Christ and Satan
Verse Indeterminate Unknown

þæt wearð underne eorðbuendum,
þæt meotod hæfde miht and strengðo
ða he gefestnade foldan sceatas.
Seolfa he gesette sunnan and monan,
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stanas and eorðan, stream ut on sæ,
wæter and wolcn, ðurh his wundra miht.
Deopne ymblyt clene ymbhaldeð
meotod on mihtum, and alne middangeard.
He selfa mæg sæ geondwlitan,
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grundas in geofene, godes agen bearn,
and he ariman mæg rægnas scuran,
dropena gehwelcne. Daga enderim
seolua he gesette þurh his soðan miht.
Swa se wyrhta þurh his wuldres gast
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serede and sette on six dagum
eorðan dæles, up on heofonum,
and heanne holm. Hwa is þæt ðe cunne
orðonc clene nymðe ece god?
Dreamas he gedelde, duguðe and geþeode,
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Adam ærest, and þæt æðele cyn,
engla ordfruman, þæt þe eft forwarð.
ðuhte him on mode þæt hit mihte swa,
þæt hie weron seolfe swegles brytan,
wuldres waldend. Him ðær wirse gelamp,
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ða heo in helle ham staðeledon,
an æfter oðrum, in þæt atole scref,
þær heo brynewelme bidan sceolden
saran sorge, nales swegles leoht
habban in heofnum heahgetimbrad,
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ac gedufan sceolun in ðone deopan wælm
niðær under nessas in ðone neowlan grund,
gredige and gifre. God ana wat
hu he þæt scyldige werud forscrifen hefde!
Cleopað ðonne se alda ut of helle,
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wriceð wordcwedas weregan reorde,
eisegan stefne: "Hwær com engla ðrym,
þe we on heofnum habban sceoldan?
þis is ðeostræ ham, ðearle gebunden
fæstum fyrclommum; flor is on welme
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attre onæled. Nis nu ende feor
þæt we sceolun ætsomne susel þrowian,
wean and wergu, nalles wuldres blæd
habban in heofnum, hehselda wyn.
Hwæt, we for dryhtene iu dreamas hefdon,
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song on swegle selrum tidum,
þær nu ymb ðone æcan æðele stondað,
heleð ymb hehseld, herigað drihten
wordum and wercum, and ic in wite sceal
bidan in bendum, and me bættran ham
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for oferhygdum æfre ne wene."
ða him andsweradan atole gastas,
swarte and synfulle, susle begnornende:
"þu us gelærdæst ðurh lyge ðinne
þæt we helende heran ne scealdon.
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ðuhte þe anum þæt ðu ahtest alles gewald,
heofnes and eorþan, wære halig god,
scypend seolfa. Nu earttu sceaðana sum,
in fyrlocan feste gebunden.
Wendes ðu ðurh wuldor ðæt þu woruld ahtest,
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alra onwald, and we englas mid ðec.
Atol is þin onseon! Habbað we alle swa
for ðinum leasungum lyðre gefered.
Segdest us to soðe þæt ðin sunu wære
meotod moncynnes; hafustu nu mare susel!"
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Swa firenfulle facnum wordum
heora aldorðægn on reordadon,
on cearum cwidum. Crist heo afirde,
dreamum bedelde. Hæfdan dryhtnes liht
for oferhygdum ufan forleton,
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hæfdon hym to hyhte helle floras,
beornende bealo. Blace hworfon
scinnan forscepene, sceaðan hwearfedon,
earme æglecan, geond þæt atole scref,
for ðam anmedlan þe hie ær drugon.
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Eft reordade oðre siðe
feonda aldor. Wæs þa forht agen,
seoððan he ðes wites worn gefelde.
He spearcade, ðonne he spreocan ongan
fyre and atre; ne bið swelc fæger dream
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ðonne he in witum wordum indraf:
"Ic wæs iu in heofnum halig ængel,
dryhtene deore; hefde me dream mid gode,
micelne for meotode, and ðeos menego swa some.
þa ic in mode minum hogade
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þæt ic wolde towerpan wuldres leoman,
bearn helendes, agan me burga gewald
eall to æhte, and ðeos earme heap
þe ic hebbe to helle ham geledde.
