sections.

T. CHRIST. B. THE ASCENSION. 39

through His own victory. Peace shall be shared

by angels and by men henceforth evermore

to all eternity : 'twixt God and men

there is a covenant, a ghostly pledge, — 584

love, and life's hope, and joy of all the light.

Lo! we have now heard how the Saviour-Child dispensed again salvation by His advent hither, how He, the Lord's great Son, freed and protected 588

folk 'neath the clouds, that now each man, while he is dwelling here alive, must choose, — be it hell's shame, or heaven's fame,

be it the shining light, or the loathsome night, 592

be it majestic state, or the rash ones' hate, be it song with the Lord, or with devils discord, be it torment with the grim, or glory with cherubim, be it life, or death, as it shall liefer be 596

for him to act while flesh and spirit dwell within the world. Wherefore let glory be, thanks endless, to the noble Trinity.

in.

'Tis therefore fitting that the tribes of men 600

give thanks unto the Lord for every good which late and early He hath ever rendered us, through mystery of wonders manifold.

He giveth us food and fulness of possessions, 604

wealth o'er the spacious earth, and gentle weather under the heaven's protection ; sun and moon, noblest of constellations, heaven's candles,

shine for all men on earth alike ; 608

dew falleth and rain ; they call abundance forth to nourish life, for all the race of men ; earth's riches they increase. For all this must we

40

r. cHiiisT. 612-645.

secgan pone and lof* J?eoclnc ussum- 612

and huru f>a^re lioelo • J?e he us to liylite Ibrgcaf*

tSa he ]:a yrmSu . eft-oncyrde

set \h]is up-stige • pe we ser drugon

and gej^iiigade Jjeod-buendum • 616

wi5 feeder swsesne fehpa mseste

cyning aii-boren cwide eft-onhwearf

sauliim to sibbe se pe aer sungen [i(;cc5]

J^urh yrne hyge • seldum to sorge • 620

Ic ]:>ec ofer eor'San geworhte* on fjsere ]5u scealt yrnif)um lifgan*

wunian in gewdnne '^ and wrsece dreogan *[17a.]

feondum to hro]?or fus-leo'S galan

and to ):!8ere ilcan scealt eft geweor}?an 624

wyrmum aweallen J^onan wites fyr

of J^aere eorSan scealt eft gesecan*

Hwset us fjis se 8e)?eling y'Sre gefremede

J^a he leomum onfeng* and lic-homan 628

nionnes magu-tudre • siJ?J>an meotodes sunu

engla e]:)el • upgestigan

wolde weoroda god • us se willa bicwom

heanum to helpe on J^a halgan tid • 632

bi )?on giedd awrsec iob swa he cu'Se

herede helm wera hselend lofede

and mid sib-lufan sunu waldendes

freo-noman cende and hine fugel nemde 636

j7one iudeas • ongietan ne meahtan •

in tfaere god-cundan gsestes streng(5u

wses f)8es fugles flylit feondum on eorf>an •

dyrne and degol • J?am pe deorc gewit 640

hsefdon on hre]?re heortan stsenne •

iioldan hi J^a torhtan • tacen oncnawan •

pe him beforan fremede. freo-bearn godes •

monig mis-lie • geond middan-geard 644

swa se fsela fugel • flyges cunnode •

615. 3IS. is. 618. [ssdds\ evidently omitted hy the scribe.

I. CHRIST. 13. THE ASCENSION. 41

give thanks and praise unto our Lord, 612

yet first for our salvation, which He gave us as our hope,

at His ascension, when He turned away

the miseries which we had suffered erst,

when He, the one-born King, on man's behalf, 616

compounded with His Father, the Beloved,

the greatest feud, averted the decree,

for our souls' peace, which had been sung erewhile

in angry mood for sorrow unto men : — 620

* I wrought thee on the earth, on it shalt thou live in want, shalt dwell in toil, and exile shalt endure, shalt sing the death-song for thy foes' delight, and shalt be turned again to that same earth, 624

with worms o'ercharged, from whence thou shalt thereafter seek the fire of punishment.'

Lo ! this the noble Prince assuaged for us when He took limb and fleshly covering 628

from child of man, when He willed to ascend to the land of angels, He the Creator's Son, the God of hosts : upon that holy tide,

the wish arose to help us, wretched ones. 632

Of this Job sang a song as he well could ; he praised the Helm of men, lauded the Saviour, and in tender love devised a noble name

for the Ruler's Son, and named Him as a bird, 636

a name which Jews mi^ht nowise understand. By the Spirit's strength divine, hidden and secret from his foes on earth

was that bird's flight, from those who in their breasts 640

had understanding dark, a stony heart : they would not recognise the glorious signs which the noble child of God wrought before them, many and various, on the middle-earth. 644

Thus the noble bird assayed his flight ;

42 I. CHRIST. 646-679.

hwiluw engla card • up gesohte •

modig meahtum Strang • f>one maran ham •

liwilum he to eor})aii eft gestylde • 648 ■

f»urh gsestes giefe grund-sceat sohte •

wende to worulde bi J^on se witga song •

he wses upp-hafen engla fsetSmum

in his Ipa miclan • meahta spede • 652

heah and halig ofer heofona prym •

ne meahtan pa J^ses fugles • flyht gecnawan •

*])e J^ses u2)-stiges and-assc fremedon *[17 ^.]

and J?8et ne gelyfdon pcetie lif-fruma 656

in monnes hiw ofer maegna Iprym

halig from hrusan ahafen wurde •

?5a us geweort5ade se pas world gescop

godes gsest-sunu aiid us giefe sealde 660

uppe mid englum ece stafelas

and eac monig-fealde modes snyttru

seow and sette geond sefan monna •

Sumum word-laf)e wise sendet5 664 <

on his modes gemynd jpurh his muj^es gsest

aef)ele andgiet • se mseg eal fela •

singan and secgan Jjam biS snyttru craeft •

bifolen on fertSe • Sum mseg fingrum wel • 668

hlude fore haelef)um hearpan stirgan •

gleo-beam gretan • Sum mseg god-cunde •

reccan ryhte se • Sum mseg ryne tungla •

secgan side gesceaft* Sum mseg searolice 672

word-cwide writan • Sumuw wiges sped •

giefeS set guj^e ponne gar-getrum

ofer sclld-hreadan sceotend sendatS

flacor flan-geweorc • Sum mseg fromlice 676

ofer sealtne sse sund-wudu drifan

hreran holm-j^rsece • Sum mseg heanne beam

stselgne gestigan • Sum mseg styled sweord •

654 MS. flyX 673. 3IS. Suin'i.

I. CHRIST. B. THE ASCENSION. 43

whilom He sought on high tlie uiigels' laiitl,

the noble home, proud, strong in might,

whilom He again descended to the earth, 648

He sought earth's region in his spirit's grace,

and wended to the world : of this the prophet sang : —

' He was borne aloft embraced in angels' arms into the spacious glory of His might, 652

high and holy, above the heaven's splendour.'

They might not know of that bird's flight, who made denial of the ascension,

and who believed not that life's Author, 656

in form of man, holy from the earth, was raised above the glorious hosts. Then God's Spirit-Son who shaped the world, ennobled us and gave us gifts, 660

eternal seats with the angels on high, and wisdom, too, of mind, full-manifold. He sowed and set within men's soul.

To one He sendeth to memory's seat 664

charm of wise words, through the spirit of the mouth, and noble understanding. He can sing and say full many things, within whose soul is hid the power of wisdom. One can full well 668

with fingers, loud before the warriors, wake the harp, and greet the glee-beam : one can expound aright the law divine : one can tell the constellations' course, the wide creation : one cunningly can write 672

the spoken word : to one he giveth battle-speed, when in the fight the shooters send the storm of darts, swift-flying arrow-work, over the shield's defence : one can boldly 676

o'er the salt sea drive the ocean-wood and stir the water's rush : one can ascend the lofty tree and steep : one can work

44 I. CHRIST. 680-709.

wsepen gewyrcaii • Sum con wonga bigoiig • 680

wegas wid-gielle swa se waldend us

god-bearn on grundum his giefe brytta'5'

Nyle he it^ngum anuni • ealle gesyllan

gsestes snyttru J?y Ises him gielp scefjj^e 684

fjurh his anes crseft ofer o]?re for^ : 7

[IV.]

*X\US god meahtig geofum uu-hneawum • '^[ 18 a.]

-L'cyning al-wihta- creeftum weorcSaJ? eoi]:>an tuddor swylce eadgum blaed 688

sele'S on swegle sibbe rserej) ece to ealdre engla and monna swa he his weorc weorf)a'S- bi )?on se vvitga cw3et5 \)CBt d-hsefen waeren halge gimmas 692

hsedre heofon-tungol heal ice upp • sunne and mona* hwset sindan )?a gimmas swa scyne buton god sylfa

he is se so'S-fsesta • sunnan leoma 696

englum and eortS-warum 8e]?ele scima ofer middan-geard mona lixe^ gaest-lic tungol swa seo godes circe

J^urh gesomninga* sotSes and ryhtes 700

lieorhte blice(5 swa hit on bocum cwif> si):)]:)an of grundum god-bearn d-stag- cyning clsenra gehwses )?a seo circe her •

se-fyllendra eaht-nysse bad • 704

under haej^enra • hyrda gewealdum J^ser tSa syn-scea"5an soj^es ne giemdon gsestes Jjearfe ac hi godes tempel

biaecan and bserndon blod-gyte worhtan 708

feodan a'iid fyldon hw8e)?re fortS bicwom

685. forS, the only word on the last line o/" 17 h; the rest of the line blank. 698. MS. lixed. 709. MS. feodan; bettceen o and d a letter erased in MS.

1. CHRIST. B. THE ASCENSION. 45

steeled sword and weapon : one knoweth the plains' direction, 680

the wide ways. Thus the Ruler, Child divine,

dispenseth unto us His gifts on earth ;

He will not give to sny one man all

the spirit's wisdom, lest pride injure him, 684

placed far above the rest by power of himself alone.

IV.

Thus mighty God, King of all created things, ennobleth by these crafts, by gifts unsparing, earth's progeny, and giveth joy 688

unto the blessed in heaven, and setteth peace for angels and for men to all eternity. He honoureth His work, even as the prophet said, that holy gems were raised aloft 602

on high, the stars serene of heaven, the sun and moon. What are these gems so bright, but God Himself?

He is the sun's true beam, 606

the noble light for angels and for men : the moon shineth o'er the middle-earth, a spiritual star, e'en as God's Church

gleameth brightly through the congregations 700

of the True and Just ; as it saith in books, that when the Child divine, the King all pure, had ascended from the earth, then the Church here of the faithful ones endured oppression 704

'neath heathen shepherds' rule ; then the sinful took no heed of truth, nor of their spiiit's needs, but brake and burned God's temple, wrought bloodshed, jro8

hated and destroyed; yet through the Spirit's grace

46 I. CHRIST. 710-744.

pVLih ggestes gicfe • godes fegna hlsed sefter up-stige ccan dryhtnes •

bi )?on Salomon song- sunu daui[?es 712

giedda gearo-snottor • gsest-gerynuw wuldend wer-J^eoda and pcet word acw8e"5 cuts J^set geweortSetS pa-tie cyning engla

meotud meahtum swiS munt gesty lie's 716

gehleape'S hea-dune hyllas and cnollas • bewritS mid his wuldre • woruld alysetS ealle eor"5-*buend )?urh j?one 9B]?elan styll* *fl8 6.] waes se forma blyp f'a he on fsemnan astag 720

msegetS un-msele and J?8er mennisc hiw onfeng butan firenum pcet to frofre gewearcS ealluw eor(5-waruw wses se of>er stiell

bearnes gebyrda • pa, he in binne wses 724

in cildes hiw claj^um bewunden ealra j^rymma |?rym wses se J)iidda h.lyp rodor-cyninges raes J^a he on rode astag

fgeder frofre gsest wses se feorSa stiell 728

in byrgenne )?a he j^one beam ofgeaf fold-8erne fsest waes se fifta hlyp J?a he hell-warena heap forbygde

in cwic-susle cyning inne gebond 732

feonda fore-sprecan fyrnum teagum grom-hydigne p^r he gen lige'5 in carcerne clommum gefsestnad

synnum gesgeled • wses se siexta hlyp 736

haliges hyht-plega pa he to heofonum astag on his eald-eyt5Se pa, wses engla f)reat on Jja halgan tid hleahtre blij^e '

wynnuwi geworden gesawan wuldres f)rym 740

cej^elinga ord ej^les neosan beorhtra bolda pa wear's burg-warum • eadgum ece gefea* sej^elinges plega

pus her on grundum godes ece beam 744

710. MS.hlae^iS. 731. MS. werena.

I. CHRIST. B. THE ASCENSIOX. 47

the welfare of God's servants was maintained

after the eternal Lord's ascent :

of this thing Solomon the son of David sang, 712

all-wise in song and secrets spiritual,

the ruler of the nations, and these words he spake : —

'This shall be known that the angels' King, the Lord strong in His might, shall mount a hill, 716

shall leap the lofty downs, shall with His glory wreathe the hills and knolls, and by that noble bound shall free the world and all that dwell on earth/

The first leap was when He descended to the damsel, 720 the spotless maid, and sinlessly took there a human form, which was a solace for all men on earth. The second spring was this, the infant's birth, when He, the Glory of all glories, 724

swathed in clothes was in the manger in child-form. The third leap was

the heavenly King's career when He, the Father's solace, mounted on the rood. The fourth spring was 728

into the tomb, when he left the tree, (and lay) fast within the earth-house. The fifth leap was when he bowed down the multitude of hell-folk in living torment, and bound their king within, 732

the devils* spokesman, so grim of spirit, with fiery fetters, where he yet lieth in the prison there, fastened with bonds,

and bound with sins. The sixth leap was 736

the holy One's exultant revel when He to heaven ascended, unto his ancient home : then the hosts of angels were blithe with laughter and with joy,

upon that holy tide : they saw the Crown of glory, 740

the Prince of nobles, draw near his native land, the bright abodes ; then was the Prince's revel eternal joy for the happy folk within that burgh.

Thus the eternal Child of God, here upon earth, 744

48 I. CHRIST. 745-778.

ofer heah lileoj^u hlypum stylde

modig sefter muntum swa we men sculon

lieortan gehygdum hlyj^um styllan

of msegne in msegen • mserj^iim tilgan 748

pcet we to J?ara hylistan hrofe gestigan

lialgum weorcum f»9er is liylit and blis

gef>ungen )?egn-weorud is us J^earf micel

p<xt we mid heortan hselo secen • 752

J38er we mid gaeste geome * gelyfa'S *[ 19 a.]

pset f>set hgelo-bearn heonan up-stige

mid usse lic-homan lifgende god

forj^on we a sculon idle lustas 756

syn-wunde forseon and pees sellran gefeon

habbatS we us to frofre fseder on roderum

selmeahtigne he his dras J)onan

halig of heah'Su liider onsendetJ 760

f>a us gescildaf) wiS sceJ^J^endra

etglum earh-farum pi laes un-holdan •

wunde gewyrcen ponne wroht-bora

in folc godes for'S onsendeS 764

of his brsegd-bogan biterne strael

forj^on we fseste sculon witS J)am fser-scyte

symle weerlice • wearde healdan

py Ises se attres ord in-gebuge 768

biter bord-gelac under ban-locan

feonda fser-searo J^set bitS frecne wund

blatast benna utan us beorgan pa,

J^enden we on eortSan card weardigen 772

utan us to faeder freof>a wilnian

biddan beam godes and f)one bli'San gsest

pcet he us gescilde wi(5 sceaf)an waepnum •

IsLpra lyge-searwum se us lif forgeaf 776

leomu lie and gsest* si him lof symle

Jjurh woruld worulda • wuldor on heofnum : 7

757. MS. sellan. 762. MS. englum. 766. 3IS. f£er,scyte. 777. MS. a®. 778. Half-line space hetiveen the sections.

I. CHEIST. B. THE ASCENSION. 49

sprang by leaps over the lofty hills,

boldly from mount to mount, so must we men,

in our hearts' thoughts, by such leaps spring

from virtue unto virtue and strive for glory, 748

so that through holy works we may rise

unto the highest height, where there is joy and bliss

and ministering legions glorious. Great is our need,

that we should seek salvation there with our hearts, 752

where we earnestly in spirit place our faith,

so that the Saviour-Child, the living God,

may with our bodies soar aloft from hence.

Wherefore we must ever scorn all idle lusts 756

and wounds of sin, and rejoice in what is goodlier;

we have our solace in the Almighty,

our Father in heaven : He, the holy One, will send

His messengers down hither from on high 760

to shield us from the noxious arrow-flights

of those that do us scathe, lest fiends

should work us wounds, when the Accuser

sendeth forth the bitter shaft 76+

among God's folk from his drawn bow.

Wherefore we must firmly and aye waiily

keep watch against the sudden shot,

lest the envenomed point, the bitter dart, 768

the sudden wile of foes, should enter in

beneath the bones' enclosure : that is a grievous wound,

the ghastliest of gashes. Let us then guard ourselves,

while we hold habitation upon earth ; 772

let us desire peace from the Father,

and pray the Son of God, and eke the kindly Spirit,

that He shield us from the spoilers' weapons,

from the lying wiles of foes; He gave us life, 776

limbs, body, and eke spirit : ever to Him be praise,

glory in the heavens, world without end.

£

50 1. CHRIST. 779-810.

[V.]

