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Old English Poems, Prose
& Lessons
Read by Stephen Pollington
2 CD set
Old English transcripts of tracks on CD 1
You may copy or print these texts.
For use with First Steps
in Old English
- a complete Old English language course
The Capture of the Five Boroughs
Her Eadmund cyning, Engla þeoden,
mæcgea mundbora, Myrce geeode,
dyre dædfruma, swa Dor scadeþ,
Hwitanwyllesgeat and Humbra ea,
brada brimstream. Burga fife,
Ligoraceaster and Lincylene
and Snotingaham, swylce Stanford eac
and Deoraby. Dæne wæran æror
under Norðmannum nyde gebegde
on hæþenra hæfteclommum
lange þrage, oþ hie alysde eft
for his weorþscipe wiggendra hleo,
afera Eadweardes, Eadmund cyning.
From The Parker Chronicle
Alfred on Athelney
Anno 878
Her hiene bestæl se here on midne winter ofer tuelftan
niht to Cippanhamme, 7 geridon Wesseaxna lond 7 gesæton 7 micel
þæs folces (7) ofer sæ adræfdon, 7 þæs
oþres þone mæstan dæl hie geridon, 7 him to gecirdon
buton þam cyninge Ælfrede. 7 he lytle werede unieþelice
æfter wudum for, 7 on morfæstenum; 7 þæs ilcan
wintra wæs Inwæres broþur 7 Healfdenes on Westseaxum
on Defenascire mid .xxiii. scipum, 7 hiene mon þær ofslog,
7 .dccc. monna mid him. 7 .xl. monna his heres; 7 þæs on Eastron
worhte ælfred cyning lytle werede geweorc æt Æþelingaeigge,
7 of þam geweorce was winnende wiþ þone here, 7 Sumursætna
se dæl, se þær niehst wæs; Þa on þære
seofoðan wiecan ofer Eastron he gerad to Ecgbryhtes stane be eastan
Sealwyda, 7 him to common þær ongen Sumorsæte alle,
7 Wilsætan, 7 Hamtunscir se dæl, se hiere behinon sæ
was, 7 his gefægene wærun; 7 he for ymb ane niht of þam
wicum to Iglea, 7 þæs ymb ane to Eþandune, 7 þær
gefeaht wiþ alne þone here, 7 hiene gefliemde, 7 him æfter
rad oþ þæt geweorc, 7 þær sæt .xiiii.
niht; 7 þa salde se here him foregislas 7 micle aþas þæt
hie of his rice uuoldon 7 him eac geheton þæt kyning fulwihte
onfon wolde 7 hie þæt gelæston swa, 7 þæs
ymb .iii. wiecan com se cyning to him Godrum þritiga sum þara
monna þe in þam here weorþuste wæron æt
Alre, 7 þæt is wiþ Æþelinggaeige; 7 his
se cyning þær onfeng æt fulwihte, 7 his crismlising
was æt Weþmor, 7 he was .xii. niht mid þam cyninge,
7 he hine miclum 7 his geferan mid feo weorðude.
From The Parker Chronicle
Cynewulf and Cyneheard
Anno 755 [actually 757]
Her Cynewulf benam Sigebryht his rices 7 West Seaxna wiotan
for unryhtum dædum buton Hamtunscire 7 he hæfde þa oþ
he ofslog þone aldormon þe him lengest wunode 7 hiene þa
Cynewulf on Andred adræfde 7 he þær wunade oþ
þæt hiene an swan ofstang æt Pryfetesflodan 7 he wræc
þone aldormon Cumbran 7 se Cynewulf oft miclum gefeohtum feaht uuiþ
Bretwalum 7 ymb .xxxi. wintra þæs þe he rice hæfde
he wolde adræfan anne æþeling se was Cyneheard haten
7 se Cyneheard wæs þæs Sigebryhtes broþur 7 þa
geascode he þone cyning lytle werode on wifcyþþe on
Merantune 7 hine þær berad 7 þone bur utan beeode ær
hine þa men onfunden þe mid þam kyninge wærun
7 þa ongeat se cyning þæt 7 he on þa duru eode
7 þa unheanlice hine werede oþ he on þone æþeling
locude 7 þa utræsde on hine 7 hine miclum gewundode. 7 hie
alle on þone Cyning wærun feohtende oþ þæt
hie hine ofslægenne hæfdon 7 þa on þæs wifes
gebærum onfundon þæs cyninges þegnas þa
unstilnesse 7 þa þider urnon swa hwelc swa þonne gearo
wearþ 7 radost 7 hiera se æþeling gehwelcum feoh 7 feorh
gebead 7 hiera nænig hit geþicgean nolde'. Ac hie simle feohtende
wæran oþ hie alle lægon butan anum Bryttiscum gisle
7 se swiþe gewundad wæs. Þa on morgenne gehierdun þæt
þæs cyninges þegnas þe him beæftan wærun
þæt se cyning ofslægen wæs þa ridon hie
þider 7 his aldormon Osric 7 Wiferþ his þegn 7 þa
men þe he beæftan him læfde ær 7 þone æþeling
on þære byrig metton þær se cyning ofslægen
læg 7 þa gatu him to belocen hæfdon 7 þa þærto
eodon 7 þa gebead he him hiera agenne dom feos 7 londes gif hie
him þæs rices uþon 7 him cyþdon þæt
hiera mægas him mid wæron þa þe him from noldon
7 þa cuædon hie þæt him nænig mæg
leofra nære þonne hiera hlaford 7 hie næfre his banan
folgian noldon 7 þa budon hie hiera mægum þæt
hie gesunde from eodon 7 hie cuædon þæt tæt ilce
hiera geferum geboden wære þe ær mid þam cyninge
wærun þa cuædon hie þæt hie hie þæs
ne onmunden þon ma þe eowre geferan þe mid þam
cyninge ofslægene wærun. 7 hie þa ymb þa gatu
feohtende wæron oþ þæt hie þærinne
fulgon 7 þone æþeling ofslogon 7 þa men þe
him mid wærun alle butan anum se wæs þæs aldormonnes
godsunu 7 he his feorh generede 7 þeah he wæs oft gewundad.
