
Us is riht micel      ðæt we rodera weard,
wereda wuldorcining,      wordum herigen,
modum lufien!      He is mægna sped,
heafod ealra      heahgesceafta,
frea ælmihtig.      Næs him fruma æfre,
or geworden,      ne nu ende cymþ
ecean drihtnes,      ac he bið a rice
ofer heofenstolas.      Heagum þrymmum
soðfæst and swiðfeorm      sweglbosmas heold,
þa wæron gesette      wide and side
þurh geweald godes      wuldres bearnum,
gasta weardum.      Hæfdon gleam and dream,
and heora ordfruman,      engla þreatas,
beorhte blisse.      Wæs heora blæd micel!
þegnas þrymfæste      þeoden heredon,
sægdon lustum lof,      heora liffrean
demdon, drihtenes      dugeþum wæron
swiðe gesælige.      Synna ne cuþon,
firena fremman,      ac hie on friðe lifdon,
ece mid heora aldor.      Elles ne ongunnon
ræran on roderum      nymþe riht and soþ,
ærðon engla weard      for oferhygde
dwæl on gedwilde.      Noldan dreogan leng
heora selfra ræd,      ac hie of siblufan
godes ahwurfon.      Hæfdon gielp micel
þæt hie wið drihtne      dælan meahton
wuldorfæstan wic      werodes þrymme,
sid and swegltorht.      Him þær sar gelamp,
æfst and oferhygd,      and þæs engles mod
þe þone unræd ongan      ærest fremman,
wefan and weccean,      þa he worde cwæð,
niþes ofþyrsted,      þæt he on norðdæle
ham and heahsetl      heofena rices
agan wolde.      þa wearð yrre god
and þam werode wrað      þe he ær wurðode
wlite and wuldre.      Sceop þam werlogan
wræclicne ham      weorce to leane,
helleheafas,      hearde niðas.
Heht þæt witehus      wræcna bidan,
deop, dreama leas,      drihten ure,
gasta weardas,      þa he hit geare wiste,
synnihte beseald,      susle geinnod,
geondfolen fyre      and færcyle,
rece and reade lege.      Heht þa geond þæt rædlease hof
weaxan witebrogan.      Hæfdon hie wrohtgeteme
grimme wið god gesomnod;      him þæs grim lean becom!
Cwædon þæt heo rice,      reðemode,
agan woldan,      and swa eaðe meahtan.
Him seo wen geleah,      siððan waldend his,
heofona heahcining,      honda arærde,
hehste wið þam herge.      Ne mihton hygelease,
mæne wið metode,      mægyn bryttigan,
ac him se mæra      mod getwæfde,
bælc forbigde.      þa he gebolgen wearð,
besloh synsceaþan      sigore and gewealde,
dome and dugeðe,      and dreame benam
his feond, friðo      and gefean ealle,
torhte tire,      and his torn gewræc
on gesacum swiðe      selfes mihtum
strengum stiepe.      Hæfde styrne mod,
gegremed grymme,      grap on wraðe
faum folmum,      and him on fæðm gebræc
yrre on mode;      æðele bescyrede
his wiðerbrecan      wuldorgestealdum.
Sceof þa and scyrede      scyppend ure
oferhidig cyn      engla of heofnum,
wærleas werod.      Waldend sende
laðwendne here      on langne sið,
geomre gastas;      wæs him gylp forod,
beot forborsten,      and forbiged þrym,
wlite gewemmed.      Heo on wrace syððan
seomodon swearte,      siðe ne þorfton
hlude hlihhan,      ac heo helltregum
werige wunodon      and wean cuðon,
sar and sorge,      susl þrowedon
þystrum beþeahte,      þearl æfterlean
þæs þe heo ongunnon      wið gode winnan.
þa wæs soð swa ær      sibb on heofnum,
fægre freoþoþeawas,      frea eallum leof,
þeoden his þegnum;      þrymmas weoxon
duguða mid drihtne,      dreamhæbbendra.
Wæron þa gesome,      þa þe swegl buað,
wuldres eðel.      Wroht wæs asprungen,
oht mid englum      and orlegnið,
siððan herewosan      heofon ofgæfon,
leohte belorene.      Him on laste setl,
wuldorspedum welig,      wide stodan
gifum growende      on godes rice,
beorht and geblædfæst,      buendra leas,
siððan wræcstowe      werige gastas
under hearmlocan      heane geforan.
þa þeahtode      þeoden ure
modgeþonce,      hu he þa mæran gesceaft,
eðelstaðolas      eft gesette,
swegltorhtan seld,      selran werode,
þa hie gielpsceaþan      ofgifen hæfdon,
heah on heofenum.      Forþam halig god
under roderas feng,      ricum mihtum,
wolde þæt him eorðe      and uproder
and sid wæter      geseted wurde
woruldgesceafte      on wraðra gield,
þara þe forhealdene      of hleo sende.
Ne wæs her þa giet      nymþe heolstersceado
wiht geworden,      ac þes wida grund
stod deop and dim,      drihtne fremde,
idel and unnyt.      On þone eagum wlat
stiðfrihþ cining,      and þa stowe beheold,
dreama lease,      geseah deorc gesweorc
semian sinnihte      sweart under roderum,
wonn and weste,      oðþæt þeos woruldgesceaft
þurh word gewearð      wuldorcyninges.
Her ærest gesceop      ece drihten,
helm eallwihta,      heofon and eorðan,
rodor arærde,      and þis rume land
gestaþelode      strangum mihtum,
frea ælmihtig.      Folde wæs þa gyta
græs ungrene;      garsecg þeahte
sweart synnihte,      side and wide,
wonne wegas.      þa wæs wuldortorht
heofonweardes gast      ofer holm boren
miclum spedum.      Metod engla heht,
lifes brytta,      leoht forð cuman
ofer rumne grund.      Raþe wæs gefylled
heahcininges hæs;      him wæs halig leoht
ofer westenne,      swa se wyrhta bebead.
þa gesundrode      sigora waldend
ofer laguflode      leoht wið þeostrum,
sceade wið sciman.      Sceop þa bam naman,
lifes brytta.      Leoht wæs ærest
þurh drihtnes word      dæg genemned,
wlitebeorhte gesceaft.      Wel licode
frean æt frymðe      forþbæro tid,
dæg æresta;      geseah deorc sceado
sweart swiðrian      geond sidne grund.
þa seo tid gewat      ofer timber sceacan
middangeardes,      metod æfter sceaf
scirum sciman,      scippend ure,
æfen ærest.      Him arn on last,
þrang þystre genip,      þam þe se þeoden self
sceop nihte naman.      Nergend ure
hie gesundrode;      siððan æfre
drugon and dydon      drihtnes willan,
ece ofer eorðan.      ða com oðer dæg,
leoht æfter þeostrum.      Heht þa lifes weard
on mereflode      middum weorðan
hyhtlic heofontimber.      Holmas dælde
waldend ure      and geworhte þa
roderas fæsten;      þæt se rica ahof
up from eorðan      þurh his agen word,
frea ælmihtig.      Flod wæs adæled
under heahrodore      halgum mihtum,
wæter of wætrum,      þam þe wuniað gyt
under fæstenne      folca hrofes.
þa com ofer foldan      fus siðian
mære mergen þridda.      Næron metode ða gyta
widlond ne wegas nytte,      ac stod bewrigen fæste
folde mid flode.      Frea engla heht
þurh his word wesan      wæter gemæne,
þa nu under roderum      heora ryne healdað,
stowe gestefnde.      ða stod hraðe
holm under heofonum,      swa se halga bebead,
sid ætsomne,      ða gesundrod wæs
lago wið lande.      Geseah þa lifes weard
drige stowe,      dugoða hyrde,
wide æteowde,      þa se wuldorcyning
eorðan nemde.      Gesette yðum heora
onrihtne ryne,      rumum flode,
and gefetero...     
Ne þuhte þa gerysne      rodora wearde,
þæt Adam leng      ana wære
neorxnawonges,      niwre gesceafte,
hyrde and healdend.      Forþon him heahcyning,
frea ælmihtig      fultum tiode;
wif aweahte      and þa wraðe sealde,
lifes leohtfruma,      leofum rince.
He þæt andweorc      of Adames
lice aleoðode,      and him listum ateah
rib of sidan.      He wæs reste fæst,
and softe swæf,      sar ne wiste,
earfoða dæl,      ne þær ænig com
blod of benne,      ac him brego engla
of lice ateah      liodende ban,
wer unwundod,      of þam worhte god
freolice fæmnan.      Feorh in gedyde,
ece saula.      Heo wæron englum gelice,
þa wæs Eue,      Adames bryd,
gaste gegearwod.      Hie on geogoðe bu
wlitebeorht wæron      on woruld cenned
meotodes mihtum.      Man ne cuðon
don ne dreogan,      ac him drihtnes wæs
bam on breostum      byrnende lufu.
þa gebletsode      bliðheort cyning,
metod alwihta,      monna cynnes
ða forman twa,      fæder and moder,
wif and wæpned.      He þa worde cwæð:
"Temað nu and wexað,      tudre fyllað
eorðan ælgrene,      incre cynne,
sunum and dohtrum.      Inc sceal sealt wæter
wunian on gewealde      and eall worulde gesceaft.
Brucað blæddaga      and brimhlæste
and heofonfugla.      Inc is halig feoh
and wilde deor      on geweald geseald,
and lifigende,      ða ðe land tredað,
feorheaceno cynn,      ða ðe flod wecceð
geond hronrade.      Inc hyrað eall."
þa sceawode      scyppend ure
his weorca wlite      and his wæstma blæd,
niwra gesceafta.      Neorxnawong stod
god and gastlic,      gifena gefylled
fremum forðweardum.      Fægere leohte
þæt liðe land      lago yrnende,
wylleburne.      Nalles wolcnu ða giet
ofer rumne grund      regnas bæron,
wann mid winde,      hwæðre wæstmum stod
folde gefrætwod.      Heoldon forðryne
eastreamas heora      æðele feower
of þam niwan      neorxnawonge.
þa wæron adælede      drihtnes mihtum
ealle of anum,      þa he þas eorðan gesceop,
wætre wlitebeorhtum,      and on woruld sende.
þæra anne hatað ylde,      eorðbuende,
Fison folcweras;      se foldan dæl
brade bebugeð      beorhtum streamum
Hebeleac utan.      On þære eðyltyrf
niððas findað      nean and feorran
gold and gymcynn,      gumþeoda bearn,
ða selestan,      þæs þe us secgað bec.
þonne seo æftre      Ethiopia
land and liodgeard      beligeð uton,
ginne rice,      þære is Geon noma.
þridda is Tigris,      seo wið þeodscipe,
ea inflede,      Assirie belið.
Swilce is seo feorðe,      þa nu geond folc monig
weras Eufraten      wide nemnað.
"ac niotað inc þæs oðres ealles,      forlætað þone ænne beam,
wariað inc wið þone wæstm.      Ne wyrð inc wilna gæd."
Hnigon þa mid heafdum      heofoncyninge
georne togenes      and sædon ealles þanc,
lista and þara lara.      He let heo þæt land buan,
hwærf him þa to heofenum      halig drihten,
stiðferhð cyning.      Stod his handgeweorc
somod on sande,      nyston sorga wiht
to begrornianne,      butan heo godes willan
lengest læsten.      Heo wæron leof gode
ðenden heo his halige word      healdan woldon.
Hæfde se alwalda      engelcynna
þurh handmægen,      halig drihten,
tene getrimede,      þæm he getruwode wel
þæt hie his giongorscipe      fyligan wolden,
wyrcean his willan,      forþon he him gewit forgeaf
and mid his handum gesceop,      halig drihten.
Gesett hæfde he hie swa gesæliglice,      ænne hæfde he swa swiðne geworhtne,
swa mihtigne on his modgeþohte,      he let hine swa micles wealdan,
hehstne to him on heofona rice,      hæfde he hine swa hwitne geworhtne,
swa wynlic wæs his wæstm on heofonum      þæt him com from weroda drihtne,
gelic wæs he þam leohtum steorrum.      Lof sceolde he drihtnes wyrcean,
dyran sceolde he his dreamas on heofonum,      and sceolde his drihtne þancian
þæs leanes þe he him on þam leohte gescerede      þonne læte he his hine lange wealdan.
Ac he awende hit him to wyrsan þinge,      ongan him winn up ahebban
wið þone hehstan heofnes waldend,      þe siteð on þam halgan stole.
Deore wæs he drihtne urum;      ne mihte him bedyrned weorðan
þæt his engyl ongan      ofermod wesan,
ahof hine wið his hearran,      sohte hetespræce,
gylpword ongean,      nolde gode þeowian,
cwæð þæt his lic wære      leoht and scene,
hwit and hiowbeorht.      Ne meahte he æt his hige findan
þæt he gode wolde      geongerdome,
þeodne þeowian.      þuhte him sylfum
þæt he mægyn and cræft      maran hæfde
þonne se halga god      habban mihte
folcgestælna.      Feala worda gespæc
se engel ofermodes.      þohte þurh his anes cræft
hu he him strenglicran      stol geworhte,
heahran on heofonum;      cwæð þæt hine his hige speone
þæt he west and norð      wyrcean ongunne,
trymede getimbro;      cwæð him tweo þuhte
þæt he gode wolde      geongra weorðan.
"Hwæt sceal ic winnan?" cwæð he.      "Nis me wihtæ þearf
hearran to habbanne.      Ic mæg mid handum swa fela
wundra gewyrcean.      Ic hæbbe geweald micel
to gyrwanne      godlecran stol,
hearran on heofne.      Hwy sceal ic æfter his hyldo ðeowian,
bugan him swilces geongordomes?      Ic mæg wesan god swa he.
Bigstandað me strange geneatas,      þa ne willað me æt þam striðe geswican,
hæleþas heardmode.      Hie habbað me to hearran gecorene,
rofe rincas;      mid swilcum mæg man ræd geþencean,
fon mid swilcum folcgesteallan.      Frynd synd hie mine georne,
holde on hyra hygesceaftum.      Ic mæg hyra hearra wesan,
rædan on þis rice.      Swa me þæt riht ne þinceð,
þæt ic oleccan      awiht þurfe
gode æfter gode ænegum.      Ne wille ic leng his geongra wurþan."
þa hit se allwalda      eall gehyrde,
þæt his engyl ongan      ofermede micel
ahebban wið his hearran      and spræc healic word
dollice wið drihten sinne,      sceolde he þa dæd ongyldan,
worc þæs gewinnes gedælan,      and sceolde his wite habban,
ealra morðra mæst.      Swa deð monna gehwilc
þe wið his waldend      winnan ongynneð
mid mane wið þone mæran drihten.      þa wearð se mihtiga gebolgen,
hehsta heofones waldend,      wearp hine of þan hean stole.
Hete hæfde he æt his hearran gewunnen,      hyldo hæfde his ferlorene,
gram wearð him se goda on his mode.      Forþon he sceolde grund gesecean
heardes hellewites,      þæs þe he wann wið heofnes waldend.
Acwæð hine þa fram his hyldo      and hine on helle wearp,
on þa deopan dala,      þær he to deofle wearð,
se feond mid his geferum eallum.      Feollon þa ufon of heofnum
þurhlonge swa      þreo niht and dagas,
þa englas of heofnum on helle,      and heo ealle forsceop
drihten to deoflum.      Forþon heo his dæd and word
noldon weorðian,      forþon he heo on wyrse leoht
under eorðan neoðan,      ællmihtig god,
sette sigelease      on þa sweartan helle.
þær hæbbað heo on æfyn      ungemet lange,
ealra feonda gehwilc,      fyr edneowe,
þonne cymð on uhtan      easterne wind,
forst fyrnum cald.      Symble fyr oððe gar,
sum heard geswinc      habban sceoldon.
Worhte man hit him to wite,      (hyra woruld wæs gehwyrfed),
forman siðe,      fylde helle
mid þam andsacum.      Heoldon englas forð
heofonrices hehðe,      þe ær godes hyldo gelæston.
Lagon þa oðre fynd on þam fyre,      þe ær swa feala hæfdon
gewinnes wið heora waldend.      Wite þoliað,
hatne heaðowelm      helle tomiddes,
brand and brade ligas,      swilce eac þa biteran recas,
þrosm and þystro,      forþon hie þegnscipe
godes forgymdon.      Hie hyra gal beswac,
engles oferhygd,      noldon alwaldan
word weorþian,      hæfdon wite micel,
wæron þa befeallene      fyre to botme
on þa hatan hell      þurh hygeleaste
and þurh ofermetto,      sohton oþer land,
þæt wæs leohtes leas      and wæs liges full,
fyres fær micel.      Fynd ongeaton
þæt hie hæfdon gewrixled      wita unrim
þurh heora miclan mod      and þurh miht godes
and þurh ofermetto      ealra swiðost.
þa spræc se ofermoda cyning,      þe ær wæs engla scynost,
hwitost on heofne      and his hearran leof,
drihtne dyre,      oð hie to dole wurdon,
þæt him for galscipe      god sylfa wearð
mihtig on mode yrre.      Wearp hine on þæt morðer innan,
niðer on þæt niobedd,      and sceop him naman siððan,
cwæð se hehsta      hatan sceolde
Satan siððan,      het hine þære sweartan helle
grundes gyman,      nalles wið god winnan.