Wene þæt tacen sutol þa ic aseald wes on wærgðu,
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niðer under nessas in ðone neowlan grund.
Nu ic eow hebbe to hæftum ham gefærde
alle of earde. Nis her eadiges tir,
wloncra winsele, ne worulde dream,
ne ængla ðreat, ne we upheofon
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agan moten. Is ðes atola ham
fyre onæled. Ic eom fah wið god.
æce æt helle duru dracan eardigað,
hate on reðre; heo us helpan ne magon.
Is ðæs walica ham wites afylled;
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nagan we ðæs heolstres þæt we us gehydan mægon
in ðissum neowlan genipe. Hær is nedran swæg,
wyrmas gewunade. Is ðis wites clom
feste gebunden. Feond seondon reðe,
dimme and deorce. Ne her dæg lyhteð
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for scedes sciman, sceppendes leoht.
Iu ahte ic gewald ealles wuldres,
ær ic moste in ðeossum atolan æðele gebidan
hwæt me drihten god deman wille,
fagum on flora. Nu ic feran com
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deofla menego to ðissum dimman ham.
Ac ic sceal on flyge and on flyhte ðragum
earda neosan, and eower ma,
þe ðes oferhydes ord onstaldon.
Ne ðurfon we ðes wenan, þæt us wuldorcyning
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æfre wille eard alefan,
æðel to æhte, swa he ær dyde,
ecne onwald; ah him alles gewald,
wuldres and wita, waldendes sunu.
Forðon ic sceal hean and earm hweorfan ðy widor,
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wadan wræclastas, wuldre benemed,
duguðum bedeled, nænigne dream agan
uppe mid ænglum, þes ðe ic ær gecwæð
þæt ic wære seolfa swægles brytta,
wihta wealdend. Ac hit me wyrse gelomp!"
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Swa se werega gast wordum sæde
his earfoðo ealle ætsomne,
fah in fyrnum, (fyrleoma stod
geond þæt atole scræf attre geblonden):
"Ic eom limwæstmum þæt ic gelutian ne mæg
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on þyssum sidan sele, synnum forwundod.
Hwæt, her hat and ceald hwilum mencgað;
hwilum ic gehere hellescealcas,
gnornende cynn, grundas mænan,
niðer under næssum; hwilum nacode men
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winnað ymb wyrmas. Is þes windiga sele
eall inneweard atole gefylled.
Ne mot ic hihtlicran hames brucan,
burga ne bolda, ne on þa beorhtan gescæft
ne mot ic æfre ma eagum starian.
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Is me nu wyrsa þæt ic wuldres leoht
uppe mid englum æfre cuðe,
song on swegle, þær sunu meotodes
habbað eadige bearn ealle ymbfangen
seolfa mid sange. Ne ic þam sawlum ne mot
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ænigum sceððan,
butan þam anum þe he agan nyle;
þa ic mot to hæftum ham geferian,
bringan to bolde in þone biteran grund.
Ealle we syndon ungelice
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þonne þe we iu in heofonum hæfdon ærror
wlite and weorðmynt. Ful oft wuldres sweg
brohton to bearme bearn hælendes,
þær we ymb hine utan ealle hofan,
leomu ymb leofne, lofsonga word,
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drihtne sædon. Nu ic eom dædum fah,
gewundod mid wommum; sceal nu þysne wites clom
beoran beornende in bæce minum,
hat on helle, hyhtwillan leas."
þa gyt feola cwiðde firna herde,
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atol æglæca, ut of helle,
witum werig. Word spearcum fleah
attre gelicost, þonne he ut þorhdraf:
"Eala drihtenes þrym! Eala duguða helm!
Eala meotodes miht! Eala middaneard!
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Eala dæg leohta! Eala dream godes!
Eala engla þreat! Eala upheofen!
Eala þæt ic eam ealles leas ecan dreames,
þæt ic mid handum ne mæg heofon geræcan,
ne mid eagum ne mot up locian,
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ne huru mid earum ne sceal æfre geheran
þære byrhtestan beman stefne!
ðæs ic wolde of selde sunu meotodes,
drihten adrifan, and agan me þæs dreames gewald,
wuldres and wynne, me þær wyrse gelamp
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þonne ic to hihte agan moste.
Nu ic eom asceaden fram þære sciran driht,
alæded fram leohte in þone laðan ham.