7 se Cynewulf ricsode .xxxi. wintra 7 his lic liþ æt Wintanceastre
7 þæs æþlinges æt Ascanmynster 7 hiera ryhtfæder
cyn gæþ to Cerdice 7 þy ilcan geare mon ofslog Æþelbald
Miercna cyning on Seccandune 7 his lic liþ on Hreopadune 7 Beornræd
feng to rice 7 lytle hwile heold 7 ungefealice 7 þy ilcan geare
Offa feng to rice 7 heold .xxxviiii. wintra 7 his sunu Egferþ heold
.xli. daga 7 .c. daga. Se Offa wæs Þincgferþing Þincgferþ
Eanwulfing, Eanwulf Osmoding, Osmod Eawing, Eawa Pybing, Pybba Creoding,
Creoda Cynewalding, Cynewald Cnebing, Cnebba Iceling, Icel Eomæring,
Eomær Angelþowing, Angelþeow Offing, Offa Wærmunding,
Wærmund Wyhtlæging, Wihtlæg Wodening.
Deniga Hergung - The Danes' Harrying
Her on ðissum geare ferde se here abutan Defnanscire
into Sæfernmuðan ond þær gehergodon ægðer
ge on Cornwealum ge on Norðwealum ond on Defenum, ond eodon him þa
up æt Wecedport and þær micel yfel worhton on bærnette
and on manslihtum. Ond æfter þam wendon eft abutan Penwihtsteort
on ða suðhealfe ond wendon þa into Tamermuðan ond eodon
þa up oðþæt hie comon to Hlidaforda ond ælc
ðing bærndon ond slogon þæt hie gemetton ond Ordulfes
mynster æt Tæfingsctoce forbærndon ond unasecgendlice
herehuðe mid him to scipum brohton.
Engla Tocyme - The Arrival of the English
Ða wæs ymb feower hund wintra and nigon and feowertig
fram ures drihtnes menniscnysse þæt Martianus casere rice
onfeng and vii gear hæfde. Se wæs siexta eac feowertigum fram
Agusto þam casere. Ða Angleþeod and Seaxna wæs gelaðod
fram þam foresprecenan cyninge, and on Brytene com on þrim
miclum scipum, and on eastdæle þisses ealondes eardungstowe
onfeng þurh ðæs ilcan cyninges bebod, þe hie hider
gelaðode, þæt hie sceoldon for heora eðle compian
and feohtan. And hie sona compodon wið heora gewinnan, þe hie
oft ær norðan onhergodon; and Seaxan þa sige geslogon,
þa sendon hie ham ærendracan and heton secgan þisses
landes wæstmbærnysse and Brytta yrgþo. And hie þa
sona hider sendon maran sciphere strengrena wigena; and wæs unoferswiðendlic
werod, þa hie togædre geþeodde wæron. And him
Bryttas sealdon and geafon eardungstowe betwuh him, þæt hie
for sibbe and for hælo heora eðles campoden and wunnen wið
heora feondum, and hie him andleofne and are forgeafen for heora gewinne.
Comon hie of þrim folcum ðam strangestum Germanie, þæt
is of Seaxum and of Angle and of Geatum. Of Geata fruman sindon Cantware
and Wihtsætan; þæt is seo ðeod þe Wiht þæt
ealond oneardað. Of Seaxum, þæt is of ðam lande þe
mon hateð Ealdseaxan, comon Eastseaxan and Suðseaxan and Westseaxan.
Of Engle comon Eastengle and Middelengle and Mierce and eall Norðhymbra
cynn; is þæt land ðe Angulus is genemned, betwuh Geatum
and Seaxum; and is sægd of ðære tide þe hie ðanon
gewiton oð todæg þæt hit weste wunige. Wæron
ærest heora latteowas and heretogan twegen gebroðru, Hengest
and Horsa. Hie wæron Wihtgilses suna, þæs fæder
wæs Woden nemned, of ðæs strynde monigra mægða
cyningcynn fruman lædde. Ne wæs ða ielding to þon
þæt hie heapmælum comon maran weorod of þam þeodum
þe we ær gemynegodon. And þæt folc ðe hider
com ongan weaxan and miclian to þon swiðe þæt hie
wæron on miclum ege þam selfum landbigengum ðe hie ær
hider laðedon and cigdon.
