Enjoy three short poems, plus a middle english interpretation of a section of Beowulf.
“On Wyrmsele”
On Wyrmsele, Sæt-ere gesæt wið hete.
Se helsceaða wæs þone hlaford;
He, þe gefeormod hæfde mancynn.
Helwara Gastas gangon in wanre niht,
Wælhrēowan men þe gehīoldon
Heteðoncol torn to þam Ælmihtigan.
Hī gebiddaþ for niwan blisse,
Būton ne cymeð to hiera ferhðum.
“Se Gyst”
Se Gyst hæfde goldbeorht helm.
He wæs manna won and gastlic.
On his sidan, heold reðe swurd;
Hit wæs wælhreow wæpen fram helsceaðan.
Ealdhettend clipode hit “Helle Bryne.”
Se Gyst com on niht, gegongan manna Gastas.
Ne wæs foldbuende. Wægun guðfanan helle.
Cristes leoht ne colode his cræft.
Cristendom cwiðdon ða synleawa mancynnes:
Hit wæs ðone tide. Geweald Godes gebræcon.
“Mattheus”
Mattheus wæs wealthreowan deor.
Ðæs niht-hræfn geman mancynnes blod und
He dranc Þæt mandrinc deofolcunda.
In handa, se neat heold banlocan und
His Eagan wæron gimmas niðes.
Beofulla Antecrist furhogode
Ealle Godes godena bearna.
Earmlic ellorgast lædde cild on niht.
Dæges leoht wæs anne wæpen Þæt
Se grundwæg hæfde astyntan his yfel.
|
Beowulf Lines 778-790 |
| Old English |
| þæs ne wendon ær witan Scyldinga |
| þæt hit a mid gemete manna ænig, |
| betlic ond banfag, tobrecan meahte, |
| listum tolucan, nymþe liges fæþm |
| swulge on swaþule. Sweg up astag |
| niwe geneahhe; Norðdenum stod |
| atelic egesa, anra gehwylcum |
| þara þe of wealle wop gehyrdon, |
| gryreleoð galan Godes ondsacan, |
| sigeleasne sang, sar wanigean |
| helle hæfton. Heold hine fæste |
| se þe manna wæs mægene strengest |
| on þæm dæge þysses lifes. |
| Middle English |
| “Er this, the wisse men of the Danes thoughte nat, |
| Ne founde any Knyghtes who myghte fordoon that. |
| Who myghte pulle asonder with an heep sleighte, |
| The riche house and halle apiked with perles white |
| and gloweden with the lighte of the Fader and Crist. |
| Myghte oonly falle if Sathan sente the fyr from his brist. |
| But soun roos up, muchel new; al thogh horrible fere |
| Yet dwelled with the Danes, ech of hem. Hem over there, |
| Herde wepynge. Goddes Adversarie syngyng a soun: |
| A song of drede, a cry in los. Hit was herde in every toun. |
| Beowulf with strong hond helde Helles caytyve. |
| He, with Hooly herte, and strengthe diffynytyve.” |
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