Ne mæg ic þæt gehicgan hu ic in ðæm becwom,
in þis neowle genip, niðsynnum fah,
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aworpen of worulde. Wat ic nu þa
þæt bið alles leas ecan dreamas
se ðe heofencyninge heran ne þenceð,
meotode cweman. Ic þæt morðer sceal,
wean and witu and wrace dreogan,
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goda bedæled, iudædum fah,
þæs ðe ic geþohte adrifan drihten of selde,
weoroda waldend; sceal nu wreclastas
settan sorhgcearig, siðas wide."
Hwearf þa to helle þa he gehened wæs,
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godes andsaca; dydon his gingran swa,
gifre and grædige, þa hig god bedraf
in þæt hate hof þam is hel nama.
Forþan sceal gehycgan hæleða æghwylc
þæt he ne abælige bearn waldendes.
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Læte him to bysne hu þa blacan feond
for oferhygdum ealle forwurdon.
Neoman us to wynne weoroda drihten,
uppe ecne gefean, engla waldend.
He þæt gecydde þæt he mægencræft hæfde,
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mihta miccle, þa he þa mænego adraf,
hæftas of ðæm hean selde. Gemunan we þone halgan drihten,
ecne in wuldre mid alra gescefta ealdre;
ceosan us eard in wuldre mid ealra cyninga cyninge,
se is Crist genemned;
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beoran on breostum bliðe geþohtas,
sibbe and snytero; gemunan soð and riht,
þonne we to hehselde hnigan þencað,
and þone anwaldan ara biddan.
þonne behofað se ðe her wunað
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weorulde wynnum þæt him wlite scine
þonne he oðer lif eft geseceð,
fægere land þonne þeos folde seo;
is þær wlitig and wynsum, wæstmas scinað,
beorhte ofer burgum. þær is brade lond,
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hyhtlicra ham in heofonrice,
Criste gecwemra. Uta cerran þider
þær he sylfa sit, sigora waldend,
drihten hælend, in ðæm deoran ham,
and ymb þæt hehsetl hwite standað
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engla feðan and eadigra,
halige heofenþreatas herigað drihten
wordum and weorcum. Heora wlite scineð
geond ealra worulda woruld mid wuldorcyninge.
ða get ic furðor gefregen feond ondetan;
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wæs him eall ful strang wom and witu; hæfdon wuldorcyning
for oferhigdum anforlæten;
cwædon eft hraðe oðre worde:
"Nu is gesene þæt we syngodon
uppe on earde. Sceolon nu æfre þæs
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dreogan domlease gewinn drihtnes mihtum.
Hwæt, we in wuldres wlite wunian moston
þær we halgan gode heran woldon,
and him sang ymb seld secgan sceoldon
þusendmælum. þa we þær wæron,
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wunodon on wynnum, geherdon wuldres sweg,
beman stefne. Byrhtword aras
engla ordfruma, and to þæm æþelan
hnigan him sanctas; sigetorht aras
ece drihten, ofer us gestod
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and gebletsode bilewitne heap
dogra gehwilcne, and his se deora sunu,
gasta scyppend. God seolfa wæs
eallum andfeng þe ðær up becom,
and hine on eorðan ær gelefde.
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þa ðæs ofþuhte þæt se þeoden wæs
strang and stiðmod. Ongan ic þa steppan forð
ana wið englum, and to him eallum spræc:
'Ic can eow læran langsumne ræd,
gif ge willað minre mihte gelefan.
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Uta oferhycgan helm þone micclan,
weroda waldend, agan us þis wuldres leoht,
eall to æhte. þis is idel gylp
þæt we ær drugon ealle hwile.'
ða gewearð usic þæt we woldon swa
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drihten adrifan of þam deoran ham,
cyning of cestre. Cuð is wide
þæt wreclastas wunian moton,
grimme grundas. God seolfa him
rice haldeð. He is ana cyning,
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þe us eorre gewearð, ece drihten,
meotod mihtum swið. Sceal nu þeos menego her
licgan on leahtrum, sume on lyft scacan,
fleogan ofer foldan; fyr bið ymbutan
on æghwylcum, þæh he uppe seo.
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Ne mot he þam sawlum þe ðær secað up,
eadige of eorþan æfre gehrinan,
ah ic be hondum mot hæþenre sceale
gripan to grunde, godes andsacan.