NE Jjearf him ondrseclan deofla straelas senig on eor(5an selda cynnes 780

gromra gar-fare gif hine god scilde}) dugu'Sa dryhten is J^am dome neali ]>cet we gelice sceolon leanum hleotan

swa we wide feorh weorcum hlodun 784

geond sidne grund us secga(5 bee hu set serestan ead-*mod astag • *[19 5.] in middan-geard msegna gold-hord

in fsemnan fae'Sm freo beam godes • 788

halig of heahj^u huru ic wene me • and eac ondrsede • dom ^y rej^ran • tSonne eft cymecS engla )?eoden

J»e ic ne heold teala pcet me hselend min 792

on bocum bibead ic f^ses brogan sceal geseon s/n-wrsece pses pe ic BO'S talge pser monig beot^ on gemot Iseded

fore onsyne eces deman 796

ponne • h * cwacacS • geliyre(5 cyning mae'Slan • rodera ryhtend • sprecan rej»e word J:am pe him eer in worulde wace hyrdon

f)endan • ffl • a7id "^ . yj^ast meahtan 800

frofre findan J>8er sceal forht monig on Jpam wong-stede werig bidan hwset him sefter dsedum deman wille

wraj^ra wita bif) se • P" • scsecen 804

eorf>an fraetwa Pj • wses longe .

1^- flodum bilocen lif-wynna deel*

p- on foldan ponne frsetwe sculon

byrnan on bsele blac rasettecS 808

recen reada leg ref>e scriJ^ecS*

geond woruld wide wongas hreosa'S

783. hleotan, h evidently added later. 790. MS. dyrej)ran. 795. MS.

I. CHRIST. B. THE ASCENSION. 51

V.

No one of tlie race of men on earth need fear the devil's shafts, . 780

the spear-flight of the fiends, if God, the Lord of hosts, shieldeth him. The day of doom is nigh, so that we shall gain the recompense

that by our works we have amassed on this wide earth, 784 during the length of life. Books tell us, how at first the noble Son of God, glory's Treasury, holy from on high,

humbly descended to the middle-earth 788

into the damsel's keeping. Verily I ween, and eke I fear, a doom the sterner, when the Prince of angels cometh a second time, for that I kept not well that which my Saviour 792

bade me in his books : therefore shall I see terror and sin -vengeance, I know full well, when many shall be brought unto the concourse before the presence of the eternal Judge. 796

Then the Keen shall quake, when he heareth the king, heaven's ruler, speak and utter wrathful words to those who erewhile in the world obeyed him feebly, while Yearning and Need might most easily 800

find solace : there many a one afeard shall wearily await upon that plain what fearful penalty He will adjudge to him after his deeds : then the Winsomeness of earthly gauds 804 shall be all changed. Longsince, the portion of life's joys, allotted Us, by Lake-floods was enclosed, our Fortune on the earth : then shall earthly gauds consume in fire ; bright and swift 808

the ruddy flame shall rage and fiercely stride o'er the wide world ; the plains shall fall,

laeda'S. 797-807. The runic letters in the text are taken to repreBent

respeciiveli/ the words : — Cene, Yfel, Nyd, Wyn, Ur, Lagu, Feoh.

E 2

52 I. CHRIST. 811-844.

burg-stede berstatS brond bitS on tyhte

sele'S eald-gestreon unmurnlice 812

geesta gifrast ])cet geo guman heoldan

]5enden him on eorf>an onmedla waes •

forJ?on ic leofra gehwone leeran wille

psdt he ne ageele gaestes f)earfe 816

ne on gylp geote J?enden god wille

pcet he her in worulde wunian mote

somed sij:)ian sawel in lice

in J^am gsest-hofe scyle gumena gehwylc 820

on his gear-dagum georne bij^encan

pcet us milde bicwom meahta waldend

net *8erestan J^urh Ipsda engles word • *[20 a-]

bi'S nu eorneste ponne eft cymetS 824

re'Se and ryhtwis rodor bicS onhrered

and J)as miclan gemetu middan-geardes

beheofiatS • ponne beorht cyning leanacS

J>8es J^e hy on eor]:)an eargum dsedum 828

lifdon leahtrum fa • pses hi longe sculon

fer'S-werige onfon in fyr-ba^e

wselmum biwrecene wra]:)-lic and-len.n •

ponne msegna cyning on gemot cymetS 832

{)rymma msesta }?eod-egsa bicS

hlud gehyred bi heofon-woman

cwaniendra cirm cerge reota'5

fore onsyne eces deman 836

J^a pe hyra weorcum wace truwia'S

tSser bi)5 otS-ywed egsa mara

ponne from frum -gesceape gefrsegen wurde

eefre on eortSan J^aer bit5 aeghwylcum 840

syn-wyrcendra on J^a snudan tid

leofra micle ponne eall f)eos Isene gesceaft

f)8er he hine sylfne on ]?am sige-]?reate

behydan maege ponne herga fruma 844

t

830. MS. fyr bade. 835. MS. cwanendra.

I. CHRIST. B. THE ASCENSION. 53

the citadels shall crash ; the fire shall on its way ;

unpityingly shall he, greediest of guests, burn up 8ia

the ancient treasures which men held of old,

while pride dwelt with them upon earth.

Wherefore I will instruct each well-beloved

lest he be careless of his spirit's need, 8i6

or pour it forth in boasting, whilst God willeth

that he may dwell here in the world,

whilst soul with body, the guest-house it is in,

may journey on together. Each man must 820

consider in his life-days well,

how He, the Lord of might, was kind to us

at first, according to the angel's word.

He will then be stern when he cometh again, 824

wrathful and rigorous. The heavens shall shake,

and all the great estates of middle-earth

sliall wail, when the bright King requiteth them

for that they lived on earth in wicked deeds, 828

crime-stained : wherefore they must long,

aweary of themselves, beset with flames, endure

dire retribution in the bath of fire,

when the mighty King cometh to the concourse there, 832

with greatest majesty : then men's terror,

the cry of mourners, shall be heard aloud,

amid the noises of the heavens ; sadly shall they wail

afore the presence of the eternal Judge, 836

who have but faint reliance in their works.

Then shall be seen a greater terror

than ever hath been heard of on the earth,

since the beginning: there at that sudden time 840

each sinner will have liefer far

than all this transient creation

some place where he may hide him

in that rush of triumph, when thc) Lord of hosts, 844

54 T. CHRTST. 845-874.

se):)eliiiga ord callum demetS

leofum ge lu'Sum lean aefter rylite

{)eoda gehwylcre is us f>earf micel

\)cet we gsestes wlite ser [?am gryre-brogan 848

on })as ggesnan tid georne bi)?encen •

Nu is {)on gelicost swa we on lagu-flode

ofer cald wseter ceolum li(5an

geond sidne sse sund-hengestum 852

flod-wudu fergen is \)set frecne stream •

yt5a ofermaeta pe we her on lacacS

geond ]?as wacan woruld windge liolmas

ofer deop gelad waes se drohta(5 strong 856

ger j^on we to londe geliden *h8efdon *[20 b.~\

ofer hreone brycg J)a us help bicwom

J?8et us to hselo hyj>e gelaedde

godes gsest-sunu and us giefe sealde 860

l)8et we oncnawan magun ofer ceoles bord

hwaer we sselan sceolon sund-hengestas

ealde y'S-mearas ancrum fseste

utan us to f>8ere hy'Se hyht sta{)elian • 864

t5a us gerymde rodera waldend

lialge on heahf)u f)a he heofonum astag : — :/ :/ :/

[C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.]

DONNE MID FERE fold-buende se micla dseg meahtan dryhtnes 868

ajt midre niht maegne bihlaemet5 scire gesceafte swa oft sceatSa fsecne f)eof Jurist-lice ]?e on J^ystre faretS on sweartre niht sorg-lease haele'S 8 7 2

semninga for-feh'S slsepe gebundne eorlas ungearwe yfles genaege'S

866. Two-line space hettveen the sections.

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 55

the Chief of princes, shall adjudge to all,

to friends and foes, to every one of men,

a righteous recompense. Great is our need,

that in this barren time, ere that grim terror, 848

we should fain bethink us of our spirit's grace.

Now 'tis most like as if we fare in ships / "^

on the ocean-flood, over the water cold,

and drive the flood-wood through the spacious sea, 852

with horses of the deep : a perilous stream is this of boundless waves, and these are stormy seas, on which we toss about, here in this feeble world,

o'er the deep paths. The way was hard, 856

ere that we had sailed unto the land, over the troubled main ; then came there help to us, that brought us to the haven of salvation,

God's Spirit-Son, and gave us grace 860

that we may know, e'en from the vessel's deck, where we must bind with anchors fast our ocean-steeds, old stallions of the waves. 0 let us rest our hope in that same port, 864

which the Sovereign of the skies opened for us, holy on high, when He to heaven ascended. ]

^

C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

I. — 1 <^*

With sudden fear, at midnight then, the mighty Lord's great day, 868

shall boldly strike earth's habitants and the bi-ight creation, even as some wily robber, some daring thief that prowleth in the dark, in the swart night, surpriseth suddenly 872

careless mortals bound in sleep, and evilly assaulteth men unprepared.

56 I. CHRIST. 875-909.

swa on syne beorg somod up cyme's

maegen-folc micel meotude getrywe 876

beorht and blij^e liim vveorf)et5 bleed gifen •

J^onne from feowerum foldan sceatum

J>am ytemestum eorfjan rices

englas sel-beorhte on efen blawatS 880

byman on brehtme beofa'5 middan-geard

hruse under hcelej^um hlydat5 tosomne

trume and torhte wicS tungla gong

singatS and swinsia]:) suj'an and nor})an 884

eastan and westan ofer fealle gesceaft

weccat5 of dea'Se dryht-gumena beam

eall monna cynn *to meotud-sceafte *[21 a.]

eges-lic of Jpsere ealdan moldan hatatS hy upp-astandan 888

sneome of slsepe \>y fsestan J^ser mon moeg sorgende folc

gehyran hyge-geomor hearde gefysed

cearum cwi]?ende cwicra gewyrhtu

forhte d-feerde ])CBt bi'S fore-tacna msest 892

Jjara \>q eer oJ^J^e sitS sefre gewurde

monnum o})-ywed ]?ar gemengde beotS

onhselo gelac engla and deofla

beorhtra and blacra weorJ?etS bega cyme 89^

hwitra and sweartra swa him is ham sceapen

ungelice englum and deoflum

poiine semninga on syne beorg

su)?an eastau sunnan leoma 900

cymecS of scyppende scynan leohtor

poune hit men maegen modum ahycgan

beorhte blican ])onne beam godes

]:»urh heofona gehleodu hider ocS-ywetS 904

cyme's wundorlic cristes onsyn

8e)?el-cyninges wlite eastan fram roderum

on sefan swete sinum folce

biter bealo-fullum gebleod wundrum • 908

eadgum and earmuwi ungelice

885. BIS. healle.

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 57

So to Sion's hill a mighty host,

radiant and blithe, shall ascend together, 876

the faithful of the Lord : glory shall be given them.

Then from the world's four corners,

from the uttermost regions of the realm of earth,

resplendent angels shall loudly, with one accord, 880

sound their trumpets, and mid-earth shall quake,

and the region under men. Boldly and gloriously

shall they blow together toward the stars' career,

and sing and chant from south and north, 884

from east and west, o'er all creation,

and wake from death unto the final doom,

aghast from the old earth, the sons of warrior-men

and all mankind, and bid them arise 888

forthwith from their deep sleep. There one may hear

a sorrowing host, dismal and hard bestead,

sorely afeard, bewailing woefully

their deeds when living. This shall be the greatest sign 892

of all those which aye, erewhile or since,

were shown to men : to wit, the hidden hosts

of angels and of devils, the bright and dark,

shall be commingled ; there shall come both, 896

the white and black, as a home is shaped for them,

for angels and for devils, all unlike.

Then suddenly to Sion's hill a sun-beam from south-east shall come 900

from the Creator, shining more brilliantly than men may ween of in their minds, and gleaming brightly ; then the Son of God hitherward shall appear o'er heaven's vaults ; 904

wondrous from the east of heaven shall come Christ's presence, the aspect of the noble King, sweet-minded to his own folk,

bitter to the baleful, marvellously visaged, 908

diversely for the blessed and the forlorn. I -^

1

58

I. CHRIST. 910-944.

he bits J?am godum glaed-mod on gesihjje •

wlitig wynsumlic weorude J)am halgan •

on gefean fseger • freond and leoftsel • 912

lufsum and li[?e leofum monnum

to sceawianne ]?one scynan wlite

wet5ne mid willum waldendes cyme

msegen-cyninges Jjam J?e him on mode ser 916

wordum and weorcum wel gecwemduli •

he bits J)am yflum eges-lic and grim-lie

to geseonne synnegum monnum

})am \)ddv mid firenum *cumat5 fortS for-worhte *[21 6.] 920

J^eet maeg wites to wearninga J^am J?e hafatS wisne geJ)oht

\>(]et se him eallunga owiht ne ondraedetS

se for 'Ssere onsyne egsan ne weorJ^e'S

forht on fer(5e f)onwe he frean gesihcS 924

ealra gesceafta • anc^weardne faran

mid msegen-wundrum mongum to Jjinge

ond him on healfa gehwone heofon-engla J^reat

ymb-utan faratS selbeorhtra scolu

hergas haligra heapum geneahhe

dyne's deop gesceaft and fore dryhtne faeretS

wselm-fyra maest ofer widne grund

hlemmetS hata leg . heofonas berstatS

trume and torhte tungol of-hreosatS

^pOTme weor]:)e'S sunne sweart gewended

on blodes hiw seo '6e beorhte scdn

ofer ser-woruld selda bearnum •

Mona \>cet sylfe J^e jer mon-cynne

nihtes lyhte nif>er gehreose"5

and steorran swa some stredatS of heofone

J)urh t5a strongan lyft stormum abeatne •

Wile selmihtig mid his engla gedryht

maegen-cyninga meotod on gemot cuman

Jjrym-faest fieoden bitS J^aer his J>egna eac

hrej>-eadig heap halge sawle

927. M8. gehwore.

928

932

936

940

944

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 59

For the good, the holy company, He shall be joyful of presence, beauteous, winsome,

fair in delight, loving and gracious. 912

Sweet shall it be and pleasant for His beloved to view that radiant aspect, all benign of will, the coming of the Ruler, of the mighty King, yea, for those erewhile 916

who pleased Him well, by words and works. For the evil ones, the sinful, He shall be terrific and fearful to behold,

for those who come there aye fordone by crime. 920

It may be for a sign unto his mind who hath wise thought, that he need dread him nought at all, who afore that presence becometh not

afeard with terror in his soul, when he see'th the Lord 924 of all created things advance before him ,

with mighty wonders to the doom of many, while on each side of Him bands of heavenly angels fare round about, legions of all-bright ones, 928

companies of the holy, with full many a host. The great creation shall resound, and before the Lord shall go the greatest of all raging fires throughout the spacious earth : hot flame shall roar, the heavens shall burst, 932

the steadfast and bright planets shall fall down; then shall the sun be changed, all swart, to the hue of blood, the sun which brightly shone for the sons of men above the former world : 936

likewise the moon which erewhile gave light for mankind in the night shall fall adown, and the stars too shall descend from heaven, tempest-driven through the stormy air. 940

Then the Almighty, the Creator of great Kings, will come unto the concourse with His angel-host, He, the Lord majestic: there eke of His servants there shall be a proud and happy band : the holy souls 944

60 I. CHRIST. 945-974.

mid hyra frean fara'S ponne folca weard

pVLvh egsan J^rea eorcSaii maegtSe

sylfa gesece'S weorJ?e'S geond sidne grund

hlud gehyred heofon-byman stefti 948

and on seofon healfa swogatS windas

blawa^ brecende bearhtma mseste

wecca'S and wonia'S woruld mid storme •

*fylla'S mid feore foldan gesceafte • *[22 a.] 952

tJonne heard gebrec hlud un-msete

swar and switSlic svveg-dynna msest

seldum eges-lic eawed weor]?et5

"pSdY maegen werge monna cynnes 956

wornum hweorfatS on widne leg'

})a ]:»8er cwice metecS cwelmende fyr

sume up sume ni]?er eeldes fulle •

ponne bicS untweo J^set pser adames • 960

cjn cearena full cwifjetS gesargac?

nales fore lytlum leode geomre

ac fore ]?am maestan msegen-earfej^um.

tSonne eall })reo on efen nimetS * 964

won fyres wselm wide tosomne

se swearta lig sses mid hyra fiscum

eor]?an mid hire beorgum and up-heofon

torhtne mid his tunglum teon-leg somod 968

f>ry]?um baerne'S j^reo eal on in.

grimme togaedre grorna(5 gesargad

eal middan-geard on pB, maeran tid :/

[II.]

SWA se gifra gaest grundas geond-sece'5 972

hi})ende leg heah-getimbro fylletJ on fold-wong fyres egsan

960. MS. untreo. adames : t/iejirst mid second a in this tvord resembles the rounded Celtic ot, and is different to the ordinary letter employed by the scribe. 961. MS. gesargatJ. 970. gesargad; d originally 'S, the stioJce

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 61

with their Lord shall fare, when the Guardian of all folk

Himself shall visit with dread punishment

the races of the earth : then through the spacious plain

the voice of heaven's trumpet shall be heard aloud, 948

and on the seven sides the winds shall howl

and blow and break with greatest noise,

and wake and waste the world with storm,

and with their breath o'erthrow the earth's creation. 952

Then a hard crash, loud, immeasurable,

heavy and violent, the greatest of fierce dins,

terrible for mortals, shall be manifest.

Then legions of the race of men, accursed, 956

shall wend in multitudes into wide flame,

and living shall there feel destroying fires,

some up, some down, fulfilled with burning.