Æfter þissum hie ða geweredon to sumre tide wið Pehtum,
þa hie ær ðurh gefeoht feor adrifon. And þa wæron
Seaxan secende intingan and towyrde heora gedales wið Bryttas, cyðdon
him openlice and sægdon, nemne hie him maran andleofne sealden,
þæt hie woldon him sylfe niman and hergian, þær
hie hit findan mihton. And sona ða beotunge dædum læston;
bærndon and hergodon and slogon fram eastsæ oð westsæ,
and him nænig wiðstod. Ne wæs ungelic wræcc þam
ðe iu Chaldeas bærndon Hierusaleme weallas and ða cynelican
getimbru mid fyre fornomon for ðæs godes folces synnum. Swa
þonne her fram þære arleasan ðeode, hwæðere
rihte godes dome, neah ceastra gehwylce and land forhergode wæron.
Hruron and feollon cynelicu getimbru somod and anlipie, and gehwær
sacerdas and mæssepreostas betwuh wibedum wæron slægene
and cwielmde; biscopas mid folcum buton ænigre are sceawunge ætgædre
mid iserne and lige fornumene wæron. And ne wæs seo bebyrignys
sealde þam ðe swa hreowlice acwealde wæron. And monige
ðære earmen lafe on westenum fangene wæron and heapmælum
sticode. Sume for hungre heora feondum on hand eodon and ecne þeowdom
geheton wið ðæm þe him mon andleofne forgeafe; sume
ofer sæ sorgiende gewiton; sume forhtiende on eðle gebidon and
þearfende lif in wuda and in westenum and on heam clifum sorgiende
mode symle dydon.
The Battle of Brunanburh
Her Æþelstan cyning, eorla dryhten,
beorna beahgifa and his broþor eac,
eadmund æþeling, ealdorlangne tir
geslogon æt sæcce sweorda ecgum
ymbe Brunanburh. Bordweal clufan,
heowan heaþolinde hamora lafan,
afaran eeadweardes swa him geæþele wæs
from cneomægum þæt hi æt campe oft
wiþ laþra gehwæne land ealgodon,
hord and hamas. Hettend crungun,
Sceottta leoda and scipflotan
fæge feollan, feld dænnede
secga swate siðþan sunne up
on morgentid, mære tungol,
glad ofer grundas, godes condel beorht,
eces drihtnes, oð sio æþele gesceaft
sah to setle. Þær læg secg mænig
garum ageted, guma norþerna
ofer scild scoten swilce Scittisc eac
werig, wiges sæd. Wesseaxe forð
ondlongne dæg eoredcistum
on last legdun laþum þeodum,
heowan herefleman hindan þearle
mecum mylenscearpan. Myrce ne wyrndon
heardes hondplegan hæleþa nanum
þæra þe mid Anlafe ofer æra gebland
on lides bosme land gesohtun,
fæge to gefeohte. Fife lægun
on þam campstede cyningas giunge,
sweordum aswefede, swilce seofene eac
eorlas Anlafes unrim heriges,
flotan and Scotta. Þær geflemed wearð
Norðmanna bregu, nede gebeded,
to lides stefne litle werode;
cread cnear on flot, cyning ut gewat
on fealene flod, feorh generede.
Swilce þær eac se froda mid fleame com
on his cyþþe norð Costontinu
har hilderinc, hreman ne þorfte
mæca gemanan, he wæs his mæga sceard
freonda gefylled on folcstede,
beslagen æt sæcce and his sunu forlet
on wælstowe wunden forgrunden,
giiungne æt guðe. Gelpan ne þorfte
beorn blandenfeax bilgeslihtes,
eald inwidda, ne Anlaf þy ma;
mid heora herelafum hlehhan ne þorftun
þæt heo beaduweorca beteran wurdun
on campstede cumbolgehnastes,
garmittinge, gumena gemotes,
wæpengewrixles, þæs hi on wælfelda
wiþ eadweardes afaran plegodan.
Gewitan him þa Norþmen nægledcnearrum,
dreorig daraða laf on Dinges mere
ofer deop wæter Difelin secan,
eft Iraland æwiscmode.
Swilce þa gebroþer begen ætsamne,
cyning and æþeling cyþþe sohton,
Wesseaxna land wiges hremige.
Letan him behindan hræw bryttian
saluwigpadan þone sweartan hræfn
hyrnednebban and þane hasewanpadan
earn æftan hwit, æses brucan
grædigne guðhafoc and þæt græge deor
wulf on wealde. Ne wearð wæl mare
on þis eiglande æfre gieta
folces gefylled beforan þissum
sweordes ecgum þæs þe us secgaþ bec,
ealde uðwitan, siþþan eastan hider
Engle and Seaxe up becoman
ofer brad brimu Brytene sohtan,
wlance wigsmiþas, Wealas ofercoman,
earlas arhwate eard begeatan.
