Exodus

E-Text: Sacred-texts.

: Hwæt! We feor and neah      gefrigen habað
ofer middangeard      Moyses domas,
wræclico wordriht,      wera cneorissum,--
in uprodor      eadigra gehwam
5: æfter bealusiðe      bote lifes,
lifigendra gehwam      langsumne ræd,--
hæleðum secgan.      Gehyre se ðe wille!
þone on westenne      weroda drihten,
soðfæst cyning,      mid his sylfes miht
10: gewyrðode,      and him wundra fela,
ece alwalda,      in æht forgeaf.
He wæs leof gode,      leoda aldor,
horsc and hreðergleaw,      herges wisa,
freom folctoga.      Faraones cyn,
15: godes andsacan,      gyrdwite band,
þær him gesealde      sigora waldend,
modgum magoræswan,      his maga feorh,
onwist eðles,      Abrahames sunum.
Heah wæs þæt handlean      and him hold frea,
20: gesealde wæpna geweald      wið wraðra gryre,
ofercom mid þy campe      cneomaga fela,
feonda folcriht.      ða wæs forma sið
þæt hine weroda god      wordum nægde,
þær he him gesægde      soðwundra fela,
25: hu þas woruld worhte      witig drihten,
eorðan ymbhwyrft      and uprodor,
gesette sigerice,      and his sylfes naman,
ðone yldo bearn      ær ne cuðon,
frod fædera cyn,      þeah hie fela wiston.
30: Hæfde he þa geswiðed      soðum cræftum
and gewurðodne      werodes aldor,
Faraones feond,      on forðwegas.
þa wæs ingere      ealdum witum
deaðe gedrenced      drihtfolca mæst;
35: hordwearda hryre      heaf wæs geniwad,
swæfon seledreamas,      since berofene.
Hæfde mansceaðan      æt middere niht
frecne gefylled,      frumbearna fela,
abrocene burhweardas.      Bana wide scrað,
40: lað leodhata,      land drysmyde
deadra hræwum,      dugoð forð gewat,
wop wæs wide,      worulddreama lyt.
Wæron hleahtorsmiðum      handa belocene,
alyfed laðsið      leode gretan;
45: folc ferende,      feond wæs bereafod,
hergas on helle.      Heofung þider becom,
druron deofolgyld.      Dæg wæs mære
ofer middangeard      þa seo mengeo for.
Swa þæs fæsten dreah      fela missera,
50: ealdwerige,      Egypta folc,
þæs þe hie wideferð      wyrnan þohton
Moyses magum,      gif hie metod lete,
on langne lust      leofes siðes.
Fyrd wæs gefysed,      from se ðe lædde,
55: modig magoræswa,      mægburh heora.
Oferfor he mid þy folce      fæstena worn,
land and leodweard      laðra manna,
enge anpaðas,      uncuð gelad,
oðþæt hie on Guðmyrce      gearwe bæron,
60: (wæron land heora      lyfthelme beþeaht),
mearchofu morheald.      Moyses ofer þa,
fela meoringa,      fyrde gelædde.
Heht þa ymb twa niht      tirfæste hæleð,
siððan hie feondum      oðfaren hæfdon,
65: ymbwicigean      werodes bearhtme
mid ælfere      æthanes byrig,
mægnes mæste      mearclandum on.
Nearwe genyddon      on norðwegas,
wiston him be suðan      Sigelwara land,
70: forbærned burhhleoðu,      brune leode,
hatum heofoncolum.      þær halig god
wið færbryne      folc gescylde,
bælce oferbrædde      byrnendne heofon,
halgan nette      hatwendne lyft.