Small doubt that there the cheerless race of Adam, 960

shall utter lamentations, full of sorrows,

afflicted with no feeble tribulation,

but with great anguish, direfullest and worst,

when the pallid surge of fire, the swarthy flame, 964

shall seize all those three things, at once, alike,

and far and wide; to wit, seas with their fish,

earth with her hills, and heaven above

bright with its stars ; the avenging flame 968

shall fiercely burn all three, at once,

with fearful onset : all middle-earth, ,

afflicted at that mighty time, shall mourn.

So shall the greedy guest pervade the earth ; 972

the ravaging flame shall hurl with fire's terror the lofty buildings down unto the plain ;

has been erased. 971. Oiie line space heUveen the sections. 972. MS.HWA, the scribe has forgotten to put the stroke through the A.

(>2 I. CHRIST. 975-1008.

wid-maere blsest woruld mid-ealle

liat heoro-gifre hreosacS geneahhe 976

to-brocene burg-weallas beorgas gemeltat5

and heah-cleofu \)a wit5 holme ser

fseste wiS flodum foldan scefdun

stitS and stsetS-faest sta{)elas witS waege 980

wsetre windendum \)OTine wihta gehwylce

deora and fugla dea'S-leg nimeS

fsereS sefter foldan fyr-swearta leg

*weallende wiga swa ser waeter fleowan *[22 6.] 984

flodas afjsde • \)Oime on fyr-ba'Se

swelacS ss6-fiscas sundes getwsefde

wseg-deora gehwylc werig sweltet$

byrnef) wseter swa weax J?aer biS wundra md 988

\>orme hit senig on mode mgege ajpencan

hu J^set gestun and se storm and seo stronge lyft

breca'S brade gesceaft beornas gretat5

wepa'S wanende wergum stefnum 992

heane hyge-geomre hreowum gedreahte •

SeoJ?e(5 swearta leg synne on fordonum

and gold-freetwe gleda forswelgacS

eall ser-gestreon ej^el-cyninga • 996

tSser bits cirm and cearu and cwicra gewin

gehreow and hlud wop bi heofon- woman

earmlic aelda gedreag ]?onan senig ne mseg

firen-dsedum fah fri'S gewinnan 1000

leg-bryne losian londes ower ♦

Ac J^aet fyr nime(5 })urh foldan gehwset

grsefetS grim-lice georne asececS

innan and utan eorSan sceatas 1004

o):>]:»8et eall hafa'5 eeldes leoma

woruld-widles wom wselme forbserned •

tSonwe mihtig god on f)one mseran beorg

mid Jjy msestan msegen-frymme cymetS looS

978. MS. >u. 979. MS. scehdun.

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 63

the fierce-devouring, hot, wide-spreading blast

shall overthrow the world withal ; all shattered 976

the city-walls shall fall ; the hills shall melt

and the high cliffs, which erewhile parted earth

stoutly and steadfastly from ocean,

firm-set against the floods, bulwarks against the wave 980

and circling water. Then shall the death-flame seize

each living creature, beast and bird ;

the fire-swart flame shall fare through earth

like a raging warrior ; where erst the waters flowed, 984

the rushing floods, in a sea of fire shall burn

the fishes of the deep ; bereft of swimming-craft

each of the beasts of ocean shall a-weary die ;

water shall burn as wax; there shall more wonders be 988

than any mortal may conceive in mind,

when the roar and the storm and the raging wind

shall break the broad creation ; men shall wail

and weep and moan with abject voices, 992

humble, sad in mind, overwhelmed with penitence.

The swart flame shall seethe on those damned by sin,

and gledes shall gorge the golden ornaments,

all the ancient treasures of the kings of earth. 996

There shall be cry and sorrow, the strife of those alive,

misery and loud lament 'mid the heaven's roar,

the sorry plight of men. Thence not any man

stained with sinful crime, may peace achieve, 1000

or anywhere escape the burning flame ;

but the fire shall seize each thing on earth,

shall fiercely delve and eagerly shall search

the tracts of earth within and without, 1004

until the fire's glow hath purged with heat

all the stain of the world's pollution. _

Then the mighty God, the heavenly angels' King, shall come with greatest majesty 1008

64 I. CHRIST. 1 009- 1 042.

heofon-engla cyning halig scinetS

wuklorlic ofer weredum waldende god •

ond hine ymb-utan 8ef)el-dugu'5 betast

halge here-fet5an hlutre blica'5 loia

eadig engla gedryht in-geJ»oncum

forhte beofia'5 fore feeder egsan

for))on nis senig wundor hu him woruld-monna

seo unclsene gecynd cearum sorgende 1016

hearde ondrede • '^onne sio halge gecynd

*hwit and heofon-beorht heag-engla maegen [*23 a.~\

for tSsere onsyne beotS egsan afyrhte

bida'S beofiende beorhte gesceafte 1020

dryhtnes domes daga eges-licast

\veorf)e"S in worulde Iponne wuldor-eyning

J?urh prym Jjrea'S J^eoda gehwyloe

hatetS d-risan reord-berende 1024

of fold-grafum folc anra gehwylc

cuman to gemote • mon-cynnes gehwone

ponne eall hracSe adames cynn

onfeh'S flaesce weorj^et^ fold-rseste 1028

eardes set ende sceal ponne anra gehwylc

fore cristes cyme cwic drisan

leotSum onfon and lic-homan

ed-geong wesan hafa'6 eall on him 1032

J^ses Ipe he on foldan in fyrn-dagum

godes dppe gales on his gseste gehlod

geara gongnm hafatS set-gsedre hn

lie and sawle sceal on leoht cuman 1036

sinra weorca wlite and worda gemynd

and heortan gehygd fore heofona cyning •

Donne bi]? geyced and geedniwad

mon-cyn J)urh meotud micel arise'S 1040

dryht-folc to dome si):)j5an deaf)es bend

to-lese'S lif-frumat lyft bi'S onbaerned

1027. adames see note, 1. 960. 1042. MS. lif-fruman.

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 65

unto that noble hill ; glorious o'er His hosts,

the sovereign God shall shine in holiness ;

and, Him around, the goodliest chivalry,

the holy warrior-band, the blessed angel-troop, 1012

shall brightly gleam ; they tremble

in terror of the Father, in their inmost thoughts afeard.

Wherefore 'tis no wonder that the unclean race

of worldly men shall sorely be a-dread 10 t6

and sorrowfully wail, whenas the holy race,

the white and heavenly bright, the archangels' host,

before that Presence shall be with fear affrighted ;

trembling the radiant creatures shall abide 1020

their Sovereign's doom. Most terrible of days in the world

that day shall be, when the glorious King

shall mightily o'erwhelm full every race,

and bid each single folk, creatures of speech, 1024

arise from out their earthy graves,

and come each man to that assembly.

Then full quickly shall Adam's kin take flesh,

there shall be an end of their earthly rest, 1028

and of their sojourn ; then at Christ's coming

each one of them shall rise up quickened,

and shall take limb and fleshly covering,

and shall be young again, and have within him all 1032

that he on earth, in former days,

in the course of years, heaped upon his soul,

of good or bad ; he shall have together

both the body and the soul ; the image of his works, 1036

and the memory of his words, and the thoughts of his heart,

shall come to light before the heaven's King.

Then mankind shall be multiplied and renewed

by its Creator: a mighty multitude 1040

shall arise to judgment, after life's Author shall unbind

the bonds of death ; the air shall be kindled,

F

66 I. CHRIST. 1043-1077.

hreosa'S heofon-steorran liy]m'S wide

gifre glede gfestas hweoifa'S 1044

on ecne eard opene weorf)aS

ofer middan-geard monna dsede •

ne raagun hord wera heortan gef>olitas

fore waldende wihte l)eini]:>an« 1048

ne sindon hivi dseda dyrne ac J^aer bitS drylitne cu(5

on J?am miclan daege hu monna geliwylc

ser earnode eces lifes

and eall andwesird pcet hi ser oJ^J^e SI'S 1052

worhtun in worulde • ne bitS f)ser wiht for-*holen '*[23 6.]

monna gehygda ac se maera daeg

hrej^er-locena hord heortan ge]:>ohtas

ealle setywe'S ser sceal ge]?encan 1056

gsestes f)earfe sej^e gode myntecS

bringan beorhtne wlite J^onne bryne costatS

hat heoru-gifre hu geliealdne sind

sawle wi^ synnum fore sige-deman • 1060

tSonw^ sio byman stefen and se beorhta segn

and J^set hate fyr and seo hea dugu'5

and se engla 'prym and se egsan ]?rea

and se hearda dseg and seo hea rod 1064

ryht arsered rices to beacne

folc-dryht wera biforan henna's

sawla gehwylce j^ara pe s'i^ oplpe ser

on lic-homan leof>um onfengen • 1068

^onne vveoroda msest fore waklende

ece and ed-geong awtZweard gsecS

neode and nyde hi noman gehatne

beracS breosta hord fore beam godes 1072

feores frsetwe wile feeder eahtan

hu gesunde suna sawle bringen

of J?am ecSle J?e hi on lifdon •

^onne beo?? bealde • J)a J^e beorhtne wlite 1076

meotude bringaS bi'S liyra meaht and gefea

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 67

heaven's stars sliall full ; the greedy fire

shall ravage far and wide ; souls shall wend 1044

to their eternal home ; the deeds of men shall be full manifest throughout mid-earth. The treasured thoughts of men, the meditations of their heart, may nowise be concealed before the Ruler ; 1048

deeds are not dark to Him ; but there on that great day it shall be known unto the Lord how every man shall ere have merited eternal life,

and all shall be revealed that each hath wrought, 1052

early or late on earth. Nought shall be hid there of the thoughts of men, but that great day discloseth all the locked mind's treasury,

all meditations of the heart. He must think 1056

erewhile of his spirit's need, who would bring to God an aspect fair, when the hot devouring fire assayeth before the Judge triumphant

how souls have been restrained from sin. 1060

Lo, then the trumpet's voice and the bright sign, and the hot fire and the exalted warrior-band, and the glory of the angels and the pang of terror, and the stern day and the high rood, 1064

raised up erect in sign of mastery, shall summon forward all the hosts of men, the souls of all that early or late

took limb within the body's covering. 1068

AVhenas the greatest host, ajopearing before the Sovereign, eternal and with youth renewed, shall fare, by force and need, yea, called by name,

and shall bear before God's Child their bosoms' hoard, 1072

the treasures of their life, then will the Father see how all unmarred His sons may bring their souls e'en from the land in which they lived erewhile. Then shall they be bold that bring the Lord 1076

an aspect fair ; their might and joy shall be

F 2

68

T. CIIUTST. 1078-1 107.

swi'Se gesaelig-lic sawlum to giekle wuldor-lean weorca wel is J^am j?e raotuw on J)a grimman tid gode lician : 7

1080

[III.]

P^R him sylfe geseoS sorga mseste syn-f4 men sarig-fer(5e • ne bi?5 him to are J^set f)ser fore ell-f)eodum usses drylitnes rod awc^weard stondetS 1084

beacna beorhtast blode bestemed heofon-cyninges hlutran dreore biseon mid swate J^set ofer side gesceaft

scire seine's sceadu *beo'S bidyrned • *[24 a.] 1088

}?8er se leohta beam leodum byrhtetS ])sei Ipenh. to teonum [geteod] weorJ^etS feodum to J^rea p&m pe j^onc gode

wom-wyrcende wita ne cuf>un 1092

J>aes he on J)one halgan beam dhongen waes fore mon-cynnes man-forwyrhtu • |?8er he leof-lice lifes ceapode

}?eoden mon-eynne on J)am dsege 1096

mid {jy weorc5e J^e no wom dyde his lic-homa leahtra firena mid pj usic alysde Jjaes he eft-lean wile

f)urh eorneste ealles genomian* 1100

Zonne sio reade rod ofer ealle swegle scinecS on psere sunnan gyld on psi forhtlice firenum fordone

swearte syn-wyrcend sorgum wlitatS 11 04

geseocS him to bealwe pcet him betst bicwow l^ser hy hit to gode ongietan woldan and eac pa ealdan wunde and J^a openan dolg

1079. ^^- motum. 1080. lician :/ the only tvord in the line dividing

the sections. 1088. NS. bydyrned. 1090. [geteod], conjectural.

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 69

full liappy, their souls' recompense,

their works' great meed. Well is it for those

who at that awful time are pleasing unto God! 1080

III.

There men stained with sin, sad in their soul, shall see the greatest sorrow for themselves in this, — not for their grace shall it be that our Lord's rood, of beacons the brightest, shall stand forth there 1084

before the diverse tribes of men, moist with the gore of heaven's King, with His pure blood, o'erflowiug with His sweat, that o'er the wide creation it shall shine full clear ; shadow shall be banished, 1088

where'er the bright beam shineth forth for folk ; yet it shall be for the discomfiture and torment of all those who working ill

did not know the thanks due unto God, 1092

in that He was hanged upon the holy tree for mankind's base misdeeds, where He, our Sovereign, He whose body

wrought no crime, nor any wicked sin, 1096

sold His life lovingly upon that day, for mankind's sake, for that same price with which He ransomed us; for all this

sternly will He exact His payment then, iico

when through all heaven, yea, instead of sun, the red rood shall shine forth ; fearfully and sorrowfully they shall look thereon, black workers of sin defiled by wickedness; 1104

the best thing in the world shall seem their bane, when they would fain regard it as their bliss ; with souls aweary they shall eke behold

70 I. CHRIST. TI08-II42.

on liyra dryhtiie geseotS dreorig-fer'Se 11 08

swa him mid ngeglum ]?urh-drifan iiiS-liycgCiide

\>fx hwitan honda and pa halgan fet

and of his sidan swa some swat forletan

Ipsev blod and wseter butu set-somne 1 1 1 2

ut bicwoman fore eagua gesyhtS

rinnan fore rincum J^a he on rode waes •

eall f)is inagon him sylfe geseon ponne

open orgete pcet he for selda lufan 11 16

firen-fremmendra fela J^rowade •

maguu leoda beam leohte oncnawan

hu hine lygnedon lease on geponcum

hysptun hearm-cwidum and on his hleor somod 11 20

hyra spatl speowdon sprgecon him edwit

and on f)one eadgan ancZwlitan swa some

hel-fuse men hondum slogan

folmiim areahtum and fystum eac • 1124

and ymb his heafod heardne gebigdon

beag ]:)yrnenne • *blinde on gej^oncum • *[24 6.]

dysge and gedwealde gesegun J?a dumban gesceaft

eort^an eal-grene and up-rodor 11 28

forhte gefelan frean ]?rowinga

and mid cearum cwi^dun J^eah hi cwice nseron

]5a hyra scyppend sceaf)an onfengon

syngum hondum siinne wear's adwsesced 1132

|:)ream aj^rysmed J^a sio f)eod geseah

in hierusalem godwebba cyst

pset fer 'Sam halgan huse sceolde

to weorj^unga weorud sceawian 11 36

nfan eall forbcerst pcet hit on eorf)an Iseg

on twam styccum pees temples segl

wundor-bleom geworht to wlite J^ees buses

sylf slat on tu swylcehit seaxes ecg 1140

scearp f>urh-wode scire burstan

muras and stanas monge tefter foldan

1 131. MiS. fja ])(i hyra.

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 71

the ancient wounds and open sores upon the Lord, 1108

even as the base contrivers pierced with nails

the white hands and the holy feet,

and from his side too let out the gore,

and blood and water both at once. 11 12

came gushing forth before the people there,

in sight of their eyes, when He was on the rood.

All this may they themselves then see

open and manifest, that He bore much 11 16

for love of men, for wicked sinners' sake ;

the sons of men may easily perceive

how they, false in their thoughts, belied Him,

mocked Him with insults, and on His face too 1120

sj^at their spittle ; spake to Him with taunt,

and e'en upon the blessed visage

the hell-prone men struck with their hands,

with outstretched palms, and with their fists, 1124

and wreathed a hard thorn-crown

about his head, blind in their thoughts,

foolish and erring. They saw how dumb creation,

the earth all green and heaven above, 1128

felt fearfully the sufferings of the Lord ;

and sorely mourned they, though they were not quick,

when impious men seized on their Creator

with sinful hands. The sun became obscured, 11 32

darkened with misery ; then in Jerusalem

the people saw the choicest of all textures,

which folk ere while were wont to wonder at,

as the glory of the holy house, 11 36

burst all right down, so that in pieces twain

it lay upon the earth ; the temple's veil,

with wondrous colours wrought to adorn that house,

in twain was rent, as if a falchion's edge • 1140

full sharp, had passed there-through. Sheer crashed

walls and stones a-many throughout earth,

I. CHRIST. 1143-1177.

1 144

1 148

II53

II56

I160

and seo eort5e eac egsaii myrde

beoi'otle on bearhtme and se bruda sse

cy'Sde craeftea rneaht and of clomme brsec

up yrriiiga on eorj?an fsetSm

ge on stede scynum steorran forleton

hyra swaesne wlite on J^a sylfan tid

heofon hluttre ongeat hwa hine healice

torhtne getremede tungol-gimmum •

forf)on he his bodan sende J?a wees geboren eerest

gesceafta scir-cyning hwset eac scyldge men

gesegon to sot^'e f)y sylfan dsege

J?e on Jjrowade peod-wundor micel

]?(^<te eorSe ageaf J?a hyre on Isegun

eft lifgende up dstodan

J^a f>e heo ser fseste bifen haefde

deade bibyrgde j^e dryhtnes bibod

heoldon on hrej^re • hell eac ongeat

scyld-wreccende • \oe,t se scyppend cwo??i

waldende god Jja heo \cet weorud ageaf

hloj^e of ]:»am hatan hrep)re hyge wearS mongum blissad

*sawlum sorge to-glidene • hwset eac sae cySde *[25 a.]

hwa hine gesette on sidne grtind

tir-meahtig cyning forf»on he hine tredne him

ongean gyrede J^onrie god wolde

ofer sine y'Se gan eah-stream ne dorste

his frea?^ fet flode bisencan •

ge eac beamas onbudon hwa hy mid bledum sceop

monge nales fea • 'Sa mihtig god

on hira anne gestag J^ser he earfef)u

gef)olade fore J^earfe J)eod-buendra

la'Slicne dea(5 leodum to helpe •

"Sa weart5 beam monig blodigum tearum

birunnen under rinduni reade and ]:>icce

sep wear's to swate • fset asecgan ne magu?i

fold-buende f>urh frod gewit

1 1 58. i¥/S. bibyrgede, J. e. bibyrgde. 1168. li/S. fream. 1176. JtfS". magum.

