The Complete Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Poetry
Judith
Verse Indeterminate Saxon
tweode
gifena in ðys ginnan grunde. Heo ðar ða
gearwe funde
mundbyrd æt ðam mæran þeodne,
þa heo ahte mæste þearfe,
hyldo þæs hehstan deman, þæt
he hie wið þæs hehstan brogan
5
gefriðode, frymða waldend. Hyre ðæs
fæder on roderum
torhtmod tiðe gefremede, þe heo ahte trumne
geleafan
a to ðam ælmihtigan. Gefrægen ic ða
Holofernus
winhatan wyrcean georne ond eallum wundrum þrymlic
girwan up swæsendo. To ðam het se gumena
baldor
10
ealle ða yldestan ðegnas; hie ðæt
ofstum miclum
ræfndon, rondwiggende, comon to ðam rican
þeodne
feran, folces ræswan. þæt wæs
þy feorðan dogore
þæs ðe Iudith hyne, gleaw on geðonce,
ides ælfscinu, ærest gesohte.
15
Hie ða to ðam symle sittan eodon,
wlance to wingedrince, ealle his weagesiðas,
bealde byrnwiggende. þær wæron bollan
steape
boren æfter bencum gelome, swylce eac bunan ond
orcas
fulle fletsittendum; hie þæt fæge
þegon,
20
rofe rondwiggende, þeah ðæs se rica
ne wende,
egesful eorla dryhten. ða wearð Holofernus,
goldwine gumena, on gytesalum,
hloh ond hlydde, hlynede ond dynede,
þæt mihten fira bearn feorran gehyran
25
hu se stiðmoda styrmde ond gylede,
modig ond medugal, manode geneahhe
bencsittende þæt hi gebærdon wel.
Swa se inwidda ofer ealne dæg
dryhtguman sine drencte mid wine,
30
swiðmod sinces brytta, oðþæt hie
on swiman lagon,
oferdrencte his duguðe ealle, swylce hie wæron
deaðe geslegene,
agotene goda gehwylces. Swa het se gumena aldor
fylgan fletsittendum, oðþæt fira bearnum
nealæhte niht seo þystre. Het ða niða
geblonden
35
þa eadigan mægð ofstum fetigan
to his bedreste beagum gehlæste,
hringum gehrodene. Hie hraðe fremedon,
anbyhtscealcas, swa him heora ealdor bebead,
byrnwigena brego, bearhtme stopon
40
to ðam gysterne, þær hie Iudithðe
fundon ferhðgleawe, ond ða fromlice
lindwiggende lædan ongunnon
þa torhtan mægð to træfe þam
hean,
þær se rica hyne reste on symbel
45
nihtes inne, nergende lað,
Holofernus. þær wæs eallgylden
fleohnet fæger ymbe þæs
folctogan
bed ahongen, þæt se bealofulla
mihte wlitan þurh, wigena baldor,
50
on æghwylcne þe ðær inne com
hæleða bearna, ond on hyne nænig
monna cynnes, nymðe se modiga hwæne
niðe rofra him þe near hete
rinca to rune gegangan. Hie ða on reste gebrohton
55
snude ða snoteran idese; eodon ða stercedferhðe,
hæleð heora hearran cyðan þæt
wæs seo halige meowle
gebroht on his burgetelde. þa wearð se brema
on mode
bliðe, burga ealdor, þohte ða beorhtan
idese
mid widle ond mid womme besmitan. Ne wolde þæt
wuldres dema
60
geðafian, þrymmes hyrde, ac he him þæs
ðinges gestyrde,
dryhten, dugeða waldend. Gewat ða se deofulcunda,
galferhð gumena ðreate
bealofull his beddes neosan, þær he sceolde
his blæd forleosan
ædre binnan anre nihte; hæfde ða his
ende gebidenne
65
on eorðan unswæslicne, swylcne he ær
æfter worhte,
þearlmod ðeoden gumena, þenden he on
ðysse worulde
wunode under wolcna hrofe. Gefeol ða wine swa druncen
se rica on his reste middan, swa he nyste ræda
nanne
on gewitlocan. Wiggend stopon
70
ut of ðam inne ofstum miclum,
weras winsade, þe ðone wærlogan,
laðne leodhatan, læddon to bedde
nehstan siðe. þa wæs nergendes
þeowen þrymful, þearle gemyndig
75
hu heo þone atolan eaðost mihte
ealdre benæman ær se unsyfra,
womfull, onwoce. Genam ða wundenlocc
scyppendes mægð scearpne mece,
scurum heardne, ond of sceaðe abræd
80