Satan maðelode,      sorgiende spræc,
se ðe helle forð      healdan sceolde,
gieman þæs grundes.      Wæs ær godes engel,
hwit on heofne,      oð hine his hyge forspeon
and his ofermetto      ealra swiðost,
þæt he ne wolde      wereda drihtnes
word wurðian.      Weoll him on innan
hyge ymb his heortan,      hat wæs him utan
wraðlic wite.      He þa worde cwæð:
"Is þæs ænga styde      ungelic swiðe
þam oðrum ham      þe we ær cuðon,
hean on heofonrice,      þe me min hearra onlag,
þeah we hine for þam alwaldan      agan ne moston,
romigan ures rices.      Næfð he þeah riht gedon
þæt he us hæfð befælled      fyre to botme,
helle þære hatan,      heofonrice benumen;
hafað hit gemearcod      mid moncynne
to gesettanne.      þæt me is sorga mæst,
þæt Adam sceal,      þe wæs of eorðan geworht,
minne stronglican      stol behealdan,
wesan him on wynne,      and we þis wite þolien,
hearm on þisse helle.      Wa la, ahte ic minra handa geweald
and moste ane tid      ute weorðan,
wesan ane winterstunde,      þonne ic mid þys werode--
Ac licgað me ymbe      irenbenda,
rideð racentan sal.      Ic eom rices leas;
habbað me swa hearde      helle clommas
fæste befangen.      Her is fyr micel,
ufan and neoðone.      Ic a ne geseah
laðran landscipe.      Lig ne aswamað,
hat ofer helle.      Me habbað hringa gespong,
sliðhearda sal      siðes amyrred,
afyrred me min feðe;      fet synt gebundene,
handa gehæfte.      Synt þissa heldora
wegas forworhte,      swa ic mid wihte ne mæg
of þissum lioðobendum.      Licgað me ymbe
heardes irenes      hate geslægene
grindlas greate.      Mid þy me god hafað
gehæfted be þam healse,      swa ic wat he minne hige cuðe;
and þæt wiste eac      weroda drihten,
þæt sceolde unc Adame      yfele gewurðan
ymb þæt heofonrice,      þær ic ahte minra handa geweald.
Ac ðoliaþ we nu þrea on helle,      (þæt syndon þystro and hæto),
grimme, grundlease.      Hafað us god sylfa
forswapen on þas sweartan mistas;      swa he us ne mæg ænige synne gestælan,
þæt we him on þam lande lað gefremedon,      he hæfð us þeah þæs leohtes bescyrede,
beworpen on ealra wita mæste.      Ne magon we þæs wrace gefremman,
geleanian him mid laðes wihte      þæt he us hafað þæs leohtes bescyrede.
He hæfð nu gemearcod anne middangeard,      þær he hæfð mon geworhtne
æfter his onlicnesse.      Mid þam he wile eft gesettan
heofona rice mid hluttrum saulum.      We þæs sculon hycgan georne,
þæt we on Adame,      gif we æfre mægen,
and on his eafrum swa some,      andan gebetan,
onwendan him þær willan sines,      gif we hit mægen wihte aþencan.
Ne gelyfe ic me nu þæs leohtes furðor      þæs þe he him þenceð lange niotan,
þæs eades mid his engla cræfte.      Ne magon we þæt on aldre gewinnan,
þæt we mihtiges godes mod onwæcen.      Uton oðwendan hit nu monna bearnum,
þæt heofonrice, nu we hit habban ne moton,      gedon þæt hie his hyldo forlæten,
þæt hie þæt onwendon þæt he mid his worde bebead.      þonne weorð he him wrað on mode,
ahwet hie from his hyldo.      þonne sculon hie þas helle secan
and þas grimman grundas.      þonne moton we hie us to giongrum habban,
fira bearn on þissum fæstum clomme.      Onginnað nu ymb þa fyrde þencean!
Gif ic ænegum þægne      þeodenmadmas
geara forgeafe,      þenden we on þan godan rice
gesælige sæton      and hæfdon ure setla geweald,
þonne he me na on leofran tid      leanum ne meahte
mine gife gyldan,      gif his gien wolde
minra þegna hwilc      geþafa wurðan,
þæt he up heonon      ute mihte
cuman þurh þas clustro,      and hæfde cræft mid him
þæt he mid feðerhoman      fleogan meahte,
windan on wolcne,      þær geworht stondað
Adam and Eue      on eorðrice
mid welan bewunden,      and we synd aworpene hider
on þas deopan dalo.      Nu hie drihtne synt
wurðran micle,      and moton him þone welan agan
þe we on heofonrice      habban sceoldon,
rice mid rihte;      is se ræd gescyred
monna cynne.      þæt me is on minum mode swa sar,
on minum hyge hreoweð,      þæt hie heofonrice
agan to aldre.      Gif hit eower ænig mæge
gewendan mid wihte      þæt hie word godes
lare forlæten,      sona hie him þe laðran beoð.
Gif hie brecað his gebodscipe,      þonne he him abolgen wurðeþ;
siððan bið him se wela onwended      and wyrð him wite gegarwod,
sum heard hearmscearu.      Hycgað his ealle,
hu ge hi beswicen!      Siððan ic me sefte mæg
restan on þyssum racentum,      gif him þæt rice losað.
Se þe þæt gelæsteð,      him bið lean gearo
æfter to aldre,      þæs we her inne magon
on þyssum fyre forð      fremena gewinnan.
Sittan læte ic hine wið me sylfne,      swa hwa swa þæt secgan cymeð
on þas hatan helle,      þæt hie heofoncyninges
unwurðlice      wordum and dædum
lare"     
Angan hine þa gyrwan      godes andsaca,
fus on frætwum,      (hæfde fæcne hyge),
hæleðhelm on heafod asette      and þone full hearde geband,
spenn mid spangum;      wiste him spræca fela,
wora worda.      Wand him up þanon,
hwearf him þurh þa helldora,      (hæfde hyge strangne),
leolc on lyfte      laþwendemod,
swang þæt fyr on twa      feondes cræfte;
wolde dearnunga      drihtnes geongran,
mid mandædum      men beswican,
forlædan and forlæran,      þæt hie wurdon lað gode.
He þa geferde      þurh feondes cræft
oððæt he Adam      on eorðrice,
godes handgesceaft,      gearone funde,
wislice geworht,      and his wif somed,
freo fægroste,      swa hie fela cuðon
godes gegearwigean,      þa him to gingran self
metod mancynnes      mearcode selfa.
And him bi twegin      beamas stodon
þa wæron utan      ofætes gehlædene,
gewered mid wæstme,      swa hie waldend god,
heah heofoncyning      handum gesette,
þæt þær yldo bearn      moste on ceosan
godes and yfeles,      gumena æghwilc,
welan and wawan.      Næs se wæstm gelic!
Oðer wæs swa wynlic,      wlitig and scene,
liðe and lofsum,      þæt wæs lifes beam;
moste on ecnisse      æfter lybban,
wesan on worulde,      se þæs wæstmes onbat,
swa him æfter þy      yldo ne derede,
ne suht sware,      ac moste symle wesan
lungre on lustum      and his lif agan,
hyldo heofoncyninges      her on worulde,
habban him to wæron      witode geþingþo
on þone hean heofon,      þonne he heonon wende.
þonne wæs se oðer      eallenga sweart,
dim and þystre;      þæt wæs deaðes beam,
se bær bitres fela.      Sceolde bu witan
ylda æghwilc      yfles and godes
gewand on þisse worulde.      Sceolde on wite a
mid swate and mid sorgum      siððan libban,
swa hwa swa gebyrgde      þæs on þam beame geweox.
Sceolde hine yldo beniman      ellendæda,
dreamas and drihtscipes,      and him beon deað scyred.
Lytle hwile      sceolde he his lifes niotan,
secan þonne landa      sweartost on fyre.
Sceolde feondum þeowian,      þær is ealra frecna mæste
leodum to langre hwile.      þæt wiste se laða georne,
dyrne deofles boda      þe wið drihten wann.
Wearp hine þa on wyrmes lic      and wand him þa ymbutan
þone deaðes beam      þurh deofles cræft,
genam þær þæs ofætes      and wende hine eft þanon
þær he wiste handgeweorc      heofoncyninges.
Ongon hine þa frinan      forman worde
se laða mid ligenum:      "Langað þe awuht,
Adam, up to gode?      Ic eom on his ærende hider
feorran gefered,      ne þæt nu fyrn ne wæs
þæt ic wið hine sylfne sæt.      þa het he me on þysne sið faran,
het þæt þu þisses ofætes æte,      cwæð þæt þin abal and cræft
and þin modsefa      mara wurde,
and þin lichoma      leohtra micle,
þin gesceapu scenran,      cwæð þæt þe æniges sceattes ðearf
ne wurde on worulde.      Nu þu willan hæfst,
hyldo geworhte      heofoncyninges,
to þance geþenod      þinum hearran,
hæfst þe wið drihten dyrne geworhtne.      Ic gehyrde hine þine dæd and word
lofian on his leohte      and ymb þin lif sprecan.
Swa þu læstan scealt      þæt on þis land hider
his bodan bringað.      Brade synd on worulde
grene geardas,      and god siteð
on þam hehstan      heofna rice,
ufan alwalda.      Nele þa earfeðu
sylfa habban      þæt he on þysne sið fare,
gumena drihten,      ac he his gingran sent
to þinre spræce.      Nu he þe mid spellum het
listas læran.      Læste þu georne
his ambyhto,      nim þe þis ofæt on hand,
bit his and byrige.      þe weorð on þinum breostum rum,
wæstm þy wlitegra.      þe sende waldend god,
þin hearra þas helpe      of heofonrice."
Adam maðelode      þær he on eorðan stod,
selfsceafte guma:      "þonne ic sigedrihten,
mihtigne god,      mæðlan gehyrde
strangre stemne,      and me her stondan het,
his bebodu healdan,      and me þas bryd forgeaf,
wlitesciene wif,      and me warnian het
þæt ic on þone deaðes beam      bedroren ne wurde,
beswicen to swiðe,      he cwæð þæt þa sweartan helle
healdan sceolde      se ðe bi his heortan wuht
laðes gelæde.      Nat þeah þu mid ligenum fare
þurh dyrne geþanc      þe þu drihtnes eart
boda of heofnum.      Hwæt, ic þinra bysna ne mæg,
worda ne wisna      wuht oncnawan,
siðes ne sagona.      Ic wat hwæt he me self bebead,
nergend user,      þa ic hine nehst geseah;
he het me his word weorðian      and wel healdan,
læstan his lare.      þu gelic ne bist
ænegum his engla      þe ic ær geseah,
ne þu me oðiewdest      ænig tacen
þe he me þurh treowe      to onsende,
min hearra þurh hyldo.      þy ic þe hyran ne cann,
ac þu meaht þe forð faran.      Ic hæbbe me fæstne geleafan
up to þam ælmihtegan gode      þe me mid his earmum worhte,
her mid handum sinum.      He mæg me of his hean rice
geofian mid goda gehwilcum,      þeah he his gingran ne sende."
Wende hine wraðmod      þær he þæt wif geseah
on eorðrice      Euan stondan,
sceone gesceapene,      cwæð þæt sceaðena mæst
eallum heora eaforum      æfter siððan
wurde on worulde:      "Ic wat, inc waldend god
abolgen wyrð,      swa ic him þisne bodscipe
selfa secge,      þonne ic of þys siðe cume
ofer langne weg,      þæt git ne læstan wel
hwilc ærende swa      he easten hider
on þysne sið sendeð.      Nu sceal he sylf faran
to incre andsware;      ne mæg his ærende
his boda beodan;      þy ic wat þæt he inc abolgen wyrð,
mihtig on mode.      Gif þu þeah minum wilt,
wif willende,      wordum hyran,
þu meaht his þonne rume      ræd geþencan.
Gehyge on þinum breostum      þæt þu inc bam twam meaht
wite bewarigan,      swa ic þe wisie.
æt þisses ofetes!      þonne wurðað þin eagan swa leoht
þæt þu meaht swa wide      ofer woruld ealle
geseon siððan,      and selfes stol
herran þines,      and habban his hyldo forð.
Meaht þu Adame      eft gestyran,
gif þu his willan hæfst      and he þinum wordum getrywð.
Gif þu him to soðe sægst      hwylce þu selfa hæfst
bisne on breostum,      þæs þu gebod godes
lare læstes,      he þone laðan strið,
yfel andwyrde      an forlæteð
on breostcofan,      swa wit him bu tu
an sped sprecað.      Span þu hine georne
þæt he þine lare læste,      þy læs gyt lað gode,
incrum waldende,      weorðan þyrfen.
Gif þu þæt angin fremest,      idesa seo betste,
forhele ic incrum herran      þæt me hearmes swa fela
Adam gespræc,      eargra worda.
Tyhð me untryowða,      cwyð þæt ic seo teonum georn,
gramum ambyhtsecg,      nales godes engel.
Ac ic cann ealle swa geare      engla gebyrdo,
heah heofona gehlidu;      wæs seo hwil þæs lang
þæt ic geornlice      gode þegnode
þurh holdne hyge,      herran minum,
drihtne selfum;      ne eom ic deofle gelic."
Lædde hie swa mid ligenum      and mid listum speon
idese on þæt unriht,      oðþæt hire on innan ongan
weallan wyrmes geþeaht,      (hæfde hire wacran hige
metod gemearcod),      þæt heo hire mod ongan
lætan æfter þam larum;      forþon heo æt þam laðan onfeng
ofer drihtnes word      deaðes beames
weorcsumne wæstm.      Ne wearð wyrse dæd
monnum gemearcod!      þæt is micel wundor
þæt hit ece god      æfre wolde
þeoden þolian,      þæt wurde þegn swa monig
forlædd be þam lygenum      þe for þam larum com.
Heo þa þæs ofætes æt,      alwaldan bræc
word and willan.      þa meahte heo wide geseon
þurh þæs laðan læn      þe hie mid ligenum beswac,
dearnenga bedrog,      þe hire for his dædum com,
þæt hire þuhte hwitre      heofon and eorðe,
and eall þeos woruld wlitigre,      and geweorc godes
micel and mihtig,      þeah heo hit þurh monnes geþeaht
ne sceawode;      ac se sceaða georne
swicode ymb þa sawle      þe hire ær þa siene onlah,
þæt heo swa wide      wlitan meahte
ofer heofonrice.      þa se forhatena spræc
þurh feondscipe      (nalles he hie freme lærde):
"þu meaht nu þe self geseon,      swa ic hit þe secgan ne þearf,
Eue seo gode,      þæt þe is ungelic
wlite and wæstmas,      siððan þu minum wordum getruwodest,
læstes mine lare.      Nu scineð þe leoht fore
glædlic ongean      þæt ic from gode brohte
hwit of heofonum;      nu þu his hrinan meaht.
Sæge Adame      hwilce þu gesihðe hæfst
þurh minne cime cræfta.      Gif giet þurh cuscne siodo
læst mina lara,      þonne gife ic him þæs leohtes genog
þæs ic þe swa godes      gegired hæbbe.
Ne wite ic him þa womcwidas,      þeah he his wyrðe ne sie
to alætanne;      þæs fela he me laðes spræc."
Swa hire eaforan sculon      æfter lybban:
þonne hie lað gedoð,      hie sculon lufe wyrcean,
betan heora hearran hearmcwyde      ond habban his hyldo forð.
þa gieng to Adame      idesa scenost,
wifa wlitegost      þe on woruld come,
forþon heo wæs handgeweorc      heofoncyninges,
þeah heo þa dearnenga      fordon wurde,
forlæd mid ligenum,      þæt hie lað gode
þurh þæs wraðan geþanc      weorðan sceolden,
þurh þæs deofles searo      dom forlætan,
hierran hyldo,      hefonrices þolian
monige hwile.      Bið þam men full wa
þe hine ne warnað      þonne he his geweald hafað!
Sum heo hire on handum bær,      sum hire æt heortan læg,
æppel unsælga,      þone hire ær forbead
drihtna drihten,      deaðbeames ofet,
and þæt word acwæð      wuldres aldor,
þæt þæt micle morð      menn ne þorfton
þegnas þolian,      ac he þeoda gehwam
hefonrice forgeaf,      halig drihten,
widbradne welan,      gif hie þone wæstm an
lætan wolden      þe þæt laðe treow
on his bogum bær,      bitre gefylled;
þæt wæs deaðes beam      þe him drihten forbead.
Forlec hie þa mid ligenum      se wæs lað gode,
on hete heofoncyninges,      and hyge Euan,
wifes wac geþoht,      þæt heo ongan his wordum truwian,
læstan his lare,      and geleafan nom
þæt he þa bysene from gode      brungen hæfde
þe he hire swa wærlice      wordum sægde,
iewde hire tacen      and treowa gehet,
his holdne hyge.      þa heo to hire hearran spræc:
"Adam, frea min,      þis ofet is swa swete,
bliðe on breostum,      and þes boda sciene,
godes engel god,      ic on his gearwan geseo
þæt he is ærendsecg      uncres hearran,
hefoncyninges.      His hyldo is unc betere
to gewinnanne      þonne his wiðermedo.