1164

1 168

1172

1 1 76

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 73

and all the earth was marred through fear,

and quaked full suddenly; and the broad sea 1144

showed forth its power's might, and angrily

from durance brake over earth's bosom;

yea, in their beauteous place the stars forsook

their aspect sweet; at that same time 1148

the radiant heaven discerned who erst

had made it bright on high with starry gems ;

forsooth it sent its heralds, when first was born

creation's noble King. Yea, even guilty men 1152

beheld in sooth on that same day

whereon He suffered, a marvel passing great,

to wit, earth yielded those who in her lay ; '

they stood up living once again, 1156

those whom she had erewhile held fast,

the dead and buried, who had kept in mind

the Lord's command. Hell, the sin-avenging,

knew also that the Maker and the ruling God 11 60

was come, when she gave up the multitude,

the host, from her hot bosom ; the hearts of many were

then comforted, their sorrows vanished from their souls. Yea, eke the sea declared who had set it on its spacious bed, — 1164

the gloriously mighty King ; therefore it made itself passable for him, when God would fare over its wave ; the water-stream dared not

with its flood submerge its Master's feet. 1168

Yea, trees, a many, nowise few, likewise proclaimed who shaped them with their blossoms, when mighty God on one of them ascended, where He endured miseries for the need of earth's inhabitants, 11 73

a loathsome death, to succour men. Then was many a tree beneath its bark suffused with bloody tears, all red and thick ;

their sap was turned to gore. Earth's habitants 1176

may not declare from their deep understanding.

74

I. CHRIST. 1178-1208.

hu fela )?a onfuiidun )?a gefelaii ne maguii

drylitiies f)rowinga deade gesceafte

]?a Ipe 8e]?elast siiid eor"San gecynda

and heofones eac heah-getimbro •

eall fore J?am anum unrot ge wear's

forht afongen J^eali hi fertS-gewit

of hyra 8ef)elum genig ne cu|:)en

wendon swa ]?eah wundrum j^a hyra waldend for

of lic-homan leode ne cu]?an

mod-blinde men meotud oncnawan

flintum heardrau pcet hi frea nerede

fram hell-cwale halgum meahtum

alwalda god pcet set serestan

fore-f)oncle men from fruman worulde

J^urh wis gewit witgan dryhtnes

halge hige-gleawe h8ele]:>um ssegdon

oft nales sene ymb pcet gej^ele team •

t^set se earcnan stan eallum sceolde

to hleo and to hroj^er ^hselej^a cynne *[25 6.]

weorcSan in worulde wuldres agend

eades ord-fruma f)urh pa 8eJ)elan cwenn : 7

1180

1 184

ll!

1192

1196

[IV.]

HWa?s wene^ se J^e mid gewitte nyle gemunan j^a mildan meotudes lare and eal Sa earfe'Su pe he fore aeldum adreag forpon pe he wolde ]:)8et we wuldres eard in ecnesse agan mosten •

Swa ]^am bi'S grorne on j^am grimman dsege domes p2eB miclan J)am pe dryhtnes sceal dea'S-firenum forden dolg sceawian wunde atid wite on werigum sefan geseoS sorga ma^ste hu se sylfa cyning

1200

1204

1208

198. Space of about a third of a line heiwecn the sections.

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OV JUDGMENT. 75

liow many things wliicli cannot feel, insensate things,

experienced then the sufferings of the Lord.

Those that are noblest of the species of the earth, 1180

and eke the lofty structures of the heaven,

all, for that alone, grew suddenly

sad and afeard ; though by their natures

they knew not any mental wit, 11 84

yet wondrously had they knowledge, when their Lord

fared from His body. Benighted men,

harder than flints, would not then

acknowledge their Maker, that the Lord, Almighty God, 1188

had saved them from hell-torment

by His holy might, nor that of yore,

in the world's beginning, the prophets of the Lord,

far-seeing men, holy and nobly-minded, 1192

had told to folk about the noble Child,

oft-times, not once, through their wise understanding,

that through the noble woman He should be

a precious stone here in the world 11 96

for the refuge and the help of all mankind,

the Lord of glory, the first Cause of bliss.

What hope hath he who wittingly disdaineth to bear in mind the gentle teaching of the Lord, 1200

and all the miseries that He bore for men, for that He wished that we might possess, to all eternity, the home of glory '?

Sad indeed shall be their lot, on the grim day 1204

of that great doom, who, damned by deadly sin, are forced to sec with saddened souls the scars and wounds and torments of the Lord ; they shall see the greatest of sorrows, how the King Himself 120S

76 I. CHRIST. 1209-1242.

mid sine lic-homaii lysde of fireiium

}?urh milde mod pcet hy mostuii mdn-weorca

tome lifgaii and tires blsed

ecne agan hy pses e'Sles fonc 1212

hyra waldende wita ne cufjoii-

Forjjon J»ser to teonum J^a tacen geseot5

orgeatu on gode ungesselge

ponne crist sitetS on liis cyne-stole 1216

on heah-setle heofon-msegna god

feeder selmihtig folca geliwylcum

scyppend scinende scrifetS bi gewyrhtum

call eefter ryhte rodera waldeud • 1220

ponne beotS gesomnad on Ipa. swi)?ran hond

J)a clsenan folc criste sylfum

gecorene bi cystum J5a ser sinne cwide georne

lustum Isestun on hyra lif-dagum • 1 2 24

ond j?8er wom-scea]3an on J^one wyrsan dsel

fore scyppende scyrede weorJ^aS

hatetS him gewitan on pa, winstran hond

sigora sotS cyning synfulra weorud • 1228

pddY hy arasade reotatS * and beofia'S *[26 a.]

fore frean forhte swa fule swa gset

unsyfre folc arna ne wenatS*

tSonne bit5 gsesta d6m fore gode sceaden* 1232

wera cneorissum swa hi geworhtun ser

))3er bits on eadgum etS gesyne

Jjreo tacen somod J^ses pe hi hyra J^eodnes wel

wordum and weorcum willan heoldon* 1236

an is gerest orgeate psdr

pset hy fore leodum leohte blicaf)

blsede and byrhte ofer burga gesetu

him onscinatS ser-gewyrhtu 1240

on sylfra gehwam sunnan beorhtran •

of>er is to-eacan andgete swa some

1231. 31 S. wenea'S, i.e. vvenaS.

1. CHRIST. C. THE DAY 01' JUDOMENT. 17

with His own body ransomed them from sin,

in gentle mood, so that they might live

void of ill-deeds, and have the bliss

of endless glory. They did not know how to give thanks 1212

unto their Sovereign for this heritage ;

therefore shall they see there to their sorrow

signs unpropitious manifest in God,

when Christ shall sit on his royal throne, 1216

on his high seat, when the Almighty Father,

the radiant Creator, God of the heavenly hosts,

shall prescribe all righteously

for every man according to his works. 1220

Then shall be gathered on the right hand of Christ Himself the cleanly folk, chosen for their virtues, who in their life-days had joyfully performed His word. 1224

And the workers of harm shall be disposed before their Maker on the worser side ; the true King of victory shall bid the band of the sinful wend them unto the left hand, 1228

where they, discovered, shall wail and quake, afeard before tlie Lord, as foul as goats, an unpure folk, — they may expect no grace. When the spirits' doom shall be adjudged 'fore God, 1232

to men's generations, as they wrought erewhile, there shall easily three signs be visible, at once, upon the blessed, for that they kept well their Lord's desire, by words and works. 1236

One sign is first full manifest, to wit, that they shall shine with light before the folk, with glory and with brightness, over the cities' dwelling ; their former doings shall shine upon them, 1240

upon each of them, brighter than the sun. There is eke a second likewise manifest

78

I. CHRIST. 1243-1277.

\)cet liy him in wuldre witoii waldendes giefe

and onseo'S eagum to wyiiiie

f)8et hi on heofon-rice hlutru dreamas

eadge mid englum agan motuw •

^onne hiS f>ridde hu on )?ystra bealo

\)cet gesselige weorud gesihtS feet fordone

sar J^rowian synna to wite

weallendne lig and wyrma wlite

bitrum ceaflum byrnendra scole

of |?am him dweaxetS wynsum gefea

ponne hi psdt yfel geseo'S o'Sre dreogan

J^aet hy Ipnrh miltse meotudes gengeson •

'^onne hi J?y geornor gode ponciaS

bleedes and blissa pe hy bu geseo'S

pcet he hy generede from niS-cwale

and eac forgeaf ece dreamas

bits him hel bilocen heofon-rice agiefen

swa sceal gewrixled f»am Ipe ser wel heoldon

purh mod-lufan meotudes willan •

cSonwe biS f)am oj^rum ungelice

willa geworden magon weana to fela

geseon on him selfum synne genoge

atol-earfo'Sa ser gedenra

f)8er him sorgendum sar o'Sclife'S-

* J?roht J^eod-bealu on ]?reo healfa *[2G b.]

an is |:'ara pcet hy him yrm]?a to fela

grim helle fyr gearo to wite

fmcZweard seo'S on pm hi awo sculon

wrffic-winnende wserg'Su dreogan

ponne is him ojter earfef)u swa some

scyldgum to sconde pset hi J^ser scoma mteste

dreogat5 fordone on him dryhten gesih'S

nales feara sum firen-bealu la'Slic

and pcet sell-beorhte eac sceawia'S

heofon-engla here and h8ele):)a beam

1 246. MS. motum.

ii44

1248

1252

1256

1260

1264

1268

1272

1276

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 79

that they shall know, for their gloiy, the Ruler's grace,

and shall behold, for their eyes' delight, 1244

that, as saints, amid angels, they are to own

pure ecstacies in heaven's realm.

Then the third shall be, how that the blessed band

shall see the lost ones in the baleful gloom 1248

suffering, in penance for their sins, sore pain,

the surging flame and luring serpents,

with their bitter jaws, — a shoal of burning creatures ;

thence winsome joy shall wax for them, 1252

when they see other men endure the ill,

that they escaped, through mercy of the Lord.

Then shall they give thanks to God the more eagerly

for their glory and delights, when they see, 1256

that he both saved them from cruel torment

and also gave to them eternal joys;

hell shall be locked for them, heaven's kingdom shall be given

them. This shall be granted unto them that ere kept well, 1260

through their souls' love, the will of the Creator. Then all unlike shall be the joy forsooth of the other men ; they may see in themselves too many woes, and sins enough, 1264

and dire afflictions for their former doings ; there sore pain shall cleave to them, the sorrowing ones, and suffering and mortal ill, from sources three. One of them is, that they shall see before them 1268

too many miseries, and hell's grim fire ready for their punishing, where in wretchedness, they shall suffer aye damnation.

Then a second misery, likewise, 1272

shall shame the guilty, that they there, undone by sin, shall suffer greatest contumely; the Lord shall see in them no few loathsome evil sins,

and the all-bright band of heavenly angels 1276

shall also see the like, and the sons of men.

80 I. CHRIST. 1278-131 I,

ealle eortS-buend and atol deofol

mircne mspgen-craeft mdn-womma geliwone-

Magon J^urh ]?a lic-homan leahtra firene i j8o

geseon on J^am sawlum bee's fa syngan fla'sc

Bcandum J;urh-waden swa pset scire glses

J?8et mon yf)oest maeg eall }>urh-wlitan •

'Qonne bi(5 J^aet }?ridde J^earfendum sorg 1284

cwij^ende cearo ])cet hy on J^a claenan see's

hu hi fore god-dsedum glade blissiaS

pa. hy unseelge ser forhogdun

to donne ponne him dagas Isestun 1288

and be hyra weorcum wepende s4r

poit hi ger freolice fremedon unryht

geseot5 hi pa betran blsede scinan •

ne bi'S him hyra yrmt5u an to wife 1292

ac f)ara oJ)erra ead to sorgum

pses pe hy swa fsegre gefean on fyrn-dagum •

and swa senlice an-forletun

J)urh leaslice lices wynne 1296

earges flaesc-homan idelne lust

J^aer hi ascamode scondum gedreahte

swicia'S on swiman syn-byr]?enne

firen-weorc bera'S on pcet p& folc seo'S* 1300

wsere him j^on betre J^set hy bealo-*d8ede *[27 a.]

selces unryhtes aer gescomeden

fore anum men eargra weorca

godes bodan ssegdon J^aet hi to gyrne wiston 1304

firen-daeda on him ne maeg f>urh J^aet flaesc se scrift

geseon on j^aere sawle hwaef)er him mon soS pe lyge

saga's on hine sylfne ponne he J^a synne bigae'S

maeg mon swa J?eah gelacnigan leahtra gehwylcne 1308

yfel unclaene gif he hit anum gesegS

and naenig bihelan maeg on ]?am heardan daege

worn unbeted 'Saer hit f>a weorud geseo'S*

1294. MS. geseon. 1311- unbeted. MS. ^ corrected to d.

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 81

All earth's inhabitants, and the fell devil,

shall behold their darksome craft and every stain of guilt;

through their bodies they may see upon their souls 1280

their sins of shame ; iguominiously the sinful flesh

shall be transpierced, as 'twere clear glass,

that men may most easily see all through.

A third sorrow for the wretched shall then be, 1284

yea, dire lament, that they behold the purq,

how gladly they rejoice in the good deeds,

that they, unhappy ones, despised to do

before, when still their days availed them; . 1288

and weeping sore because of their own works,

because they freely wrought unrighteousness before,

they shall behold their betters shine in glory.

Not merely their own misery shall be their bale, 1292

but the blessedness of those others shall be their grief,

in that they in former days forsook •delights so fair and so incomparable

for the body's all-delusive joy, 1296

and for the vain desire of the vile flesh.

There abashed, o'erwhelmed with shame,

they shall wander giddily, and bear their wicked works,

the burden of their sins, and the folk shall gaze thereon. 1300

'Twere better for them had they erst felt shame

for each base deed and each transgression,

and for their evil works, before one man,

and had told God's servant that too well they knew 1304

ill-deeds within them. The confessor cannot see

through the flesh into the soul, whether a man tell him

truth or lie about himself, when he avoweth his sins;

yet one can heal every transgression 1308

and unclean evil, if he tell it but to one;

and none may there conceal on that stern day

crime unamended; multitudes shall see it.

82 I. CHRIST. 13 1 2-1 342.

eala )?8er we nu magon wraf>e firene i^o

geseon on ussum sawluw synna wuride

mid lic-homan leahtra gehygdu

eagum unclsene in-gef)onca8 •

ne ]:»8et aenig mseg oj^rum gesecgan 1316

mid hu micle elne seghwylc wille

Jjurh ealle list lifes tiligan

feores forhtlice forcS dSolian

syn-rust J? wean and hine sylfne J^rean 1320

and Ipcet worn serran wunde hselan

J^one lytlan fyrst )?e her lifes sy

])cet he maege fore eagum eort5-buendra

unscomiende eSles mid monnum 1324

brucan bysmerleas J^endan bu somod

lie and sawle lifgan mote :

[v.]

NV we sceolon georne gleawlice ]:urh-seon usse hre})er-cofan heortan eagum 1328

innan uncyste we mid J^am o"5rum ne magun heafod-gimmum hyge-]:)onces fer"S eagum )?urh-wlitan oenge J^inga

hw8e]:»er him yfel pe god under wunige 133a

])€iet he on ])& grimman tid gode licie ponne he ofer weoruda gehwylc • *wuldre seined *[27 6.] of his heah-setle hlutran lege

J)3er he fore englum and fore elj^eodum 1336

to J^am eadgestum serest m9e(^le"(S • and him swaeslice sibbe gehatetS heofona heah-cyning halgan reorde

frefre'S he faegre and him h\p beode'5 1340

hate's hy gesunde and gesenade on ef>el faran engla dreames

1326. Space of half-line between the sections. 1329. MS. mnan.

1337. MS. insedle?J.

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 83

Verily, we shall then behold, 131a

with the body's eyes, our base iniquities,

the wounds of our sins upon our souls,

our thoughts of wickedness, our impure cogitations.

Not any man may tell it to another, 1316

with how great zeal, by every artifice,

each man desiretli to attain life's goal,

anxious to protract existence forth,

to wash away the rust of sin, afflicting himeelf, 1320

to heal the blemish of some former wound,

during the little span that there is here of life,

so that before the eyes of earth's inhabitants

he may enjoy his home 'mong men 1324

blameless and unashamed, as long as

body and soul may both together live.

V.