swiðran folme; ongan ða swegles weard
be naman nemnan, nergend ealra
woruldbuendra, ond þæt word acwæð:
"Ic ðe, frymða god ond frofre gæst,
bearn alwaldan, biddan wylle
85
miltse þinre me þearfendre,
ðrynesse ðrym. þearle ys me nu ða
heorte onhæted ond hige geomor,
swyðe mid sorgum gedrefed. Forgif me, swegles ealdor,
sigor ond soðne geleafan, þæt ic mid
þys sweorde mote
90
geheawan þysne morðres bryttan; geunne me
minra gesynta,
þearlmod þeoden gumena. Nahte ic þinre
næfre
miltse þon maran þearfe. Gewrec nu, mihtig
dryhten,
torhtmod tires brytta, þæt me ys þus
torne on mode,
hate on hreðre minum." Hi ða se hehsta dema
95
ædre mid elne onbryrde, swa he deð anra gehwylcne
herbuendra þe hyne him to helpe seceð
mid ræde ond mid rihte geleafan. þa wearð
hyre rume on mode,
haligre hyht geniwod; genam ða þone hæðenan
mannan
fæste be feaxe sinum, teah hyne folmum wið
hyre weard
100
bysmerlice, ond þone bealofullan
listum alede, laðne mannan,
swa heo ðæs unlædan eaðost mihte
wel gewealdan. Sloh ða wundenlocc
þone feondsceaðan fagum mece,
105
heteþoncolne, þæt heo healfne forcearf
þone sweoran him, þæt he on swiman
læg,
druncen ond dolhwund. Næs ða dead þa
gyt,
ealles orsawle; sloh ða eornoste
ides ellenrof oðre siðe
110
þone hæðenan hund, þæt
him þæt heafod wand
forð on ða flore. Læg se fula leap
gesne beæftan, gæst ellor hwearf
under neowelne næs ond ðær genyðerad
wæs,
susle gesæled syððan æfre,
115
wyrmum bewunden, witum gebunden,
hearde gehæfted in hellebryne
æfter hinsiðe. Ne ðearf he hopian no,
þystrum forðylmed, þæt he ðonan
mote
of ðam wyrmsele, ac ðær wunian sceal
120
awa to aldre butan ende forð
in ðam heolstran ham, hyhtwynna leas.
Hæfde ða gefohten foremærne blæd
Iudith æt guðe, swa hyre god uðe,
swegles ealdor, þe hyre sigores onleah.
125
þa seo snotere mægð snude gebrohte
þæs herewæðan heafod swa blodig
on ðam fætelse þe hyre foregenga,
blachleor ides, hyra begea nest,
ðeawum geðungen, þyder on lædde,
130
ond hit þa swa heolfrig hyre on hond ageaf,
higeðoncolre, ham to berenne,
Iudith gingran sinre. Eodon ða gegnum þanonne
þa idesa ba ellenþriste,
oðþæt hie becomon,
collenferhðe,
135
eadhreðige mægð, ut of ðam herige,
þæt hie sweotollice geseon mihten
þære wlitegan byrig weallas blican,
Bethuliam. Hie ða beahhrodene
feðelaste forð onettan,
140
oð hie glædmode gegan hæfdon
to ðam wealgate. Wiggend sæton,
weras wæccende wearde heoldon
in ðam fæstenne, swa ðam folce ær
geomormodum Iudith bebead,
145
searoðoncol mægð, þa heo on sið
gewat,
ides ellenrof. Wæs ða eft cumen
leof to leodum, ond ða lungre het
gleawhydig wif gumena sumne
of ðære ginnan byrig hyre togeanes gan,
150
ond hi ofostlice in forleton
þurh ðæs wealles geat, ond þæt
word acwæð
to ðam sigefolce: "Ic eow secgan mæg
þoncwyrðe þing, þæt ge
ne þyrfen leng
murnan on mode. Eow ys metod bliðe,
155
cyninga wuldor; þæt gecyðed wearð
geond woruld wide, þæt eow ys wuldorblæd
torhtlic toweard ond tir gifeðe
þara læðða þe ge lange drugon."
þa wurdon bliðe burhsittende,
160
syððan hi gehyrdon hu seo halige spræc
ofer heanne weall. Here wæs on lustum.
Wið þæs fæstengeates folc onette,
weras wif somod, wornum ond heapum,
ðreatum ond ðrymmum þrungon ond urnon
165
ongean ða þeodnes mægð
þusendmælum,
ealde ge geonge. æghwylcum wearð
men on ðære medobyrig mod areted,
syððan hie ongeaton þæt wæs
Iudith cumen
eft to eðle, ond ða ofostlice
170
hie mid eaðmedum in forleton.