Gif þu him heodæg wuht      hearmes gesprece,
he forgifð hit þeah,      gif wit him geongordom
læstan willað.      Hwæt scal þe swa laðlic strið
wið þines hearran bodan?      Unc is his hyldo þearf;
he mæg unc ærendian      to þam alwaldan,
heofoncyninge.      Ic mæg heonon geseon
hwær he sylf siteð,      (þæt is suð and east),
welan bewunden,      se ðas woruld gesceop;
geseo ic him his englas      ymbe hweorfan
mid feðerhaman,      ealra folca mæst,
wereda wynsumast.      Hwa meahte me swelc gewit gifan,
gif hit gegnunga      god ne onsende,
heofones waldend?      Gehyran mæg ic rume
and swa wide geseon      on woruld ealle
ofer þas sidan gesceaft,      ic mæg swegles gamen
gehyran on heofnum.      Wearð me on hige leohte
utan and innan,      siðþan ic þæs ofætes onbat.
Nu hæbbe ic his her on handa,      herra se goda;
gife ic hit þe georne.      Ic gelyfe þæt hit from gode come,
broht from his bysene,      þæs me þes boda sægde
wærum wordum.      Hit nis wuhte gelic
elles on eorðan,      buton swa þes ar sægeð,
þæt hit gegnunga      from gode come."
Hio spræc him þicce to      and speon hine ealne dæg
on þa dimman dæd      þæt hie drihtnes heora
willan bræcon.      Stod se wraða boda,
legde him lustas on      and mid listum speon,
fylgde him frecne;      wæs se feond full neah
þe on þa frecnan fyrd      gefaren hæfde
ofer langne weg;      leode hogode
on þæt micle morð      men forweorpan,
forlæran and forlædan,      þæt hie læn godes,
ælmihtiges gife      an forleten,
heofenrices geweald.      Hwæt, se hellsceaða
gearwe wiste      þæt hie godes yrre
habban sceoldon      and hellgeþwing,
þone nearwan nið      niede onfon,
siððan hie gebod godes      forbrocen hæfdon,
þa he forlærde      mid ligenwordum
to þam unræde      idese sciene,
wifa wlitegost,      þæt heo on his willan spræc,
wæs him on helpe      handweorc godes
to forlæranne.     
Heo spræc ða to Adame      idesa sceonost
ful þiclice,      oð þam þegne ongan
his hige hweorfan,      þæt he þam gehate getruwode
þe him þæt wif      wordum sægde.
Heo dyde hit þeah þurh holdne hyge,      nyste þæt þær hearma swa fela,
fyrenearfeða,      fylgean sceolde
monna cynne,      þæs heo on mod genam
þæt heo þæs laðan bodan      larum hyrde,
ac wende þæt heo hyldo      heofoncyninges
worhte mid þam wordum      þe heo þam were swelce
tacen oðiewde      and treowe gehet,
oðþæt Adame      innan breostum
his hyge hwyrfde      and his heorte ongann
wendan to hire willan.      He æt þam wife onfeng
helle and hinnsið,      þeah hit nære haten swa,
ac hit ofetes noman      agan sceolde;
hit wæs þeah deaðes swefn      and deofles gespon,
hell and hinnsið      and hæleða forlor,
menniscra morð,      þæt hie to mete dædon,
ofet unfæle.      Swa hit him on innan com,
hran æt heortan,      hloh þa and plegode
boda bitre gehugod,      sægde begra þanc
hearran sinum:      "Nu hæbbe ic þine hyldo me
witode geworhte,      and þinne willan gelæst
to ful monegum dæge.      Men synt forlædde,
Adam and Eue.      Him is unhyldo
waldendes witod,      nu hie wordcwyde his,
lare forleton.      Forþon hie leng ne magon
healdan heofonrice,      ac hie to helle sculon
on þone sweartan sið.      Swa þu his sorge ne þearft
beran on þinum breostum,      þær þu gebunden ligst,
murnan on mode,      þæt her men bun
þone hean heofon,      þeah wit hearmas nu,
þreaweorc þoliað,      and þystre land,
and þurh þin micle mod      monig forleton
on heofonrice      heahgetimbro,
godlice geardas.      Unc wearð god yrre
forþon wit him noldon      on heofonrice
hnigan mid heafdum      halgum drihtne
þurh geongordom;      ac unc gegenge ne wæs
þæt wit him on þegnscipe      þeowian wolden.
Forþon unc waldend wearð      wrað on mode,
on hyge hearde,      and us on helle bedraf,
on þæt fyr fylde      folca mæste,
and mid handum his      eft on heofonrice
rihte rodorstolas      and þæt rice forgeaf
monna cynne.      Mæg þin mod wesan
bliðe on breostum,      forþon her synt bu tu gedon:
ge þæt hæleða bearn      heofonrice sculon
leode forlætan      and on þæt lig to þe
hate hweorfan,      eac is hearm gode,
modsorg gemacod.      Swa hwæt swa wit her morðres þoliað,
hit is nu Adame      eall forgolden
mid hearran hete      and mid hæleða forlore,
monnum mid morðes cwealme.      Forþon is min mod gehæled,
hyge ymb heortan gerume,      ealle synt uncre hearmas gewrecene
laðes þæt wit lange þoledon.      Nu wille ic eft þam lige near,
Satan ic þær secan wille;      he is on þære sweartan helle
hæft mid hringa gesponne."      Hwearf him eft niðer
boda bitresta;      sceolde he þa bradan ligas
secan helle gehliðo,      þær his hearra læg
simon gesæled.      Sorgedon ba twa,
Adam and Eue,      and him oft betuh
gnornword gengdon;      godes him ondredon,
heora herran hete,      heofoncyninges nið
swiðe onsæton;      selfe forstodon
his word onwended.      þæt wif gnornode,
hof hreowigmod,      (hæfde hyldo godes,
lare forlæten),      þa heo þæt leoht geseah
ellor scriðan      þæt hire þurh untreowa
tacen iewde      se him þone teonan geræd,
þæt hie helle nið      habban sceoldon,
hynða unrim;      forþam him higesorga
burnon on breostum.      Hwilum to gebede feollon
sinhiwan somed,      and sigedrihten
godne gretton      and god nemdon,
heofones waldend,      and hine bædon
þæt hie his hearmsceare      habban mosten,
georne fulgangan,      þa hie godes hæfdon
bodscipe abrocen.      Bare hie gesawon
heora lichaman;      næfdon on þam lande þa giet
sælða gesetena,      ne hie sorge wiht
weorces wiston,      ac hie wel meahton
libban on þam lande,      gif hie wolden lare godes
forweard fremman.      þa hie fela spræcon
sorhworda somed,      sinhiwan twa.
Adam gemælde      and to Euan spræc:
"Hwæt, þu Eue, hæfst      yfele gemearcod
uncer sylfra sið.      Gesyhst þu nu þa sweartan helle
grædige and gifre.      Nu þu hie grimman meaht
heonane gehyran.      Nis heofonrice
gelic þam lige,      ac þis is landa betst,
þæt wit þurh uncres hearran þanc      habban moston,
þær þu þam ne hierde      þe unc þisne hearm geræd,
þæt wit waldendes      word forbræcon,
heofoncyninges.      Nu wit hreowige magon
sorgian for þis siðe.      Forþon he unc self bebead
þæt wit unc wite      warian sceolden,
hearma mæstne.      Nu slit me hunger and þurst
bitre on breostum,      þæs wit begra ær
wæron orsorge      on ealle tid.
Hu sculon wit nu libban      oððe on þys lande wesan,
gif her wind cymð,      westan oððe eastan,
suðan oððe norðan?      Gesweorc up færeð,
cymeð hægles scur      hefone getenge,
færeð forst on gemang,      se byð fyrnum ceald.
Hwilum of heofnum      hate scineð,
blicð þeos beorhte sunne,      and wit her baru standað,
unwered wædo.      Nys unc wuht beforan
to scursceade,      ne sceattes wiht
to mete gemearcod,      ac unc is mihtig god,
waldend wraðmod.      To hwon sculon wit weorðan nu?
Nu me mæg hreowan      þæt ic bæd heofnes god,
waldend þone godan,      þæt he þe her worhte to me
of liðum minum,      nu þu me forlæred hæfst
on mines herran hete.      Swa me nu hreowan mæg
æfre to aldre      þæt ic þe minum eagum geseah."
ða spræc Eue eft,      idesa scienost,
wifa wlitegost;      hie wæs geweorc godes,
þeah heo þa on deofles cræft      bedroren wurde:
"þu meaht hit me witan,      wine min Adam,
wordum þinum;      hit þe þeah wyrs ne mæg
on þinum hyge hreowan      þonne hit me æt heortan deð."
Hire þa Adam      andswarode:
"Gif ic waldendes      willan cuðe,
hwæt ic his to hearmsceare      habban sceolde,
ne gesawe þu no sniomor,      þeah me on sæ wadan
hete heofones god      heonone nu þa,
on flod faran,      nære he firnum þæs deop,
merestream þæs micel,      þæt his o min mod getweode,
ac ic to þam grunde genge,      gif ic godes meahte
willan gewyrcean.      Nis me on worulde niod
æniges þegnscipes,      nu ic mines þeodnes hafa
hyldo forworhte,      þæt ic hie habban ne mæg.
Ac wit þus baru ne magon      bu tu ætsomne
wesan to wuhte.      Uton gan on þysne weald innan,
on þisses holtes hleo."      Hwurfon hie ba twa,
togengdon gnorngende      on þone grenan weald,
sæton onsundran,      bidan selfes gesceapu
heofoncyninges,      þa hie þa habban ne moston
þe him ær forgeaf      ælmihtig god.
þa hie heora lichoman      leafum beþeahton,
weredon mid ðy wealde,      wæda ne hæfdon;
ac hie on gebed feollon      bu tu ætsomne
morgena gehwilce,      bædon mihtigne
þæt hie ne forgeate      god ælmihtig,
and him gewisade      waldend se goda,
hu hie on þam leohte forð      libban sceolden.
þa com feran      frea ælmihtig
ofer midne dæg,      mære þeoden,
on neorxnawang      neode sine;
wolde neosian      nergend usser,
bilwit fæder,      hwæt his bearn dyde;
wiste forworhte      þam he ær wlite sealde.
Gewitan him þa gangan      geomermode
under beamsceade      blæde bereafod,
hyddon hie on heolstre,      þa hie halig word
drihtnes gehyrdon,      and ondredon him.
þa sona ongann      swegles aldor
weard ahsian      woruldgesceafta,
het him recene to      rice þeoden
his sunu gangan.      Him þa sylfa oncwæð,
hean hleoðrade      hrægles þearfa:
"Ic wreo me her      wæda leasne,
liffrea min,      leafum þecce.
Scyldfull mine      sceaðen is me sare,
frecne on ferhðe;      ne dear nu forð gan
for ðe andweardne.      Ic eom eall eall nacod."
Him ða ædre god      andswarede:
"Saga me þæt, sunu min,      for hwon secest ðu
sceade sceomiende?      þu sceonde æt me
furðum ne anfenge,      ac gefean eallum.
For hwon wast þu wean      and wrihst sceome,
gesyhst sorge,      and þin sylf þecest
lic mid leafum,      sagast lifceare
hean hygegeomor,      þæt þe sie hrægles þearf,
nymþe ðu æppel      ænne byrgde
of ðam wudubeame      þe ic þe wordum forbead?"
Him þa Adam eft      andswarode:
"Me ða blæda on hand      bryd gesealde,
freolucu fæmne,      freadrihten min,
ðe ic þe on teonan geþah.      Nu ic þæs tacen wege
sweotol on me selfum.      Wat ic sorga ðy ma."
ða ðæs Euan frægn      ælmihtig god:
"Hwæt druge þu, dohtor,      dugeþa genohra,
niwra gesceafta      neorxnawanges,
growendra gifa,      þa þu gitsiende
on beam gripe,      blæda name
on treowes telgum,      and me on teonan
æte þa unfreme,      Adame sealdest
wæstme þa inc wæron      wordum minum
fæste forbodene?"      Him þa freolecu mæg,
ides æwiscmod      andswarode:
"Me nædre beswac      and me neodlice
to forsceape scyhte      and to scyldfrece,
fah wyrm þurh fægir word,      oðþæt ic fracoðlice
feondræs gefremede,      fæhðe geworhte,
and þa reafode,      swa hit riht ne wæs,
beam on bearwe      and þa blæda æt."
þa nædran sceop      nergend usser,
frea ælmihtig      fagum wyrme
wide siðas      and þa worde cwæð:
"þu scealt wideferhð      werig þinum
breostum bearm tredan      bradre eorðan,
faran feðeleas,      þenden þe feorh wunað,
gast on innan.      þu scealt greot etan
þine lifdagas.      Swa þu laðlice
wrohte onstealdest,      þe þæt wif feoð,
hatað under heofnum      and þin heafod tredeð
fah mid fotum sinum.      þu scealt fiersna sætan
tohtan niwre;      tuddor bið gemæne
incrum orlegnið      a þenden standeð
woruld under wolcnum.      Nu þu wast and canst,
lað leodsceaða,      hu þu lifian scealt."
ða to Euan god      yrringa spræc:
"Wend þe from wynne!      þu scealt wæpnedmen
wesan on gewealde,      mid weres egsan
hearde genearwad,      hean þrowian
þinra dæda gedwild,      deaðes bidan,
and þurh wop and heaf      on woruld cennan
þurh sar micel      sunu and dohtor."
Abead eac Adame      ece drihten,
lifes leohtfruma,      lað ærende:
"þu scealt oðerne      eðel secean,
wynleasran wic,      and on wræc hweorfan
nacod niedwædla,      neorxnawanges
dugeðum bedæled;      þe is gedal witod
lices and sawle.      Hwæt, þu laðlice
wrohte onstealdest;      forþon þu winnan scealt
and on eorðan þe      þine andlifne
selfa geræcan,      wegan swatig hleor,
þinne hlaf etan,      þenden þu her leofast,
oðþæt þe to heortan      hearde gripeð
adl unliðe      þe þu on æple ær
selfa forswulge;      forþon þu sweltan scealt."
Hwæt, we nu gehyrað      hwær us hearmstafas
wraðe onwocan      and woruldyrmðo.
Hie þa wuldres weard      wædum gyrede,
scyppend usser;      het heora sceome þeccan
frea frumhrægle;      het hie from hweorfan
neorxnawange      on nearore lif.
Him on laste beleac      liðsa and wynna
hihtfulne ham      halig engel
be frean hæse      fyrene sweorde;
ne mæg þær inwitfull      ænig geferan
womscyldig mon,      ac se weard hafað
miht and strengðo,      se þæt mære lif
dugeðum deore      drihtne healdeð.
No hwæðre ælmihtig      ealra wolde
Adame and Euan      arna ofteon,
fæder æt frymðe,      þeah þe hie him from swice,
ac he him to frofre let      hwæðere forð wesan
hyrstedne hrof      halgum tunglum
and him grundwelan      ginne sealde;
het þam sinhiwum      sæs and eorðan
tuddorteondra      teohha gehwilcre
to woruldnytte      wæstmas fedan.
Gesæton þa æfter synne      sorgfulre land,
eard and eðyl      unspedigran
fremena gehwilcre      þonne se frumstol wæs
þe hie æfter dæde of      adrifen wurdon.
Ongunnon hie þa      be godes hæse
bearn astrienan,      swa him metod bebead.
Adames and Euan      aforan wæron
freolicu twa      frumbearn cenned,
Cain and Abel.      Us cyðað bec,
hu þa dædfruman      dugeþa stryndon,
welan and wiste,      willgebroðor.
Oðer his to eorðan      elnes tilode,
se wæs ærboren;      oðer æhte heold
fæder on fultum,      oðþæt forð gewat
dægrimes worn.      Hie þa drihtne lac
begen brohton.      Brego engla beseah
on Abeles gield      eagum sinum,
cyning eallwihta,      Caines ne wolde
tiber sceawian.      þæt wæs torn were
hefig æt heortan.      Hygewælm asteah
beorne on breostum,      blatende nið,
yrre for æfstum.      He þa unræden
folmum gefremede,      freomæg ofsloh,
broðor sinne,      and his blod ageat,
Cain Abeles.      Cwealmdreore swealh
þæs middangeard,      monnes swate.
æfter wælswenge      wea wæs aræred,
tregena tuddor.      Of ðam twige siððan
ludon laðwende      leng swa swiðor
reðe wæstme.      Ræhton wide
geond werþeoda      wrohtes telgan,
hrinon hearmtanas      hearde and sare
drihta bearnum,      (doð gieta swa),
of þam brad blado      bealwa gehwilces
sprytan ongunnon.      We þæt spell magon,
wælgrimme wyrd,      wope cwiðan,
nales holunge;      ac us hearde sceod
freolecu fæmne      þurh forman gylt
þe wið metod æfre      men gefremeden,
eorðbuende,      siððan Adam wearð
of godes muðe      gaste eacen.
ða worde frægn      wuldres aldor
Cain, hwær Abel      eorðan wære.