75: Hæfde wederwolcen      widum fæðmum
eorðan and uprodor      efne gedæled,
lædde leodwerod,      ligfyr adranc,
hate heofontorht.      Hæleð wafedon,
drihta gedrymost.      Dægsceades hleo
80: wand ofer wolcnum;      hæfde witig god
sunnan siðfæt      segle ofertolden,
swa þa mæstrapas      men ne cuðon,
ne ða seglrode      geseon meahton,
eorðbuende      ealle cræfte,
85: hu afæstnod wæs      feldhusa mæst,
siððan he mid wuldre      geweorðode
þeodenholde.      þa wæs þridda wic
folce to frofre.      Fyrd eall geseah
hu þær hlifedon      halige seglas,
90: lyftwundor leoht;      leode ongeton,
dugoð Israhela,      þæt þær drihten cwom
weroda drihten,      wicsteal metan.
Him beforan foran      fyr and wolcen
in beorhtrodor,      beamas twegen,
95: þara æghwæðer      efngedælde
heahþegnunga      haliges gastes,
deormodra sið      dagum and nihtum.
þa ic on morgen gefrægn      modes rofan
hebban herebyman      hludan stefnum,
100: wuldres woman.      Werod eall aras,
modigra mægen,      swa him Moyses bebead,
mære magoræswa,      metodes folce,
fus fyrdgetrum.      Forð gesawon
lifes latþeow      lifweg metan;
105: swegl siðe weold,      sæmen æfter
foron flodwege.      Folc wæs on salum,
hlud herges cyrm.      Heofonbeacen astah
æfena gehwam,      oðer wundor,
syllic æfter sunnan      setlrade beheold,
110: ofer leodwerum      lige scinan,
byrnende beam.      Blace stodon
ofer sceotendum      scire leoman;
scinon scyldhreoðan,      sceado swiðredon,
neowle nihtscuwan      neah ne mihton
115: heolstor ahydan;      heofoncandel barn.
Niwe nihtweard      nyde sceolde
wician ofer weredum,      þy læs him westengryre,
har hæðbroga,      holmegum wederum
on ferclamme      ferhð getwæfde.
120: Hæfde foregenga      fyrene loccas,
blace beamas;      bellegsan hweop
in þam hereþreate,      hatan lige,
þæt he on westenne      werod forbærnde,
nymðe hie modhwate      Moyses hyrde.
125: Scean scir werod,      scyldas lixton,
gesawon randwigan      rihte stræte,
segn ofer sweoton,      oðþæt sæfæsten
landes æt ende      leodmægne forstod,
fus on forðweg.      Fyrdwic aras;
130: wyrpton hie werige,      wiste genægdon
modige meteþegnas,      hyra mægen beton.
Bræddon æfter beorgum,      siððan byme sang,
flotan feldhusum.      þa wæs feorðe wic,
randwigena ræst,      be þan readan sæ.
135: ðær on fyrd hyra      færspell becwom,
oht inlende.      Egsan stodan,
wælgryre weroda;      wræcmon gebad
laðne lastweard,      se ðe him lange ær
eðelleasum      onnied gescraf,
140: wean witum fæst.      Wære ne gymdon,
ðeah þe se yldra cyning      ær ge...
þa wearð yrfeweard      ingefolca,
manna æfter maðmum,      þæt he swa miceles geðah.
Ealles þæs forgeton      siððan grame wurdon
145: Egypta cyn      ymbe antwig;
ða heo his mægwinum      morðor fremedon,
wroht berenedon,      wære fræton.
Wæron heaðowylmas      heortan getenge,
mihtmod wera;      manum treowum
150: woldon hie þæt feorhlean      facne gyldan,
þætte hie þæt dægweorc      dreore gebohte,
Moyses leode,      þær him mihtig god
on ðam spildsiðe      spede forgefe.
þa him eorla mod      ortrywe wearð
155: siððan hie gesawon      of suðwegum
fyrd Faraonis      forð ongangan,
oferholt wegan,      eored lixan,
(garas trymedon,      guð hwearfode,
blicon bordhreoðan,      byman sungon),
160: þufas þunian,      þeod mearc tredan,
on hwæl
Hreopon herefugolas,      hilde grædige,
deawigfeðere      ofer drihtneum,
wonn wælceasega.      Wulfas sungon
165: atol æfenleoð      ætes on wenan,
carleasan deor,      cwyldrof beodan
on laðra last      leodmægnes fyl.