Ines Domas - Extracts from the Laws of King Ine
Be Ines domum. xliiij. Ic, Ine, mid Godes giefe Westseaxena
cyning, mid geðeahte ond mid lare Cenredes mines fæder ond Heddes
mines biscopes ond Eorcenwaldes mines biscopes, mid eallum minum ealdormonnum
ond þæm ieldstum witum minre ðeode ond eac micelre gesomnunge
Godes ðeowa, wæs smeagende be ðære hælo urra
sawla ond be ðæm staþole ures rices, ðætte riht
æw ond rihte cynedomas ðurh ure folc gefæstnode ond getrymede
wæren, þætte nænig ealdormanna ne us undergeðeodedra
æfter þam wære awendende ðaus ure domas.
Be gefeohtum. l. Gif hwa gefeohte on cyninges huse sie
he scyldig ealles his ierfes ond sie on cyninges dome hwæðer
he lif age oþþe nage. Gif hwa on mynstre gefeohte, cxx scillinga
gebete. Gif hwa on ealdormonnes huse gefeohte oððe on oðres
geðungenes witan, lx scillinga gebete he ond oþer lx geselle
to wite. Gif ðonne on gafolgeldan huse oððe on gebures gefeohte
cxx scillinga to wite geselle and ðam gebure vi scillinga. Ond þeah
hit sie on middum felda gefohten, cxx scillinga to wite sie agiefen. Gif
ðonne on gebeorscipe hie geciden ond oðer hiora mid geðylde
hit forbere, geselle se oðer xxx scillinga to wite.
The Ordeal - B. Be ðon ðe ordales weddigaþ
GIF hwa ordales weddige, ðonne cume he, þrim
nihtum ær, to þam mæssepreoste þe hit halgian
scyle, and fede hine sylfne, mid hlafe and mid wætre and sealte
and wyrtum ær he to gan scyle, and gestonde him mæssan þæra
þreora daga ælcne, and offrige to and ga to husle ðy dæge
þe he to ðam ordale gan scyle, and swerige ðonne þone
að þæt he sy mid folcryhte unscyldig ðære tihtlan,
ær he to ðam ordale ga.
And gif hit sy wæter, ðæt he gedufe oþre healfe
elne on þam rape. Gif hit sy isenordal, beon ðreo niht ær
mon þa hond undo.
Læcedomas - Leechdoms
Wið ða blegene genim nigon ægra ond seoð
hie fæste, ond nim þa geolcan ond do þæt hwite
aweg, ond mera ða geolcan on anre pannan, ond wring þæt
wos ut þurh ænne clað, ond nim eall swa fela dropena wines
swa ðara ægra beo, and eall swa fela dropena unhalgodes eles,
ond eall swa fela huniges dropena, ond of finoles moran eall swa fela
dropena, genim ðonne ond do hit eall tosomne ond wring ut ðurh
ænne clað ond sele ðam menn etan. Him bið sona sel.
Gif mon ðung ete, aþecge buteran ond drince
- se ðung gewit on ða buteran. Eft wið ðone, stande on
heafde, aslege him mon fela scearpena on þam scancan, þonne
gewit ut þæt atter þurh þa scearpan.
Wið Dweorh - Against a Dwarf
Wið dweorh man sceal niman VII lytle oflætan,
swylce man mid ofrað, and writan þas naman on ælcre oflætan:
Maximianus, Malchus, Iohannes, Martimianus, Dionisius, Constantinus, Serafion.
þænne eft þæt galdor, þæt her æfter
cweð, man sceal singan, ærest on þæt wynstre eare,
þænne on þæt swiðre eare, þænne
bufan þæs mannes moldan.
And ga þænne an mædenman to and ho hit on his sweoran,
and do man swa þry dagas; him bið sona sel.
Her com in gangan, in spiderwiht, hæfde him his haman on handa,
cwæð þæt þu his hæncgest wære,
legde þe his teage an sweoran.
Ongunnan him of þæm lande liþan; sona swa hy of þæm
lande coman, þa ongunnan him ða liþu colian.
þa com in gangan dweores sweostar; þa geændade heo and
aðas swor ðæt næfre þis ðæm adlegan
derian ne moste, ne þæm þe þis galdor begytan
mihte, oððe þe þis galdor ongalan cuþe.
Amen.
Fiað.
Wið Wennum - Against a Wen
Wenne, wenne, wenchichenne, her ne scealt þu timbrien,
ne nenne tun habben, ac þu scealt north eonene to þan nihgan
berhge, þer þu hauest, ermig, enne broþer.
He þe sceal legge leaf et heafde.
Under fot wolues, under ueþer earnes, under earnes clea, a þu
geweornie.
Clinge þu alswa col on heorþe, scring þu alswa scerne
awage, and weorne alswa weter on anbre.
Swa litel þu gewurþe alswa linsetcorn, and miccli lesse alswa
anes handwurmes hupeban, and alswa litel þu gewurþe þet
þu nawiht gewurþe.
Wið Wæterælfadle - Against Water-Elf Disease
Gif mon biþ on wæterælfadle, þonne
beoþ him þa handnæglas wonne and þa eagan tearige
and wile locian niþer.