Him ða se cystleasa      cwealmes wyrhta
ædre æfter þon      andswarode:
"Ne can ic Abeles      or ne fore,
hleomæges sið,      ne ic hyrde wæs
broðer mines."      Him þa brego engla,
godspedig gast      gean þingade:
"Hwæt, befealdest þu      folmum þinum
wraðum on wælbedd      wærfæstne rinc,
broðor þinne,      and his blod to me
cleopað and cigeð.      þu þæs cwealmes scealt
wite winnan      and on wræc hweorfan,
awyrged to widan aldre.      Ne seleð þe wæstmas eorðe
wlitige to woruldnytte,      ac heo wældreore swealh
halge of handum þinum;      forþon heo þe hroðra oftihð,
glæmes grene folde.      þu scealt geomor hweorfan,
arleas of earde þinum,      swa þu Abele wurde
to feorhbanan;      forþon þu flema scealt
widlast wrecan,      winemagum lað."
Him þa ædre Cain      andswarode:
"Ne þearf ic ænigre      are wenan
on woruldrice,      ac ic forworht hæbbe,
heofona heahcyning,      hyldo þine,
lufan and freode;      forþon ic lastas sceal
wean on wenum      wide lecgan,
hwonne me gemitte      manscyldigne,
se me feor oððe neah      fæhðe gemonige,
broðorcwealmes.      Ic his blod ageat,
dreor on eorðan.      þu to dæge þissum
ademest me fram duguðe      and adrifest from
earde minum.      Me to aldorbanan
weorðeð wraðra sum.      Ic awyrged sceal,
þeoden, of gesyhðe      þinre hweorfan."
Him þa selfa oncwæð      sigora drihten:
"Ne þearft ðu þe ondrædan      deaðes brogan,
feorhcwealm nu giet,      þeah þu from scyle
freomagum feor      fah gewitan.
Gif þe monna hwelc      mundum sinum
aldre beneoteð,      hine on cymeð
æfter þære synne      seofonfeald wracu,
wite æfter weorce."      Hine waldend on,
tirfæst metod,      tacen sette,
freoðobeacen frea,      þy læs hine feonda hwilc
mid guðþræce      gretan dorste
feorran oððe nean.      Heht þa from hweorfan
meder and magum      manscyldigne,
cnosle sinum.      Him þa Cain gewat
gongan geomormod      gode of gesyhðe,
wineleas wrecca,      and him þa wic geceas
eastlandum on,      eðelstowe
fædergeardum feor,      þær him freolecu mæg,
ides æfter æðelum      eaforan fedde.
Se æresta wæs      Enos haten,
frumbearn Caines.      Siððan fæsten ongon
mid þam cneomagum      ceastre timbran;
þæt wæs under wolcnum      weallfæstenna
ærest ealra      þara þe æðelingas,
sweordberende,      settan heton.
þanon his eaforan      ærest wocan,
bearn from bryde,      on þam burhstede.
Se yldesta wæs      Iared haten,
sunu Enoses.      Siððan wocan,
þa þæs cynnes      cneowrim icton,
mægburg Caines.      Malalehel wæs
æfter Iarede      yrfes hyrde
fæder on laste,      oðþæt he forð gewat.
Siððan Mathusal      magum dælde,
bearn æfter bearne      broðrum sinum
æðelinga gestreon,      oðþæt aldorgedal
frod fyrndagum      fremman sceolde,
lif oflætan.      Lameh onfeng
æfter fæder dæge      fletgestealdum,
botlgestreonum.      Him bryda twa,
idesa on eðle      eaforan feddon,
Ada and Sella;      þara anum wæs
Iabal noma,      se þurh gleawne geþanc
herbuendra      hearpan ærest
handum sinum      hlyn awehte,
swinsigende sweg,      sunu Lamehes.
Swylce on ðære mægðe      maga wæs haten
on þa ilcan tid      Tubalcain,
se þurh snytro sped      smiðcræftega wæs,
and þurh modes gemynd      monna ærest,
sunu Lamehes,      sulhgeweorces
fruma wæs ofer foldan,      siððan folca bearn
æres cuðon      and isernes,
burhsittende,      brucan wide.
þa his wifum twæm      wordum sægde
Lameh seolfa,      leofum gebeddum,
Adan and Sellan      unarlic spel:
"Ic on morðor ofsloh      minra sumne
hyldemaga;      honda gewemde
on Caines      cwealme mine,
fylde mid folmum      fæder Enoses,
ordbanan Abeles,      eorðan sealde
wældreor weres.      Wat ic gearwe
þæt þam lichryre      on last cymeð
soðcyninges      seofonfeald wracu,
micel æfter mane.      Min sceal swiðor
mid grimme gryre      golden wurðan
fyll and feorhcwealm,      þonne ic forð scio."
þa wearð Adame      on Abeles gyld
eafora on eðle      oþer feded,
soðfæst sunu,      þam wæs Seth noma.
Se wæs eadig      and his yldrum ðah
freolic to frofre,      fæder and meder,
Adames and Euan,      wæs Abeles gield
on woruldrice.      þa word acwæð
ord moncynnes:      "Me ece sunu
sealde selfa      sigora waldend,
lifes aldor      on leofes stæl,
þæs þe Cain ofsloh,      and me cearsorge
mid þys magotimbre      of mode asceaf
þeoden usser.      Him þæs þanc sie!"
Adam hæfde,      þa he eft ongan
him to eðelstæfe      oðres strienan
bearnes be bryde,      beorn ellenrof,
XXX and C      þisses lifes,
wintra on worulde.      Us gewritu secgað
þæt her eahtahund      iecte siððan
mægðum and mæcgum      mægburg sine
Adam on eorðan;      ealra hæfde
nigenhund wintra     
and XXX eac,      þa he þas woruld
þurh gastgedal      ofgyfan sceolde.
Him on laste Seth      leod weardode,
eafora æfter yldrum;      eþelstol heold
and wif begeat.      Wintra hæfde
fif and hundteontig      þa he furðum ongan
his mægburge      men geicean
sunum and dohtrum.      Sethes eafora
se yldesta wæs      Enos haten;
se nemde god      niðþa bearna
ærest ealra,      siððan Adam stop
on grene græs      gaste geweorðad.
Seth wæs gesælig;      siððan strynde
seofon winter her      suna and dohtra
ond eahtahund.      Ealra hæfde
XII and nigonhund,      þa seo tid gewearð
þæt he friðgedal      fremman sceolde.
Him æfter heold,      þa he of worulde gewat,
Enos yrfe,      siððan eorðe swealh
sædberendes      Sethes lice.
He wæs leof gode      and lifde her
wintra hundnigontig      ær he be wife her
þurh gebedscipe      bearn astrynde;
him þa cenned wearð      Cainan ærest
eafora on eðle.      Siððan eahtahund
and fiftyno      on friðo drihtnes
gleawferhð hæleð      geogoðe strynde,
suna and dohtra;      swealt, þa he hæfde,
frod fyrnwita,      V and nigonhund.
þære cneorisse wæs      Cainan siððan
æfter Enose      aldordema,
weard and wisa.      Wintra hæfde
efne hundseofontig      ær him sunu woce.
þa wearð on eðle      eafora feded,
mago Cainanes,      Malalehel wæs haten.
Siððan eahtahund      æðelinga rim
and feowertig eac      feorum geicte
Enoses sunu.      Ealra nigonhund
wintra hæfde      þa he woruld ofgeaf
and tyne eac,      þa his tiddæge
under rodera rum      rim wæs gefylled.
Him on laste heold      land and yrfe
Malalehel siððan      missera worn.
Se frumgara      fif and sixtig
wintra hæfde      þa he be wife ongann
bearna strynan.      Him bryd sunu
meowle to monnum brohte.      Se maga wæs
on his mægðe,      mine gefræge,
guma on geogoðe,      Iared haten.
Lifde siððan      and lissa breac
Malalehel lange,      mondreama her,
woruldgestreona.      Wintra hæfde
fif and hundnigontig,      þa he forð gewat,
and eahtahund;      eaforan læfde
land and leodweard.      Longe siððan
Geared gumum      gold brittade.
Se eorl wæs æðele,      æfæst hæleð,
and se frumgar his      freomagum leof.
Fif and hundteontig      on fyore lifde
wintra gebidenra      on woruldrice
and syxtig eac      þa seo sæl gewearð
þæt his wif sunu      on woruld brohte;
se eafora wæs      Enoc haten,
freolic frumbearn.      Fæder her þa gyt
his cynnes forð      cneorim icte,
eaforan eahtahund;      ealra hæfde
V and syxtig,      þa he forð gewat,
and nigonhund eac      nihtgerimes,
wine frod wintres,      þa he þas woruld ofgeaf
ond Geared þa      gleawum læfde
land and leodweard,      leofum rince.
Enoch siððan      ealdordom ahof,
freoðosped folces wisa,      nalles feallan let
dom and drihtscipe,     
þenden he hyrde wæs      heafodmaga.
Breac blæddaga,      bearna strynde
þreohund wintra.      Him wæs þeoden hold,
rodera waldend.      Se rinc heonon
on lichoman      lisse sohte,
drihtnes duguðe,      nales deaðe swealt
middangeardes,      swa her men doþ,
geonge and ealde,      þonne him god heora
æhta and ætwist      eorðan gestreona
on genimeð      and heora aldor somed,
ac he cwic gewat      mid cyning engla
of þyssum lænan      life feran
on þam gearwum      þe his gast onfeng
ær hine to monnum      modor brohte.
He þam yldestan      eaforan læfde
folc, frumbearne;      V and syxtig
wintra hæfde      þa he woruld ofgeaf,
and eac III hund.      þrage siððan
Mathusal heold      maga yrfe,
se on lichoman      lengest þissa
worulddreama breac.      Worn gestrynde
ær his swyltdæge      suna and dohtra;
hæfde frod hæle,      þa he from sceolde
niþþum hweorfan,      nigonhund wintra
and hundseofontig to.      Sunu æfter heold,
Lamech leodgeard,      lange siððan
woruld bryttade.      Wintra hæfde
twa and hundteontig      þa seo tid gewearð
þæt se eorl ongan      æðele cennan,
sunu and dohtor.      Siððan lifde
fif and hundnigontig,      frea moniges breac
wintra under wolcnum,      werodes aldor,
and V hund eac;      heold þæt folc teala,
bearna strynde,      him byras wocan,
eaforan and idesa.      He þone yldestan
Noe nemde,      se niððum ær
land bryttade      siððan Lamech gewat.
Hæfde æðelinga      aldorwisa
V hund wintra      þa he furðum ongan
bearna strynan,      þæs þe bec cweðaþ.
Sem wæs haten      sunu Noes,
se yldesta,      oðer Cham,
þridda Iafeth.      þeoda tymdon
rume under roderum,      rim miclade
monna mægðe      geond middangeard
sunum and dohtrum.      ða giet wæs Sethes cynn,
leofes leodfruman      on lufan swiðe
drihtne dyre      and domeadig,
oðþæt bearn godes      bryda ongunnon
on Caines      cynne secan,
wergum folce,      and him þær wif curon
ofer metodes est      monna eaforan,
scyldfulra mægð      scyne and fægere.
þa reordade      rodora waldend
wrað moncynne      and þa worde cwæð:
"Ne syndon me on ferhðe freo      from gewitene
cneorisn Caines,      ac me þæt cynn hafað
sare abolgen.      Nu me Sethes bearn
torn niwiað      and him to nimað
mægeð to gemæccum      minra feonda;
þær wifa wlite      onwod grome,
idesa ansien,      and ece feond
folcdriht wera,      þa ær on friðe wæron."
Siððan hundtwelftig      geteled rime
wintra on worulde      wræce bisgodon
fæge þeoda,      hwonne frea wolde
on wærlogan      wite settan
and on deað slean      dædum scyldige
gigantmæcgas,      gode unleofe,
micle mansceaðan,      metode laðe.
þa geseah selfa      sigoro waldend
hwæt wæs monna      manes on eorðan
and þæt hie wæron      womma ðriste,
inwitfulle.      He þæt unfægere
wera cneorissum      gewrecan þohte,
forgripan gumcynne      grimme and sare,
heardum mihtum.      Hreaw hine swiðe
þæt he folcmægþa      fruman aweahte,
æðelinga ord,      þa he Adam sceop,
cwæð þæt he wolde      for wera synnum
eall aæðan      þæt on eorðan wæs,
forleosan lica gehwilc      þara þe lifes gast
fæðmum þeahte.      Eall þæt frea wolde
on ðære toweardan      tide acwellan
þe þa nealæhte      niðða bearnum.
Noe wæs god,      nergende leof,
swiðe gesælig,      sunu Lameches,
domfæst and gedefe.      Drihten wiste
þæt þæs æðelinges      ellen dohte
breostgehygdum;      forðon him brego sægde,
halig æt hleoðre,      helm allwihta,
hwæt he fah werum      fremman wolde;
geseah unrihte      eorðan fulle,
side sælwongas      synnum gehladene,
widlum gewemde.      þa waldend spræc,
nergend usser,      and to Noe cwæð:
"Ic wille mid flode      folc acwellan
and cynna gehwilc      cucra wuhta,
þara þe lyft and flod      lædað and fedað,
feoh and fuglas.      þu scealt frið habban
mid sunum þinum,      ðonne sweart wæter,
wonne wælstreamas      werodum swelgað,
sceaðum scyldfullum.      Ongyn þe scip wyrcan,
merehus micel.      On þam þu monegum scealt
reste geryman,      and rihte setl
ælcum æfter agenum      eorðan tudre.
Gescype scylfan      on scipes bosme.
þu þæt fær gewyrc      fiftiges wid,
ðrittiges heah      and þreohund lang
elngemeta,      and wið yða gewyrc
gefeg fæste.      þær sceal fæsl wesan
cwiclifigendra      cynna gehwilces
on þæt wudufæsten      wocor gelæded
eorðan tudres;      earc sceal þy mare."
Noe fremede      swa hine nergend heht,
hyrde þam halgan      heofoncyninge,
ongan ofostlice      þæt hof wyrcan,
micle merecieste.      Magum sægde
þæt wæs þrealic þing      þeodum toweard,
reðe wite.      Hie ne rohton þæs!
Geseah þa ymb wintra worn      wærfæst metod
geofonhusa mæst      gearo hlifigean,
innan and utan      eorðan lime
gefæstnod wið flode,      fær Noes,
þy selestan.      þæt is syndrig cynn;
symle bið þy heardra      þe hit hreoh wæter,
swearte sæstreamas      swiðor beatað.
ða to Noe cwæð      nergend usser:
"Ic þe þæs mine,      monna leofost,
wære gesylle,      þæt þu weg nimest
and feora fæsl      þe þu ferian scealt
geond deop wæter      dægrimes worn
on lides bosme.      Læd, swa ic þe hate,
under earce bord      eaforan þine,
frumgaran þry,      and eower feower wif.
Ond þu seofone genim      on þæt sundreced
tudra gehwilces      geteled rimes,
þara þe to mete      mannum lifige,
and þara oðerra      ælces twa.
Swilce þu of eallum      eorðan wæstmum
wiste under wægbord      werodum gelæde,
þam þe mid sceolon      mereflod nesan.
Fed freolice      feora wocre
oð ic þære lafe      lagosiða eft
reorde under roderum      ryman wille.
Gewit þu nu mid hiwum      on þæt hof gangan,
gasta werode.      Ic þe godne wat,
fæsthydigne;      þu eart freoðo wyrðe,
ara mid eaforum.      Ic on andwlitan
nu ofor seofon niht      sigan læte
wællregn ufan      widre eorðan.
Feowertig daga      fæhðe ic wille
on weras stælan      and mid wægþreate
æhta and agend      eall acwellan
þa beutan beoð      earce bordum
þonne sweart racu      stigan onginneð."
Him þa Noe gewat,      swa hine nergend het,
under earce bord      eaforan lædan,
weras on wægþæl      and heora wif somed;
and eall þæt to fæsle      frea ælmihtig
habban wolde      under hrof gefor
to heora ætgifan,      swa him ælmihtig
weroda drihten      þurh his word abead.
Him on hoh beleac      heofonrices weard
merehuses muð      mundum sinum,
sigora waldend,      and segnade
earce innan      agenum spedum
nergend usser.      Noe hæfde,
sunu Lameches,      syxhund wintra
þa he mid bearnum      under bord gestah,
gleaw mid geogoðe,      be godes hæse,
dugeðum dyrum.      Drihten sende
regn from roderum      and eac rume let
willeburnan      on woruld þringan
of ædra gehwære,      egorstreamas
swearte swogan.      Sæs up stigon
ofer stæðweallas.      Strang wæs and reðe
se ðe wætrum weold;      wreah and þeahte
manfæhðu bearn      middangeardes
wonnan wæge,      wera eðelland;
hof hergode,      hygeteonan wræc
metod on monnum.      Mere swiðe grap
on fæge folc      feowertig daga,
nihta oðer swilc.      Nið wæs reðe,
wællgrim werum;      wuldorcyninges
yða wræcon      arleasra feorh
of flæschoman.      Flod ealle wreah,
hreoh under heofonum      hea beorgas
geond sidne grund      and on sund ahof
earce from eorðan      and þa æðelo mid,
þa segnade      selfa drihten,
scyppend usser,      þa he þæt scip beleac.
Siððan wide rad      wolcnum under
ofer holmes hrincg      hof seleste,
for mid fearme.      Fære ne moston
wægliðendum      wætres brogan
hæste hrinon,      ac hie halig god
ferede and nerede.      Fiftena stod
deop ofer dunum      se drenceflod
monnes elna;      þæt is mæro wyrd!