Hreopon mearcweardas      middum nihtum,
fleah fæge gast,      folc wæs gehæged.
170: Hwilum of þam werode      wlance þegnas
mæton milpaðas      meara bogum.
Him þær segncyning      wið þone segn foran,
manna þengel,      mearcþreate rad;
guðweard gumena      grimhelm gespeon,
175: cyning cinberge,      (cumbol lixton),
wiges on wenum,      wælhlencan sceoc,
het his hereciste      healdan georne
fæst fyrdgetrum.      Freond onsegon
laðum eagan      landmanna cyme.
180: Ymb hine wægon      wigend unforhte,
hare heorowulfas      hilde gretton,
þurstige þræcwiges,      þeodenholde.
Hæfde him alesen      leoda dugeðe
tireadigra      twa þusendo,
185: þæt wæron cyningas      and cneowmagas,
on þæt eade riht,      æðelum deore.
Forðon anra gehwilc      ut alædde
wæpnedcynnes,      wigan æghwilcne
þara þe he on ðam fyrste      findan mihte.
190: Wæron ingemen      ealle ætgædere,
cyningas on corðre.      Cuð oft gebad
horn on heape      to hwæs hægstealdmen,
guðþreat gumena,      gearwe bæron.
Swa þær eorp werod,      ecan læddon,
195: lað æfter laðum,      leodmægnes worn,
þusendmælum;      þider wæron fuse.
Hæfdon hie gemynted      to þam mægenheapum
to þam ærdæge      Israhela cynn
billum abreotan      on hyra broðorgyld.
200: Forþon wæs in wicum      wop up ahafen,
atol æfenleoð,      egesan stodon,
weredon wælnet,      þa se woma cwom.
Flugon frecne spel,      feond wæs anmod,
werud wæs wigblac,      oðþæt wlance forsceaf
205: mihtig engel,      se ða menigeo beheold,
þæt þær gelaðe mid him      leng ne mihton
geseon tosomne;      sið wæs gedæled.
Hæfde nydfara      nihtlangne fyrst,
þeah ðe him on healfa gehwam      hettend seomedon,
210: mægen oððe merestream;      nahton maran hwyrft.
Wæron orwenan      eðelrihtes,
sæton æfter beorgum      in blacum reafum,
wean on wenum;      wæccende bad
eall seo sibgedriht      somod ætgædere
215: maran mægenes,      oð Moyses bebead
eorlas on uhttid      ærnum bemum
folc somnigean,      frecan arisan,
habban heora hlencan,      hycgan on ellen,
beran beorht searo,      beacnum cigean
220: sweot sande near.      Snelle gemundon
weardas wigleoð,      werod wæs gefysed,
brudon ofer burgum,      (byman gehyrdon),
flotan feldhusum,      fyrd wæs on ofste.
Siððan hie getealdon      wið þam teonhete
225: on þam forðherge      feðan twelfe
moderofra;      mægen wæs onhrered.
Wæs on anra gehwam      æðelan cynnes
alesen under lindum      leoda duguðe
on folcgetæl      fiftig cista;
230: hæfde cista gehwilc      cuðes werodes
garberendra,      guðfremmendra,
X hund geteled,      tireadigra.
þæt wæs wiglic werod;      wace ne gretton
in þæt rincgetæl      ræswan herges,
235: þa þe for geoguðe      gyt ne mihton
under bordhreoðan      breostnet wera
wið flane feond      folmum werigean,
ne him bealubenne      gebiden hæfdon
ofer linde lærig,      licwunde swor,
240: gylpplegan gares.      Gamele ne moston,
hare heaðorincas,      hilde onþeon,
gif him modheapum      mægen swiðrade,
ac hie be wæstmum      on wig curon,
hu in leodscipe      læstan wolde
245: mod mid aran,      eac þan mægnes cræft,
garbeames feng.
þa wæs handrofra      here ætgædere,
fus forðwegas.      Fana up gerad,
beama beorhtost;      bidon ealle þa gen
250: hwonne siðboda      sæstreamum neah
leoht ofer lindum      lyftedoras bræc.