Sume sceolon hweorfan geond hæleða land
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and unsibbe oft onstyrian
monna mægðum geond middaneard.
Ic her geþolian sceal þinga æghwylces,
bitres niðæs beala gnornian,
sic and sorhful, þæs ic seolfa weold,
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þonne ic on heofonum ham staðelode,
hwæðer us se eca æfre wille
on heofona rice ham alefan,
eðel to æhte, swa he ær dyde."
Swa gnornedon godes andsacan,
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hate on helle. Him wæs hælend god
wrað geworden for womcwidum.
Forþon mæg gehycgan, se ðe his heorte deah,
þæt he him afirre frecne geþohtas,
laðe leahtras, lifigendra gehwylc.
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Gemunan symle on mode meotodes strengðo;
gearwian us togenes grene stræte
up to englum, þær is se ælmihtiga god.
And us befæðman wile freobearn godes,
gif we þæt on eorðan ær geþencað,
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and us to þam halgan helpe gelefað.
þonne he us no forlæteð, ah lif syleð
uppe mid englum, eadigne dream.
Tæceð us se torhta trumlicne ham,
beorhte burhweallas. Beorhte scinað
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gesælige sawle, sorgum bedælde,
þær heo æfre forð wunian moten
cestre and cynestol. Uton cyþan þæt!
Deman we on eorðan, ærror lifigend,
onlucan mid listum locen waldendes,
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ongeotan gastlice! Us ongean cumað
þusend engla, gif þider moton,
and þæt on eorðan ær gewyrcað.
Forþon se bið eadig se ðe æfre wile
man oferhycgen, meotode cweman,
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synne adwæscan. Swa he sylfa cwæð:
"Soðfæste men, sunnan gelice,
fægre gefrætewod in heora fæder rice
scinað in sceldbyrig." þær heo sceppend seolf
friðe befæðmeð, fæder mancynnes,
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ahefeð holdlice in heofones leoht,
þær heo mid wuldorcyninge wunian moton
awa to aldre,
agan dreama dream mid drihtne gode,
a to worulde a buton ende.
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Eala hwæt! Se awyrgda wraðe geþohte
þæt he heofencyninge heran ne wolde,
fæder frefergendum. Flor attre weol,
hat under hæftum; hreopan deofla,
wide geond windsele wean cwanedon,
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man and morður. Wæs seo menego þær
swylce onæled; wæs þæt eall full strong,
þonne wæs heora aldor, þe ðær ærest com
forð on feþan, fæste gebunden
fyre and lige. þæt wæs fæstlic þreat;
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ec sceoldon his þegnas þær gewunian
atolan eðles, nalles up þanon
geheran in heofonum haligne dream,
þær heo oft fægerne folgað hæfdon
uppe mid englum. Wæron þa alles þæs
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goda lease, ah nymþe gryndes ad
wunian ne moten and þone werigan sele
þær is wom and wop wide gehered,
and gristbitungc and gnornungc mecga.
Nabbað he to hyhte nymþe cyle and fyr,
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wean and witu and wyrma þreat,
dracan and næddran and þone dimman ham.
Forðon mihte geheran, se ðe æt hylle wæs
twelf milum neh, þæt ðær wæs toða geheaw,
hlude and geomre. Godes andsacan
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hweorfan geond helle hate onæled
ufan and utan (him wæs æghwær wa),
witum werige, wuldres bescyrede,
dreamum bedælde. Heofon deop gehygd,
þa heo on heofonum ham staðelodon,
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þæt hie woldon benæman nergendne Crist
rodera rices, ah he on riht geheold
hired heofona and þæt halige seld.
Nis nænig swa snotor ne swa cræftig,
ne þæs swa gleaw, nymþe god seolfa,
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þæt asecgan mæge swegles leoman,
hu scima þær scineð ymbutan
meotodes mihte, geond þæt mære cynn,
þær habbað englas eadigne dream,
sanctas singað (þæt is se seolfa) for god.