Now must we fain discreetly pierce, with our heart's eyes, the chamber of the breast, 1328

unto the sin within ; with those other eyes, the jewels of the head, we may not anywhit survey the home of inmost thought, whether evil or good dwell there beneath, 1332

so that at that dread time it may please God, when, from His lofty throne, with flame all-pure, He shall shine in glory o'er each multitude, where, before angels and before all folk, i33<5

He shall speak first to those most happy ones, and lovingly shall promise them goodwill, He, the heaven's high King ; and with His holy voice shall greatly comfort them, and shall proclaim their peace, 1340 and shall bid them then, full safe and blessed, fare to the home of angels' harmony,

G 2

84 1. CHiiisT. 1343-1376.

and f>8es to widan feore willum ncotaii •

onfo'S nu mid freondum mines fseder rice 1344

pcet eow wees ger woruldum wynlice gearo

blsed mid blissum beorlit e(51es wlite

hwonne ge ]?a lif-welan mid Jjam leof[s]tum

swase swegl-dreamas geseon most en 1348

ge p8es earnedon J)a ge earme men

woruld-J)earfende willum onfengw^

on mildum sefan • ISonne hy him JDurh minne noman

ea'Smode to eow arna bsedun 1352

'ponne ge hyra hulpon and him hleoS gefon

hingrendum hlaf and hrgegl nacedum

and }?a pe on sare seoce lagnn

8ef[92]don unsofte adle gebundne 1356

to pam ge holdlice hyge staJ)eladon

mid modes myne eall ge pcet me dydon •

^onne ge hy mid sibbum sohtun and hyra sefan tryniedon

forts on frofre J?8es ge fsegre sceolon 1360

lean mid leofum lange brucan ■

Onginne'5 Ipomie to J»am yflum imgelice

wordum meecSlan J^e him bi'S on Ipa. wynstran bond

J>urh egsan J^rea alwalda god- 1364

ne purfon hi ponne to meotude miltse gewonan

lifes ne lissa ac psdY lean cuma'S

werum bi gewyrhtiim worda a7id dseda

reord-berendum sceolon J^one ryhtan dom 1368

senne gesefnan * egsan fulne *[28 a.]

biS peer seo miccle milts afyrred

f)eod-buendum on J^am dsege

]38es selmihtigan • ponne he yrringa 1372

on pcBt frsete folc firene staple's

laj>um wordum hate's hyra lifes riht

andweixrd jwrii pcet he him ser forgeaf

syngum to sselum onginnecS sylf cweSan 1376

1347. iHiSMeoftum. J 350- ilf-S^. onfengum. 1356. MS. xklou.

1370. MS. mi'^cle. 1375. MS. y^an.

I

1. ClliaST. C. THE DAY 01' JUDGMENT. 85

and at will enjoy it unto all eternity : —

'Receive ye now, 'mid friends, my Father's realm, 1344 the bliss and the glories and the radiant beauty of that home, which joyfully, before all worlds, was dight for you, when, with the best beloved, ye might behold life's riches, the sweet delights of heaven. 1348

This ye merited when ye willingly received poor men, the needy of the world, in gentle mood ; when in my name

they humbly prayed you for compassion, 1352

then helped ye them, and gave them sheltering, bread to the hungry, and garment to the naked, and those that lay sick in sore pain,

and suffered grievously, bound by disease, 1356

their spirits ye sustained in kindly wise, yea, with the soul's affection. All this ye did for me, when ye sought them with goodwill, and aye in comfort stayed their spirits; wherefore ye shall gloriously 1360

long enjoy reward with my beloved/

Then with words full different will the All-ruling God begin to speak, with fearful threatening,

unto the wicked, who shall be on His left hand. 1364

They may not then expect compassion from the Lord, nor life nor grace; but recompense for words and deeds shall come to mortals there, to those with speech endowed, according to their works : they shall endure 1368

the only righteous, though an awful, doom. There, on that day, the great compassion of the Almighty One shall be far removed

from the inhabitants of earth, when He shall angrily, 1372

in hostile words, charge their trangressions on impious folk, and shall bid them then present their life's account before Him, which He ere while gave to them, base sinners, for their bliss. The Almighty Lord

Himself 1 37^

86 T. CHKIST. 1 377-1410.

Bwa he to anum sprece and hwaej^re ealle msenetS

firen-syniiig folc frea selmihtig •

hwaet ic j^ec mon milium hondum

serest geworlite and ]pe andgiti sealde 1380

of lame ic )?e leope gesette geaf ic ^e lifgendne gsest

arode ]:>e ofer ealle gesceafte gedyde ic \>€Bt )5U onsyn haefdest

maeg-wlite me gelicne geaf ic ]?e eac meahta sped

welan ofer wid-londa gehwylc nysses )?u wean senigne dael*

tSystra '\)ddi ]?u ]:>olian sceolde ]5u JDses j^onc ne wisses 1385

f>a ic tSe swa scienne gesceapen haefde

wynlicne geworlit and J^e welan forgyfen

')pcet (5u mostes wealdan worulde gesceaftum • 1388

t5a ic \>Q on p>a fsegran foldan gesette

to neotenne neorxna wonges

beorhtne blsed- welan bleom scinende •

t5a Jpu lifes word Isestan noldes 1393

ac min hibod brsece be f)ines boiian worde

faecnum feonde furj^or hyrdes

sce]:)f)endum sceaj^an j^onw^ f)inum scyppeiide •

nu ic (Sa ealdan race anforlsete 1396

liu |?u set aerestan yfle gehogdes

firen-weorcum forlure ]:»8et ic tSe to fremum sealde

J?a ic ]?e goda swa fela forgiefen ha^fde

and ]9e on ]:)am eallum eades to lyt 1400

mode J^ulite gif ]?u meahte sped

efen-micle *gode agan ne moste • *[28 hP[

t5a ]:)u of ]oan gefean • fremde wurde

feondu7/i to willan feor aworpen 1404

neorxna wonges wlite nyde sceoldes

dgiefan geomor-mod gsesta efiel •

earg and unrot eallum bidaeled

dugej^um and dreamum and j^a bidrifen wurde 1408

on )?as J^eostran weoruld f)8er J?u ]:>olades sif»}:an

m3egen-earfef>u micle stunde

1380, MS. Balde.

1. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OK JUDGMENT. 87

shall then begin to speak as if He spake to one, and nathless shall He mean all sinning folk :- -

* Lo, man ! with mine own hands I made thee at the first, and granted to thee wisdom ; 1380

I formed thee limbs of clay : I gave a living spirit unto thee ; I honoured thee o'er all created things ; I wrought that thou

shouldst have aspect and form like to myself; I gave thee eke fulness of might, wealth o'er each spacious land; nought knewest thou of woe, nought of the gloom that thou hadst to endure ; for all this thou

wast not grateful. 1385

When I had shapen thee so beauteously, and had made thee comely, and had given thee power that thou mightst rule the creatures of the world, 1388

when I had set thee in that fair domain, to enjoy the bright and blissful wealth of Paradise, resplendent with its hues,

then would st thou not fulfil the word of Life, 139 a

but, at the word of thy Bane, didst break my bidding; a treacherous foe, a mischievous destroyer, didst thou obey, rather than thy Creator.

Now will I let pass that ancient story, 1396

how at the first thou didst wickedly devise, and didst lose by sinful works, what I granted for thy good. When I had given thee thus much of goodly things, and yet withal it seemed unto thy mind 1400

too little happiness, unless thou mightest own fulness of power equally great with God, then thou becamest, to thy foes* delight,

an alien to that joy, cast out afar; 1404

perforce then hadst thou sadly to forego the charm of Paradise, the spirits' home, — wicked and sorrowful, cut off from all

its blessings and its joy^ ; then wast thou driven 1408

into this gloomy world, where thou hast suffered since, during so long a time, grievous hardships,

88

I. CHRIST. 141I-I44O.

s4r and swar gewin and sweartnc deatS

and sefter [/ijingonge hreosan sceoldes 141 2

hean in helle helpendra leas •

tSa mec ongon lireowan ]:)8et min hond-geweorc

on feonda geweald feran sceolde

mon-cynnes tuddor mdn-cwealm scon 1416

sceolde uncutSne eard cunniaA

sare si]?as f)a ic sylf gestag

maga in modor J^eah wses hyre mgegden-had

segliwses onwalg • weartS ic ink geboren 1420

folcum to frofre mec mon folmum biwond

bij^eahte mid ]:)earfan waedum and mec J:)a on f»eostre alegde

biwundenne mid wonnum claj»um hweet ic "^pcet for worulde

geJ)olade lytel Jjuhte ic leoda bearnum Iseg ic on heardum stane 1424 cild geong on crybbe mid |)y ic }?e wolde cwealm afyrran • hat helle bealu J^aet \>w. moste halig scinan eadig on J?am ecan life forcSon ic feet earfej?e wonn :/

[VI.]

NiES me for mode ac ic on magu-geogutSe yrmf)u gesefnde arleas lic-sdr ^xBt ic Jjurh J?a waere /e gelic and ^xx meahte minum weor]?an mseg-wlite gelic mane bidseled and fore monna lufan min ]:)rowade heafod hearm-slege hleor * gef)olade *[29rt.] oft awc?-lata arleasra spatl of mutSe onfeng mdn-fremmendra swylce hi me geblendon bittre tosomne unswetne drync ecedes and geallan • ^onne ic fore folce onfeng feonda genit51an fylgdon me mid flrenum fseh]?e ne rohtun

1428

1432

1436

1440

141 2. MS. ingonge. '427. Space of half -line between the sections.

1430. MS. wege lie (9. e. we gelic).

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 89

})ain and heavy toil and swarthy death,

doomed, after thy going hence, abased to fall 141 2

down into hell, with none to help thee. — 7 y^

Then it began to rue me that mine handiwork

should pass into the power of fiends,

that mankind's progeny should see dire torment, 1416

and should experience a loveless home,

and sore vicissitudes. Then I myself descended,

as a son into his mother, yet was her maidenhood

wholly inviolate. I was born alone 1420

for the solace of men : with their hands they swathed me,

and wrapt me with a poor man's weeds, and laid me then in

darkness, swaddled in dusky clothes. Lo ! this for the world I suffered ; little seemed I to the sons of men ; on the hard stone I lay, 1424 a young child in its crib, for that I would remove from thee the torture and hot misery of hell ; that thou mightst shine as

saint, blessed in the life eternal, therefore I bore that pain.

VI.

'Twas not for pride, but I endured adversity 1428

and shameful pain of body in my youth, that I thereby might be like unto thee, and that, severed from evil sin, thou mightst become like to mine own fair human form ; 1432

and for my love of men, my head and face bore and endured the baleful stroke ; oft my visage received the spittle from the mouth of impious workers of iniquity ; 1436

yea, too, they mingled for me, bitterly together, an unsweet drink of vinegar and gall ; then for mankind I received the wrath of foes, they followed me with torments ; reckless in hate, 1440

90 T. CHIIIST. I44I-I474.

a7id mid sweopuni slogun ic J^set sar for tie

Ipurh eatSmedu eall gef>ola(le

liosp and heard cwide pa lii hwsesiie beag

ymb min lieafod heardne gebygdon 1444

f>ream bij^rycton se wees of ]?ornum geworlit*

t5a ic waes ahongen on heanne beam

rode gefaestnad '6a hi ricene

mid spare of minre sidan swat ut-gotun 1448

dreor to foldaii J^set pu of deofles piwh f)ait

nyd-gewalde genered wurde •

cSa ic womma leas wite J^olade

yfel earfej^u oj^j^aet ic ainie forlet 1452

of minum lic-homan lifgendne gaest

geseo'S nu pa feorh-dolg J^e gefiemedun ser

on minum folmuin and on fotum swa some

]:>urh |:»a ic hongade hearde gefsestnad • 1456

moaht her edc geseon orgete nu gen

on minre sidan swatge wunde

liii pser wyes iinefen racii unc gemsene •

Ic onfeng J^in sar J)8et f)U moste geseelig 1460

mines e]:)el-rices eadig neotan •

and pe mine deaSe deore gebohte

pcet longe lif ]:i8et J?u on leohte si]:)]5an

wlitig womma leas wunian mostes • 1464

laeg min flaesc-homa in foldan bigrafen

nij^re gehyded se ^e neengum scdd

in byrgenne J^aet )?u meahte beorhte uppe

on roderum wesan rice mid englum • 1468

forhwon forlete *pu. lif j^aet scyne *[29 6.]

Jjset ic pe for lufan mid mine lic-homan

heanum to helpe hold gecypte

wurde J)u f>8es gewitleas ]:»8et f>u waldende 1472

J^inre alysne&se ]:»onc ne wisses •

Ne ascige ic nu owiht bi J)am bitran

1446. jl/.?. hean . MS'- 'wi-te corrected from y/iisi,.

]. CHIUST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, 91

they struck me with their scourges. All that pain,

their scorn and harsh reproach, in humbleness

I bore for thee. Then they bent a spiny

and sharp crown around my head; 1444

with cruelty they pressed it on — 'twas wrought of thorns.

Then was I hanged upon a lofty tree,

and fastened to a rood ; with a spear then,

from my side, they poured out on to earth 1448

my blood and gore. That thoii, thereby, shouldst be

delivered from the devil's tyranny,

all sinless, bore I then this punishment

and sore affliction, till that I sent 1452

the living spirit from my body forth alone.

See now the fatal wounds which they once made

upon my palms, and on my feet also,

by which I hung, fastened full strongly ; 1456

here mayst thou see too, manifest e'en yet,

the gory wound upon my side.

How uneven was the reckoning there between us two !

I received thy pain, that thou, blessed, 1460

niightst happily enjoy my native realm,

and by my death I dearly bought for thee

long life, that thenceforth thou mightst

dwell in the light, beauteous and void of sins. 1464

My body's flesh, the which had harmed no man,

lay buried in the earth, hidden beneath,

down in its sepulchre, that thou mightst shine

mighty 'mid angels, in the skies above. J468

Why didst thou forsake that beauteous life,

which graciously I bought for thee, through love,

with mine own body, to help thee, wretched 1

So witless wast thou that thou didst not show 1473

thanks to the Lord for thy redemption.

Nouj^ht ask I now for that death of mine,

Ii2 I. ciiiiisT. 1475-1508.

deatJe minum pe ic aclreag fore f>e •

ac forgield me J?in lif pses pe ic iu j^e mfn 1476

))uih woiuld-wite weortS gesealcle-

tSiies lifes ic manige pe f)U mid leahtrum hafast

ofslegen synlice sylfum to sconde •

forhwan p\i psct sele-gescot pcet ic me swses on pe 1480

gehalgode hds to wynne

f)urh firen-lustas fule synne

imsyfre biemite sylfes willum

ge )?u })one lic-homan pe ic alysde me 1484

leondum of fseSme and ))a him firene forbead

scyld-wyrcende scondum gewemdest •

forliwon dhenge pu mec hefgor on J?inra honda rode

ponne in hongade liwset me feos heardra }>yncet5 1488

nu is swserra mid mec J^inra synna rod

pe ic unwillu?7i on beom gefsestnad

ponne seo o[:er wses j^e ic ger gestag

willum minura J^a mec J^in wed swipast 1492

set heortan gehreaw pa ic f)ec from helle dteah

pSdY ]5U hit wolde sylfa siJ^J^an gehealdan •

Ic W8es on worulde weadla J^set '5u wurde welig in lieofonum

earm ic waes on ec51e f>inum J^set f u wz^^rde eadig on minum .

J?a 'Su fees ealles senigne J^onc 1496

J^inum nergende nysses on mode •

bibead ic eow pcet ge bro})or mine

* in woruld-rice wel aretten *[30a.] 1500

of J?am aehtum pe ic eow on eor(5an geaf*

earmra hulpen earge ge })aet Isestun •

J^earfum forwyrndon pcet hi under eowrum Jjsece mosten

in-gebugan and him eeghwaes oftugon 1504

purh. heardne hyge hraegles nacedum •

moses mete-leasum j^eah hy him J?urh minne noman

werge wonhale wsetan bsedan

drynces gedrealite duguj^a lease 1508

1490. gefajstnad ; d originallz/ f^. i495- MS. worde.

I. CinilST. C. THE DAY OF Jl-DGMENT. 93

SO bitter, which I endured for thee ;

but render me thy life, for which, in martyrdom, 1476

I gave thee once mine own as price.

I claim of thee that life which thou hast sinfully

destroyed with vice, to thine own shame.

Why hast thou filthily defiled, by thine own will, 1480

through wicked lusts and througli foul sin,

the tabernacle which I sanctified in thee

to be the cherished home of my delight *?

Yea, perpetrating guilt, thou didst shamefully pollute 1484

that body which I ransomed for myself,

from the grasp of foes, and then forbade it sin.

Why hast thou crucified me worse, on thy hands' cross,

than when of old I hung 1 Lo ! this methinks is harder. 1488

Is now heavier for me thy sins' cross,

on which I am made fast, unwillingly,

than was that other, which I before ascended,

with mine own will, when thy misery 1492

rued me so much at heart, when I drew thee forth from hell,

where thou thyself wouldst afterwards abide.