Ahleop þa for hæleðum      hildecalla,
bald beohata,      bord up ahof,
heht þa folctogan      fyrde gestillan,
255: þenden modiges meðel      monige gehyrdon.
Wolde reordigean      rices hyrde
ofer hereciste      halgan stefne,
werodes wisa      wurðmyndum spræc:
"Ne beoð ge þy forhtran,      þeah þe Faraon brohte
260: sweordwigendra      side hergas,
eorla unrim!      Him eallum wile
mihtig drihten      þurh mine hand
to dæge þissum      dædlean gyfan,
þæt hie lifigende      leng ne moton
265: ægnian mid yrmðum      Israhela cyn.
Ne willað eow andrædan      deade feðan,
fæge ferhðlocan,      fyrst is æt ende
lænes lifes.      Eow is lar godes
abroden of breostum.      Ic on beteran ræd,
270: þæt ge gewurðien      wuldres aldor,
and eow liffrean      lissa bidde,
sigora gesynto,      þær ge siðien.
þis is se ecea      Abrahames god,
frumsceafta frea,      se ðas fyrd wereð,
275: modig and mægenrof,      mid þære miclan hand."
Hof ða for hergum      hlude stefne
lifigendra leod,      þa he to leodum spræc:
"Hwæt, ge nu eagum to      on lociað,
folca leofost,      færwundra sum,
280: hu ic sylfa sloh      and þeos swiðre hand
grene tacne      garsecges deop.
Yð up færeð,      ofstum wyrceð
wæter wealfæsten.      Wegas syndon dryge,
haswe herestræta,      holm gerymed,
285: ealde staðolas,      þa ic ær ne gefrægn
ofer middangeard      men geferan,
fage feldas,      þa forð heonon
in ece tid      yðe þeahton,
sælde sægrundas.      Suðwind fornam
290: bæðweges blæst,      brim is areafod,
sand sæcir spaw.      Ic wat soð gere
þæt eow mihtig god      miltse gecyðde,
eorlas ærglade.      Ofest is selost
þæt ge of feonda      fæðme weorðen,
295: nu se agend      up arærde
reade streamas      in randgebeorh.
Syndon þa foreweallas      fægre gestepte,
wrætlicu wægfaru,      oð wolcna hrof."
æfter þam wordum      werod eall aras,
300: modigra mægen.      Mere stille bad.
Hofon herecyste      hwite linde,
segnas on sande.      Sæweall astah,
uplang gestod      wið Israhelum
andægne fyrst.      Wæs seo eorla gedriht
305: anes modes,
fæstum fæðmum      freoðowære heold.
Nalles hige gehyrdon      haliges lare,
siððan leofes leoþ      læste near
sweg swiðrode      and sances bland.
310: þa þæt feorðe cyn      fyrmest eode,
wod on wægstream,      wigan on heape,
ofer grenne grund,      Iudisc feða
on orette      on uncuð gelad
for his mægwinum.      Swa him mihtig god
315: þæs dægweorces      deop lean forgeald,
siððan him gesælde      sigorworca hreð,
þæt he ealdordom      agan sceolde
ofer cynericu,      cneowmaga blæd.
Hæfdon him to segne,      þa hie on sund stigon,
320: ofer bordhreoðan      beacen aræred
in þam garheape,      gyldenne leon,
drihtfolca mæst,      deora cenost.
Be þam herewisan      hynðo ne woldon
be him lifigendum      lange þolian,
325: þonne hie to guðe      garwudu rærdon
ðeoda ænigre.      þracu wæs on ore,
heard handplega,      hægsteald modige
wæpna wælslihtes,      wigend unforhte,
bilswaðu blodige,      beadumægnes ræs,
330: grimhelma gegrind,      þær Iudas for.
æfter þære fyrde      flota modgade,
Rubenes sunu.      Randas bæron
sæwicingas      ofer sealtne mersc,
manna menio;      micel angetrum
335: eode unforht.      He his ealdordom
synnum aswefede,      þæt he siðor for
on leofes last.      Him on leodsceare
frumbearnes riht      freobroðor oðþah,
ead and æðelo;      he wæs gearu swa þeah.