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þonne beoð þa eadigan þe of eorðan cumað,
bringað to bearme blostman stences,
wyrte wynsume (þæt synd word godes),
þonne hie befæðmeð fæder mancynnes,
and hie gesegnað mid his swiðran hond,
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lædeð to lihte, þær hi lif agon
a to aldre, uplicne ham,
byrhtne burhstyde. Blæd bið æghwæm
þæm ðe hælende heran þenceð,
and wel is þam ðe þæt wyrcan mot.
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Wæs þæt encgelcyn ær genemned,
Lucifer haten, leohtberende,
on geardagum in godes rice.
þa he in wuldre wrohte onstalde
þæt he oferhyda agan wolde.
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þa Satanus swearte geþohte
þæt he wolde on heofonum hehseld wyrcan
uppe mid þam ecan. þæt wæs ealdor heora,
yfeles ordfruma. Him þæt eft gehreaw,
þa he to helle hnigan sceolde,
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and his hired mid hine, in hynðo geglidan,
nergendes nið, and no seoððan
þæt hi mosten in þone ecan andwlitan seon
buton ende. þa him egsa becom,
dyne for deman, þa he duru in helle
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bræc and begde. Blis wearð monnum
þa hi hælendes heafod gesawon.
þonne wæs þam atolan þe we ær nemdon
þa wæron mid egsan ealle afyrhte,
wide geond windsele wordum mændon:
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"þis is stronglic, nu þes storm becom,
þegen mid þreate, þeoden engla.
Him beforan fereð fægere leoht
þonne we æfre ær eagum gesawon,
buton þa we mid englum uppe wæron.
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Wile nu ure witu þurh his wuldres cræft
eall toweorpan. Nu ðes egsa com,
dyne for drihtne, sceal þes dreorga heap
ungeara nu atol þrowian.
Hit is se seolfa sunu waldendes,
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engla drihten. Wile uppe heonan
sawla lædan, and we seoððan a
þæs yrreweorces henðo geþoliað."
Hwearf þa to helle hæleða bearnum,
meotod þurh mihte; wolde manna rim,
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fela þusenda, forð gelædan
up to eðle. þa com engla sweg,
dyne on dægred; hæfde drihten seolf
feond oferfohten. Wæs seo fæhðe þa gyt
open on uhtan, þa se egsa becom.
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Let þa up faran eadige sawle,
Adames cyn, ac ne moste Efe þa gyt
wlitan in wuldre ær heo wordum cwæð:
"Ic þe æne abealh, ece drihten,
þa wit Adam twa eaples þigdon
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þurh næddran nið, swa wit na ne sceoldon.
Gelærde unc se atola, se ðe æfre nu
beorneð on bendum, þæt wit blæd ahton,
haligne ham, heofon to gewalde.
þa wit ðæs awærgdan wordum gelyfdon,
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namon mid handum on þam halgan treo
beorhte blæda; unc þæs bitere forgeald
þa wit in þis hate scræf hweorfan sceoldon,
and wintra rim wunian seoððan,
þusenda feolo, þearle onæled.
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Nu ic þe halsige, heofenrices weard,
for þan hirede þe ðu hider læddest,
engla þreatas, þæt ic up heonon
mæge and mote mid minre mægðe.
And ymb þreo niht com þegen hælendes
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ham to helle; is nu hæftum strong,
witum werig, swylce him wuldorcyning
for onmædlan eorre geworden.
Segdest us to soðe þætte seolfa god
wolde helwarum ham gelihtan.
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Aras þa anra gehwylc, and wið earm gesæt,
hleonade wið handa. þeah hylle gryre
egeslic þuhte, wæron ealle þæs
fægen in firnum þæt freodrihten
wolde him to helpe helle gesecan."
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Ræhte þa mid handum to heofencyninge,
bæd meotod miltse þurh Marian had:
"Hwæt, þu fram minre dohtor, drihten, onwoce
in middangeard mannum to helpe.
Nu is gesene þæt ðu eart sylfa god
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and ece ordfruma ealra gesceafta."
Let þa up faran ece drihten;
wuldre hæfde wites clomma
feondum oðfæsted, and heo furðor sceaf
in þæt neowle genip, nearwe gebeged,
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þær nu Satanus swearte þingað,
earm aglæca, and þa atolan mid him,
witum werige. Nalles wuldres leoht
habban moton, ah in helle grund,
ne hi edcerres æfre moton
450
wenan seoððan. Him wæs drihten god
wrað geworden, sealde him wites clom,
atole to æhte, and egsan gryre,
dimne and deorcne deaðes scuwan,
hatne helle grund, hinsiðgryre.