I in the world was poor, that thou in heaven mightst

be rich, wretched was I in thy land, that thou in mine mightst 1496

happy be. Then for all this thou knewest not in thy heart any gratitude unto thy Saviour. I bade that ye should cherish well

my brethren in the world's domain; 1500

from those possessions which I gave to you on earth, that ye should help the poor. Ill have ye done so. The needy ye forbade to enter 'neath your roof, and ye withheld from them fall everything, 1504

in your hard hearts, — raiment from the naked, food from the foodless ; though aweary and infirm, yearning for drink, void of all sustenance, and parched with thirst, they prayed for water 1508

'J*j 4-

94 I. CHRIST. 1,509-1537.

I

i

J^urste gej^^egede ge him f>riste oftugon

sarge ge ne sohtoii ne hira Bwaeslic word

frofre gespraecon pcet hy |?y freoran hyge

mode gefengen eall ge pset me dydan 1512

to hynj>um heofon-cyninge fjses ge sceolon liearde adreogaii

wite to widan ealdre wraec mid deoflum gef)oliaii •

'Sonne J^aer ofer ealle egeslicne cwide

sylf sigora weard sares fulne 1516

ofer pcet fsege folc fortS forlgete'S •

owl's to f)ara synfulra sawla fe]?an •

faratS nu awyrgde willum biscyrede •

engla dreames on ece fir* 1520

J)8et wses satane and his gesif>um mid ■

deofle gegearwad and f)8ere deorcan scole

hat and heoro-grim on Ipcet ge hreosan sceolan •

ne magon hi j^onrie gehynan heofon-cyninges ])ibod 1524

rsedum birofene sceolon raj^e feallan

on grlmne grund ]?a ser wij? gode wunnon •

biS ponne rices weard rej^e and meahtig

yrre and egesful andweard ne maeg 1528

on pissum fold-wege feond gebidan •./

[VII.1

SWApe'S sige-mece mid Ipsere swi[(^jran bond pmt on J^aet deope * dgel deofol gefealla'S *[30 b.] in sweartne leg synfuh'a here 1532

under foldan sceat fsege geestas on wraf ra wic womfulra scolu verge to forvvyrde on wite- bus

deatS-sele deofles nales dryhtnes gemynd 1536

sif)f»an geseca'S synne ne aspringacS

1526. grimne ; originally grimnie ; me corrected into ne. '529. one

line space between the sections. 1530. 7¥/S'. swiran, i533- sc®at. ^536. MS. deofoles, i. e. deofles.

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 95

in my name, harshly ye denied it them. The sorrowful ye sought not, nor spake a kindly word of comfort unto them, that they might gain within their hearts a spirit the more buoyant. All this ye did in scorn 15 12

of me, heaven s King : wherefore ye shall sore endure torment for evermore, and suffer exile amid devils.' Then over all those there, over the fated folk, the Lord of victories shall Himself send forth 151^

a dreadful edict, full of tribulation, and shall declare unto that host of sinful souls : —

' Go now accursed, wilfully cut off from angels' joy, into eternal fire, 1520

which, hot and fiercely grim, was dight for the devil Satan and his comrades too, and all that swarthy shoal : therein shall ye fall.'

Then may they not deride, bereft of rede, 1524

the bidding of the heavenly King ; they who ere warred

'gainst God, shall quickly fall into the grim abyss. The Lord of empire shall be stern and mighty then, angry and terrible: no foe upon this track of earth 1528

may then abide before His face.

VIL

He shall sweep the victor-sword with His right hand, so that the devils shall fall down the deep gulf into swart flame; the band of the sinful 1532

into the region of the earth beneath ; the fated spirits into the camp of foes ; the shoal of the pernicious, damned to destruction, into the house of torment, the death-hall of the devil. They shall nowise thereafter seek remembrance of the Lord, nor from their sin escape, 1537

96 I. CHRIST. 1 53 H- 1573.

f>3er hi lealitrum f<i • lege gebuiidne

ewylt f)rowia'5 biS him syn-vvracu

a?i^weard undyrne pcet is ece cvveahn • 1540

ne mseg j^set hate dael of heolot5-cynne

in sin-nehte synne forbseriian

to widan feore worn of J^oere sawle

ac IpsdT se deopa seacS dreorge fedecS 1544

grundleas giemetS geesta on J^eostre •

{file's hy mid pj ealdan lige and mid py egsan forste

wraj^um wyrmum and mid wit a fela

frecnum feorh-gomum folcum scende'S 1548

Jjset we magon ealitan and on an cwe(5an

sotSe secgan J?get se sawle weard

lifes wisdom forloren haebbe

se pe nti ne giemet5 hw8ef)er his gsest sie 1552

earm J^e eadig J?8er he ece sceal

sefter hin-gouge hamfsest wesan

ne bisorgat5 he synne to fremman

wonhydig mon ne he wihte hafatS 1556

hreowe on mode pset him halig gsest

losige f»urh leahtras on pas Isenan tid •

(Sonne man-scea'Sa fore meotude forlit

deorc on J?am dome standet? and dea(5e fdh 1560

wommum awyrged biS se wser-loga

fyres afylled feores tinwyr'Se

egsan ge]?read andweard gode •

won and wliteleas hafaS werges bleo 1564

facen-tacen feores • tSonwe firena beam

* tearum geota'6 J)onne f>8es tid ne bij? *[31 «.]

synne c\vif)a'S ac hy to siS dotS

gsestum helpe • t5onne J^ses giman nele 1568

weoruda waldend hu pa worn sceaj^an

hyra eald-gestreon on pa, openan tid

sare greten ne bi]:) f>8et sorga tid

leodum alyfed fset f?er laeceddm 1572

findan mote se J^e nu his feore nyle

T. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 97

where crime-stained, wrapt in flame,

they shall endure destruction ; imminent, clear to them,

shall be the vengeance for their sins; that is eternal death. 1540

The hot gulf may not, through the livelong night,

through all eternity, purge their sin away

from that hell-race, the stain from off their souls ;

but there the deep pit feedeth those dreary ones ; 1544

bottomless it keepeth the spirits in its gloom ;

burneth them with its ancient flame ; with chill terror,

with hateful serpents and with torments many,

with sharp and deadly jaws, it scatheth folk. 1548

Wherefore we may believe and ever say, soothly declare, that that soul's guardian hath altogether lost the wisdom of this life, who heedeth not now whether his spirit be 1552

wretched or happy, where, after its going hence, it shall be resident eternally. He dreadeth nowise sin to perpetrate,

thoughtless man ! nor hath he aught 1556

of ruth within his mind, though his holy spirit perish, in this fading time, through deeds of shame. When the evil-doer, afeard before his Maker, shall stand at the judgment, black and foul with death, 1560 accursed with crimes, then shall the traitor, of life unworthy, be fulfilled of fire, and overwhelmed with terror before God ;

swart and sightless, he shall have a felon's hue, 1564

the token of a life of perfidy. Then shall the sons of men shed tears, and shall bewail their sins, when time availeth not ; too late shall they devise help for their spirits, when the Lord of hosts 1568

will not heed how the evil-doers sorely, at that all-disclosing time,

deplore what erst they cherished. That time of sorrow will not avail, that he who will not now, 1572

while he liveth here, gain his life's salvation,

H

98 1. CHRIST. 1574-1607.

hselo strynan Jjendeii her leofatS •

ne bit5 faer sengum godum gnorn aetywed

ne nsengum yflum wel • ac J^ser aeghwaej^er 1 5 76

anfealde gewyrht andweavd wigetJ •

for"Son sceal onettan se f)e dgan wile

lif set meotude f)enden him leoht and gsest

somod-fsest seon he his sawle wlite 1580

georne bigonge on godes willan

and wddv weortSe worda and dseda •

J^eawa and gejponca )?enden him J?eos woruld

sceadum scrif)ende scinan mote , 1584

pcet he ne forleose on J)as Isenan tid

his dreames blsed and his dagena rim

and his weorces wlite and wuldres lean

J^sette heofones cyning on ]?a halgan tid

sotS-faest syletS to sigor-leanum

])a,m pe him on gsestum georne hyratS •

ponne heofon and hel hselej^a bearnum

fira feorum fylde weorJ^e'S

grundas swelgatS godes a»ic?sacan

lacende leg la'Swende men

f>reat5 f)eod-sceaJ)an and no Jjonan laeta'S

on gefean faran to feorh-nere 159^

ac se bryne bindetS bic^-fsestne here

feo'S firena beam frecne me ))ince"S

f)8et fas gaest-berend giman nellaS

men on mode ponne mdn hwaet 1600

him se waldend • *to wrace gesette [*31 h.]

laf>um leodum ponne lif and deatS

sawlum swelgatS bitS susla hus

open and o'5-eawed atS-logum ongean- 1604

■Saet sceolon fyllan firen-georne men

sweartum sawlum ponne synna wracu

scyldigra scolu ascyred weorJ^e'S

1582. MS. J)8er. 1597. MS. biS.

1 CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 99

may there find out a healing remedy.

Grief shall not be shown to any good man there,

nor joy to any evil, but there each one 1576

shall bear before God's sight his own desert.

Therefore must he be alert, while light and soul

hold fast together, who wisheth to possess

life from the Creator. Let him foster zealously 1580

the beauty of his soul, after God's will ;

let him be wary in words and deeds,

in habits and in thoughts, while this world,

speeding with its shadows, may still shine for him, 1584

so that he lose not, in this fading time,

the blossom of his joy, and the number of his days,

and the beauty of his work, and the reward of glory,

which the righteous King of heaven giveth, 1588

at that holy time, as the rewards of victory,

to those who fain, with all their soul, obey Him.

Then heaven and hell shall be fulfilled with the sons of men, with the souls of mortals; 1592

the abyss shall gorge God's adversaries ; flickering flame shall harass erring folk, the spoilers of the people, and shall not let them thence depart in joy into security, 1596

but the fire shall keep the host immovable, and shall vex the sons of men. Fool-hardy methinketh it, that men, creatures endowed with spirit, will not be heedful in their minds, seeing that their Sovereign 1600

may in vengeance put on them, on hateful folk, any evil whatsoever. When life and death shall grasp their share of souls, the house of torment then shall stand open and revealed to perjurers' sight ; 1604

sin-loving men shall fill it

with their swart souls ; then, as a penalty for their sins, the shoal of guilty ones shall be disparted,

H 2

100 J. CHRIST. i6ovS-i64i.

heane from halgum on hearm-cwale • 1608

"Saer sceolan J)eofas and J?eod-scea|?an

lease and forlegene lifes no wenan

and radn-sworan mo[r]f>or-lean seon

heard and heoro-grim • J^onne hel nime'S 1612

wserleasra weorud and hi waldeiid giefetS

feondum in forwyrd fd j^rowiatS

ealdor-bealu egeslic earm bi'S se }?e wile

firenum gewyrcan ^p^^i he fdh scyle 1616

from his scyppende ascyred weortSan

set dom-dsege to deatSe nij^er

under helle cinn in }?8et hate fyr

under liges locan Jjaer hy leomu rsecatS 1620

to bindenne and to bgernenne

and to swingenne synna to wite •

tSonne halig gsest helle biluce'S

morf)er-husa msest f>urh meaht godes 1624

fyres fulle and feonda here

cyninges worde se bij? cwealma maest

deofla and monna • '^cBt is dreamleas hiis •

tJser senig ne mgeg o«^er losian 1628

caldan clommum hy brsecon cyninges word

beorht boca bibod for]:»on hy abidan sceolon

in sin-nehte sar ende-leas

firen-daedum ik fortS f>rowian 1632

tSa J>e her [ybr-]hogdun heofon-rices j^rym •

\>or\ne f>a gecorenan fore crist beratS

beorhte frsetwe hyra blsed leofa'5

set dom-dsege agan dream mid gode • 1636

lij)es lifes })8es f>e *alyfed h\]> [*32 a.]

haligra gehwam on heofon-rice •

tJset is se ej?el f>e no geendad weorf>etS

ac fser symle fort5 synna lease ^«— -«_ ^^^°

dream weardiat? dryhten lofia(

t6ii. MS. mo])or. 162 1. hvm^i^y^over the first n^thA^i^ hadly formed m, or three strokes resemotin^ m. i6^i: W^^\k¥-y^^z}^]^^ogdun,

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 101

the base from the holy, unto pernicious death; 1608

there thieves and spoilers of the folk,

the lying and adulterate, shall have no hope of life ;

and the forsworn shall see their crimes' reward,

grievous and fiercely grim; then shall hell take 161 2

the host of faithless ones, and the Lord shall give them

in perdition to the fiends ; the hostile foe shall suffer

terrific racking pain. Wretched shall he be who willeth

to work so wickedly, that he, as a guilty one, 16 16

shall be, upon the day of doom, wholly cut off

from his Creator, doomed to the death beneath,

among hell's race, in the hot fire,

under the barriers of flame ; there shall men stretch their 1620

limbs, to be bound and to be burned and to be scourged, in punishment of sins.

Then the Holy Spirit, through the might of God, at the King's command, shall lock up hell, 1624

that greatest of the homes of torment, full of fire, and the host of fiends therein ; of all the torments of devils and of men this shall be greatest. That is a joyless house ; there no one ever may escape 1628

from those cold bonds ; they brake their King's command, the scriptures' bright behest; therefore, they must abide in livelong night, and, stained with wicked deeds, thenceforth must they endure pain without end, 1632

who here despised the glory of the heavenly realm. >

Then the chosen shall carry before Christ J ^

radiant treasures ; their bliss shall live ;

with God, at doomsday, shall they have the joy 1636

of life serene, the which shall be vouchsafed to every holy man in heaven's realm ; that is the home which shall know no end, but there the sinless, henceforth evermore, 1640

shall keep their joy, and praise the Lord,

102 I. CHRIST. 1642-1664.

leofne lifes vveard leohte biwundne

sibbum biswetSede sorgum biwerede

dreamum gedyrde dryhtne gelyfde 1644

awo to ealdre engla gemanan

brucatJ mid blisse beorhte mid lisse

freogatS folces weard faeder ealra

geweald hafatS and healdetS haligra weorud • 1648

tJaer is engla song eadigra blis

f>8er is seo dyre dryhtnes onsien

ealluw f)am gesselgum sunnan leohtra •

"Sser is leofra lufu lif butan ende-dea'Se 1652

glsed gumena weorud giogutS butan ylde

heofon-dugut5a f>rym • hselu butan sare

ryht-fremmendum rsest butan gewinne

dom-eadigra dseg butan f)eostrum 1656

beorht blgedes full blis butan sorgum

fri(5 freondum bitweon forcS butan sefestum

geseelgum on swegle sib butan nif>e

halgum on gemonge • nis Jjser hungor ne ])urst 1660

slaep ne swdr leger ne sunnan bryne

ne cyle ne cearo ac J^ser cyninges gief[e]

awo brucat5 eadigra gedryht

weoruda wlite-scynast wuldres mid dryhten : — : 7 1664

1650. MS. J)8es. 1662. MS. gief ; after which is an erasure. 1664.

dryhten : — : 7 is the last word on 32a ; a blank space of three lines follows.

I. CHRIST. C. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 103

their life's dear Guardian ; there, begirt with light,

be wrapt in peace, shielded from sorrows,

glorified by joys, endeared unto the Lord, 1644

radiant with grace, they shall aye, to all eternity,

enjoy in bliss the angels' fellowship,

and cherish mankind's Guardian, the Father of all.

Sovran Preserver of the hosts of the holy. 1648

There is angels' song ; bliss of the happy ; there is the cherished presence of the Lord, brighter than the sun, for all those blessed ones ; there is the love of the beloved; life without death's end; 1652 a gladsome host of men ; youth without age ; the glory of the heavenly chivalry ; health without pain for righteous workers, and for souls sublime rest without any toil; there is day without gloom, 1656

radiant and joyful ; happiness without sorrow ; friendship 'twixt friends for ever without feud ; peace without enmity for the blessed in heaven, in the communion of saints; hunger is not there nor thirst, 1660 sleep nor grievous sickness ; nor sun's heat, nor cold nor care ; but the company of the blest, the fairest of all hosts, shall there for aye enjoy their Sovran's grace, and glory with their King. . 1664

104 U. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. I-24. [CHR. 1666-89 J

[II. SAINT GUTHLAC. ' A.]

[I.]

E BIB GEFEANA F^GEast )?oiine hy aet frymtSe [*32 b.\ gemetatS [^^^' 1666.]

engel and seo eadge sawl • ofgiefef) hio j^as eorj^an Wynne •

forlsetetS J?as Isenan dreamas • and hio wij? ham lice gedaeletJ •

^onne cwitS se engel hafatS yldran had • 4

grete(5 gsest of>erne • abeode'S him godes serende •

Nu J)u most feran J^ider j^u fundadest •

longe and gelome • ic J)ec Isedan sceal

wegas J^e sindon wej^e and wuldres leoht 8

torht ontyned • eart nu tid-fara •

to ]^am halgan hdm • ])2dv nsefre hreow cymetS •

eder-gong fore yrmj^um • ac peer bi]? engla dream • [Chr. 1676.]

sib and gesselignes • and sawla rsest • j 2

and |38er d to feore gefeon motun •

dry man mid dryhten pa. Ipe his domas her •

EefnacS on eor]?an he him ece lean •

healdecS on heofonum J^aer se hyhsta ealra 16

cyninga cyning ceastrum wealdetS ■

tSset sind |?a getimbru pe no tydriacS

ne Jjam fore yrm]:um pe |?8er in-wunia"S

lif aspringetS ac him bitS lenge hu sel 20

geogupe brucacS- and godes miltsa • [Chr. 1686.]

Jjider so'Sfsestra • sawla motun •

cuman sefter cwealme pa pe ser cristes • se •

IseratS and laesta'S • and his lof raeracS • 24

[^ Lines 1-29 = Christ. i666-i6g^, in Gr Bin's edition. For reference,

Grein's numbering is inserted between h^acJeets.'] 13. MS. motum. 18.

MS. n\i.

II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 105

II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A.

I.

THAT shall be the fairest of joys, when they at first shall meet, the angel and the happy soul, when it resigneth the joys of earth, forsaketh these frail delights, and from the body shall depart. Then shall the angel speak (his the more exalted state), 4

one spirit shall greet the other, and announce to it God's

errand : —

' Now thou may'st travel whither thou wast yearning longtime and often ; I am to lead thee ;

the ways shall be pleasant for thee, and glory's bright light 8 shall be revealed ; thou art now a traveller unto that holy home where sorrow never cometh, the refuge from afflictions.' There is angels' harmony, goodwill and happiness and souls' repose ; 1 2

and there for evermore may they rejoice and revel with the Lord, who here, on earth, fulfil his judgments; He holdeth for them, in heaven, eternal recompense ; over the cities there, 16

the most high, the King of kings, holdeth rule.'

