Classic Poem

tha wæs agangen geara hwyrftum
tu hund ond þreo geteled rimes,
swylce XXX eac, þinggemearces,
wintra for worulde, þæs þe wealdend god
acenned wearð, cyninga wuldor,
in middangeard þurh mennisc heo,
soðfæstra leoht. tha wæs syxte gear
Constantines caserdomes,
þæt he Romwara in rice wearð
ahæfen, hildfruma, to hereteman.
Wæs se leodhwata lindgeborga
eorlum arfæst. Æðelinges weox
rice under roderum. He wæs riht cyning,
guðweard gumena. Hine god trymede
mærðum ond mihtum, þæt he manegum wearð
geond middangeard mannum to hroðer,
werþeodum to wræce, syððan wæpen ahof
wið hetendum. Him wæs hild boden,
wiges woma. Werod samnodan
Huna leode ond Hreðgotan,
foron fyrdhwate Francan ond Hugas.
Wæron hwate weras,
gearwe to guðe. Garas lixtan,
wriðene wælhlencan. Wordum ond bordum
hofon herecombol. tha wæron heardingas
sweotole gesamnod ond eal sib geador.
For folca gedryht. Fyrdleoð agol
wulf on wealde, wælrune ne mað.
Urigfeðera earn sang ahof,
laðum on laste. Lungre scynde
ofer burg enta beaduþreata mæst,
hergum to hilde, swylce Huna cyning
ymbsittendra awer meahte
abannan to beadwe burgwigendra.
For fyrda mæst. Feðan trymedon
eoredcestum, þæt on ælfylce
deareðlacende on Danubie,
stærcedfyrhðe, stæðe wicedon
ymb þæs wæteres wylm. Werodes breahtme
woldon Romwara rice geþringan,
hergum ahyðan. thær wearð Huna cyme
cuð ceasterwarum. tha se casere heht
ongean gramum guðgelæcan
under earhfære ofstum myclum
bannan to beadwe, beran ut þræce
rincas under roderum. Wæron Romware,
secgas sigerofe, sona gegearwod
wæpnum to wigge, þeah hie werod læsse
hæfdon to hilde þonne Huna cining;
ridon ymb rofne, þonne rand dynede,
campwudu clynede, cyning þreate for,
herge to hilde. Hrefen uppe gol,
wan ond wælfel. Werod wæs on tyhte.
Hleopon hornboran, hreopan friccan,
mearh moldan træd. Mægen samnode,
cafe to cease. Cyning wæs afyrhted,
egsan geaclad, siððan elþeodige,
Huna ond Hreða here sceawede,
ðæt he on Romwara rices ende
ymb þæs wæteres stæð werod samnode,
mægen unrime. Modsorge wæg
Romwara cyning, rices ne wende
for werodleste, hæfde wigena to lyt,
eaxlgestealna wið ofermægene,
hrora to hilde. Here wicode,
eorlas ymb æðeling, egstreame neah
on neaweste nihtlangne fyrst,
þæs þe hie feonda gefær fyrmest gesægon.
tha wearð on slæpe sylfum ætywed
þam casere, þær he on corðre swæf,
sigerofum gesegen swefnes woma.
thuhte him wlitescyne on weres hade
hwit ond hiwbeorht hæleða nathwylc
geywed ænlicra þonne he ær oððe sið
gesege under swegle. He of slæpe onbrægd,
eofurcumble beþeaht. Him se ar hraðe,
wlitig wuldres boda, wið þingode
ond be naman nemde, (nihthelm toglad):
“Constantinus, heht þe cyning engla,
wyrda wealdend, wære beodan,
duguða dryhten. Ne ondræd þu ðe,
ðeah þe elþeodige egesan hwopan,
heardre hilde. thu to heofenum beseoh
on wuldres weard, þær ðu wraðe findest,
sigores tacen.” He wæs sona gearu
þurh þæs halgan hæs, hreðerlocan onspeon,
up locade, swa him se ar abead,
fæle friðowebba. Geseah he frætwum beorht
wliti wuldres treo ofer wolcna hrof,
golde geglenged, (gimmas lixtan);
wæs se blaca beam bocstafum awriten,
beorhte ond leohte: “Mid þys beacne ðu
on þam frecnan fære feond oferswiðesð,
geletest lað werod.” tha þæt leoht gewat,
up siðode, ond se ar somed,
on clænra gemang. Cyning wæs þy bliðra
ond þe sorgleasra, secga aldor,
on fyrhðsefan, þurh þa fægeran gesyhð.