Do him þis to læcedome: eoforþrote, cassuc, fone nioþoweard,
eowberge, elehtre, eolone, merscmealwan crop, fenminte, dile, lilie, attorlaþe,
polleie, marubie, docce, ellen, felterre, wermod, streawbergean leaf,
consolde.
ofgeot mid ealaþ, do hæligwæter to, sing þis gealdor
ofer þriwa: Ic benne awrat betest beadowræda, swa benne ne
burnon, ne burston, ne fundian, ne feologan, ne hoppettan, ne wund waxsian,
ne dolh diopian; ac him self healde halewæge, ne ace þe þon
ma, þe eorþan on earce ace.
Sing þis manegum siþum: Eorþe þe onbere eallum
hire mihtum and mægenum.
þas galdor mon mæg singan on wunde.
The Nine Herbs Charm
Gemyne ðu, mucgwyrt, hwæt þu ameldodest,
hwæt þu renadest æt Regenmelde.
Una þu hattest, yldost wyrta.
ðu miht wið III and wið XXX, þu miht wiþ attre
and wið onflyge, þu miht wiþ þam laþan ðe
geond lond færð.
Ond þu, wegbræde, wyrta modor, eastan openo, innan mihtigu;
ofer ðe crætu curran, ofer ðe cwene reodan, ofer ðe
bryde bryodedon, ofer þe fearras fnærdon.
Eallum þu þon wiðstode and wiðstunedest; swa ðu
wiðstonde attre and onflyge and þæm laðan þe
geond lond fereð.
Stune hætte þeos wyrt, heo on stane geweox; stond heo wið
attre, stunað heo wærce.
Stiðe heo hatte, wiðstunað heo attre, wreceð heo wraðan,
weorpeð ut attor.
þis is seo wyrt seo wiþ wyrm gefeaht, þeos mæg
wið attre, heo mæg wið onflyge, heo mæg wið ðam
laþan ðe geond lond fereþ.
Fleoh þu nu, attorlaðe, seo læsse ða maran, seo mare
þa læssan, oððæt him beigra bot sy.
Gemyne þu, mægðe, hwæt þu ameldodest, hwæt
ðu geændadest æt Alorforda; þæt næfre
for gefloge feorh ne gesealde syþðan him mon mægðan
to mete gegyrede.
þis is seo wyrt ðe wergulu hatte; ðas onsænde seolh
ofer sæs hrygc ondan attres oþres to bote.
Ðas VIIII magon wið nygon attrum.
Wyrm com snican, toslat he man; ða genam Woden VIIII wuldortanas,
sloh ða þa næddran, þæt heo on VIIII tofleah.
þær geændade æppel and attor, þæt
heo næfre ne wolde on hus bugan.
Fille and finule, felamihtigu twa, þa wyrte gesceop witig drihten,
halig on heofonum, þa he hongode; sette and sænde on VII worulde
earmum and eadigum eallum to bote.
Stond heo wið wærce, stunað heo wið attre, seo mæg
wið III and wið XXX, wið feondes hond and wið færbregde,
wið malscrunge manra wihta.
Nu magon þas VIIII wyrta wið nygon wuldorgeflogenum, wið
VIIII attrum and wið nygon onflygnum, wið ðy readan attre,
wið ðy runlan attre, wið ðy hwitan attre, wið ðy
wedenan attre, wið ðy geolwan attre, wið ðy grenan attre,
wið ðy wonnan attre, wið ðy wedenan attre, wið ðy
brunan attre, wið ðy basewan attre, wið Wyrmgeblæd,
wið wætergeblæd, wið þorngeblæd, wið
þystelgeblæd, wið ysgeblæd, wið attorgeblæd,
gif ænig attor cume eastan fleogan oððe ænig norðan
cume oððe ænig westan ofer werðeode.
Crist stod ofer adle ængan cundes.
Ic ana wat ea rinnende þær þa nygon nædran nean
behealdað; motan ealle weoda nu wyrtum aspringan, sæs toslupan,
eal sealt wæter, ðonne ic þis attor of ðe geblawe.
Mugcwyrt, wegbrade þe eastan open sy, lombescyrse, attorlaðan,
mageðan, netelan, wudusuræppel, fille and finul, ealde sapan.
Gewyrc ða wyrta to duste, mængc wiþ þa sapan and
wiþ þæs æpples gor.
Wyrc slypan of wætere and of axsan, genim finol, wyl on þære
slyppan and beþe mid æggemongc, þonne he þa sealfe
on do, ge ær ge æfter.
Sing þæt galdor on ælcre þara wyrta, III ær
he hy wyrce and on þone æppel ealswa; ond singe þon
men in þone muð and in þa earan buta and on ða wunde
þæt ilce gealdor, ær he þa sealfe on do.
Metrical Charm 11: A Journey Charm
Ic me on þisse gyrde beluce and on godes helde bebeode
wið þane sara stice, wið þane sara slege,
wið þane grymma gryre,
wið ðane micela egsa þe bið eghwam lað,
and wið eal þæt lað þe in to land fare.
Sygegealdor ic begale, sigegyrd ic me wege,
wordsige and worcsige. Se me dege;
ne me mere ne gemyrre, ne me maga ne geswence,
ne me næfre minum feore forht ne gewurþe,
ac gehæle me ælmihtig and sunu and frofre gast,
ealles wuldres wyrðig dryhten,
swa swa ic gehyrde heofna scyppende.