These are the structures which do not decay, nor, through misery, shall life fail those who dwell therein, but the longer the better it shall be for

them ; 20

youth shall they enjoy and the grace of God. Thither, after death, the souls of righteous men may come, who erevvhile teach and do the law of Christ and raise on high His praise ; 24

^

106 II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 25-58. [CHR. 1690-4 ; GUTH 1-29.J

oferwinna'S f)a awyrgdan gsestas bigytatS him wuldres rseste •

Hwider sceal f>8es monnes mod astigan •

aer oppe sefter ponne he his senne her

gsest bigonge pcet se gode mote 28

womma clsene * in geweald cuman • [*33 a.]

Monge sindon geond middan-geard • [i]

hadas under heofonum • Jja pe in haligra

rim arisat5 we f>aes ryht magun 32

set aeghwylcum anra gehyran

gif we halig bebodu healdan willatS-

Mseg nu snottor guma ssele brucan

godra tida and his gseste fort^ 36

weges willian • woruld is onhrered

colaj? cristes lufu sindan, costinga

geond middan-geard monge drisene • [10]

Swa pcet geara in godes spelbodan 40

wordum ssegdon arid Jjurh witedom

eal dnemdon swa hit nu gongetS •

EaldatS eor)?an blged sej^ela gehwylcre

and of wlite wendat5 waestma gecyndu • 44

bi]5 seo sij?re tid sseda gehwylces

mgetrse in maegne forj^on se mon ne f>earf

to J)isse worulde wyrpe gehycgan

pcet he us fsegran gefean bringe 48

ofer f)a nij^as j^e we nu dreogatS • , [20]

8erf)on endien ealle gesceafte

t5a he gesette on siex dagum •

t5a nu under heofonum hadas Genua's 52

micle and msete is f>es middan-geard

dalum gedaeled dryhten sceawa'S

hwser pa eardien pe his • se • healden

gesihtS he ]?a domas dogra gehwylce 56

wonian and wendan of woruld-ryhte •

tJa he gesette ]?urh his sylfes w6rd •

25. 3/5^. gaes,***. 46. MS. maetrg (i. e. msetrse). "

irti^-<-o

II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 107

they overcome the cursed sprites ; they gain glory's rest.

Whither, sooner or later, must a man's mood aspire, whenas he would cherish

his one soul here, that it may come 28

to God's dominion, clean of blemishes ?

There are many states 'neath heaven, throughout this middle-earth, which rise

into the number of the holy; wherefore rightly 32

we may belong to any one of them, if we will keep the commandments holy; the wise man may now enjoy prosperity

and happy times, and yet be wishful for 36

his spirit's way hereafter. The world is stirred, the love of Christ cooleth, many temptations have arisen, throughout this mid die- earth,

even as, in days of yore, God's messengers 40

spake in words, and through the gift prophetic declared it all, as it is now befalling.

The glory of each produce of the earth declineth, and all the kinds of growth change from their beauty; 44

the latter time of every seed is now of feebler virtue ; wherefore man dare not direct his hope to this world's mutability,

that it may bring to us some fair delight 48

transcending all the griefs we now endure, .

ere that all the creatures, that in six days ^^""^^V-r

He set upon the earth, shall have an end,

yea, all which now produce their kinds 'neath heaven, 52

the mighty and the feeble. This middle-earth is parted in divisions ; the Lord beholdeth where they abide who keep His law ;

He seeth the judgments which He fixed 56

through His own word, fade day by day, and depart from the justice of the world :

'^t'b'W'/' «tA ' '^Mi^

108

II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 59-92. [30-63.]

he fela findetS fea LOO'S gecorene [30]

sume him J^aes hades hlisan willaS 60

wegan on wordum and f)a weorc ne dotJ-

bits him eortS-wela ofer }pcet ece lif

hyhta hyhst se gehwylcum *sceal [*33 6.]

fold-buendra fremde geweor|)an • 64

forj^on hy nu hyrwatS haligra mod •

"Sa ]?e him to heofonum hyge sta]?elia(S

witon \>cet se e^el ece bidecS

ealra J^aere mengu J?e geond middan-geard 68

dryhtne }?eowia'S and J^ses deoran ham [40]

wilniat5 bi gewyrhtum swa J?as woruld-gestreon

on |?a maeran god bimutac? weorJ^a'S •

^onne j^aet gegyrnat5 )?a \>t him godes egsa 72

hleonaj? ofer heafdum hy })y hyhstan beot5

J?rymme ge)?reade J^isses lifes

})urh bibodu bruca'S and J^ses betran fortS

wyscaS and wenaf) wuldres bycgatS 76

sellac5 eelmessan earme frefratS

beotS rum-mode ryhtra gestreona

lufiatS mid lacum J>a f>e Ises agun • [50]

daeghwam dryhtne J?eowiaf> he hyra daede sceawaS • 80

sume J»a wuniatS on westennum

secat5 and gesittatJ sylfra willum

hamas on heolstrum hy tSaes heofoncundan

boldes bidat5 oft him brogan to 84

la'Sne gelaedetS se })e him lifes of-6nn •

eawetS him egsan hwilum idel wuldor

braegd-wis bona hafatS bega craeft

eahtetS an-buendra fore him englas stondatS 88

gearwe mid gaesta waepnum beoj? hyra geoca gemyndge [60]

healdatS haligra feorh witon hyra hyht mid dryhten

J?oei sind J>a gecostan cempan )?a f>am cyninge J^eowa'S

se naefre J?a lean alegetS Jjam f>e his lufan adreogetS : 7 92

67. MS. eleS. 71. MS. bimutaS. 92. adreogeS, the only word on

the line dividing the sections.

II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 109

He shall find many, few shall be chosen. I

Some desire to gain their order's reputation ~6o / w

by mere words, but do not do the works ;

earthly wealth is their highest hope,

above the life eternal, which shall be alien // .

to every one now dwelling in the world; 64 *^.

verily, they now despise the mood of holy men, -'/*"'*'*-*-v^

who fix their thoughts on heaven,

and know that that Fatherland bideth eternally

for the host of all upon mid-earth 68

who serve the Lord, and by their works desire

that beloved home ; so the treasures of this world

shall be transmuted into nobler wealth,

when they yearn for it, upon whose heads 72

resteth the fear of God ; by that highest majesty

they are constrained ; this life they enjoy

as by command, and forthwith ever wish and hope

for that better life : they purchase glory ; 76

they bestow alms ; they comfort the poor ;

they are liberal of their just gains;

they cherish with gifts those who have less,

and daily serve the Lord ; He beholdeth their deeds. 80

Some who dwell in wildernesses,

/

who seek and occupy, by their own wills,

homes in dark caverns, these await

the heavenly dwelling-place ; he who grudge th them life, 84

oft bringeth hateful terror upon them ;

sometimes he showeth them horror, sometimes vain glory ;

the wily murderer hath power of both,

and harasseth these lonely-dwellers ; before them angels stand 88 ly\'

ready with their spirits' weapons ; they are mindful of their safety ;

they preserve the life of saints ; they know their hope is with

the Lord. These are the chosen champions that serve the King, who ne'er withholdeth their pay from those who bear Him love. 92

no

11.

SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 93- 1 24. [64-95.]

[II.]

AGUN we nu nemnan pcet us neah geweart5 -^'-^ f)urh haligne *had gecyj^ed [*34 a.] hu gutSlac his in godes willan mod gerehte vain eall forseah eor'Slic 8e)?elu upp gemunde ham in heofonum him waes hyht to j?am • sif)J)an hine in-lyhte se f)e lifes weg gsestum gearwatS and him giefe sealde engelcunde pcet he ana ongan beorg-sef>el bugan and his bleed gode ]?urh eatSmedu ealne gesealde • tJone pe he dn geogutSe bigan sceolde worulde wynnum hine we&rd biheold halig of heofonum se J^aet hluttre mod in ]:)aes gsestes god georne trymede • Hwaet we hyrdon oft pa^t se halga wer in J>a serestan seldu gelufade frecnessa fela fyrst wses swa-|?eana in godes dome hwonne gutSlace on his ondgietan engel sealde pwt him swe"Sraden synna lustas • Tid W9es toweard hine twegen ymb weardas wacedon f)a gewin drugon engel dryhtnes and se dtela gsest • nalses hy him gelice lare bseron in his modes gemynd mongum tidum • ojjer him J?as eorj^an ealle ssegde Isene under lyfte and pa longan gdd herede on heofonum pddv haligra \ /' sawla gesittatS in sigor-wuldre

dryhtnes dreamas he him dseda lean georne gieldet5 j^am pe his giefe willatS

96

[70]

100

104

108

[80]

112

116

[90] 120

124

105. MS. wearS.

II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. Ill

II.

Now may we declare what lately was made known to us by men of holy state, how Guthlac trained his mind unto the will of God, despised all sin 96

and earthly wealth, and turned his thoughts on high, unto a home in heaven; his hope was thitherward, from the day when He who dighteth life's way for souls, had enlightened him, and had granted him 100 ' Ot*^

angelic grace, so that he began *1„^A.^' %' p

to occupy alone a mountain-home, and gave ^Ik.v^--*^^'^^

in humbleness his whole life unto God,

the which, 'tis said, in youth he spent 104

in pleasures of the world. Him a holy guardian from heaven beheld, who fain confirmed his cleanly soul in spiritual goodness.

Lo ! we have often heard that this holy man 108 / ^

loved in the earlier period of his life /

many vicious courses ; nathless there was a time, in Gk)d's determining, whenas He sent

an angel unto Guthlac's mind, 112

so that his lust for sin might be allayed. The time was near ; two guardians watched about him, who kept up strife, — an angel of the Lord and the fell spirit. Many times they brought their teaching, nowise alike, unto his mind's remembrance ; the one declared to him that all this earth was transient 'neath the sky, and praised 120

the lasting good in heaven, where the souls of holy men possess in glorious triumph the Lord's delights; gladly He payeth their deeds' reward to those who will accept 124

y^'

112 II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. I25-I59. [96-130.]

Jjicgan to )?once and him J)as woruld

uttor laetan jjonwe j^aet ece lif •

0}?er liyrie scylite f>set he scea"Sena gemot

nihtes sohte and fjurh nef»inge 128

wunne sefter worulde swa dotS wrsec-msecgas [1°°]

)?a \>G ne bimurna'S' * monnes feore [*34 6.]

]:)3es f)e him to honda huf)e gelsedetS

butan hy J^y reafe rsedaii motan • 132

Swa hy hine trymedon on twa healfa •

o]?J?8et })8es gewinnes weoroda dryhten

on f)8es engles dom ende gereahte •

feond wses geflymed sij5f)am frofre gaest 136

in gu'Slaces geoce gewunade

lufade hine and Iserde lenge hu geornor

\>cet him leofedan londes wynne [^^o]

bold on beorhge oft J^ser broga cwom 140

egeslic and uncu'S eald-feonda nit^

searo-crseftum swi)? hy him sylf hyra

onsyn ywdon and J^ser ser fela

setla gesseton j^onan si's tugon 144

wide wat5e wuldre byscyrede

lyft-lacende wses seo londes stow

bimij?en fore monnum • o]?f>set meotud onwrah

beorg (5n bearwe Jja se bytla cwom 148

se J^aer haligne hdm drserde • [120]

nales J>y he giemde Jjurh gitsunga

laenes lif-welan ac J)8et lond gode

fsegre gefreo])ode si]:>]?an feond oferwon 152

cristes cempa he gecostac? weartS

in gemyndigra monna tidum •

t5aia ]:>e nu gena J>urh gsestlicu

wundor [hine] weortSia'S and his wisdomes 156

hlisan healdatS Ipcet se halga J)eow

elne ge-eode ))a he ana gesaet

gle stowe • tJaer he dryhtnes lof [^3°]

153. MS. gecostaS. 156. [hine] conjectural.

ir. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 113

His grace with thanks, and will suffer all this world

to be beyond them rather than the life eternal.

The other egged him on, that he should seek by night

the meeting-place of robbers, and should make gain 128

by worldly villainy, as banded outlaws do,

who care not for the life of any man

that biingeth plunder to their hands,

if the}^ may but dispose of spoil. 132

Thus on two sides they were exhorting him, \ ^^tc^^x d

until the Lord of hosts ordained the ending I ^-^a^cjl^

of that contention to the glory of the angel, /

The fiend was put to flight; the Spirit of comfort 136

remained for Guthlac's aid thereafter,

and loved him and taught him, the longer the more zealously, so that he grew enamoured of that land's charm, ,of that dwelling on the hill. Oft came there terror, 140

dreadful and strange, — the hatred of those ancient fiends, strong in guileful cunning ; to Guthlac's self they showed A*u.v» fh^t^

their aspects ; there had they erewhile fixed

their many seats, but thence, cut off from glory, 144

they had gone their way, a journey far and wide, hovering through the air. Hidden from men was that spot of land, until God disclosed

the mound within the grove, when the builder came, 148

who there reared up a holy home, not because he cared, through greediness, for life's frail wealth, but that he might nobly devote the land to God, when he, Christ's champion, 152

had overcome the fiends. Tempted was he in the times of men who still remember it, of men who even now still honour him

for his spiritual wonders, and who preserve 156

his wisdom's fame, which he, the holy vassal, gained by his courage, when all alone he dwelt in that dark place, where he recited and extolled

I

114 II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 160-189. [131-160.]

reahte and reerde oft f>urh reorde abead • 160

fam J?e )?rowera J^eawas lufedon

godes aerendu pa, him gaest onwrah

lifes snyttru J^aet he his lic-homan

wynna forvvyrnde aTid woriild-blissa - 164

seftra setla and symbel-daga

swylce eac idelra eagena wynna

gierelan gielp-*lices him wses godes egsa [*35 a.]

mara in gemyndum ponne he menniscum 168

Iprymme aefter ))once f>egan wolde : 7: — ['4<^]

[HI.]

(^OD Wees gutSlac he in gseste bser " heofoncundne hyht hselu geraehte ecan lifes him wges engel neah 172

fsele freo'Su-weard J?am J^e feara sum mearc-lond gesaet ]?8er he mongum wearS bysen on brytene siJ^J^an biorg gestah

eadig oretta and-wigea heard 176

gyrede hine georne mid gsestlicum waepnum wong bletsade- t t

Him to set-stselle serest arseide • [150]

cristes rode J^ser se cempa oferwon 180

frecnessa fela frome wurdun monge godes f)rowera we p2es gu'Slace deorwyrtSne dsel dryhtne cennatS-

he him sige sealde and snyttru-crgeft 184

mundbyrd meahta ]?onn€ mengu cwom feonda fser-scytum fsehtSe rseran ne meahton hy eefeste an forlaetan

ac to gutSlaces gseste gelseddun 188

frasunga fela him wses fultum neah [i^°]

162. MS. aerendS (i. e. aerendu). 169. One line space between the sections. 178. The scribe has evidently omitted half the line; there is no indication of this in the MS. 181. iW/S'/ wurdum. ,

II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A.

the praises of the Lord. Oft he announced,

by word, God's errand, unto those who loved

the ways of martyrs, when the Spirit had revealed

life's wisdom unto him, so that he withheld

his body from delights and worldly joys,

from downy seats and festive days,

yea, from the idle pleasures of the eye,

and from all pompous garb; the^ feaj:-of-GxiiL

was too great in his mind for him to deign

to welcome human grandeur thankfully.

115 1 60

164

168

III.

Guthlac was good ; he bore within his soul the heavenly hope, and strove for the salvation of eternal life. Nigh him was an anp^el, a faithful guardian of his peace, who, one of few, inhabited that march-land. There the blissful champion, the bold in fight, was an example for many men in Britain, when he had mounted that hill and had prepared him zealously with spiritual weapons. He blessed the plain; 7

but first he raised aloft Christ's cross /

to mark his station ; there the champion overcame divers perils ; many of God's martyrs grHw valiant there ; wherefore we ascribe Guthlac's dearworth lot unto the Lord. /

He gave him victory, and wisdom's craft, and might's protection, when many foes came with their sudden darts to raise up strife ; they could not wholly leave their hate, but led forth unto Guthlac's spirit temptations many : support was nigh to him ;

I 2

•72

176

180

A^ '''-C'-

184

188

116 II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. I9O-223. [161-194.]

engel hine elne trymede ponne hy him yrre hweopan

frecne fyres wylme stodan him on fet5e-hwearfum

cwsedon J^aet he on )?am beorge byrnan sceolde 192

and his lic-homan lig forswelgan

))aet his earfe]5u eal gelumpe

mod-cearu maegum gif he monna dream

of )?am orlege eft ne wolde 196

sylfa gesecan and his sibbe ryht

mid mon-cynne • *maran crsefte [*35 b.]

willum bewitigan laetan wrsece stille • [^7°]

Swa him yrsade se for ealle spraec 200

feonda mengu no f>y forhtra waes

gutSlaces gaest ac him god sealde

ellen wij? f)am egsan f)8et J>8es eald-feondes

scyldigra scolu scome J>rowedon • 304

wseron teon-smit5as tornes fulle

cwsedon pcet him gu'&lac eac gode sylfum

earfef>a msest ana gefremede •

sij)f)an he for wlence on westenne 208

beorgas brsece j^ser hy bidinge [^8°]

earme awc?-sacan seror mosturi

sefter tintergum tidum brucan •

tSonne hy of waJDum • werge cwoman 212

restan ryne-J^ragum rowe gefegon

waes him seo gelyfed j^urh lytel fsec

stod seo dygle stow dryhtne in gemyndum

idel and semen ej^el-riehte feor • 316

bid bissece betran hyrdes

to J?on eald-feondas ondan noman •

swa hi singales sorge dreogacS [^9°]

ne motun hi on eorj^an eardes brucan 220

ne hy lyft swefetS in leoma raestum

ac hy hleo-lease hama f)oliatS

in cearum cwi)?ac5 cwealmes wiscat^

209. MS. he. * 210. MS. mostum.

ir. SAINT GITTHLAC. A. 117

the angel strengthened him witli courage, when angrily they '^^'"^

threatened him ; when, audacious with fire's heat, they stood in crowds about him. They said that he should burn upon that hill, that flame should all devour his flesh, that all his troubles and his miseries should fall upon his kindred, if he himself

would not seek again the joys of men 196

away from that contention, and with good will and better craft discharge the claims of kin, in the midst of men, and let that strife alone.