þam æt niehstan      wæs nan to gedale,
nymþe heof wæs ahafen      on þa hean lyft,
þa se egorhere      eorðan tuddor
eall acwealde,      buton þæt earce bord
heold heofona frea,      þa hine halig god
ece upp forlet      edmodne flod
streamum stigan,      stiðferhð cyning.
þa gemunde god      mereliðende,
sigora waldend      sunu Lameches
and ealle þa wocre      þe he wið wætre beleac,
lifes leohtfruma,      on lides bosme.
Gelædde þa wigend      weroda drihten
worde ofer widland.      Willflod ongan
lytligan eft.      Lago ebbade,
sweart under swegle.      Hæfde soð metod
eaforum egstream      eft gecyrred,
torhtne ryne,      regn gestilled.
For famig scip      L and C
nihta under roderum,      siððan nægledbord,
fær seleste,      flod up ahof,
oðþæt rimgetæl      reðre þrage
daga forð gewat.      ða on dunum gesæt
heah mid hlæste      holmærna mæst,
earc Noes,      þe Armenia
hatene syndon.      þær se halga bad,
sunu Lameches,      soðra gehata
lange þrage,      hwonne him lifes weard
frea ælmihtig      frecenra siða
reste ageafe,      þæra he rume dreah
þa hine on sunde      geond sidne grund
wonne yða      wide bæron.
Holm wæs heononweard;      hæleð langode,
wægliðende,      swilce wif heora,
hwonne hie of nearwe      ofer nægledbord
ofer streamstaðe      stæppan mosten
and of enge ut      æhta lædan.
þa fandode      forðweard scipes,
hwæðer sincende      sæflod þa gyt
wære under wolcnum.      Let þa ymb worn daga
þæs þe heah hlioðo      horde onfengon
and æðelum eac      eorðan tudres
sunu Lameches      sweartne fleogan
hrefn ofer heahflod      of huse ut.
Noe tealde      þæt he on neod hine,
gif he on þære lade      land ne funde,
ofer sid wæter      secan wolde
on wægþele.      Eft him seo wen geleah,
ac se feonde gespearn      fleotende hreaw;
salwigfeðera      secan nolde.
He þa ymb seofon niht      sweartum hrefne
of earce forlet      æfter fleogan
ofer heah wæter      haswe culufran
on fandunga      hwæðer famig sæ
deop þa gyta      dæl ænigne
grenre eorðan      ofgifen hæfde.
Heo wide hire      willan sohte
and rume fleah.      Nohweðere reste fand,
þæt heo for flode      fotum ne meahte
land gespornan      ne on leaf treowes
steppan for streamum,      ac wæron steap hleoðo
bewrigen mid wætrum.      Gewat se wilda fugel
on æfenne      earce secan
ofer wonne wæg,      werig sigan,
hungri to handa      halgum rince.
ða wæs culufre eft      of cofan sended
ymb wucan wilde.      Seo wide fleah
oðþæt heo rumgal      restestowe
fægere funde      and þa fotum stop
on beam hyre;      gefeah bliðemod
þæs þe heo gesittan      swiðe werig
on treowes telgum      torhtum moste.
Heo feðera onsceoc,      gewat fleogan eft
mid lacum hire,      liðend brohte
elebeames twig      an to handa,
grene blædæ.      þa ongeat hraðe
flotmonna frea      þæt wæs frofor cumen,
earfoðsiða bot.      þa gyt se eadega wer
ymb wucan þriddan      wilde culufran
ane sende.      Seo eft ne com
to lide fleogan,      ac heo land begeat,
grene bearwas;      nolde gladu æfre
under salwed bord      syððan ætywan
on þellfæstenne,      þa hire þearf ne wæs.
þa to Noe spræc      nergend usser,
heofonrices weard,      halgan reorde:
"þe is eðelstol      eft gerymed,
lisse on lande,      lagosiða rest
fæger on foldan.      Gewit on freðo gangan
ut of earce,      and on eorðan bearm
of þam hean hofe      hiwan læd þu
and ealle þa wocre      þe ic wægþrea on
liðe nerede      þenden lago hæfde
þrymme geþeahtne      þriddan eðyl."
He fremede swa      and frean hyrde,
stah ofer streamweall,      swa him seo stefn bebead,
lustum miclum,      and alædde þa
of wægþele      wraðra lafe.
þa Noe ongan      nergende lac
rædfæst reðran,      and recene genam
on eallum dæl      æhtum sinum,
ðam ðe him to dugeðum      drihten sealde,
gleaw to þam gielde,      and þa gode selfum
torhtmod hæle      tiber onsægde,
cyninge engla.      Huru cuð dyde
nergend usser,      þa he Noe
gebletsade      and his bearn somed,
þæt he þæt gyld on þanc      agifen hæfde
and on geogoðhade      godum dædum
ær geearnod      þæt him ealra wæs
ara este      ælmihtig god,
domfæst dugeþa.      þa gyt drihten cwæð,
wuldris aldor      word to Noe:
"Tymað nu and tiedrað,      tires brucað,
mid gefean fryðo;      fyllað eorðan,
eall geiceað.      Eow is eðelstol
and holmes hlæst      and heofonfuglas
and wildu deor      on geweald geseald,
eorðe ælgrene      and eacen feoh.
Næfre ge mid blode      beodgereordu
unarlice      eowre þicgeað,
besmiten mid synne      sawldreore.
ælc hine selfa      ærest begrindeð
gastes dugeðum      þæra þe mid gares orde
oðrum aldor oðþringeð.      Ne ðearf he þy edleane gefeon
modgeþance,      ac ic monnes feorh
to slagan sece      swiðor micle,
and to broðor banan,      þæs þe blodgyte,
wællfyll weres      wæpnum gespedeð,
morð mid mundum.      Monn wæs to godes
anlicnesse      ærest gesceapen.
ælc hafað magwlite      metodes and engla
þara þe healdan wile      halige þeawas.
Weaxað and wridað,      wilna brucað,
ara on eorðan;      æðelum fyllað
eowre fromcynne      foldan sceatas,
teamum and tudre.      Ic eow treowa þæs
mine selle,      þæt ic on middangeard
næfre egorhere      eft gelæde,
wæter ofer widland.      Ge on wolcnum þæs
oft and gelome      andgiettacen
magon sceawigan,      þonne ic scurbogan
minne iewe,      þæt ic monnum þas
wære gelæste,      þenden woruld standeð."
ða wæs se snotra      sunu Lamehes
of fere acumen      flode on laste
mid his eaforum þrim,      yrfes hyrde
(and heora feower wif;     
nemde wæron      Percoba, Olla,
Olliua, Olliuani),     
wærfæst metode,      wætra lafe.
Hæleð hygerofe      hatene wæron,
suna Noes      Sem and Cham,
Iafeð þridda.      From þam gumrincum
folc geludon      and gefylled wearð
eall þes middangeard      monna bearnum.
ða Noe ongan      niwan stefne
mid hleomagum      ham staðelian
and to eorðan him      ætes tilian;
won and worhte,      wingeard sette,
seow sæda fela,      sohte georne
þa him wlitebeorhte      wæstmas brohte,
geartorhte gife,      grene folde.
ða þæt geeode,      þæt se eadega wer
on his wicum wearð      wine druncen,
swæf symbelwerig,      and him selfa sceaf
reaf of lice.      Swa gerysne ne wæs,
læg þa limnacod.      He lyt ongeat
þæt him on his inne      swa earme gelamp,
þa him on hreðre      heafodswima
on þæs halgan hofe      heortan clypte.
Swiðe on slæpe      sefa nearwode
þæt he ne mihte      on gemynd drepen
hine handum self      mid hrægle wryon
and sceome þeccan,      swa gesceapu wæron
werum and wifum,      siððan wuldres þegn
ussum fæder and meder      fyrene sweorde
on laste beleac      lifes eðel.
þa com ærest      Cam in siðian,
eafora Noes,      þær his aldor læg,
ferhðe forstolen.      þær he freondlice
on his agenum fæder      are ne wolde
gesceawian,      ne þa sceonde huru
hleomagum helan,      ac he hlihende
broðrum sægde,      hu se beorn hine
reste on recede.      Hie þa raðe stopon,
heora andwlitan      in bewrigenum
under loðum listum,      þæt hie leofum men
geoce gefremede;      gode wæron begen,
Sem and Iafeð.      ða of slæpe onbrægd
sunu Lamehes,      and þa sona ongeat
þæt him cynegodum      Cham ne wolde,
þa him wæs are þearf,      ænige cyðan
hyldo and treowa.      þæt þam halgan wæs
sar on mode,      ongan þa his selfes bearn
wordum wyrgean,      cwæð, he wesan sceolde
hean under heofnum,      hleomaga þeow,
Cham on eorþan;      him þa cwyde syððan
and his fromcynne      frecne scodon.
þa nyttade      Noe siððan
mid sunum sinum      sidan rices
ðreohund wintra      þisses lifes,
freomen æfter flode,      and fiftig eac, þa he forð gewat.
Siððan his eaforan      ead bryttedon,
bearna stryndon;      him wæs beorht wela.
þa wearð Iafeðe      geogoð afeded,
hyhtlic heorðwerod      heafodmaga,
sunu and dohtra.      He wæs selfa til,
heold a rice,      eðeldreamas,
blæd mid bearnum,      oðþæt breosta hord,
gast ellorfus      gangan sceolde
to godes dome.      Geomor siððan
fæder flettgesteald      freondum dælde,
swæsum and gesibbum,      sunu Iafeðes;
þæs teames wæs      tuddor gefylled
unlytel dæl      eorðan gesceafta.
Swilce Chames suno      cende wurdon,
eaforan on eðle;      þa yldestan
Chus and Chanan      hatene wæron,
ful freolice feorh,      frumbearn Chames.
Chus wæs æðelum      heafodwisa,
wilna brytta      and worulddugeða
broðrum sinum,      botlgestreona,
fæder on laste,      siððan forð gewat
Cham of lice,      þa him cwealm gesceod.
Se magoræswa      mægðe sinre
domas sægde,      oðþæt his dogora wæs
rim aurnen.      þa se rinc ageaf
eorðcunde ead,      sohte oðer lif,
fæder Nebroðes.      Frumbearn siððan
eafora Chuses      yrfestole weold,
widmære wer,      swa us gewritu secgeað,
þæt he moncynnes      mæste hæfde
on þam mældagum      mægen and strengo.
Se wæs Babylones      bregorices fruma,
ærest æðelinga;      eðelðrym onhof,
rymde and rærde.      Reord wæs þa gieta
eorðbuendum      an gemæne.
Swilce of Cames      cneorisse woc
wermægða fela;      of þam widfolce
cneorim micel      cenned wæron.
þa wearð Seme      suna and dohtra
on woruldrice      worn afeded,
freora bearna,      ær ðon frod cure
wintrum wælreste      werodes aldor.
On þære mægðe      wæron men tile,
þara an wæs      Eber haten,
eafora Semes;      of þam eorle woc
unrim þeoda,      þa nu æðelingas,
ealle eorðbuend,      Ebrei hatað.
Gewiton him þa eastan      æhta lædan,
feoh and feorme.      Folc wæs anmod;
rofe rincas      sohton rumre land,
oðþæt hie becomon      corðrum miclum,
folc ferende,      þær hie fæstlice
æðelinga bearn,      eard genamon.
Gesetton þa Sennar      sidne and widne
leoda ræswan;      leofum mannum
heora geardagum      grene wongas,
fægre foldan,      him forðwearde
on ðære dægtide      duguðe wæron,
wilna gehwilces      weaxende sped.
ða þær mon mænig      be his mægwine,
æðeling anmod,      oðerne bæd
þæs hie him to mærðe,      ær seo mengeo eft
geond foldan bearm      tofaran sceolde,
leoda mægðe      on landsocne
burh geworhte      and to beacne torr
up arærde      to rodortunglum.
þæs þe hie gesohton      Sennera feld,
swa þa foremeahtige      folces ræswan,
þa yldestan      oft and gelome
liðsum gewunedon;      larum sohton
weras to weorce      and to wrohtscipe,
oðþæt for wlence      and for wonhygdum
cyðdon cræft heora,      ceastre worhton
and to heofnum up      hlædræ rærdon,
strengum stepton      stænenne weall
ofer monna gemet,      mærða georne,
hæleð mid honda.      þa com halig god
wera cneorissa      weorc sceawigan,
beorna burhfæsten,      and þæt beacen somed,
þe to roderum up      ræran ongunnon
Adames eaforan,      and þæs unrædes
stiðferhð cyning      steore gefremede,
þa he reðemod      reorde gesette
eorðbuendum      ungelice,
þæt hie þære spæce      sped ne ahton.
þa hie gemitton      mihtum spedge,
teoche æt torre,      getalum myclum,
weorces wisan,      ne þær wermægða
ænig wiste      hwæt oðer cwæð.
Ne meahte hie gewurðan      weall stænenne
up forð timbran,      ac hie earmlice
heapum tohlocon,      hleoðrum gedælde;
wæs oðerre      æghwilc worden
mægburh fremde,      siððan metod tobræd
þurh his mihta sped      monna spræce.
Toforan þa      on feower wegas
æðelinga bearn      ungeþeode
on landsocne.      Him on laste bu
stiðlic stantorr      and seo steape burh
samod samworht      on Sennar stod.
Weox þa under wolcnum      and wriðade
mægburh Semes,      oðþæt mon awoc
on þære cneorisse,      cynebearna rim,
þancolmod wer,      þeawum hydig.
Wurdon þam æðelinge      eaforan acende,
in Babilone      bearn afeded
freolicu tu,      and þa frumgaran,
hæleð higerofe,      hatene wæron
Abraham and Aaron;      þam eorlum wæs
frea engla bam      freond and aldor.
ða wearð Aarone      eafora feded,
leoflic on life,      ðam wæs Loth noma.
ða magorincas      metode geþungon,
Abraham and Loth,      unforcuðlice,
swa him from yldrum      æðelu wæron
on woruldrice;      forðon hie wide nu
dugeðum demað      drihtfolca bearn.
þa þæs mæles wæs      mearc agongen
þæt him Abraham      idese brohte,
wif to hame,      þær he wic ahte,
fæger and freolic.      Seo fæmne wæs
Sarra haten,      þæs þe us secgeað bec.
Hie þa wintra fela      woruld bryttedon,
sinc ætsomne,      sibbe heoldon
geara mengeo.      Nohwæðre gifeðe wearð
Abrahame þa gyt      þæt him yrfeweard
wlitebeorht ides      on woruld brohte,
Sarra Abrahame,      suna and dohtra.
Gewat him þa mid cnosle      ofer Caldea folc
feran mid feorme      fæder Abrahames;
snotor mid gesibbum      secean wolde
Cananea land.      Hine cneowmægas,
metode gecorene      mid siðedon
of þære eðeltyrf,      Abraham and Loth.
Him þa cynegode      on Carran
æðelinga bearn      eard genamon,
weras mid wifum.      On þam wicum his
fæder Abrahames      feorh gesealde,
wærfæst hæle;      wintra hæfde
twa hundteontig,      geteled rime,
and fife eac,      þa he forð gewat
misserum frod      metodsceaft seon.
ða se halga spræc,      heofonrices weard,
to Abrahame,      ece drihten:
"Gewit þu nu feran      and þine fare lædan,
ceapas to cnosle.      Carran ofgif,
fæder eðelstol.      Far, swa ic þe hate,
monna leofost,      and þu minum wel
larum hyre,      and þæt land gesec
þe ic þe ælgrene      ywan wille,
brade foldan.      þu gebletsad scealt
on mundbyrde      minre lifigan.
Gif ðe ænig      eorðbuendra
mid wean greteð,      ic hine wergðo on
mine sette      and modhete,
longsumne nið;      lisse selle,
wilna wæstme      þam þe wurðiað.
þurh þe eorðbuende      ealle onfoð,
folcbearn freoðo      and freondscipe,
blisse minre      and bletsunge
on woruldrice.      Wriðende sceal
mægðe þinre      monrim wesan
swiðe under swegle      sunum and dohtrum,
oðþæt fromcyme      folde weorðeð,
þeodlond monig      þine gefylled."
Him þa Abraham gewat      æhte lædan
of Egipta      eðelmearce,
gumcystum god,      golde and seolfre
swiðfeorm and gesælig,      swa him sigora weard,
waldend usser      þurh his word abead,
ceapas from Carran;      sohton Cananea
lond and leodgeard.      þa com leof gode
on þa eðelturf      idesa lædan,
swæse gebeddan      and his suhtrian
wif on willan.      Wintra hæfde
fif and hundseofontig      ða he faran sceolde,
Carran ofgifan      and cneowmagas.
Him þa feran gewat      fæder ælmihtiges
lare gemyndig      land sceawian
geond þa folcsceare      be frean hæse
Abraham wide,      oðþæt ellenrof
to Sicem com      siðe spedig,
cynne Cananeis.      þa hine cyning engla
Abrahame      iewde selfa,
domfæst wereda      and drihten cwæð:
"þis is seo eorðe      þe ic ælgrene
tudre þinum      torhte wille
wæstmum gewlo      on geweald don,
rume rice."      þa se rinc gode
wibed worhte      and þa waldende
lifes leohtfruman      lac onsægde
gasta helme.      Him þa gyt gewat
Abraham eastan      eagum wlitan
on landa cyst,      (lisse gemunde
heofonweardes gehat,      þa him þurh halig word
sigora selfcyning      soð gecyðde),
oðþæt drihtweras      duguþum geforan
þær is botlwela      Bethlem haten.