Abrame and Isace
and swilce men, Moyses and Iacob,
and Dauit and Iosep
and Evan and Annan and Elizabet,
Saharie and ec Marie, modur Cristes,
and eac þæ gebroþru, Petrus and Paulus,
and eac þusend þinra engla
clipige ic me to are wið eallum feondum.
Hi me ferion and friþion and mine fore nerion,
eal me gehealdon, me gewealdon,
worces stirende; si me wuldres hyht,
hand ofer heafod, haligra rof,
sigerofra sceolu, soðfæstra engla.
Biddu ealle bliðu mode
þæt me beo Matheus helm, Marcus byrne,
leoht, lifes rof, Lucos min swurd,
scearp and scirecg, scyld Iohannes,
wuldre gewlitegod wælgar Serafhin.
Forð ic gefare, frind ic gemete,
eall engla blæd, eadiges lare.
Bidde ic nu sigeres god godes miltse,
siðfæt godne, smylte and lihte
windas on waroþum. Windas gefran,
circinde wæter simble gehælede
wið eallum feondum. Freond ic gemete wið,
þæt ic on þæs ælmihtgian frið wunian
mote,
belocun wið þam laþan, se me lyfes eht,
on engla blæd gestaþelod,
and inna halre hand heofna rices,
þa hwile þe ic on þis life wunian mote.
Amen.
Metrical Charm 8: For a Swarm of Bees
Wið ymbe nim eorþan, oferweorp mid þinre
swiþran
handa under þinum swiþran fet, and cwet:
Fo ic under fot, funde ic hit.
Hwæt, eorðe mæg wið ealra wihta gehwilce
and wið andan and wið æminde
and wið þa micelan mannes tungan.
And wiððon forweorp ofer greot, þonne hi swirman, and cweð:
Sitte ge, sigewif, sigað to eorþan!
Næfre ge wilde to wuda fleogan.
Beo ge swa gemindige mines godes,
swa bið manna gehwilc metes and eþeles.
Wulf and Eadwacer
Leodum is minum swylce him mon lac gife;
willað hy hine aþecgan, gif he on þreat cymeð.
Ungelic is us.
Wulf is on iege, ic on oþerre.
Fæst is þæt eglond, fenne biworpen.
Sindon wælreowe weras þær on ige;
willað hy hine aþecgan, gif he on þreat cymeð.
Ungelice is us.
Wulfes ic mines widlastum wenum dogode;
þonne hit wæs renig weder ond ic reotugu sæt,
þonne mec se beaducafa bogum bilegde,
wæs me wyn to þon, wæs me hwæþre eac lað.
Wulf, min Wulf, wena me þine
seoce gedydon, þine seldcymas,
murnende mod, nales meteliste.
Gehyrest þu, Eadwacer? Uncerne earne hwelp
bireð wulf to wuda.
þæt mon eaþe tosliteð þætte næfre
gesomnad wæs,
uncer giedd geador.
Beowulf -The Funeral of Scyld Scefing
Him ða Scyld gewat to gescæphwile felahror feran
on frean wære.
Hi hyne þa ætbæron to brimes faroðe, swæse
gesiþas, swa he selfa bæd, þenden wordum weold wine
Scyldinga, leof landfruma lange ahte.
Þær æt hyðe stod hringedstefna, isig ond utfus,
æþelinges fær.
Aledon þa leofne þeoden, beaga bryttan, on bearm scipes, mærne
be mæste.
Þær wæs madma fela of feorwegum, frætwa, gelæded;
ne hyrde iccymlicor ceol gegyrwan hildewæpnum ond heaðowædum,
billum ond byrnum; him on bearme læg madma mænigo, þa
him mid scoldon on flodes æht feor gewitan.
Nalæs hi hine læssan lacum teodan, þeodgestreonum, þon
þa dydon þe hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendon ænne
ofer yðe umborwesende.
þa gyt hie him asetton segen geldenne heah ofer heafod, leton holm
beran, geafon on garsecg; him wæs geomor sefa, murnende mod.
Men ne cunnon secgan to soðe, selerædende, hæleð under
heofenum, hwa þæm hlæste onfeng.
The Wanderer
Oft him anhaga are gebideð,
metudes miltse, þeah þe he modcearig
geond lagulade longe sceolde
hreran mid hondum hrimcealde sæ,
wadan wræclastas. Wyrd bið ful aræd!
Swa cwæð eardstapa, earfeþa gemyndig,
wraþra wælsleahta, winemæga hryre:
"Oft ic sceolde ana uhtna gehwylce
mine ceare cwiþan. Nis nu cwicra nan
þe ic him modsefan minne durre
sweotule asecgan. Ic to soþe wat
þæt biþ in eorle indryhten þeaw,
þæt he his ferðlocan fæste binde,
healde his hordcofan, hycge swa he wille.
Ne mæg werig mod wyrde wiðstondan,
ne se hreo hyge helpe gefremman.