340: þær forð æfter him      folca þryðum
sunu Simeones      sweotum comon;
þridde þeodmægen      (þufas wundon
ofer garfare)      guðcyste onþrang
deawig sceaftum.      Dægwoma becwom
345: ofer garsecge,      godes beacna sum,
morgen mæretorht;      mægen forð gewat.
þa þær folcmægen      for æfter oðrum,
isernhergum.      An wisode
mægenþrymmum mæst,      þy he mære wearð,
350: on forðwegas      folc æfter wolcnum,
cynn æfter cynne.      Cuðe æghwilc
mægburga riht,      swa him Moises bead,
eorla æðelo.      Him wæs an fæder,
leof leodfruma,      landriht geþah,
355: frod on ferhðe,      freomagum leof.
Cende cneowsibbe      cenra manna
heahfædera sum,      halige þeode,
Israela cyn,      onriht godes,
swa þæt orþancum      ealde reccað
360: þa þe mægburge      mæst gefrunon,
frumcyn feora,      fæderæðelo gehwæs.
Niwe flodas      Noe oferlað,
þrymfæst þeoden,      mid his þrim sunum,
þone deopestan      drencefloda
365: þara ðe gewurde      on woruldrice.
Hæfde him on hreðre      halige treowa;
forþon he gelædde      ofer lagustreamas
maðmhorda mæst,      mine gefræge.
On feorhgebeorh      foldan hæfde
370: eallum eorðcynne      ece lafe,
frumcneow gehwæs,      fæder and moder
tuddorteondra,      geteled rime
mismicelra      þonne men cunnon,
snottor sæleoda.      Eac þon sæda gehwilc
375: on bearm scipes      beornas feredon,
þara þe under      heofonum hæleð bryttigað.
Swa þæt wise men      wordum secgað
þæt from Noe      nigoða wære
fæder Abrahames      on folctale.
380: þæt is se Abraham      se him engla god
naman niwan asceop;      eac þon neah and feor
halige heapas      in gehyld bebead,
werþeoda geweald;      he on wræce lifde.
Siððan he gelædde      leofost feora
385: haliges hæsum;      heahlond stigon
sibgemagas,      on Seone beorh.
Wære hie þær fundon,      wuldor gesawon,
halige heahtreowe,      swa hæleð gefrunon.
þær eft se snottra      sunu Dauides,
390: wuldorfæst cyning,      witgan larum
getimbrede      tempel gode,
alh haligne,      eorðcyninga
se wisesta      on woruldrice,
heahst and haligost,      hæleðum gefrægost,
395: mæst and mærost,      þara þe manna bearn,
fira æfter foldan,      folmum geworhte.
To þam meðelstede      magan gelædde
Abraham Isaac.      Adfyr onbran;
fyrst ferhðbana      no þy fægenra wæs.
400: Wolde þone lastweard      lige gesyllan,
in bælblyse      beorna selost,
his swæsne sunu      to sigetibre,
angan ofer eorðan      yrfelafe,
feores frofre,      ða he swa forð gebad,
405: leodum to lafe,      langsumne hiht.
He þæt gecyðde,      þa he þone cniht genam
fæste mid folmum,      folccuð geteag
ealde lafe,      (ecg grymetode),
þæt he him lifdagas      leofran ne wisse
410: þonne he hyrde      heofoncyninge.
Up aræmde      Abraham þa;
se eorl wolde slean      eaferan sinne
unweaxenne,      ecgum reodan
magan mid mece,      gif hine metod lete.
415: Ne wolde him beorht fæder      bearn ætniman,
halig tiber,      ac mid handa befeng.
þa him styran cwom      stefn of heofonum,
wuldres hleoðor,      word æfter spræc:
"Ne sleh þu, Abraham,      þin agen bearn,
420: sunu mid sweorde!      Soð is gecyðed,
nu þin cunnode      cyning alwihta,
þæt þu wið waldend      wære heolde,
fæste treowe,      seo þe freoðo sceal
in lifdagum      lengest weorðan,
425: awa to aldre      unswiciendo.