Beorn bliðemod      and his broðor sunu
forð oferforan      folcmæro land
eastan mid æhtum,      æfæste men
weallsteapan hleoðu,      and him þa wic curon
þær him wlitebeorhte      wongas geþuhton.
Abraham þa      oðere siðe
wibed worhte.      He þær wordum god
torhtum cigde,      tiber onsægde
his liffrean,      (him þæs lean ageaf
nalles hneawlice      þurh his hand metend),
on þam gledstyde      gumcystum til.
ðær ræsbora      þrage siððan
wicum wunode      and wilna breac,
beorn mid bryde,      oðþæt brohþrea
Cananea wearð      cynne getenge,
hunger se hearda,      hamsittendum,
wælgrim werum.      Him þa wishydig
Abraham gewat      on Egypte,
drihtne gecoren,      drohtað secan,
fleah wærfæst wean;      wæs þæt wite to strang.
Abraham maðelode,      geseah Egypta
hornsele hwite      and hea byrig
beorhte blican;      ongan þa his bryd frea,
wishydig wer,      wordum læran:
"Siððan Egypte      eagum moton
on þinne wlite wlitan      wlance monige,
þonne æðelinga      eorlas wenað,
mæg ælfscieno,      þæt þu min sie
beorht gebedda,      þe wile beorna sum
him geagnian.      Ic me onegan mæg
þæt me wraðra sum      wæpnes ecge
for freondmynde      feore beneote.
Saga þu, Sarra,      þæt þu sie sweostor min,
lices mæge,      þonne þe leodweras
fremde fricgen      hwæt sie freondlufu
ellðeodigra      uncer twega,
feorren cumenra.      þu him fæste hel
soðan spræce;      swa þu minum scealt
feore gebeorgan,      gif me freoðo drihten
on woruldrice,      waldend usser,
an ælmihtig,      swa he ær dyde,
lengran lifes.      Se us þas lade sceop,
þæt we on Egiptum      are sceolde
fremena friclan      and us fremu secan."
þa com ellenrof      eorl siðian,
Abraham mid æhtum      on Egypte,
þær him folcweras      fremde wæron,
wine uncuðe.      Wordum spræcon
ymb þæs wifes wlite      wlonce monige,
dugeðum dealle;      him drihtlicu mæg,
on wlite modgum      mænegum ðuhte,
cyninges þegnum.      Hie þæt cuð dydon
heora folcfrean      þæt fægerro lyt
for æðelinge      idesa sunnon,
ac hie Sarran      swiðor micle,
wynsumne wlite      wordum heredon,
oðþæt he lædan heht      leoflic wif to
his selfes sele.      Sinces brytta,
æðelinga helm      heht Abrahame
duguðum stepan.      Hwæðere drihten wearð,
frea Faraone      fah and yrre
for wifmyne;      þæs wraðe ongeald
hearde mid hiwum      hægstealdra wyn.
Ongæt hwæðere      gumena aldor
hwæt him waldend wræc      witeswingum;
heht him Abraham      to egesum geðreadne
brego Egipto,      and his bryd ageaf,
wif to gewealde;      heht him wine ceosan,
ellor æðelingas,      oðre dugeðe.
Abead þa þeodcyning      þegnum sinum,
ombihtscealcum,      þæt hie hine arlice
ealles onsundne      eft gebrohten
of þære folcsceare,      þæt he on friðe wære.
ða Abraham      æhte lædde
of Egypta      eðelmearce;
hie ellenrofe      idese feredon,
bryd and begas,      þæt hie to Bethlem
on cuðe wic      ceapas læddon,
eadge eorðwelan      oðre siðe,
wif on willan      and heora woruldgestreon.
Ongunnon him þa bytlian      and heora burh ræran,
and sele settan,      salo niwian.
Weras on wonge      wibed setton
neah þam þe Abraham      æror rærde
his waldende      þa westan com.
þær se eadga eft      ecan drihtnes
niwan stefne      noman weorðade;
tilmodig eorl      tiber onsægde
þeodne engla,      þancode swiðe
lifes leohtfruman      lisse and ara.
Wunedon on þam wicum,      hæfdon wilna geniht
Abraham and Loth.      Ead bryttedon,
oðþæt hie on þam lande      ne meahton leng somed
blædes brucan      and heora begra þær
æhte habban,      ac sceoldon arfæste,
þa rincas þy      rumor secan
ellor eðelseld.      Oft wæron teonan
wærfæstra wera      weredum gemæne,
heardum hearmplega.      þa se halga ongan
ara gemyndig      Abraham sprecan
fægre to Lothe:      "Ic eom fædera þin
sibgebyrdum,      þu min suhterga.
Ne sceolon unc betweonan      teonan weaxan,
wroht wriðian--      ne þæt wille god!
Ac wit synt gemagas;      unc gemæne ne sceal
elles awiht,      nymþe eall tela
lufu langsumu.      Nu þu, Loth, geþenc,
þæt unc modige      ymb mearce sittað,
þeoda þrymfæste      þegnum and gesiððum,
folc Cananea      and Feretia,
rofum rincum.      Ne willað rumor unc
landriht heora;      forðon wit lædan sculon,
teon of þisse stowe,      and unc staðolwangas
rumor secan.      Ic ræd sprece,
bearn Arones,      begra uncer,
soðne secge.      Ic þe selfes dom
life, leofa.      Leorna þe seolfa
and geþancmeta      þine mode
on hwilce healfe      þu wille hwyrft don,
cyrran mid ceape,      nu ic þe cyst abead."
Him þa Loth gewat      land sceawigan
be Iordane,      grene eorðan.
Seo wæs wætrum weaht      and wæstmum þeaht,
lagostreamum leoht,      and gelic godes
neorxnawange,      oðþæt nergend god
for wera synnum      wylme gesealde
Sodoman and Gomorran,      sweartan lige.
Him þa eard geceas      and eðelsetl
sunu Arones      on Sodoma byrig;
æhte sine      ealle lædde,
beagas from Bethlem      and botlgestreon,
welan, wunden gold.      Wunode siððan
be Iordane      geara mænego.
þær folcstede      fægre wæron,
men arlease,      metode laðe.
Wæron Sodomisc cynn      synnum þriste,
dædum gedwolene;      drugon heora selfra
ecne unræd.      æfre ne wolde
þam leodþeawum      Loth onfon,
ac he þære mægðe      monwisan fleah,
þeah þe he on þam lande      lifian sceolde,
facen and fyrene,      and hine fægre heold,
þeawfæst and geþyldig      on þam þeodscipe,
emne þon gelicost,      lara gemyndig,
þe he ne cuðe      hwæt þa cynn dydon.
Abraham wunode      eðeleardum
Cananea forð.      Hine cyning engla,
metod moncynnes      mundbyrde heold,
wilna wæstmum      and worulddugeðum,
lufum and lissum;      forþon his lof secgað
wide under wolcnum      wera cneorisse,
foldwonga bearn.      He frean hyrde
estum on eðle,      ðenden he eardes breac,
halig and higefrod;      næfre hleowlora
æt edwihtan      æfre weorðeð
feorhberendra      forht and acol,
mon for metode,      þe him æfter a
þurh gemynda sped      mode and dædum,
worde and gewitte,      wise þance,
oð his ealdorgedal      oleccan wile.
ða ic aldor gefrægn      Elamitarna
fromne folctogan,      fyrd gebeodan,
Orlahomar;      him Ambrafel
of Sennar      side worulde
for on fultum.      Gewiton hie feower þa
þeodcyningas      þrymme micle
secan suð ðanon      Sodoman and Gomorran.
þa wæs guðhergum      be Iordane
wera eðelland      wide geondsended,
folde feondum.      Sceolde forht monig
blachleor ides      bifiende gan
on fremdes fæðm;      feollon wergend
bryda and beaga,      bennum seoce.
Him þa togeanes      mid guðþræce
fife foran      folccyningas
sweotum suðon,      woldon Sodome burh
wraðum werian;      þa wintra XII
norðmonnum ær      niede sceoldon
gombon gieldan      and gafol sellan,
oðþæt þa leode      leng ne woldon
Elamitarna      aldor swiðan
folcgestreonum,      ac him from swicon.
Foron þa tosomne      (francan wæron hlude),
wraðe wælherigas.      Sang se wanna fugel
under deoreðsceaftum,      deawigfeðera,
hræs on wenan.      Hæleð onetton
on mægencorðrum,      modum þryðge,
oðþæt folcgetrume      gefaren hæfdon
sid tosomne      suðan and norðan,
helmum þeahte.      þær wæs heard plega,
wælgara wrixl,      wigcyrm micel,
hlud hildesweg.      Handum brugdon
hæleð of scæðum      hringmæled sweord,
ecgum dihtig.      þær wæs eaðfynde
eorle orlegceap,      se ðe ær ne wæs
niðes genihtsum.      Norðmen wæron
suðfolcum swice;      wurdon Sodomware
and Gomorre,      goldes bryttan,
æt þæm lindcrodan      leofum bedrorene,
fyrdgesteallum.      Gewiton feorh heora
fram þam folcstyde      fleame nergan,
secgum ofslegene;      him on swaðe feollon
æðelinga bearn,      ecgum ofþegde,
willgesiððas.      Hæfde wigsigor
Elamitarna      ordes wisa,
weold wælstowe.      Gewat seo wæpna laf
fæsten secan.      Fynd gold strudon,
ahyðdan þa mid herge      hordburh wera,
Sodoman and Gomorran,      þa sæl ageald,
mære ceastra.      Mægð siðedon,
fæmnan and wuduwan,      freondum beslægene,
from hleowstole.      Hettend læddon
ut mid æhtum      Abrahames mæg
of Sodoma byrig.      We þæt soð magon
secgan furður,      hwelc siððan wearð
æfter þæm gehnæste      herewulfa sið,
þara þe læddon Loth      and leoda god,
suðmonna sinc,      sigore gulpon.
Him þa secg hraðe      gewat siðian,
an gara laf,      se ða guðe genæs,
Abraham secan.      Se þæt orlegweorc
þam Ebriscan      eorle gecyðde,
forslegen swiðe      Sodoma folc,
leoda duguðe      and Lothes sið.
þa þæt inwitspell      Abraham sægde
freondum sinum;      bæd him fultumes
wærfæst hæleð      willgeðoftan,
Aner and Manre,      Escol þriddan,
cwæð þæt him wære      weorce on mode,
sorga sarost,      þæt his suhtriga
þeownyd þolode;      bæd him þræcrofe
þa rincas þæs      ræd ahicgan,
þæt his hyldemæg      ahreded wurde,
beorn mid bryde.      Him þa broðor þry
æt spræce þære      spedum miclum
hældon hygesorge      heardum wordum,
ellenrofe,      and Abrahame
treowa sealdon,      þæt hie his torn mid him
gewræcon on wraðum,      oððe on wæl feollan.
þa se halga heht      his heorðwerod
wæpna onfon.      He þær wigena fand,
æscberendra,      XVIII
and CCC eac      þeodenholdra,
þara þe he wiste      þæt meahte wel æghwylc
on fyrd wegan      fealwe linde.
Him þa Abraham gewat      and þa eorlas þry
þe him ær treowe sealdon      mid heora folcgetrume;
wolde his mæg huru,     
Loth alynnan      of laðscipe.
Rincas wæron rofe,      randas wægon
forð fromlice      on foldwege.
Hildewulfas      herewicum neh
gefaren hæfdon.      þa he his frumgaran,
wishydig wer,      wordum sægde,
þares afera,      him wæs þearf micel
þæt hie on twa healfe     
grimme guðgemot      gystum eowdon
heardne handplegan;      cwæð þæt him se halga,
ece drihten,      eaðe mihte
æt þam spereniðe      spede lænan.
þa ic neðan gefrægn      under nihtscuwan
hæleð to hilde.      Hlyn wearð on wicum
scylda and sceafta,      sceotendra fyll,
guðflana gegrind;      gripon unfægre
under sceat werum      scearpe garas,
and feonda feorh      feollon ðicce,
þær hlihende      huðe feredon
secgas and gesiððas.      Sigor eft ahwearf
of norðmonna      niðgeteone,
æsctir wera.      Abraham sealde
wig to wedde,      nalles wunden gold,
for his suhtrigan,      sloh and fylde
feond on fitte.      Him on fultum grap
heofonrices weard.      Hergas wurdon
feower on fleame,      folccyningas,
leode ræswan.      Him on laste stod
hihtlic heorðwerod,      and hæleð lagon,
on swaðe sæton,      þa þe Sodoma
and Gomorra      golde berofan,
bestrudon stigwitum.      Him þæt stiðe geald
fædera Lothes.      Fleonde wæron
Elamitarna      aldorduguðe
dome bedrorene,      oðþæt hie Domasco
unfeor wæron.      Gewat him Abraham ða
on þa wigrode      wiðertrod seon
laðra monna.      Loth wæs ahreded,
eorl mid æhtum,      idesa hwurfon,
wif on willan.      Wide gesawon
freora feorhbanan      fuglas slitan
on ecgwale.      Abraham ferede
suðmonna eft      sinc and bryda,
æðelinga bearn,      oðle nior,
mægeð heora magum.      Næfre mon ealra
lifigendra her      lytle werede
þon wurðlicor      wigsið ateah,
þara þe wið swa miclum      mægne geræsde.
þa wæs suð þanon      Sodoma folce
guðspell wegen,      hwelc gromra wearð
feonda fromlad.      Gewat him frea leoda,
eorlum bedroren,      Abraham secan,
freonda feasceaft.      Him ferede mid
Solomia      sinces hyrde;
þæt wæs se mæra      Melchisedec,
leoda bisceop.      Se mid lacum com
fyrdrinca fruman      fægre gretan,
Abraham arlice,      and him on sette
godes bletsunge,      and swa gyddode:
"Wæs ðu gewurðod      on wera rime
for þæs eagum      þe ðe æsca tir
æt guðe forgeaf!      þæt is god selfa,
se ðe hettendra      herga þrymmas
on geweald gebræc,      and þe wæpnum læt
rancstræte forð      rume wyrcan,
huðe ahreddan      and hæleð fyllan.
On swaðe sæton;      ne meahton siðwerod
guðe spowan,      ac hie god flymde,
se ðe æt feohtan      mid frumgarum
wið ofermægnes      egsan sceolde
handum sinum,      and halegu treow,
seo þu wið rodora weard      rihte healdest."
Him þa se beorn      bletsunga lean
þurh hand ageaf,      and þæs hereteames
ealles teoðan sceat      Abraham sealde
godes bisceope.      þa spræc guðcyning,
Sodoma aldor,      secgum befylled,
to Abrahame      (him wæs ara þearf).
"Forgif me mennen      minra leoda,
þe þu ahreddest      herges cræftum
wera wælclommum!      Hafa þe wunden gold
þæt ær agen wæs      ussum folce,
feoh and frætwa!      Læt me freo lædan
eft on eðel      æðelinga bearn,
on weste wic      wif and cnihtas,
earme wydewan!      Eaforan syndon deade,
folcgesiðas,      nymðe fea ane,
þe me mid sceoldon      mearce healdan."
Him þa Abraham      andswarode
ædre for eorlum,      elne gewurðod,
dome and sigore,      drihtlice spræc:
"Ic þe gehate,      hæleða waldend,
for þam halgan,      þe heofona is
and þisse eorðan      agendfrea,
wordum minum,      nis woruldfeoh,
þe ic me agan wille,     
sceat ne scilling,      þæs ic on sceotendum,
þeoden mæra,      þines ahredde,
æðelinga helm,      þy læs þu eft cweðe
þæt ic wurde,      willgesteallum,
eadig on eorðan      ærgestreonum
Sodoma rices;      ac þu selfa most heonon
huðe lædan,      þe ic þe æt hilde gesloh,
ealle buton dæle      þissa drihtwera,
Aneres and Mamres      and Escoles.
Nelle ic þa rincas      rihte benæman,
ac hie me fulleodon      æt æscþræce,
fuhton þe æfter frofre.      Gewit þu ferian nu
ham hyrsted gold      and healsmægeð,
leoda idesa.      þu þe laðra ne þearft
hæleða hildþræce      hwile onsittan,
norðmanna wig;      ac nefuglas
under beorhhleoþum      blodige sittað,
þeodherga wæle      þicce gefylled."
Gewat him þa se healdend      ham siðian
mid þy hereteame      þe him se halga forgeaf,
Ebrea leod      arna gemyndig.
þa gen Abrahame      eowde selfa
heofona heahcyning      halige spræce,
trymede tilmodigne      and him to reordode:
"Meda syndon micla þina!      Ne læt þu þe þin mod asealcan,
wærfæst willan mines!      Ne þearft þu þe wiht ondrædan,
þenden þu mine lare læstest,      ac ic þe lifigende her
wið weana gehwam      wreo and scylde
folmum minum;      ne þearft þu forht wesan."
Abraham þa      andswarode,
dædrof drihtne sinum,      frægn hine dægrime frod:
"Hwæt gifest þu me,      gasta waldend,
freomanna to frofre,      nu ic þus feasceaft eom?