455
þæt, la, wæs fæger, þæt se feða com
up to earde, and se eca mid him,
meotod mancynnes in þa mæran burh!
Hofon hine mid him handum halige
witigan up to eðle, Abrahames cynn.
460
Hæfde þa drihten seolf deað oferwunnen,
feond geflemed; þæt in fyrndagum
witegan sædon þæt he swa wolde.
þis wæs on uhtan eall geworden,
ær dægrede, þæt se dyne becom,
465
hlud of heofonum, þa he helle duru
forbræc and forbegde; ban weornodon
þa hie swa leohtne leoman gesawon.
Gesæt þa mid þære fyrde frumbearn godes,
sæde soðcwidum: "Snotre gastas,
470
ic eow þurh mine mihte geworhte,
Adam ærest and þæt æðele wif.
þa hie begeton on godes willan
feowertig bearna, þæt forð þonon
on middangeard menio onwocon,
475
and wintra feola wunian moston,
eorlas on eðle, oððæt eft gelamp
þæt hie afyrde eft feond in firenum;
fah is æghwær.
Ic on neorxnawonge niwe asette
480
treow mid telgum, þæt ða tanas up
æpla bæron, and git æton þa
beorhtan blæda, swa inc se balewa het,
handþegen helle. Hæfdon forþon hatne grund,
þæs git ofergymdon hælendes word,
485
æten þa egsan. Wæs se atola beforan,
se inc bam forgeaf balewe geþohtas.
þa me gereaw þæt min handgeweorc
þæs carcernes clom ðrowade.
Næs ða monna gemet, ne mægen engla,
490
ne witegena weorc, ne wera snytero,
þæt eow mihte helpan, nimðe hælend god,
se þæt wite ær to wrece gesette.
Ferde to foldan þurh fæmnan had
ufan from eðle, and on eorþan gebad
495
tintregan fela and teonan micelne.
Me seredon ymb secgas monige
dæges and nihtes, hu heo me deaðes cwealm,
rices rædboran, hrefnan mihten.
þa wæs þæs mæles mearc agangen
500
þæt on worulde wæs wintra gerimes
þreo and þritig geara ær ic þrowode.
Gemunde ic ðæs mænego on þam minnan ham
lange þæs ðe ic of hæftum ham gelædde
up to earde, þæt heo agan sceolon
505
drihtnes domas and duguðe þrym;
wuniað in wynnum, habbað wuldres blæd
þusendmælum. Ic eow þingade
þa me on beame beornas sticedon,
garum on galgum. Heow se giunga þær,
510
and ic eft up becom ece dreamas
to haligum drihtne."
Swa wuldres weard wordum sæde,
meotod moncynnes ær on morgen
þæs þe drihten god of deaðe aras.
515
Næs nan þæs stronglic stan gefæstnod,
þeah he wære mid irne eall ymbfangen,
þæt mihte þam miclan mægne wiðhabban,
ah he ut eode, engla drihten,
on þæm fæstenne, and gefatian het
520
englas eallbeorhte andleofan gingran,
and huru secgan het Simon Petre
þæt he moste in Galileam god sceawian,
ecne and trumne, swa he ær dyde.
þa ic gongan gefregn gingran ætsomne
525
ealle to Galileam; hæfdon gastes bled,
ongeton haligne godes sunu
swa heo gesegon hwær sunu meotodes
þa on upp gestod, ece drihten,
god in Galileam. To ðæs gingran þider
530
ealle urnon, þær se eca wæs.
Feollon on foldan, and to fotum hnigon;
þanceden þeodne þæt hit þus gelomp
þæt hi sceawodon scyppend engla.
þa sona spræc Simon Petrus:
535
"Eart þu þis, drihten, dome gewurðad?
We ðe gesawon æt sumum cyrre,
þec gelegdon on laðne bend
hæþene mid hondum; him þæt gehreowan mæg
þonne heo endestæf eft gesceawiað."
540
Sume hie ne mihton mode oncnawan
þæt wæs se deora (Didimus wæs haten)
ær he mid hondum hælend genom
sylfne be sidan þær he his swat forlet;
feollon to foldan fulwihtes bæðe.