Hu þearf mannes sunu      maran treowe?
Ne behwylfan mæg      heofon and eorðe
his wuldres word,      widdra and siddra
þonne befæðman mæge      foldan sceattas,
430: eorðan ymbhwyrft      and uprodor,
garsecges gin      and þeos geomre lyft.
He að swereð,      engla þeoden,
wyrda waldend      and wereda god,
soðfæst sigora,      þurh his sylfes lif,
435: þæt þines cynnes      and cneowmaga,
randwiggendra,      rim ne cunnon,
yldo ofer eorðan,      ealle cræfte
to gesecgenne      soðum wordum,
nymðe hwylc þæs snottor      in sefan weorðe
440: þæt he ana mæge      ealle geriman
stanas on eorðan,      steorran on heofonum,
sæbeorga sand,      sealte yða;
ac hie gesittað      be sæm tweonum
oð Egipte      incaðeode
445: land Cananea,      leode þine,
freobearn fæder,      folca selost."
Folc wæs afæred,      flodegsa becwom
gastas geomre,      geofon deaðe hweop.
Wæron beorhhliðu      blode bestemed,
450: holm heolfre spaw,      hream wæs on yðum,
wæter wæpna ful,      wælmist astah.
Wæron Egypte      eft oncyrde,
flugon forhtigende,      fær ongeton,
woldon herebleaðe      hamas findan,
455: gylp wearð gnornra.      Him ongen genap
atol yða gewealc,      ne ðær ænig becwom
herges to hame,      ac behindan beleac
wyrd mid wæge.      þær ær wegas lagon,
mere modgode,      mægen wæs adrenced.
460: Streamas stodon,      storm up gewat
heah to heofonum,      herewopa mæst.
Laðe cyrmdon,      (lyft up geswearc),
fægum stæfnum,      flod blod gewod.
Randbyrig wæron rofene,      rodor swipode
465: meredeaða mæst,      modige swulton,
cyningas on corðre,      cyre swiðrode
sæs æt ende.      Wigbord scinon
heah ofer hæleðum,      holmweall astah,
merestream modig.      Mægen wæs on cwealme
470: fæste gefeterod,      forðganges weg
searwum æsæled,      sand basnodon,
witodre fyrde,      hwonne waðema stream,
sincalda sæ,      sealtum yðum
æflastum gewuna      ece staðulas,
475: nacud nydboda,      neosan come,
fah feðegast,      se ðe feondum geneop.
Wæs seo hæwene lyft      heolfre geblanden,
brim berstende      blodegesan hweop,
sæmanna sið,      oðþæt soð metod
480: þurh Moyses hand      modge rymde,
wide wæðde,      wælfæðmum sweop.
Flod famgode,      fæge crungon,
lagu land gefeol,      lyft wæs onhrered,
wicon weallfæsten,      wægas burston,
485: multon meretorras,      þa se mihtiga sloh
mid halige hand,      heofonrices weard,
on werbeamas.      Wlance ðeode
ne mihton forhabban      helpendra pað,
merestreames mod,      ac he manegum gesceod
490: gyllende gryre.      Garsecg wedde,
up ateah, on sleap.      Egesan stodon,
weollon wælbenna.      Witrod gefeol
heah of heofonum      handweorc godes,
famigbosma      flodwearde sloh,
495: unhleowan wæg,      alde mece,
þæt ðy deaðdrepe      drihte swæfon,
synfullra sweot.      Sawlum lunnon
fæste befarene,      flodblac here,
siððan hie on bugon      brun yppinge,
500: modewæga mæst.      Mægen eall gedreas
ða gedrencte wæron      dugoð Egypta,
Faraon mid his folcum.      He onfond hraðe,
siððan grund gestah      godes andsaca,
þæt wæs mihtigra      mereflodes weard;
505: wolde heorufæðmum      hilde gesceadan,
yrre and egesfull.      Egyptum wearð
þæs dægweorces      deop lean gesceod,
forðam þæs heriges      ham eft ne com
ealles ungrundes      ænig to lafe,
510: þætte sið heora      secgan moste,
bodigean æfter burgum      bealospella mæst,
hordwearda hryre,      hæleða cwenum,
ac þa mægenþreatas      meredeað geswealh,
spelbodan eac.      Se ðe sped ahte,
515: ageat gylp wera.      Hie wið god wunnon!