Heht þa onlice æðelinga hleo,
beorna beaggifa, swa he þæt beacen geseah,
heria hildfruma, þæt him on heofonum ær
geiewed wearð, ofstum myclum,
Constantinus, Cristes rode,
tireadig cyning, tacen gewyrcan.
Heht þa on uhtan mid ærdæge
wigend wreccan, ond wæpenþræce
hebban heorucumbul, ond þæt halige treo
him beforan ferian on feonda gemang,
beran beacen godes. Byman sungon
hlude for hergum. Hrefn weorces gefeah,
urigfeðra, earn sið beheold,
wælhreowra wig. Wulf sang ahof,
holtes gehleða. Hildegesa stod.
thær wæs borda gebrec ond beorna geþrec,
heard handgeswing ond herga gring,
syððan heo earhfære ærest metton.
On þæt fæge folc flana scuras,
garas ofer geolorand on gramra gemang,
hetend heorugrimme, hildenædran,
þurh fingra geweald forð onsendan.
Stopon stiðhidige, stundum wræcon,
bræcon bordhreðan, bil in dufan,
þrungon þræchearde. tha wæs þuf hafen,
segn for sweotum, sigeleoð galen.
Gylden grima, garas lixtan
on herefelda. Hæðene grungon,
feollon friðelease. Flugon instæpes
Huna leode, swa þæt halige treo
aræran heht Romwara cyning,
heaðofremmende. Wurdon heardingas
wide towrecene. Sume wig fornam.
Sume unsofte aldor generedon
on þam heresiðe. Sume healfcwice
flugon on fæsten ond feore burgon
æfter stanclifum, stede weardedon
ymb Danubie. Sume drenc fornam
on lagostreame lifes æt ende.
?a wæs modigra mægen on luste,
ehton elþeoda oð þæt æfen forð
fram dæges orde. Daroðæsc flugon,
hildenædran. Heap wæs gescyrded,
laðra lindwered. Lythwon becwom
Huna herges ham eft þanon.
tha wæs gesyne þæt sige forgeaf
Constantino cyning ælmihtig
æt þam dægweorce, domweorðunga,
rice under roderum, þurh his rode treo.
Gewat þa heriga helm ham eft þanon,
huðe hremig, (hild wæs gesceaden),
wigge geweorðod. Com þa wigena hleo
þegna þreate þryðbold secan,
beadurof cyning burga neosan.
Heht þa wigena weard þa wisestan
snude to sionoðe, þa þe snyttro cræft
þurh fyrngewrito gefrigen hæfdon,
heoldon higeþancum hæleða rædas.
?a þæs fricggan ongan folces aldor,
sigerof cyning, ofer sid weorod,
wære þær ænig yldra oððe gingra
þe him to soðe secggan meahte,
galdrum cyðan, hwæt se god wære,
boldes brytta, “þe þis his beacen wæs
þe me swa leoht oðywde ond mine leode generede,
tacna torhtost, ond me tir forgeaf,
wigsped wið wraðum, þurh þæt wlitige treo.”
Hio him ondsware ænige ne meahton
agifan togenes, ne ful geare cuðon
sweotole gesecggan be þam sigebeacne.
tha þa wisestan wordum cwædon
for þam heremægene þæt hit heofoncyninges
tacen wære, ond þæs tweo nære.
tha þæt gefrugnon þa þurh fulwihte
lærde wæron, (him wæs leoht sefa,
ferhð gefeonde, þeah hira fea wæron),
ðæt hie for þam casere cyðan moston
godspelles gife, hu se gasta helm,
in þrynesse þrymme geweorðad,
acenned wearð, cyninga wuldor,
ond hu on galgan wearð godes agen bearn
ahangen for hergum heardum witum.