Ne þearf ic yrfestol      eaforan bytlian
ænegum minra,      ac me æfter sculon
mine woruldmagas      welan bryttian.
Ne sealdest þu me sunu;      forðon mec sorg dreceð
on sefan swiðe.      Ic sylf ne mæg
ræd ahycgan.      Gæð gerefa min
fægen freobearnum;      fæste mynteð
ingeþancum      þæt me æfter sie
eaforan sine      yrfeweardas.
Geseoð þæt me of bryde      bearn ne wocon."
Him þa ædre god      andswarode:
"Næfre gerefan      rædað þine
eafora yrfe,      ac þin agen bearn
frætwa healdeð,      þonne þin flæsc ligeð.
Sceawa heofon,      and hyrste gerim,
rodores tungel,      þa nu rume heora
wuldorfæstne wlite      wide dælað
ofer brad brymu      beorhte scinan.
Swilc bið mægburge      menigo þinre
folcbearnum frome.      Ne læt þu þin ferhð wesan
sorgum asæled.      Gien þe sunu weorðeð,
bearn of bryde      þurh gebyrd cumen,
se ðe æfter bið      yrfes hyrde,
gode mære.      Ne geomra þu!
Ic eom se waldend      se þe for wintra fela
of Caldea      ceastre alædde,
feowera sumne,      gehet þe folcstede
wide to gewealde.      Ic þe wære nu,
mago Ebrea,      mine selle,
þæt sceal fromcynne      folde þine,
sidland manig,      geseted wurðan,
eorðan sceatas      oð Eufraten,
and from Egypta      eðelmearce
swa mid niðas      swa Nilus sceadeð
and eft Wendelsæ      wide rice.
Eall þæt sculon agan      eaforan þine,
þeodlanda gehwilc,      swa þa þreo wæter
steape stanbyrig      streamum bewindað,
famige flodas      folcmægða byht."
þa wæs Sarran      sar on mode,
þæt him Abrahame      ænig ne wearð
þurh gebedscipe      bearn gemæne,
freolic to frofre.      Ongann þa ferhðcearig
to were sinum      wordum mæðlan:
"Me þæs forwyrnde      waldend heofona,
þæt ic mægburge      moste þinre
rim miclian      roderum under
eaforum þinum.      Nu ic eom orwena
þæt unc se eðylstæf      æfre weorðe
gifeðe ætgædere.      Ic eom geomorfrod!
Drihten min,      do swa ic þe bidde!
Her is fæmne,      freolecu mæg,
ides Egyptisc,      an on gewealde.
Hat þe þa recene      reste gestigan,
and afanda hwæðer      frea wille
ænigne þe      yrfewearda
on woruld lætan      þurh þæt wif cuman."
þa se eadega wer      idese larum
geðafode,      heht him þeowmennen
on bedd gan      bryde larum.
Hire mod astah      þa heo wæs magotimbre
be Abrahame      eacen worden.
Ongan æfþancum      agendfrean
halsfæst herian,      higeþryðe wæg,
wæs laðwendo,      lustum ne wolde
þeowdom þolian,      ac heo þriste ongan
wið Sarran      swiðe winnan.
þa ic þæt wif gefrægn      wordum cyðan
hire mandrihtne      modes sorge,
sarferhð sægde      and swiðe cwæð:
"Ne fremest þu gerysnu      and riht wið me.
þafodest þu gena      þæt me þeowmennen,
siððan Agar ðe,      idese laste,
beddreste gestah,      swa ic bena wæs,
drehte dogora gehwam      dædum and wordum
unarlice.      þæt Agar sceal ongieldan,
gif ic mot for þe      mine wealdan,
Abraham leofa.      þæs sie ælmihtig,
drihtna drihten,      dema mid unc twih."
Hire þa ædre      andswarode
wishidig wer      wordum sinum:
"Ne forlæte ic þe,      þenden wit lifiað bu,
arna lease,      ac þu þin agen most
mennen ateon,      swa þin mod freoð."
ða wearð unbliðe      Abrahames cwen,
hire worcþeowe      wrað on mode,
heard and hreðe,      higeteonan spræc
fræcne on fæmnan.      Heo þa fleon gewat
þrea and þeowdom;      þolian ne wolde
yfel and ondlean,      þæs ðe ær dyde
to Sarran,      ac heo on sið gewat
westen secan.      þær hie wuldres þegn,
engel drihtnes      an gemitte
geomormode,      se hie georne frægn:
"Hwider fundast þu,      feasceaft ides,
siðas dreogan?      þec Sarre ah."
Heo him ædre      andswarode:
"Ic fleah wean, wana      wilna gehwilces,
hlæfdigan hete,      hean of wicum,
tregan and teonan.      Nu sceal tearighleor
on westenne      witodes bidan,
hwonne of heortan      hunger oððe wulf
sawle and sorge      somed abregde."
Hire þa se engel      andswarode:
"Ne ceara þu feor heonon      fleame dælan
somwist incre,      ac þu sece eft,
earna þe ara,      eaðmod ongin
dreogan æfter dugeðum,      wes drihtenhold.
þu scealt, Agar,      Abrahame sunu
on woruld bringan.      Ic þe wordum nu
minum secge,      þæt se magorinc sceal
mid yldum wesan      Ismahel haten.
Se bið unhyre,      orlæggifre,
and wiðerbreca      wera cneorissum,
magum sinum;      hine monige on
wraðe winnað      mid wæpenþræce.
Of þam frumgaran      folc awæcniað,
þeod unmæte.      Gewit þu þinne eft
waldend secan;      wuna þæm þe agon!"
Heo þa ædre gewat      engles larum
hire hlafordum,      swa se halga bebead,
godes ærendgast,      gleawan spræce.
þa wearð Abrahame      Ismael geboren,
efne þa he on worulde      wintra hæfde
VI and LXXX.      Sunu weox and ðah,
swa se engel ær      þurh his agen word,
fæle freoðoscealc,      fæmnan sægde.
þa se ðeoden      ymb XIII gear,
ece drihten,      wið Abrahame spræc:
"Leofa, swa ic þe lære,      læst uncre wel
treowrædenne!      Ic þe on tida gehwone
duguðum stepe.      Wes þu dædum from
willan mines!      Ic þa wære forð
soðe gelæste,      þe ic þe sealde geo
frofre to wedde,      þæs þin ferhð bemearn.
þu scealt halgian      hired þinne.
Sete sigores tacn      soð on gehwilcne
wæpnedcynnes,      gif þu wille on me
hlaford habban      oððe holdne freond
þinum fromcynne.      Ic þæs folces beo
hyrde and healdend,      gif ge hyrað me
breostgehygdum      and bebodu willað
min fullian.      Sceal monna gehwilc
þære cneorisse      cildisc wesan
wæpnedcynnes,      þæs þe on woruld cymð,
ymb seofon niht      sigores tacne
geagnod me,      oððe of eorðan
þurh feondscipe      feor adæled,
adrifen from duguðum.      Doð swa ic hate!
Ic eow treowige,      gif ge þæt tacen gegaþ
soðgeleafan.      þu scealt sunu agan,
bearn be bryde þinre,      þone sculon burhsittende
ealle Isaac hatan.      Ne þearf þe þæs eaforan sceomigan,
ac ic þam magorince      mine sylle
godcunde gife      gastes mihtum,
freondsped fremum.      He onfon sceal
blisse minre      and bletsunge,
lufan and lisse.      Of þam leodfruman
brad folc cumað,      bregowearda fela
rofe arisað,      rices hyrdas,
woruldcyningas      wide mære."
Abraham ða      ofestum legde
hleor on eorðan,      and mid hucse bewand
þa hleoðorcwydas      on hige sinum,
modgeðance.      He þæs mældæges
self ne wende      þæt him Sarra,
bryd blondenfeax      bringan meahte
on woruld sunu;      wiste gearwe
þæt þæt wif huru      wintra hæfde
efne C,      geteled rimes.
He þa metode oncwæð      missarum frod:
"Lifge Ismael      larum swilce,
þeoden, þinum,      and þe þanc wege,
heardrædne hyge,      heortan strange,
to dreoganne      dæges and nihtes
wordum and dædum      willan þinne."
Him þa fægere      frea ælmihtig,
ece drihten,      andswarode:
"þe sceal wintrum frod      on woruld bringan
Sarra sunu,      soð forð gan
wyrd æfter þissum      wordgemearcum.
Ic Ismael      estum wille
bletsian nu,      swa þu bena eart
þinum frumbearne,      þæt feorhdaga
on woruldrice      worn gebide,
tanum tudre.      þu þæs tiða beo!
Hwæðre ic Isace,      eaforan þinum,
geongum bearne,      þam þe gen nis
on woruld cumen,      willa spedum
dugeða gehwilcre      on dagum wille
swiðor stepan      and him soðe to
modes wære      mine gelæstan,
halige higetreowa,      and him hold wesan."
Abraham fremede      swa him se eca bebead,
sette friðotacen      be frean hæse
on his selfes sunu,      heht þæt segn wegan
heah gehwilcne,      þe his hina wæs
wæpnedcynnes,      wære gemyndig,
gleaw on mode,      ða him god sealde
soðe treowa,      and þa seolf onfeng
torhtum tacne.      A his tir metod,
domfæst cyning,      dugeðum iecte
on woruldrice;      he him þæs worhte to,
siððan he on fære      furðum meahte
his waldendes      willan fremman.
þa þæt wif ahloh      wereda drihtnes
nalles glædlice,      ac heo gearum frod
þone hleoðorcwyde      husce belegde
on sefan swiðe.      Soð ne gelyfde,
þæt þære spræce      sped folgode.
þa þæt gehyrde      heofona waldend,
þæt on bure ahof      bryd Abrahames
hihtleasne hleahtor,      þa cwæð halig god:
"Ne wile Sarran      soð gelyfan
wordum minum.      Sceal seo wyrd swa þeah
forð steallian      swa ic þe æt frymðe gehet.
Soð ic þe secge,      on þas sylfan tid
of idese bið      eafora wæcned.
þonne ic þas ilcan      oðre siðe
wic gesece,      þe beoð wordgehat
min gelæsted.      þu on magan wlitest,
þin agen bearn,      Abraham leofa!"
Gewiton him þa ædre      ellorfuse
æfter þære spræce      spedum feran
of þam hleoðorstede,      halige gastas,
lastas legdon,      (him wæs Lothes mæg
sylfa on gesiððe),      oðþæt hie on Sodoman,
weallsteape burg,      wlitan meahton.
Gesawon ofer since      salo hlifian,
reced ofer readum golde.      Ongan þa rodera waldend,
arfæst wið Abraham sprecan,      sægde him unlytel spell:
"Ic on þisse byrig      bearhtm gehyre,
synnigra cyrm      swiðe hludne,
ealogalra gylp,      yfele spræce
werod under weallum habban;      forþon wærlogona sint,
folces firena hefige.      Ic wille fandigan nu,
mago Ebrea,      hwæt þa men don,
gif hie swa swiðe      synna fremmað
þeawum and geþancum,      swa hie on þweorh sprecað
facen and inwit;      þæt sceal fyr wrecan,
swefyl and sweart lig      sare and grimme,
hat and hæste      hæðnum folce."
Weras basnedon      witelaces,
wean under weallum,      and heora wif somed.
Duguðum wlance      drihtne guldon
god mid gnyrne,      oðþæt gasta helm,
lifes leohtfruma      leng ne wolde
torn þrowigean,      ac him to sende
stiðmod cyning      strange twegen
aras sine,      þa on æfentid
siðe gesohton      Sodoma ceastre.
Hie þa æt burhgeate      beorn gemitton
sylfne sittan      sunu Arones,
þæt þam gleawan were      geonge þuhton
men for his eagum.      Aras þa metodes þeow
gastum togeanes,      gretan eode
cuman cuðlice,      cynna gemunde
riht and gerisno,      and þam rincum bead
nihtfeormunge.      Him þa nergendes
æðele ærendracan      andswarodon:
"Hafa arna þanc,      þara þe þu unc bude!
Wit be þisse stræte      stille þencað
sæles bidan,      siððan sunnan eft
forð to morgen      metod up forlæt."
þa to fotum Loth     
þam giestum hnah,      and him georne bead
reste and gereorda      and his recedes hleow
and þegnunge.      Hie on þanc curon
æðelinges est,      eodon sona,
swa him se Ebrisca      eorl wisade,
in undor edoras.      þær him se æðela geaf,
gleawferhð hæle,      giestliðnysse
fægre on flette,      oðþæt forð gewat
æfenscima.      þa com æfter niht
on last dæge.      Lagustreamas wreah,
þrym mid þystro      þisses lifes,
sæs and sidland.      Comon Sodomware,
geonge and ealde,      gode unleofe
corðrum miclum      cuman acsian,
þæt hie behæfdon      herges mægne
Loth mid giestum.      Heton lædan ut
of þam hean hofe      halige aras,
weras to gewealde,      wordum cwædon
þæt mid þam hæleðum      hæman wolden
unscomlice,      arna ne gymden.
þa aras hraðe,      se ðe oft ræd ongeat,
Loth on recede,      eode lungre ut,
spræc þa ofer ealle      æðelinga gedriht
sunu Arones,      snytra gemyndig:
"Her syndon inne      unwemme twa
dohtor mine.      Doð, swa ic eow bidde
(ne can þara idesa      owðer gieta
þurh gebedscipe      beorna neawest)
and geswicað þære synne.      Ic eow sylle þa,
ær ge sceonde      wið gesceapu fremmen,
ungifre yfel      ylda bearnum.
Onfoð þæm fæmnum,      lætað frið agon
gistas mine,      þa ic for gode wille
gemundbyrdan,      gif ic mot, for eow."
Him þa seo mænigeo      þurh gemæne word,
arlease cyn,      andswarode:
"þis þinceð gerisne      and riht micel,
þæt þu ðe aferige      of þisse folcsceare.
þu þas werðeode      wræccan laste
freonda feasceaft      feorran gesohtest,
wineþearfende.      Wilt ðu, gif þu most,
wesan usser her      aldordema,
leodum lareow?"      þa ic on Lothe gefrægn
hæðne heremæcgas      handum gripan,
faum folmum.      Him fylston wel
gystas sine,      and hine of gromra þa,
cuman arfæste,      clommum abrugdon
in under edoras,      and þa ofstlice
anra gehwilcum      ymbstandendra
folces Sodoma      fæste forsæton
heafodsiena.      Wearð eal here sona
burhwarena blind.      Abrecan ne meahton
reðemode      reced æfter gistum,
swa hie fundedon,      ac þær frome wæron
godes spellbodan.      Hæfde gistmægen
stiðe strengeo,      styrnde swiðe
werode mid wite.      Spræcon wordum þa
fæle freoðoscealcas      fægre to Lothe:
"Gif þu sunu age      oððe swæsne mæg,
oððe on þissum folcum      freond ænigne
eac þissum idesum      þe we her on wlitað,
alæde of þysse leodbyrig,      þa ðe leofe sien,
ofestum miclum,      and þin ealdor nere,
þy læs þu forweorðe      mid þyssum wærlogan.
Unc hit waldend heht      for wera synnum
Sodoma and Gomorra      sweartan lige,
fyre gesyllan      and þas folc slean,
cynn on ceastrum      mid cwealmþrea
and his torn wrecan.      þære tide is
neah geþrungen.      Gewit þu nergean þin
feorh foldwege.      þe is frea milde."
Him þa ædre Loth      andswarode:
"Ne mæg ic mid idesum      aldornere mine
swa feor heonon      feðegange
siðe gesecan.      Git me sibblufan
and freondscipe      fægre cyðað,
treowe and hyldo      tiðiað me.
Ic wat hea burh      her ane neah,
lytle ceastre.      Lyfað me þær
are and reste,      þæt we aldornere
on Sigor up      secan moten.
Gif git þæt fæsten      fyre willað
steape forstandan,      on þære stowe we
gesunde magon      sæles bidan,
feorh generigan."      Him þa freondlice
englas arfæste      andswaredon:
"þu scealt þære bene,      nu þu ymb þa burh sprycest,
tiða weorðan.      Teng recene to
þam fæstenne;      wit þe friðe healdað
and mundbyrde.      Ne moton wyt
on wærlogum      wrecan torn godes,
swebban synnig cynn,      ær ðon þu on Sægor þin
bearn gelæde      and bryd somed."
þa onette      Abrahames mæg
to þam fæstenne.      Feðe ne sparode
eorl mid idesum,      ac he ofstum forð
lastas legde,      oðþæt he gelædde
bryd mid bearnum      under burhlocan
in Sægor his.      þa sunne up,
folca friðcandel,      furðum eode,
þa ic sendan gefrægn      swegles aldor
swefl of heofnum      and sweartne lig
werum to wite,      weallende fyr,
þæs hie on ærdagum      drihten tyndon
lange þrage.      Him þæs lean forgeald
gasta waldend!      Grap heahþrea
on hæðencynn.      Hlynn wearð on ceastrum,
cirm arleasra      cwealmes on ore,
laðan cynnes.      Lig eall fornam
þæt he grenes fond      goldburgum in,
swylce þær ymbutan      unlytel dæl
sidre foldan      geondsended wæs
bryne and brogan.      Bearwas wurdon
to axan and to yslan,      eorðan wæstma,
efne swa wide      swa ða witelac
reðe geræhton      rum land wera.