545
Fæger wæs þæt ongin þæt freodrihten
geþrowode, þeoden ure.
He on beame astah and his blod ageat,
god on galgan, þurh his gastes mægen.
Forþon men sceolon mæla gehwylce
550
secgan drihtne þanc dædum and weorcum,
þæs ðe he us of hæftum ham gelædde
up to eðle, þær we agan sceolon
drihtnes domas,
and we in wynnum wunian moton.
555
Us is wuldres leoht
torht ontyned, þam ðe teala þenceð.
þa wæs on eorðan ece drihten
feowertig daga folgad folcum,
gecyðed mancynne, ær he in þa mæran gesceaft,
560
burhleoda fruma, bringan wolde
haligne gast to heofonrice.
Astah up on heofonum engla scyppend,
weoroda waldend. þa com wolcna sweg,
halig of heofonum. Mid wæs hond godes,
565
onfeng freodrihten, and hine forð lædde
to þam halgan ham heofna ealdor.
Him ymbflugon engla þreatas
þusendmælum. þa hit þus gelomp,
þa gyt nergende Crist gecwæð þæt he þæs
570
ymb tene niht twelf apostolas
mid his gastes gife, gingran geswiðde.
Hæfde þa gesette sawla unrim
god lifigende. þa wæs Iudas of,
se ðe ær on tifre torhtne gesalde,
575
drihten hælend; him seo dæd ne geþeah,
þæs he bebohte bearn wealdendes
on seolfres sinc; him þæt swearte forgeald
earm æglæca innon helle.
Siteð nu on þa swiðran hond sunu his fæderes;
580
dæleð dogra gehwæm drihten weoroda
help and hælo hæleþa bearnum
geond middangeard. þæt is monegum cuð
þæt he ana is ealra gescefta
wyrhta and waldend þurh his wuldres cræft.
585
Siteð him on heofnum halig encgel,
waldend mid witegum. Hafað wuldres bearn
his seolfes seld swegl betolden.
Leaðað us þider to leohte þurh his læcedom,
þær we moton seolfe sittan mid drihtne,
590
uppe mid englum, habban þæt ilce leoht,
þær his hired nu halig eardað,
wunað in wynnum, þær is wuldres bled
torht ontyned. Uton teala hycgan
þæt we hælende heran georne,
595
Criste cweman. þær is cuðre lif
þonne we on eorðan mægen æfre gestreonan.
Hafað nu geþingod to us þeoden mæra,
ælmihtig god,
on domdæge drihten seolfa.
600
Hateð hehenglas hluddre stefne
beman blawan ofer burga geseotu
geond foldan sceatas.
þonne of þisse moldan men onwecnað;
deade of duste arisað þurh drihtnes miht.
605
þæt bið daga lengust, and dinna mæst
hlud gehered, þonne hælend cymeð,
waldend mid wolcnum in þas woruld færeð.
Wile þonne gesceadan wlitige and unclæne
on twa healfe, tile and yfle.
610
Him þa soðfæstan on þa swiðran hond
mid rodera weard reste gestigað.
þonne beoð bliðe þa in burh moton
gongan in godes rice,
and heo gesenað mid his swiðran hond
615
cynincg alwihta, cleopað ofer ealle:
"Ge sind wilcuman! Gað in wuldres leoht
to heofona rice, þær ge habbað
a to aldre ece reste."
þonne stondað þa forworhtan, þa ðe firnedon;
620
beoð beofigende hwonne him bearn godes
deman wille þurh his dæda sped.
Wenað þæt heo moten to þære mæran byrig
up to englum swa oðre dydon,
ac him bið reordende
625
ece drihten, ofer ealle gecwæð:
"Astigað nu, awyrgde, in þæt witehus
ofostum miclum. Nu ic eow ne con."
Sona æfter þæm wordum werige gastas,
helle hæftas, hwyrftum scriþað
630
þusendmælum, and þider leaðað
in þæt sceaðena scræf, scufað to grunde
in þæt nearwe nið, and no seoððan
þæt hie up þonan æfre moton,
ah þær geþolian sceolon earmlic wite,
635
clom and carcern, and þone caldan grund
deopne adreogan and deofles spellunge,
hu hie him on edwit oft asettað
swarte suslbonan, stæleð feondas
fæhðe and firne, þær ðe hie freodrihten,
640
ecne anwaldan, oft forgeaton,
þone þe hie him to hihte habban sceoldon.