Alysde leoda bearn of locan deofla,
geomre gastas, ond him gife sealde
þurh þa ilcan gesceaft þe him geywed wearð
sylfum on gesyhðe, sigores tacen,
wið þeoda þræce. Ond hu ðy þriddan dæge
of byrgenne beorna wuldor
of deaðe aras, dryhten ealra
hæleða cynnes, ond to heofonum astah.
?us gleawlice gastgerynum
sægdon sigerofum, swa fram Siluestre
lærde wæron. Æt þam se leodfruma
fulwihte onfeng ond þæt forð geheold
on his dagana tid, dryhtne to willan.
?a wæs on sælum sinces brytta,
niðheard cyning. Wæs him niwe gefea
befolen in fyrhðe, wæs him frofra mæst
ond hyhta nihst heofonrices weard.
Ongan þa dryhtnes æ dæges ond nihtes
þurh gastes gife georne cyðan,
ond hine soðlice sylfne getengde
goldwine gumena in godes þeowdom,
æscrof, unslaw. tha se æðeling fand,
leodgebyrga, þurh larsmiðas,
guðheard, garþrist, on godes bocum
hwær ahangen wæs heriges beorhtme
on rode treo rodora waldend
æfstum þurh inwit, swa se ealda feond
forlærde ligesearwum, leode fortyhte,
Iudea cyn, þæt hie god sylfne
ahengon, herga fruman. thæs hie in hynðum sculon
to widan feore wergðu dreogan!
tha wæs Cristes lof þam casere
on firhðsefan, forð gemyndig
ymb þæt mære treo, ond þa his modor het
feran foldwege folca þreate
to Iudeum, georne secan
wigena þreate hwær se wuldres beam,
halig under hrusan, hyded wære,
æðelcyninges rod. Elene ne wolde
þæs siðfates sæne weorðan,
ne ðæs wilgifan word gehyrwan,
hiere sylfre suna, ac wæs sona gearu,
wif on willsið, swa hire weoruda helm,
byrnwiggendra, beboden hæfde.
Ongan þa ofstlice eorla mengu
to flote fysan. Fearoðhengestas
ymb geofenes stæð gearwe stodon,
sælde sæmearas, sunde getenge.
?a wæs orcnæwe idese siðfæt,
siððan wæges helm werode gesohte.
thær wlanc manig æt Wendelsæ
on stæðe stodon. Stundum wræcon
ofer mearcpaðu, mægen æfter oðrum,
ond þa gehlodon hildesercum,
bordum ond ordum, byrnwigendum,
werum ond wifum, wæghengestas.
Leton þa ofer fifelwæg famige scriðan
bronte brimþisan. Bord oft onfeng
ofer earhgeblond yða swengas;
sæ swinsade. Ne hyrde ic sið ne ær
on egstreame idese lædan,
on merestræte, mægen fægerre.
thær meahte gesion, se ðone sið beheold,
brecan ofer bæðweg, brimwudu snyrgan
under swellingum, sæmearh plegean,
wadan wægflotan. Wigan wæron bliðe,
collenferhðe, cwen siðes gefeah,
syþþan to hyðe hringedstefnan
ofer lagofæsten geliden hæfdon
on Creca land. Ceolas leton
æt sæfearoðe, sande bewrecene,
ald yðhofu, oncrum fæste
on brime bidan beorna geþinges,
hwonne heo sio guðcwen gumena þreate
ofer eastwegas eft gesohte.
?ær wæs on eorle eðgesyne
brogden byrne ond bill gecost,
geatolic guðscrud, grimhelm manig,
ænlic eoforcumbul. Wæron æscwigan,
secggas ymb sigecwen, siðes gefysde.
Fyrdrincas frome foron on luste
on Creca land, caseres bodan,
hilderincas, hyrstum gewerede.
thær wæs gesyne sincgim locen
on þam hereþreate, hlafordes gifu.
Wæs seo eadhreðige Elene gemyndig,
þriste on geþance, þeodnes willan
georn on mode þæt hio Iudeas
ofer herefeldas heape gecoste
lindwigendra land gesohte,
secga þreate. Swa hit siððan gelamp
ymb lytel fæc þæt ðæt leodmægen,
guðrofe hæleþ to Hierusalem
cwomon in þa ceastre corðra mæste,
eorlas æscrofe, mid þa æðelan cwen.