Strudende fyr      steapes and geapes,
swogende leg,      forswealh eall geador
þæt on Sodoma byrig      secgas ahton
and on Gomorra.      Eall þæt god spilde,
frea mid þy folce.      þa þæt fyrgebræc,
leoda lifgedal,      Lothes gehyrde
bryd on burgum,      under bæc beseah
wið þæs wælfylles.      Us gewritu secgað
þæt heo on sealtstanes      sona wurde
anlicnesse.      æfre siððan
se monlica      (þæt is mære spell)
stille wunode,      þær hie strang begeat
wite, þæs heo wordum      wuldres þegna
hyran ne wolde.      Nu sceal heard and steap
on þam wicum      wyrde bidan,
drihtnes domes,      hwonne dogora rim,
woruld gewite.      þæt is wundra sum,
þara ðe geworhte      wuldres aldor.
Him þa Abraham gewat      ana gangan
mid ærdæge      þæt he eft gestod
þær wordum ær      wið his waldend spræc
frod frumgara.      He geseah from foldan up
wide fleogan      wælgrimne rec.
Hie þæs wlenco onwod      and wingedrync
þæt hie firendæda      to frece wurdon,
synna þriste,      soð ofergeaton,
drihtnes domas,      and hwa him dugeða forgeaf,
blæd on burgum.      Forþon him brego engla
wylmhatne lig      to wræce sende.
Waldend usser      gemunde wærfæst þa
Abraham arlice,      swa he oft dyde
leofne mannan.      Loth generede,
mæg þæs oðres,      þa seo mænegeo forwearð.
Ne dorste þa      dædrof hæle
for frean egesan      on þam fæstenne
leng eardigean,      ac him Loth gewat
of byrig gangan      and his bearn somed
wælstowe fyrr      wic sceawian,
oðþæt hie be hliðe      heare dune
eorðscræf fundon.      þær se eadega Loth
wærfæst wunode,      waldende leof,
dægrimes worn      and his dohtor twa.
Hie dydon swa;      druncnum eode
seo yldre to      ær on reste
heora bega fæder.      Ne wiste blondenfeax
hwonne him fæmnan to bryde      him bu wæron,
on ferhðcofan      fæste genearwod
mode and gemynde,      þæt he mægða sið
wine druncen      gewitan ne meahte.
Idesa wurdon eacne,      eaforan brohtan
willgesweostor      on woruld sunu
heora ealdan fæder.      þara æðelinga
modor oðerne      Moab nemde,
Lothes dohter,      seo on life wæs
wintrum yldre.      Us gewritu secgeað,
godcunde bec,      þæt seo gingre
hire agen bearn      Ammon hete.
Of þam frumgarum      folces unrim,
þrymfæste twa      þeoda awocon.
Oðre þara mægða      Moabitare
eorðbuende      ealle hatað,
widmære cynn,      oðre weras nemnað,
æðelinga bearn,      Ammonitare.
Gewat him þa mid bryde      broðor Arones
under Abimelech      æhte lædan
mid his hiwum.      Hæleðum sægde
þæt Sarra his      sweostor wære,
Abraham wordum      (bearh his aldre),
þy he wiste gearwe      þæt he winemaga,
on folce lyt      freonda hæfde.
þa se þeoden his      þegnas sende,
heht hie bringan      to him selfum.
þa wæs ellþeodig      oðre siðe
wif Abrahames      from were læded
on fremdes fæðm.      Him þær fylste þa
ece drihten,      swa he oft dyde,
nergend usser.      Com nihtes self,
þær se waldend læg      wine druncen.
Ongan þa soðcyning      þurh swefn sprecan
to þam æðelinge      and him yrre hweop:
"þu Abrahames      idese gename,
bryde æt beorne.      þe abregdan sceal
for þære dæde      deað of breostum
sawle þine."      Him symbelwerig
sinces brytta      þurh slæp oncwæð:
"Hwæt, þu æfre,      engla þeoden,
þurh þin yrre wilt      aldre lætan,
heah beheowan,      þæne þe her leofað
rihtum þeawum,      bið on ræde fæst,
modgeþance,      and him miltse
to þe seceð?      Me sægde ær
þæt wif hire      wordum selfa
unfricgendum,      þæt heo Abrahames
sweostor wære.      Næbbe ic synne wið hie,
facna ænig      gefremed gena."
Him þa ædre eft      ece drihten,
soðfæst metod,      þurh þæt swefn oncwæð:
"Agif Abrahame      idese sine,
wif to gewealde,      gif þu on worulde leng,
æðelinga helm,      aldres recce.
He is god and gleaw,      mæg self wið god sprecan,
geseon sweglcyning.      þu sweltan scealt
mid feo and mid feorme,      gif ðu þam frumgaran
bryde wyrnest.      He abiddan mæg,
gif he ofstum me      ærendu wile
þeawfæst and geþyldig      þin abeodan,
þæt ic þe lissa      lifigendum giet
on dagum læte      duguþa brucan
sinces gesundne."      þa slæpe tobrægd
forht folces weard.      Heht him fetigean to
gesprecan sine,      spedum sægde
eorlum Abimeleh,      egesan geðread,
waldendes word.      Weras him ondredon
for þære dæde      drihtnes handa
sweng æfter swefne.      Heht sylf cyning
him þa Abraham to      ofstum miclum.
þa reordode      rice þeoden:
"Mago Ebrea,      þæs þu me wylle
wordum secgean,      hu geworhte ic þæt,
siððan þu usic under,      Abraham, þine
on þas eðelturf      æhta læddest,
þæt þu me þus swiðe      searo renodest?
þu ellþeodig      usic woldest
on þisse folcsceare      facne besyrwan,
synnum besmitan,      sægdest wordum
þæt Sarra þin      sweostor wære,
lices mæge,      woldest laðlice
þurh þæt wif on me      wrohte alecgean,
ormæte yfel.      We þe arlice
gefeormedon,      and þe freondlice
on þisse werþeode      wic getæhton,
land to lissum.      þu us leanast nu,
unfreondlice      fremena þancast!"
Abraham þa      andswarode:
"Ne dyde ic for facne      ne for feondscipe
ne for wihte þæs      ic þe wean uðe.
Ac ic me, gumena baldor,      guðbordes sweng
leodmagum feor      lare gebearh,
siððan me se halga      of hyrde frean,
mines fæder      fyrn alædde.
Ic fela siððan      folca gesohte,
wina uncuðra,      and þis wif mid me,
freonda feasceaft.      Ic þæs færes a
on wenum sæt      hwonne me wraðra sum
ellþeodigne      aldre beheowe,
se ðe him þas idese eft      agan wolde.
Forðon ic wigsmiðum      wordum sægde
þæt Sarra min      sweostor wære
æghwær eorðan      þær wit earda leas
mid wealandum      winnan sceoldon.
Ic þæt ilce dreah      on þisse eðyltyrf,
siððan ic þina,      þeoden mæra,
mundbyrde geceas.      Ne wæs me on mode cuð,
hwæðer on þyssum folce      frean ælmihtiges
egesa wære,      þa ic her ærest com.
Forþon ic þegnum      þinum dyrnde
and sylfum þe      swiðost micle
soðan spræce,      þæt me Sarra
bryde laste      beddreste gestah."
þa ongan Abimæleh      Abraham swiðan
woruldgestreonum      and him his wif ageaf.
Sealde him to bote,      þæs þe he his bryd genam,
gangende feoh      and glæd seolfor
and weorcþeos.      Spræc þa wordum eac
to Abrahame      æðelinga helm:
"wuna mid usic      and þe wic geceos
on þissum lande      þær þe leofost sie,
eðelstowe,      þe ic agan sceal.
Wes us fæle freond,      we ðe feoh syllað!"
Cwæð þa eft raðe      oðre worde
to Sarran      sinces brytta:
"Ne þearf ðe on edwit      Abraham settan,
ðin freadrihten,      þæt þu flettpaðas,
mæg ælfscieno,      mine træde,
ac him hygeteonan      hwitan seolfre
deope bete.      Ne ceara incit duguða
of ðisse eðyltyrf      ellor secan,
winas uncuðe,      ac wuniað her."
Abraham fremede      swa hine his aldor heht,
onfeng freondscipe      be frean hæse,
lufum and lissum.      He wæs leof gode.
Forðon he sibbe      gesælig dreah
and his scippende      under sceade gefor,
hleowfeðrum þeaht,      her þenden lifde.
þa gien wæs yrre      god Abimelehe
for þære synne      þe he wið Sarrai
and wið Abrahame      ær gefremede,
þa he gedælde      him deore twa,
wif and wæpned.      He þæs weorc gehleat,
frecne wite.      Ne meahton freo ne þeowe
heora bregoweardas      bearnum ecan
monrim mægeð,      ac him þæt metod forstod,
oðþæt se halga      his hlaforde
Abraham ongan      arna biddan
ecne drihten.      Him engla helm
getigðode,      tuddorsped onleac
folccyninge      freora and þeowra,
wera and wifa;      let weaxan eft
heora rimgetel      rodora waldend,
ead and æhta.      ælmihtig wearð
milde on mode,      moncynnes weard,
Abimeleche,      swa hine Abraham bæd.
þa com feran      frea ælmihtig
to Sarrai,      swa he self gecwæð,
waldend usser,      hæfde wordbeot
leofum gelæsted,      lifes aldor
eaforan and idese.      Abrahame woc
bearn of bryde,      þone brego engla,
ær ðy magotudre      modor wære
eacen be eorle,      Isaac nemde.
Hine Abraham on      mid his agene hand
beacen sette,      swa him bebead metod,
wuldortorht ymb wucan,      þæs þe hine on woruld
to moncynne      modor brohte.
Cniht weox and þag,      swa him cynde wæron
æðele from yldrum.      Abraham hæfde
wintra hundteontig      þa him wif sunu
on þanc gebær.      He þæs ðrage bad,
siððan him ærest      þurh his agen word
þone dægwillan      drihten bodode.
þa seo wyrd gewearð      þæt þæt wif geseah
for Abrahame      Ismael plegan,
ðær hie æt swæsendum      sæton bu tu,
halig on hige,      and heora hiwan eall,
druncon and drymdon.      þa cwæð drihtlecu mæg,
bryd to beorne:      "Forgif me, beaga weard,
min swæs frea,      hat siðian
Agar ellor      and Ismael
lædan mid hie!      Ne beoð we leng somed
willum minum,      gif ic wealdan mot.
Næfre Ismael      wið Isace,
wið min agen bearn      yrfe dæleð
on laste þe,      þonne þu of lice
aldor asendest."      þa wæs Abrahame
weorce on mode      þæt he on wræc drife
his selfes sunu,      þa com soð metod
freom on fultum,      wiste ferhð guman
cearum on clommum.      Cyning engla spræc
to Abrahame,      ece drihten:
"Læt þe aslupan      sorge of breostum,
modgewinnan,      and mægeð hire,
bryde þinre!      Hat bu tu aweg
Agar feran      and Ismael,
cniht of cyððe!      Ic his cynn gedo
brad and bresne      bearna tudre,
wæstmum spedig,      swa ic þe wordum gehet."
þa se wer hyrde      his waldende,
draf of wicum      dreorigmod tu,
idese of earde      and his agen bearn.
"Sweotol is and gesene      þæt þe soð metod
on gesiððe is,      swegles aldor,
se ðe sigor seleð      snytru mihtum
and þin mod trymeð,     
godcundum gifum.      Forðon ðe giena speow,
þæs þu wið freond oððe feond      fremman ongunne
wordum oððe dædum.      Waldend scufeð,
frea on forðwegas      folmum sinum
willan þinne.      þæt is wide cuð
burhsittendum.      Ic þe bidde nu,
wine Ebrea,      wordum minum,
þæt þu tilmodig      treowa selle,
wæra þina,      þæt þu wille me
wesan fæle freond      fremena to leane,
þara þe ic to duguðum ðe      gedon hæbbe,
siððan ðu feasceaft      feorran come
on þas werþeode      wræccan laste.
Gyld me mid hyldo,      þæt ic þe hneaw ne wæs
landes and lissa.      Wes þissum leodum nu
and mægburge      minre arfæst,
gif þe alwalda,      ure drihten,
scirian wille,      se ðe gesceapu healdeð,
þæt þu randwigum      rumor mote
on ðisse folcsceare      frætwa dælan,
modigra gestreon,      mearce settan."
ða Abraham      Abimelehe
wære sealde      þæt he wolde swa.
Siððan wæs se eadega      eafora þares
in Filistea      folce eardfæst,
leod Ebrea      lange þrage,
feasceaft mid fremdum.      Him frea engla
wic getæhte      þæt weras hatað
burhsittende      Bersabea lond.
ðær se halga      heahsteap reced,
burh timbrede      and bearo sette,
weobedd worhte,      and his waldende
on þam glædstede      gild onsægde,
lac geneahe,      þam þe lif forgeaf,
gesæliglic      swegle under.
þa þæs rinces      se rica ongan
cyning costigan,      cunnode georne
hwilc þæs æðelinges      ellen wære,
stiðum wordum      spræc him stefne to:
"Gewit þu ofestlice,      Abraham, feran,
lastas lecgan      and þe læde mid
þin agen bearn.      þu scealt Isaac me
onsecgan, sunu ðinne,      sylf to tibre.
Siððan þu gestigest      steape dune,
hrincg þæs hean landes,      þe ic þe heonon getæce,
up þinum agnum fotum,      þær þu scealt ad gegærwan,
bælfyr bearne þinum,      and blotan sylf
sunu mid sweordes ecge,      and þonne sweartan lige
leofes lic forbærnan      and me lac bebeodan."
Ne forsæt he þy siðe,      ac sona ongann
fysan to fore.      Him wæs frean engla
word ondrysne      and his waldend leof.
þa se eadga      Abraham sine
nihtreste ofgeaf.      Nalles nergendes
hæse wiðhogode,      ac hine se halga wer
gyrde grægan sweorde,      cyðde þæt him gasta weardes
egesa on breostum wunode.      Ongan þa his esolas bætan
gamolferhð goldes brytta,      heht hine geonge twegen
men mid siðian.      Mæg wæs his agen þridda
and he feorða sylf.      þa he fus gewat
from his agenum hofe      Isaac lædan,
bearn unweaxen,      swa him bebead metod.
Efste þa swiðe      and onette
forð foldwege,      swa him frea tæhte
wegas ofer westen,      oðþæt wuldortorht,
dæges þriddan up      ofer deop wæter
ord aræmde.      þa se eadega wer
geseah hlifigan      hea dune
swa him sægde ær      swegles aldor.
ða Abraham spræc      to his ombihtum:
"Rincas mine,      restað incit
her on þissum wicum.      Wit eft cumað,
siððan wit ærende      uncer twega
gastcyninge      agifen habbað."
Gewat him þa se æðeling      and his agen sunu
to þæs gemearces      þe him metod tæhte,
wadan ofer wealdas.      Wudu bær sunu,
fæder fyr and sweord.      ða þæs fricgean ongann
wer wintrum geong      wordum Abraham:
"Wit her fyr and sweord,      frea min, habbað;
hwær is þæt tiber,      þæt þu torht gode
to þam brynegielde      bringan þencest?"
Abraham maðelode      (hæfde on an gehogod
þæt he gedæde      swa hine drihten het):
"Him þæt soðcyning      sylfa findeð,
moncynnes weard,      swa him gemet þinceð."
Gestah þa stiðhydig      steape dune
up mid his eaforan,      swa him se eca bebead,
þæt he on hrofe gestod      hean landes
on þære stowe      þe him se stranga to,
wærfæst metod      wordum tæhte.
Ongan þa ad hladan,      æled weccan,
and gefeterode      fet and honda
bearne sinum      and þa on bæl ahof
Isaac geongne,      and þa ædre gegrap
sweord be gehiltum,      wolde his sunu cwellan
folmum sinum,      fyre scencan
mæges dreore.      þa metodes ðegn,
ufan engla sum,      Abraham hlude
stefne cygde.      He stille gebad
ares spræce      and þam engle oncwæð.
Him þa ofstum to      ufan of roderum
wuldorgast godes      wordum mælde:
"Abraham leofa,      ne sleah þin agen bearn,
ac þu cwicne abregd      cniht of ade,
eaforan þinne!      Him an wuldres god!
Mago Ebrea,      þu medum scealt
þurh þæs halgan hand,      heofoncyninges,
soðum sigorleanum      selfa onfon,
ginfæstum gifum.      þe wile gasta weard
lissum gyldan      þæt þe wæs leofre his
sibb and hyldo      þonne þin sylfes bearn."
Ad stod onæled.      Hæfde Abrahame
metod moncynnes,      mæge Lothes,
breost geblissad,      þa he him his bearn forgeaf,
Isaac cwicne.      ða se eadega bewlat,
rinc ofer exle,      and him þær rom geseah
unfeor þanon      ænne standan,
broðor Arones,      brembrum fæstne.
þone Abraham genam      and hine on ad ahof
ofestum miclum      for his agen bearn.
Abrægd þa mid þy bille,      brynegield onhread,
reccendne weg      rommes blode,
onbleot þæt lac gode,      sægde leana þanc
and ealra þara sælða      þe he him sið and ær,
gifena drihten,      forgifen hæfde.