þa seo gleawe het, golde gefrætewod,
hyre ðinenne þancolmode
þæs herewæðan heafod onwriðan
ond hyt to behðe blodig ætywan
175
þam burhleodum, hu hyre æt beaduwe gespeow.
Spræc ða seo æðele to eallum
þam folce:
"Her ge magon sweotole, sigerofe hæleð,
leoda ræswan, on ðæs laðestan
hæðenes heaðorinces heafod starian,
180
Holofernus unlyfigendes,
þe us monna mæst morðra gefremede,
sarra sorga, ond þæt swyðor gyt
ycan wolde, ac him ne uðe god
lengran lifes, þæt he mid læððum
us
185
eglan moste; ic him ealdor oðþrong
þurh godes fultum. Nu ic gumena gehwæne
þyssa burgleoda biddan wylle,
randwiggendra, þæt ge recene eow
fysan to gefeohte. Syððan frymða god,
190
arfæst cyning, eastan sende
leohtne leoman, berað linde forð,
bord for breostum ond byrnhomas,
scire helmas in sceaðena gemong,
fyllan folctogan fagum sweordum,
195
fæge frumgaras. Fynd syndon eowere
gedemed to deaðe, ond ge dom agon,
tir æt tohtan, swa eow getacnod hafað
mihtig dryhten þurh mine hand."
þa wearð snelra werod snude gegearewod,
200
cenra to campe. Stopon cynerofe
secgas ond gesiðas, bæron sigeþufas,
foron to gefeohte forð on gerihte,
hæleð under helmum, of ðære haligan
byrig
on ðæt dægred sylf. Dynedan scildas,
205
hlude hlummon. þæs se hlanca gefeah
wulf in walde, ond se wanna hrefn,
wælgifre fugel. Wistan begen
þæt him ða þeodguman þohton
tilian
fylle on fægum; ac him fleah on last
210
earn ætes georn, urigfeðera,
salowigpada sang hildeleoð,
hyrnednebba. Stopon heaðorincas,
beornas to beadowe, bordum beðeahte,
hwealfum lindum, þa ðe hwile ær
215
elðeodigra edwit þoledon,
hæðenra hosp. Him þæt hearde
wearð
æt ðam æscplegan eallum forgolden,
Assyrium, syððan Ebreas
under guðfanum gegan hæfdon
220
to ðam fyrdwicum. Hie ða fromlice
leton forð fleogan flana scuras,
hildenædran, of hornbogan,
strælas stedehearde; styrmdon hlude
grame guðfrecan, garas sendon
225
in heardra gemang. Hæleð wæron yrre,
landbuende, laðum cynne,
stopon styrnmode, stercedferhðe,
wrehton unsofte ealdgeniðlan
medowerige; mundum brugdon
230
scealcas of sceaðum scirmæled swyrd,
ecgum gecoste, slogon eornoste
Assiria oretmæcgas,
niðhycgende, nanne ne sparedon
þæs herefolces, heanne ne ricne,
235
cwicera manna þe hie ofercuman mihton.
Swa ða magoþegnas on ða morgentid
ehton elðeoda ealle þrage,
oðþæt ongeaton ða ðe grame
wæron,
ðæs herefolces heafodweardas,
240
þæt him swyrdgeswing swiðlic eowdon
weras Ebrisce. Hie wordum þæt
þam yldestan ealdorþegnum
cyðan eodon, wrehton cumbolwigan
ond him forhtlice færspel bodedon,
245
medowerigum morgencollan,
atolne ecgplegan. þa ic ædre gefrægn
slegefæge hæleð slæpe tobredon
ond wið þæs bealofullan burgeteldes
werigferhðe hwearfum þringan,
250
Holofernus. Hogedon aninga
hyra hlaforde hilde bodian,
ærðon ðe him se egesa on ufan sæte,
mægen Ebrea. Mynton ealle
þæt se beorna brego ond seo beorhte mægð
255
in ðam wlitegan træfe wæron ætsomne,
Iudith seo æðele ond se galmoda,
egesfull ond afor. Næs ðeah eorla nan
þe ðone wiggend aweccan dorste
oððe gecunnian hu ðone cumbolwigan
260
wið ða halgan mægð hæfde geworden,
metodes meowlan. Mægen nealæhte,
folc Ebrea, fuhton þearle
heardum heoruwæpnum, hæfte guldon
hyra fyrngeflitu, fagum swyrdum,
265
ealde æfðoncan; Assyria wearð
on ðam dægeweorce dom geswiðrod,
bælc forbiged. Beornas stodon
ymbe hyra þeodnes træf þearle gebylde,
sweorcendferhðe. Hi ða somod ealle
270
ongunnon cohhetan, cirman hlude
ond gristbitian, gode orfeorme,
mid toðon torn þoligende. þa wæs
hyra tires æt ende,
eades ond ellendæda. Hogedon þa eorlas
aweccan
hyra winedryhten; him wiht ne speow.