Thus he who spake for all that host of foes 200

provoked him ; none the more adread was Guthlac's soul, but God granted him strength to meet that terror, so that the guilty shoal, the old adversary's host, suffered shame ; ^ 204

the harm-contrivers were then full of wrath ; they said that, besides God, Guthlac, all alone there, had caused them greatest hardship,

ever since, in pride, he had penetrated 208 ,, . _

the hills in that waste-land, where formerly they, the vile apostates, could at times enjoy repose after their direful torments,

when, aweary of their wanderings, they came 212

to rest there a short hour; they joyed in the rest that was granted to them for a little space.

The secret spot, far from all patrial rights, void and desolate, stood in the Lord's remembrance, 216

and awaited the coming of a better keeper. Therefore those ancient foes took umbrage, for they must now bear sorrow endlessly :

neither may they enjoy a dwelling on the earth, 220

nor doth air lull them for their limbs' repose, but shelterless they yearn for homes, and grievously lament, and wish for death ;

118 II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 224-257- [195-228.]

willeii J?8et him dryhten f)urh clea"5es cwealm Z24

to hyra earfe'Sa ende geryme •

ne mostun hy gutSlaces gaeste scef)f)an

ne pnrh sar-slege sawle gedselan

wicS lic-homan ac hy lige-searwum 228

ahofun hearm-stafas hleahtor alegdon • [200]

sorge seofedon })a hi swi(5ra oferstag

weard on wonge sceoldon wraec-maecgas

ofgiefan gnornende grene beorgas 233

hwsef^re hy J^a *geiia godes ands&csm [* 36 a.]

ssegdon sar-stafum swi)?e geheton

Ipcet he deaj^a gedal dreogan sceolde

gif he leng bide la)?ran gemotes- 236

hwonne hy mid mengu maran cwome

fa pe for his life lyt sorgedon •

gu'Slac him ongean ):)ingode cwseS J)9et hy gielpan ne )?orftan [210]

dsedum wi'5 dryhtnes meahtum f)eah Ipe ge me deacS gehaten 240

mec wile wi'5 )?am ni]:>um genergan se pe eowrnm nydum wealde'S.

An is aelmihtig god se mec mseg eatSe gescyldan

he min feorg freoj^at^ ic eow fela wille

sojja gesecgan maeg ic ]>is setl on eow 244

butan earfecSum ana ge^ringan •

Ne earn ic swa fealog swa ic eow fore stonde

monna weorudes ac me mara dsel

in godcLindum gaest-gerynum 248

wunatS and weaxeS se me wraj^e healdetS • [220]

ic me anum her eatSe getimbre

hus and hleonatS me on heofonum sind

lare gelonge mec J)3es lyt tweoj? 252

pddt me engel to ealle gel8ede"S

spowende sped spreca and daeda •

gewitatS nu awyrgde werig-mode

from )5issum earde Ipe ge her on stondatS 256

fleot5 on feor-weg ic me fri'S wille

245. MS. gedringan.

i

II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 119

fain would they that the Lord would make for them 224

an ending to their hardships by death's pang.

They might not injure Guthlac's spirit, nor, by any baleful wound, part soul

from body, but by their lying arts 238

they raised up mischiefs. They gave up laughter, they sighed with sorrow, when in that plain a stronger guardian had o'ercome them : doomed were the wretched

outcasts then to leave those green hills, sorrowing the while ; 232

nathless still, in grievous wise, spake they, God's adversaries, and vehemently threatened, that he should bear the throes of many deaths, if he abode there longer for a sorrier meeting, 236

when they would come with mightier multitude, who would care little for his life.

Guthlac replied to them ; he said, they need not vaunt / their deeds against the power of the Lord ; ' though ye have j

promised death to me, 240/

He who ordaineth your plight, will save me from your hate. There is one Almighty God who can easily shield me ; He will protect my life. Fain would I tell you many truths ; without trouble, all alone, 244

I can forcibly maintain this seat amidst you. I ^-r"*"^

I am not so destitute, as I stand before you, l\ // / — ^

void of a host of men ; but in me a larger power, / fraught with spiritual mysteries divine, 248

abideth and groweth, which keepeth me with its stay. I shall easily build for me here alone a house and resting-place; my instruction

is in heaven's gift ; wherefore I doubt but little, 252

that an angel will bring to me, in word and deed, all prosperous success.

Depart _now,_y£__accursed, ye weary souls, S-S

from this place whereon ye stand; 256

flee far away; for myself I fain desire

0/^

120

II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 258-287. [229-258.]

set gode gegyrnan ne sceal min gaest mid eow gedwolan dreogan ac mec dryhtnes bond munda'5 mid msegne her sceal min wesan eor'Slic ej^el nales eower leng : 7

[230] 260

[IV.]

T^A wear's breahtm haefen beorg ymb-stodan

-*-^ hwearfum wrsec-meecgas wotS up astag

cearfulra cirm cleopedon • *monige [*36 6.j

feonda fore-sprecan firenum gulpon •

oft we ofersegon be ssem tweonum

feoda ]?eawas Iprsdce modigra

J^ara J?e in gelimpe life weoldon •

no we oferhygdu anes monnes

geond middan-geard maran fundon •

"Su f)8et gebatest J^set Su ham on tus

gegan wille eart <5e godes yrming •

bi hwon scealt pu lifgan feah J^u lond age

ne ])ec men hider mose fedecS •

beo'S pe hungor and J^urst hearde gewinnan

gif pu gewitest swa wilde deor

ana from ef>ele nis pset onginn wiht •

geswic }?isses setles ne mseg J^ec sellan raed

mon gelseran ponne J^eos mengu ealL-

we pe beotS holde gif f>u us hyran wilt

ojjj^e f>ec ungearo eft gesecatS

maran maegne ]:>8et pe mon ne ]?earf

hondum hrinan ne f)in bra feallan

wsepna wundum • we J^as wic magun

fotum afyllan folc in t5ricet5 •

meara f)reatum ■ and mon-farum •

beocS J^a gebolgne )?a J^ec breodwiatS

264

268 [240]

272

276

[250] 280

284

261. -les eower leng: the only words on the line dividing the sections. 269. MS. \>e. 271. MS. hus. 285. MS. intSri cefS with an erasure between.

II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 121

peace with God. My soul shall not

endure error in your midst, but the Lord's hand

will protect me with its might; here shall be 260

my earthly home ; it is yours no longer/

IV.

Then a noise was raised ; around the hill in crowds the outcasts stood ; a shout ascended,

the cry of the wretched ; there clamoured many a one, 264

spokesmen of the fiends ; wickedly they boasted : —

' Oft have we observed the ways of folks between the seas, the boldness of the proud, of those who held their life in changeful state ; 268

we have not found, throughout this middle-earth, greater arrogance in any single man. Thou that dost threaten that thou wilt win a home among us — thou art God's starveling: 272

whereby art thou to live, though thou possess the land'? Not any man will hither bring thee food ; hunger and thirst will be hard foes for thee, if thou withdrawest, like the wild beasts do, 276

all solitary from thy home : that resolve is naught. Quit this abode; not any one can teach thee better rede than all this multitude :

we will be kind to thee, if thou wilt hear us ; 280

else will we seek thee, unprepared, again, with greater force, so that none shall need touch thee with his hands, nor need thy carcass fall by wounds of weapons ; with our feet shall we be able 284

to lay low this dwelling; folk shall press in with their troops of horse and moving bands of men. Then they who lay thee low will be enraged ;

122

II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 288-322. [259-293. J

tredatS \)ec and tergatS and hyra torn wrecatS

to-bera(5 pec blodgum lastum gif f)u ure bidan J?encest

we Ipec nijja gengegatS ongin f)e generes wilnian

far J^ser "Su freorida wene gif tSu )?ines feores recce •

gearo wses gutSlac hine god fremede

on ondsware and on elne strong

ne wond he for worde ac his wi]?er-breocum

sorge gessegde cucSe him sotS genog •

wid is pes westen wrsec-setla fela

eardas onheele earinra gaesta

sindon wser-logan j^e J^a *wic bugatS- [*37 a.]

f>eah ge f>a ealle ut abanne

and BOW eac gewyrce widor-ssece

ge her ateocS in f>a torn-wrsece

sigeleasne sitS no ic eow sweord ongean

mid gebolgne bond otSberan J?ence

worulde wsepen ne sceal pes wong gode

f>urh blod-gyte gebuen weorcSan •

ac ic minum criste cweman j^ence

leofran lace nu ic f>is lond gestag •

fela ge me ear da ]?urh idel word

aboden habbat5 nis min breost-sefa

forht ne fsege ac me fri(5e healdecS

ofer monna cyn se pe msegna gehwees

weorcum wealdetS • nis me wiht set eow

leofes gelong ne ge me laf)es wiht

gedon motun ic eom dryhtnes J?eow •

he mec Jjurh engel oft afrefre'S •

fortSon mec longef>as lyt gegretatS

sorge sealdun nu mec sawel-cund

hyrde bihealdetS is min hyht mid god •

ne ic me eort$-welan owiht sinne

ne me mid mode micles gyrne

ac me dogra gehwam dryhten sende'5

|?urh monnes bond mine f)earfe •

296. MS. wis, 299. MS. abunne.

288 [260]

292

296

[270] 300

304

308 [280]

312

316

[290] 320

TI. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 123

they will tread thee, and tear thee, and wreak their wrath, 288 and bear thee off with bloody tracks : if thou thinkest to await us, evilly shall we assail thee. Resolve to wish thy safety ; go where thou mayst hope for friends, if thou reck for thy life.'

Guthlac was ready-; God. madfi_hiin 292

strong for answering, and strong in courage ; he flinched not at their words, biit uttered, sorrows for his adversaries ; he knew truth well enough.

' Wide is this waste ; its exile-seats are many, 296

hidden homes of miserable sprites ; perfidious ones are they that hold these seats ; though ye call forth all of them to your aid, and make your warfare even more extended, 300

ye shall here, in your fierce vengeance, undertake a baffled enterprise. I purpose not to bear 'gainst you, with wrathful hand,

a sword, a worldly weapon, nor shall this plain 304

be consecrated unto God by bloodshed, but I purpose to please my Saviour

with a dearer gift. Now that I have reached this land, many dwelling-places, in idle words, 308

have ye offered unto me ; my breast is not afeard, nor faint, for He who holdeth active sway o'er every power, keepeth me in peace,

more than all mankind. No Mgndship is in me ^^^ 212

towards you, nor can ye effect aught hostil against me ; I am a servant of the Lord,

and by His angel He oft comforteth me ; '^^^*^

wherefore longings visit me but little, 316

sorrows seldom. Now a spiritual shepherd guardeth me ; my hope is with God. I care naught for earthly wealth,

nor earnestly desire I much for me, 320

but each day, by the hand of man, God sendeth me ray need.'

124

II,

SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 323-358. [294-329.]

Swa modgade se wi'S moiigum stod

awretSed weortSlice wuldres cempa

engla maegne gewat eal f)onan

feonda mengu ne wses se fyrst micel

pe hi gu'Slace forgiefan J^ohtan •

He wses on elne and on eatS-medum

bad on beorge wses him botles neod •

for-let longef»as Isenra dreama

no he hine witS monna railtse gedaelde

ac gesynta baed sawla gehwylcre

ponne he to eortSan on J?am anade

hleor *onhylde him of heofonum weartS [*37 6.]

onbryrded breost-sefa blit5e gseste •

oft eahtade wees him eiigel neah

hu f)isse worulde wynna J?orfte

mid his lic-homan Isesast brucan •

no him fore egsan earmra gsesta

treow getweode ne he tid forsset

]:)8es Ipe he for his dryhtne dreogan sceohle

f>8et hine sereste elne binoman

slaepa sluman olppe ssene mod •

swa sceal oretta 4 in his mode

gode compian and his gaest beran

oft on ondan J^am pe eahtan wile

sawla gehwylcre peer he gesselan maeg •

Symle hy gu(51ac in godes willan

fromne fundon ponne flyge-reowe

Jjurh nihta genipu • neosan c worn an

p& pe onhsele eardas weredon •

hw8e]:»ere him )?8es wonges wyn swet5rade

woldun ]?8et him to mode fore mon-lufan

sorg gesolite ]?8et he si]? tuge

eft to ef)le ne waes J?8et ongin swylc •

"Sonne hine engel on J^am anade

geornast grette and him giefe sealde

]:)8et hine ne meahte meotudes willan

324

328 [3C0]

332

336

[310] 340

344

348 [320]

352

356

II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 125

Thus exulted he, the glorious champion, who stood 'gainst many, nobly sustained 324 riy\

by angels' might. Thence departed ''

all the multitude of foes, though the respite was not long, that they were purposing to grant to Guthlac.

He was in strength and in humility ; 328

he tarried on that mount ; he cherished that abode ; though he had renounced desire of transient joys, he severed not himself from Idndness towards men, but prayed for the prosperity of every soul, 332

when in that solitude he bowed his face to earth : from heaven his inmost soul was stirred by a benignant spirit. Oft he meditated, (an angel was near him), how he might least enjoy with his body the pleasures of this world; his faith faltered not for dread

of wretched sprites ; ne'er deferred he the hour 340

wherein he was to suffer for his Lord, lest sleep's slumber or a sluggish mood ■might w^rest from-JiHa his^ pc^wer of rising. t^'^^felL^-J^ /vje2f

So must a champion ever, in his soul, 344

fight for God, and oft-times bear his spirit in hate 'gainst him who fain would harass every soul, whenever he may bind it.

Ever found they Guthlac steadfast 348

in God's will, when in flight those cruel ones, who inhabited the secret habitations, came through the clouds of night to learn

whether his delight in that plain had lessened. 352

They wished that a longing for human love would touch his mind, that he would journey unto his home again ; such was not his thought,

when in that solitude an angel 356 V.^}^ y^o^/^^

greeted him full fervently and gave him grace, so that desire might not hinder him

t-tvT

^

126 II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 359-388. [330-359.]

longatS gelettan ac he on J^aes lareowes [330]

waere gewunade oft worde bicwae'S 360

huru Ipses biliofatS se t5e him halig gsest

wisatS on willan and his weorc tryraa'S

Isipa!^ hine lij^um wordum gehate(5 him lifes raeste

J?8et he )5aes latteowes larum hyre • 364

ne lete him eald-feond eft oncyrran

mod from his meotude • Hu sceal min cuman

gsest to geoce nemne ic gode sylle

hyrsumne hige Ipsdi him heortan geponc • ft 368

* ser o])])e sitS ende geweor'Se [* 38 a.] [340]

})set ge mec to wundre wsegan motun

ne mseg min lic-homa wuS f)as Isenan gesceaft

dea(5 gedselan ac he gedreosan sceal 372

swa Ipeos eortSe eall J^e ic her on stonde •

tJeah ge mimie fl8es[c]-homan fyres wylme

forgripen grom-hydge gifran lege •

nsefre ge mec of jjissum wordum onwenda(5 jjendan mec min

gewit gelseste'S 376

f)eah \)e ge hine sarum forsaecen ne motan ge mine sawle

gretan ac ge on betran gebringa'S forSan ic gebidan wille f)8es }?e me min dryhten dome's nis me Ipees deaj^es sorg • [350] t5eah min ban and blod butu geweorj^en 380

eorf)an to eacan min se eca dsel in gefean fare's j^aer he fsegran botles bruce'S nis f»isses beorges setl

meodumre ne mara ponne hit men dnge 384

se fe in J^rowingum )?eodnes willan daeghwam dreogeS ne sceal se dryhtnes |:»eow in his mod-sefan mare gelufian eorJ)an seht-welan j^onne his anes gemet 388

363. MS. rgste (i.e. raeste). 368. A leaf apparently is wanting after

geJ)onc ; judging hy the strip of parchment still left, it must have been cut out by a very clumsy hand. 370. MS. wggan {i.e. wsegan). 374- MS. flaes-

homan. 384. MS. buge.

II. SAINT GUTHLAC. A. 127

in the Creator's will ; but in his teacher's

covenant he abode, and oft by word addressed him. 360

' Verily it behoveth him whom the holy Spirit leadeth into joy, and whose work He strengtheneth, whom He inviteth with kindly words, and whom He promiseth

life's rest, that he obey his guide's instructions, 364

and suffer not the ancient fiend to turn his mind from his Creator. How shall my soul

come to salvation, save I give to God ^JL

a mind obedient, so that my heart's thoughts (please) Him "? . . ' 368// J V^ .... * that sooner or later there may be an end to your power to move me in this wondrous wise.