Forðon domgeorne dreorigne oft
in hyra breostcofan bindað fæste;
swa ic modsefan minne sceolde,
oft earmcearig, eðle bidæled,
freomægum feor feterum sælan,
siþþan geara iu goldwine minne
hrusan heolstre biwrah, ond ic hean þonan
wod wintercearig ofer waþema gebind,
sohte sele dreorig sinces bryttan,
hwær ic feor oþþe neah findan meahte
þone þe in meoduhealle min mine wisse,
oþþe mec freondleasne frefran wolde,
weman mid wynnum. Wat se þe cunnað,
hu sliþen bið sorg to geferan,
þam þe him lyt hafað leofra geholena.
Warað hine wræclast, nales wunden gold,
ferðloca freorig, nalæs foldan blæd.
Gemon he selesecgas ond sincþege,
hu hine on geoguðe his goldwine
wenede to wiste. Wyn eal gedreas!
Forþon wat se þe sceal his winedryhtnes
leofes larcwidum longe forþolian,
ðonne sorg ond slæp somod ætgædre
earmne anhogan oft gebindað.
þinceð him on mode þæt he his mondryhten
clyppe ond cysse, ond on cneo lecge
honda ond heafod, swa he hwilum ær
in geardagum giefstolas breac.
ðonne onwæcneð eft wineleas guma,
gesihð him biforan fealwe wegas,
baþian brimfuglas, brædan feþra,
hreosan hrim ond snaw, hagle gemenged.
þonne beoð þy hefigran heortan benne,
sare æfter swæsne. Sorg bið geniwad,
þonne maga gemynd mod geondhweorfeð;
greteð gliwstafum, georne geondsceawað
secga geseldan. Swimmað eft on weg!
Fleotendra ferð no þær fela bringeð
cuðra cwidegiedda. Cearo bið geniwad
þam þe sendan sceal swiþe geneahhe
ofer waþema gebind werigne sefan.
Forþon ic geþencan ne mæg geond þas woruld
for hwan modsefa min ne gesweorce,
þonne ic eorla lif eal geondþence,
hu hi færlice flet ofgeafon,
modge maguþegnas. Swa þes middangeard
ealra dogra gehwam dreoseð ond fealleþ,
forþon ne mæg weorþan wis wer, ær he age
wintra dæl in woruldrice. Wita sceal geþyldig,
ne sceal no to hatheort ne to hrædwyrde,
ne to wac wiga ne to wanhydig,
ne to forht ne to fægen, ne to feohgifre
ne næfre gielpes to georn, ær he geare cunne.
Beorn sceal gebidan, þonne he beot spriceð,
oþþæt collenferð cunne gearwe
hwider hreþra gehygd hweorfan wille.
Ongietan sceal gleaw hæle hu gæstlic bið,
þonne ealre þisse worulde wela weste stondeð,
swa nu missenlice geond þisne middangeard
winde biwaune weallas stondaþ,
hrime bihrorene, hryðge þa ederas.
Woriað þa winsalo, waldend licgað
dreame bidrorene, duguþ eal gecrong,
wlonc bi wealle. Sume wig fornom,
ferede in forðwege, sumne fugel oþbær
ofer heanne holm, sumne se hara wulf
deaðe gedælde, sumne dreorighleor
in eorðscræfe eorl gehydde.
Yþde swa þisne eardgeard ælda scyppend
oþþæt burgwara breahtma lease
eald enta geweorc idlu stodon.
Se þonne þisne wealsteal wise geþohte
ond þis deorce lif deope geondþenceð,
frod in ferðe, feor oft gemon
wælsleahta worn, ond þas word acwið:
"Hwær cwom mearg? Hwær cwom mago? Hwær cwom maþþumgyfa?
Hwær cwom symbla gesetu? Hwær sindon seledreamas?
Eala beorht bune! Eala byrnwiga!
Eala þeodnes þrym! Hu seo þrag gewat,
genap under nihthelm, swa heo no wære.
Stondeð nu on laste leofre duguþe
weal wundrum heah, wyrmlicum fah.
Eorlas fornoman asca þryþe,
wæpen wælgifru, wyrd seo mære,
ond þas stanhleoþu stormas cnyssað,
hrið hreosende hrusan bindeð,
wintres woma, þonne won cymeð,
nipeð nihtscua, norþan onsendeð
hreo hæglfare hæleþum on andan.
Eall is earfoðlic eorþan rice,
onwendeð wyrda gesceaft weoruld under heofonum.
Her bið feoh læne, her bið freond læne,
her bið mon læne, her bið mæg læne,
eal þis eorþan gesteal idel weorþeð!"
Swa cwæð snottor on mode, gesæt him sundor æt rune.
Til biþ se þe his treowe gehealdeþ, ne sceal næfre
his torn to rycene
beorn of his breostum acyþan, nemþe he ær þa bote
cunne,
eorl mid elne gefremman. Wel bið þam þe him are seceð,
frofre to fæder on heofonum, þær us eal seo fæstnung
stondeð.
Deor
Welund him be wurman wræces cunnade, anhydig eorl
earfoþa dreag, hæfde him to gesiþþe sorge ond
longaþ, wintercealde wræce; wean oft onfond, siþþan
hine Niðhad on nede legde, swoncre seonobende on syllan monn.
þæs ofereode, þisses swa mæg.