275
þa wearð sið ond late sum to ðam
arod
þara beadorinca, þæt he in þæt
burgeteld
niðheard neðde, swa hyne nyd fordraf.
Funde ða on bedde blacne licgan
his goldgifan gæstes gesne,
280
lifes belidenne. He þa lungre gefeoll
freorig to foldan, ongan his feax teran,
hreoh on mode, ond his hrægl somod,
ond þæt word acwæð to ðam
wiggendum
þe ðær unrote ute wæron:
285
"Her ys geswutelod ure sylfra forwyrd,
toweard getacnod þæt þære tide
ys
mid niðum neah geðrungen, þe we sculon
nyde losian,
somod æt sæcce forweorðan. Her lið
sweorde geheawen,
beheafdod healdend ure." Hi ða hreowigmode
290
wurpon hyra wæpen of dune, gewitan him werigferhðe
on fleam sceacan. Him mon feaht on last,
mægeneacen folc, oð se mæsta dæl
þæs heriges læg hilde gesæged
on ðam sigewonge, sweordum geheawen,
295
wulfum to willan ond eac wælgifrum
fuglum to frofre. Flugon ða ðe lyfdon,
laðra lindwerod. Him on laste
for
sweot Ebrea sigore geweorðod,
dome gedyrsod; him feng dryhten god
300
fægre on fultum, frea ælmihtig.
Hi ða fromlice fagum swyrdum,
hæleð higerofe, herpað worhton
þurh laðra gemong, linde heowon,
scildburh scæron. Sceotend wæron
305
guðe gegremede, guman Ebrisce;
þegnas on ða tid þearle gelyste
gargewinnes. þær on greot gefeoll
se hyhsta dæl heafodgerimes
Assiria ealdorduguðe,
310
laðan cynnes. Lythwon becom
cwicera to cyððe. Cirdon cynerofe,
wiggend on wiðertrod, wælscel on innan,
reocende hræw. Rum wæs to nimanne
londbuendum on ðam laðestan,
315
hyra ealdfeondum unlyfigendum
heolfrig herereaf, hyrsta scyne,
bord ond bradswyrd, brune helmas,
dyre madmas. Hæfdon domlice
on ðam folcstede fynd oferwunnen
320
eðelweardas, ealdhettende
swyrdum aswefede. Hie on swaðe reston,
þa ðe him to life laðost wæron
cwicera cynna. þa seo cneoris eall,
mægða mærost, anes monðes fyrst,
325
wlanc, wundenlocc, wagon ond læddon
to ðære beorhtan byrig, Bethuliam,
helmas ond hupseax, hare byrnan,
guðsceorp gumena golde gefrætewod,
mærra madma þonne mon ænig
330
asecgan mæge searoþoncelra;
eal þæt ða ðeodguman þrymme
geeodon,
cene under cumblum on compwige
þurh Iudithe gleawe lare,
mægð modigre. Hi to mede hyre
335
of ðam siðfate sylfre brohton,
eorlas æscrofe, Holofernes
sweord ond swatigne helm, swylce eac side byrnan
gerenode readum golde, ond eal þæt se rinca
baldor
swiðmod sinces ahte oððe sundoryrfes,
340
beaga ond beorhtra maðma, hi þæt þære
beorhtan idese
ageafon gearoþoncolre. Ealles ðæs Iudith
sægde
wuldor weroda dryhtne, þe hyre weorðmynde
geaf,
mærðe on moldan rice, swylce eac mede on
heofonum,
sigorlean in swegles wuldre, þæs þe
heo ahte soðne geleafan
345
to ðam ælmihtigan; huru æt þam
ende ne tweode
þæs leanes þe heo lange gyrnde. ðæs
sy ðam leofan drihtne
wuldor to widan aldre, þe gesceop wind ond lyfte,
roderas ond rume grundas, swylce eac reðe streamas
ond swegles dreamas, ðurh his sylfes miltse.
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