þanon Israhelum      ece rædas
on merehwearfe      Moyses sægde,
heahþungen wer,      halige spræce,
deop ærende.      Dægword nemnað
520: swa gyt werðeode,      on gewritum findað
doma gehwilcne,      þara ðe him drihten bebead
on þam siðfate      soðum wordum,
gif onlucan wile      lifes wealhstod,
beorht in breostum,      banhuses weard,
525: ginfæsten god      gastes cægon.
Run bið gerecenod,      ræd forð gæð,
hafað wislicu      word on fæðme,
wile meagollice      modum tæcan
þæt we gesne ne syn      godes þeodscipes,
530: metodes miltsa.      He us ma onlyhð,
nu us boceras      beteran secgað
lengran lifwynna.      þis is læne dream,
wommum awyrged,      wreccum alyfed,
earmra anbid.      Eðellease
535: þysne gystsele      gihðum healdað,
murnað on mode,      manhus witon
fæst under foldan,      þær bið fyr and wyrm,
open ece scræf.      Yfela gehwylces
swa nu regnþeofas      rice dælað,
540: yldo oððe ærdeað.      Eftwyrd cymð,
mægenþrymma mæst      ofer middangeard,
dæg dædum fah.      Drihten sylfa
on þam meðelstede      manegum demeð,
þonne he soðfæstra      sawla lædeð,
545: eadige gastas,      on uprodor,
þær is leoht and lif,      eac þon lissa blæd;
dugoð on dreame      drihten herigað,
weroda wuldorcyning,      to widan feore.
Swa reordode      ræda gemyndig
550: manna mildost,      mihtum swiðed,
hludan stefne;      here stille bad
witodes willan,      wundor ongeton,
modiges muðhæl;      he to mænegum spræc:
"Micel is þeos menigeo,      mægenwisa trum,
555: fullesta mæst,      se ðas fare lædeð;
hafað us on Cananea      cyn gelyfed
burh and beagas,      brade rice;
wile nu gelæstan      þæt he lange gehet
mid aðsware,      engla drihten,
560: in fyrndagum      fæderyncynne,
gif ge gehealdað      halige lare,
þæt ge feonda gehwone      forð ofergangað,
gesittað sigerice      be sæm tweonum,
beorselas beorna.      Bið eower blæd micel!"
565: æfter þam wordum      werod wæs on salum,
sungon sigebyman,      (segnas stodon),
on fægerne sweg;      folc wæs on lande,
hæfde wuldres beam      werud gelæded,
halige heapas,      on hild godes.
570: Life gefegon      þa hie oðlæded hæfdon
feorh of feonda dome,      þeah ðe hie hit frecne geneðdon,
weras under wætera hrofas.      Gesawon hie þær weallas standan,
ealle him brimu blodige þuhton,      þurh þa heora beadosearo wægon.
Hreðdon hildespelle,      siððan hie þam herge wiðforon;
575: hofon hereþreatas      hlude stefne,
for þam dædweorce      drihten heredon,
weras wuldres sang;      wif on oðrum,
folcsweota mæst,      fyrdleoð golan
aclum stefnum,      eallwundra fela.
580: þa wæs eðfynde      Afrisc meowle
on geofones staðe      golde geweorðod.
Handa hofon      halswurðunge,
bliðe wæron,      bote gesawon,
heddon herereafes,      hæft wæs onsæled.
585: Ongunnon sælafe      segnum dælan
on yðlafe,      ealde madmas,
reaf and randas.      Heo on riht sceodon
gold and godweb,      Iosepes gestreon,
wera wuldorgesteald.      Werigend lagon
590: on deaðstede, drihtfolca mæst.