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;
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,
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,
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
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
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,
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
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,
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,
þara ðe gewurde on woruldrice.
Hæfde him on hreðre halige treowa;
forþon he gelædde ofer lagustreamas
maðmhorda mæst, mine gefræge.
On feorhgebeorh foldan hæfde
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 Abrahamþa;
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
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,
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;
Ongunnon sælafe segnum dælan
on yðlafe, ealde madmas,
reaf and randas. Heo on riht sceodon
gold and godweb, Iosepes gestreon,
wera wuldorgesteald. Werigend lagon