Heht ða gebeodan burgsittendum
þam snoterestum side ond wide
geond Iudeas, gumena gehwylcum,
meðelhegende, on gemot cuman,
þa ðe deoplicost dryhtnes geryno
þurh rihte æ reccan cuðon.
?a wæs gesamnod of sidwegum
mægen unlytel, þa ðe Moyses æ
reccan cuðon. thær on rime wæs
þreo M þæra leoda
alesen to lare. Ongan þa leoflic wif
weras Ebrea wordum negan:
“Ic þæt gearolice ongiten hæbbe
þurg witgena wordgeryno
on godes bocum þæt ge geardagum
wyrðe wæron wuldorcyninge,
dryhtne dyre ond dædhwæte.
Hwæt, ge ealle snyttro unwislice,
wraðe wiðweorpon, þa ge wergdon þane
þe eow of wergðe þurh his wuldres miht,
fram ligcwale, lysan þohte,
of hæftnede. Ge mid horu speowdon
on þæs ondwlitan þe eow eagena leoht,
fram blindnesse bote gefremede
edniowunga þurh þæt æðele spald,
ond fram unclænum oft generede
deofla gastum. Ge to deaþe þone
deman ongunnon, se ðe of deaðe sylf
woruld awehte on wera corþre
in þæt ærre lif eowres cynnes.
Swa ge modblinde mengan ongunnon
lige wið soðe, leoht wið þystrum,
æfst wið are, inwitþancum
wroht webbedan. Eow seo wergðu forðan
sceðþeð scyldfullum. Ge þa sciran miht
deman ongunnon, ond gedweolan lifdon,
þeostrum geþancum, oð þysne dæg.
Gangaþ nu snude, snyttro geþencaþ,
weras wisfæste, wordes cræftige,
þa ðe eowre æ æðelum cræftige
on ferhðsefan fyrmest hæbben,
þa me soðlice secgan cunnon,
ondsware cyðan for eowic forð
tacna gehwylces þe ic him to sece.”
Eodan þa on geruman reonigmode
eorlas æcleawe, egesan geþreade,
gehðum geomre, georne sohton
þa wisestan wordgeryno,
þæt hio þære cwene oncweðan meahton
swa tiles swa trages, swa hio him to sohte.
Hio þa on þreate M manna
fundon ferhðgleawra, þa þe fyrngemynd
mid Iudeum gearwast cuðon.
thrungon þa on þreate þær on þrymme bad
in cynestole caseres mæg,
geatolic guðcwen golde gehyrsted.
Elene maþelode ond for eorlum spræc:
“Gehyrað, higegleawe, halige rune,
word ond wisdom. Hwæt, ge witgena
lare onfengon, hu se liffruma
in cildes had cenned wurde,
mihta wealdend. Be þam Moyses sang,
ond þæt word gecwæð weard Israhela:
‘Eow acenned bið cniht on degle,
mihtum mære, swa þæs modor ne bið
wæstmum geeacnod þurh weres frige.’
Be ðam Dauid cyning dryhtleoð agol,
frod fyrnweota, fæder Salomones,
ond þæt word gecwæþ wigona baldor:
‘Ic frumþa god fore sceawode,
sigora dryhten. He on gesyhðe wæs,
mægena wealdend, min on þa swiðran,
þrymmes hyrde. thanon ic ne wende
æfre to aldre onsion mine.’
Swa hit eft be eow Essaias,
witga for weorodum, wordum mælde,
deophycggende þurh dryhtnes gast:
‘Ic up ahof eaforan gingne
ond bearn cende, þam ic blæd forgeaf,
halige higefrofre, ac hie hyrwdon me,
feodon þurh feondscipe, nahton foreþances,
wisdomes gewitt; ond þa weregan neat,
þe man daga gehwam drifeð ond þirsceð,
ongitaþ hira goddend, nales gnyrnwræcum
feogað frynd hiera þe him fodder gifað,
ond me Israhela æfre ne woldon
folc oncnawan, þeah ic feala for him
æfter woruldstundum wundra gefremede.’