Uton, la, geþencan geond þas worulde,
þæt we hælende heran onginnen!
Georne þurh godes gife gemunan gastes bled,
645
hu eadige þær uppe sittað
selfe mid swegle, sunu hælendes!
þær is geat gylden gimmum gefrætewod,
wynnum bewunden, þæm þe in wuldres leoht
gongan moten to godes rice,
650
and ymb þa weallas wlitige scinað
engla gastas and eadige sawla,
þa ðe heonon ferað.
þær martiras meotode cwemað,
and herigað hehfæder halgum stefnum,
655
cyning in cestre. Cweþað ealle þus:
"þu eart hæleða helm and heofendema,
engla ordfruma, and eorðan tudor
up gelæddest to þissum eadigan ham."
Swa wuldres weard wordum herigað
660
þegnas ymb þeoden, þær is þrym micel,
sang æt selde, is sylf cyning,
ealra aldor, in ðære ecan gesceft.
þæt is se drihten, seðe deað for us
geþrowode, þeoden engla.
665
Swylce he fæste feowertig daga,
metod mancynnes, þurh his mildsa sped.
þa gewearð þone weregan, þe ær aworpen wæs
of heofonum þæt he in helle gedeaf,
þa costode cyning alwihta.
670
Brohte him to bearme brade stanas,
bæd him for hungre hlafas wyrcan--
"gif þu swa micle mihte hæbbe."
þa him andswarode ece drihten:
"Wendest þu, awyrgda, þæt awriten nære,
675
nymþe me ænne
ac geseted hafast, sigores agend,
lifigendum liht, lean butan ende,
on heofenrice, halige dreamas."
þa he mid hondum genom
680
atol þurh edwit, and on esle ahof,
herm bealowes gast, and on beorh astah,
asette on dune drihten hælend:
"Loca nu ful wide ofer londbuende.
Ic þe geselle on þines seolfes dom
685
folc and foldan. Foh hider to me
burh and breotone bold to gewealde,
rodora rices, gif þu seo riht cyning
engla and monna, swa ðu ær myntest."
þa him andswarode ece drihten:
690
"Gewit þu, awyrgda, in þæt witescræf,
Satanus seolf; þe is susl weotod
gearo togegnes, nalles godes rice.
Ah ic þe hate þurh þa hehstan miht
þæt ðu hellwarum hyht ne abeode,
695
ah þu him secgan miht sorga mæste,
þæt ðu gemettes meotod alwihta,
cyning moncynnes. Cer ðe on bæcling!
Wite þu eac, awyrgda, hu wid and sid
helheoðo dreorig, and mid hondum amet.
700
Grip wið þæs grundes; gang þonne swa
oððæt þu þone ymbhwyrft alne cunne,
and ærest amet ufan to grunde,
and hu sid seo se swarta eðm.
Wast þu þonne þe geornor þæt þu wið god wunne,
705
seoððan þu þonne hafast handum ametene
hu heh and deop hell inneweard seo,
grim græfhus. Gong ricene to,
ær twa seondon tida agongene,
þæt ðu merced hus ameten hæbbe."
710
þa þam werigan wearð wracu getenge.
Satan seolua ran and on susle gefeol,
earm æglece. Hwilum mid folmum mæt
wean and witu. Hwilum se wonna læg
læhte wið þes laþan. Hwilum he licgan geseah
715
hæftas in hylle. Hwilum hream astag,
ðonne he on þone atolan eagum gesawun.
Hæfdon gewunnon godes andsacan
blac bealowes gast, þæt he on botme stod.
þa him þuhte þæt þanon wære
720
to helleduru hund þusenda
mila gemearcodes, swa hine se mihtiga het
þæt þurh sinne cræft susle amæte.
ða he gemunde þæt he on grunde stod.
Locade leas wiht geond þæt laðe scræf,
725
atol mid egum, oððæt egsan gryre
deofla mænego þonne up astag.
Wordum in witum ongunnon þa werigan gastas
reordian and cweðan:
"La, þus beo nu on yfele! Noldæs ær teala!"
730
Finit Liber II. Amen.