Beadohilde ne wæs hyre broþra deaþ on sefan swa sar
swa hyre sylfre þing, þæt heo gearolice ongieten hæfde
þæt heo eacen wæs; æfre ne meahte þriste
geþencan, hu ymb þæt sceolde.
þæs ofereode, þisses swa mæg.
We þæt Mæðhilde monge gefrugnon wurdon grundlease
Geates frige, þæt hi seo sorglufu slæp ealle binom.
þæs ofereode, þisses swa mæg.
Ðeodric ahte þritig wintra Mæringa burg; þæt
wæs monegum cuþ.
þæs ofereode, þisses swa mæg.
We geascodan Eormanrices wylfenne geþoht; ahte wide folc Gotena
rices.
þæt wæs grim cyning.
Sæt secg monig sorgum gebunden, wean on wenan, wyscte geneahhe þæt
þæs cynerices ofercumen wære.
þæs ofereode, þisses swa mæg.
Siteð sorgcearig, sælum bidæled, on sefan sweorceð,
sylfum þinceð þæt sy endeleas earfoða dæl.
Mæg þonne geþencan, þæt geond þas
woruld witig dryhten wendeþ geneahhe, eorle monegum are gesceawað,
wislicne blæd, sumum weana dæl.
þæt ic bi me sylfum secgan wille, þæt ic hwile
wæs Heodeninga scop, dryhtne dyre.
Me wæs Deor noma.
Ahte ic fela wintra folgað tilne, holdne hlaford, oþþæt
Heorrenda nu, leoðcræftig monn londryht geþah, þæt
me eorla hleo ær gesealde.
þæs ofereode, þisses swa mæg.
Beowulf's Greeting
Beowulf maðelode on him byrne scan, searonet seowed smiþes orþancum:
Wæs þu, Hroðgar, hal.
Ic eom Higelaces mæg ond magoðegn; hæbbe ic mærða
fela ongunnen on geogoþe.
Me wearð Grendles þing on minre eþeltyrf undyrne cuð;
secgað sæliðend þæt þæs sele stande,
reced selesta, rinca gehwylcum idel ond unnyt, siððan æfenleoht
under heofenes hador beholen weorþeð.
þa me þæt gelærdon leode mine þa selestan,
snotere ceorlas, þeoden Hroðgar, þæt ic þe
sohte, forþan hie mægenes cræft minne cuþon, selfe
ofersawon, ða ic of searwum cwom, fah from feondum.
þær ic fife geband, yðde eotena cyn ond on yðum slog
niceras nihtes, nearoþearfe dreah, wræc Wedera nið wean
ahsodon, forgrand gramum, ond nu wið Grendel sceal, wið þam
aglæcan, ana gehegan ðing wið þyrse.
Ic þe nu ða, brego Beorhtdena, biddan wille, eodor Scyldinga,
anre bene, þæt ðu me ne forwyrne, wigendra hleo, freowine
folca, nu ic þus feorran com, þæt ic mote ana ond minra
eorla gedryht, þes hearda heap, Heorot fælsian.
Hæbbe ic eac geahsod þæt se æglæca for his
wonhydum wæpna ne recceð.
Ic þæt þonne forhicge swa me Higelac sie, min mondrihten,
modes bliðe, þæt ic sweord bere oþðe sidne scyld,
geolorand to guþe, ac ic mid grape sceal fon wið feonde ond
ymb feorh sacan, lað wið laþum; ðær gelyfan sceal
dryhtnes dome se þe hine deað nimeð.
Wen ic þæt he wille, gif he wealdan mot, in þæm
guðsele Geotena leode etan unforhte, swa he oft dyde, mægen
Hreðmanna.
Na þu minne þearft hafalan hydan, ac he me habban wile dreore
fahne, gif mec deað nimeð.
Byreð blodig wæl, byrgean þenceð, eteð angenga
unmurnlice, mearcað morhopu; no ðu ymb mines ne þearft lices
feorme leng sorgian.
Onsend Higelace, gif mec hild nime, beaduscruda betst, þæt
mine breost wereð, hrægla selest; þæt is Hrædlan
laf, Welandes geweorc.
Gæð a wyrd swa hio scel.
Durham
Is ðeos burch breome geond Breotenrice, steppa
gestaðolad, stanas ymbutan wundrum gewæxen.
Weor ymbeornad, ea yðum stronge, and ðer inne wunað feola
fisca kyn on floda gemonge.
And ðær gewexen is wudafæstern micel: wuniad in ðem
wycum wilda deor monige, in deope dalum deora ungerim.
Is in ðere byri eac bearnum gecyðed ðe arfesta eadig Cudberch
and ðes clene cyninges heafud, Osuualdes, Engle leo, and Aidan biscop,
Eadberch and Eadfrið, æðele geferes.
Is ðer inne midd heom æðelwold biscop and breoma bocera
Beda, and Boisil abbot, ðe clene Cudberte on gecheðe lerde lustum,
and he his lara wel genom.
Eardiæð æt ðem eadige in in ðem minstre unarimeda
reliquia, ðær monia wundrum gewurðað, ðes ðe
writ seggeð, midd ðene drihnes wer domes bideð.
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