Hwæt, we þæt gehyrdon þurh halige bec
þæt eow dryhten geaf dom unscyndne,
meotod mihta sped, Moyse sægde
hu ge heofoncyninge hyran sceoldon,
lare læstan. Eow þæs lungre aþreat,
ond ge þam ryhte wiðroten hæfdon,
onscunedon þone sciran scippend eallra,
dryhtna dryhten, ond gedwolan fylgdon
ofer riht godes. Nu ge raþe gangaþ
ond findaþ gen þa þe fyrngewritu
þurh snyttro cræft selest cunnen,
æriht eower, þæt me ondsware
þurh sidne sefan secgan cunnen.”
Eodan ða mid mengo modcwanige,
collenferhðe, swa him sio cwen bead.
Fundon þa D forþsnottera
alesen leodmæga, þa ðe leornungcræft
þurh modgemynd mæste hæfdon,
on sefan snyttro. Heo to salore eft
ymb lytel fæc laðode wæron,
ceastre weardas. Hio sio cwen ongan
wordum genegan, (wlat ofer ealle):
“Oft ge dyslice dæd gefremedon,
werge wræcmæcggas, ond gewritu herwdon,
fædera lare, næfre furður þonne nu,
ða ge blindnesse bote forsegon,
ond ge wiðsocon soðe ond rihte,
þæt in Bethleme bearn wealdendes,
cyning anboren, cenned wære,
æðelinga ord. theah ge þa æ cuðon,
witgena word, ge ne woldon þa,
synwyrcende, soð oncnawan.”
Hie þa anmode ondsweredon:
“Hwæt, we Ebreisce æ leornedon,
þa on fyrndagum fæderas cuðon
æt godes earce, ne we geare cunnon
þurh hwæt ðu ðus hearde, hlæfdige, us
eorre wurde. We ðæt æbylgð nyton
þe we gefremedon on þysse folcscere,
þeodenbealwa, wið þec æfre.”
Elene maðelade ond for eorlum spræc,
undearninga ides reordode
hlude for herigum: “Ge nu hraðe gangað,
sundor asecaþ þa ðe snyttro mid eow,
mægn ond modcræft, mæste hæbben,
þæt me þinga gehwylc þriste gecyðan,
untraglice, þe ic him to sece.”
Eodon þa fram rune, swa him sio rice cwen,
bald in burgum, beboden hæfde,
geomormode, georne smeadon,
sohton searoþancum, hwæt sio syn wære
þe hie on þam folce gefremed hæfdon
wið þam casere, þe him sio cwen wite.
tha þær for eorlum an reordode,
gidda gearosnotor, (ðam wæs Iudas nama,
wordes cræftig): “Ic wat geare
þæt hio wile secan be ðam sigebeame
on ðam þrowode þeoda waldend,
eallra gnyrna leas, godes agen bearn,
þone orscyldne eofota gehwylces
þurh hete hengon on heanne beam
in fyrndagum fæderas usse.
thæt wæs þrealic geþoht! Nu is þearf mycel
þæt we fæstlice ferhð staðelien,
þæt we ðæs morðres meldan ne weorðen
hwær þæt halige trio beheled wurde
æfter wigþræce, þy læs toworpen sien
frod fyrngewritu ond þa fæderlican
lare forleten. Ne bið lang ofer ðæt
þæt Israhela æðelu moten
ofer middangeard ma ricsian,
æcræft eorla, gif ðis yppe bið,
swa þa þæt ilce gio min yldra fæder
sigerof sægde, (þam wæs Sachius nama),
frod fyrnwiota, fæder minum,



eaferan,
wende hine of worulde ond þæt word gecwæð:
‘Gif þe þæt gelimpe on lifdagum
þæt ðu gehyre ymb þæt halige treo
frode frignan, ond geflitu ræran
be ðam sigebeame on þam soðcyning
ahangen wæs, heofonrices weard,
eallre sybbe bearn, þonne þu snude gecyð,
min swæs sunu, ær þec swylt nime.
Ne mæg æfre ofer þæt Ebrea þeod
rædþeahte