The Dream of the Rood
| Line | Old English | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| Prologue | ||
| 1 | Hwæt! Ic swefna cyst | secgan wylle, | Listen, I will tell the best of visions, |
| hwæt me gemætte | to midre nihte, | what came to me in the middle of the night, | |
| syðþan reordberend | reste wunedon! | when voice-bearers dwelled in rest. | |
| þuhte me þæt ic gesawe | syllicre treow | It seemed to me that I saw a more wonderful tree | |
| 5 | on lyft lædan, | leohte bewunden, | lifted in the air, wound round with light, |
| beama beorhtost. | Eall þæt beacen wæs | the brightest of beams. That beacon was entirely | |
| begoten mid golde. | Gimmas stodon | cased in gold; beautiful gems stood | |
| fægere æt foldan sceatum, | swylce þær fife wæron | at the corners of the earth, likewise there were five | |
| uppe on þam eaxlegespanne. | Beheoldon þær engel dryhtnes ealle, | upon the cross-beam. All those fair through creation | |
| 10 | fægere þurh forðgesceaft. | Ne wæs ðær huru fracodes gealga, | gazed on the angel of the Lord there. There was certainly no gallows of the wicked; |
| ac hine þær beheoldon | halige gastas, | but the holy spirits beheld it there, | |
| men ofer moldan, | ond eall þeos mære gesceaft. | men over the earth and all this glorious creation. | |
| Syllic wæs se sigebeam, | ond ic synnum fah, | Wondrous was the victory-tree, and I stained with sins, | |
| forwunded mid wommum. | Geseah ic wuldres treow, | wounded with guilts. I saw the tree of glory, | |
| 15 | wædum geweorðode, | wynnum scinan, | honoured with garments, shining with joys, |
| gegyred mid golde; | gimmas hæfdon | covered with gold; gems had | |
| bewrigene weorðlice | wealdendes treow. | covered magnificently the tree of the forest. | |
| Hwæðre ic þurh þæt gold | ongytan meahte | Nevertheless, I was able to perceive through that gold | |
| earmra ærgewin, | þæt hit ærest ongan | the ancient hostility of wretches, so that it first began | |
| 20 | swætan on þa swiðran healfe. | Eall ic wæs mid sorgum gedrefed, | to bleed on the right side. I was all drenched with sorrows. |
| forht ic wæs for þære fægran gesyhðe. | Geseah ic þæt fuse beacen | I was frightened by the beautiful vision; I saw that urgent beacon | |
| wendan wædum ond bleom; | hwilum hit wæs mid wætan bestemed, | change its covering and colours: sometimes it was soaked with wetness, | |
| beswyled mid swates gange, | hwilum mid since gegyrwed. | stained with the coursing of blood; sometimes adorned with treasure. | |
| Hwæðre ic þær licgende | lange hwile | Yet as I lay there a long while | |
| 25 | beheold hreowcearig | hælendes treow, | I beheld sorrowful the tree of the Saviour, |
| oððæt ic gehyrde | þæt hit hleoðrode. | until I heard it utter a sound; | |
| Ongan þa word sprecan | wudu selesta: | it began to speak words, the best of wood: | |
| Vision I | ||
| "þæt wæs geara iu, | (ic þæt gyta geman), | "That was very long ago, I remember it still, | |
| þæt ic wæs aheawen | holtes on ende, | that I was cut down from the edge of the wood, | |
| 30 | astyred of stefne minum. | Genaman me ðær strange feondas, | ripped up by my roots. They seized me there, strong enemies, |
| geworhton him þær to wæfersyne, | heton me heora wergas hebban. | made me a spectacle for themselves there, commanded me to raise up their criminals. | |
| Bæron me ðær beornas on eaxlum, | oððæt hie me on beorg asetton, | Men carried me there on their shoulders, until they set me on a hill, | |
| gefæstnodon me þær feondas genoge. | Geseah ic þa frean mancynnes | enemies enough fastened me there. I saw then the Saviour of Mankind | |
| efstan elne mycle | þæt he me wolde on gestigan. | hasten with great zeal, as if he wanted to climb up on me. | |
| 35 | þær ic þa ne dorste | ofer dryhtnes word | There I did not dare, against the word of the Lord, |
| bugan oððe berstan, | þa ic bifian geseah | bow or break, when I saw the | |
| eorðan sceatas. | Ealle ic mihte | corners of the earth tremble. I might have | |
| feondas gefyllan, | hwæðre ic fæste stod. | felled all the enemies; even so, I stood fast. | |
| Ongyrede hine þa geong hæleð, | (þæt wæs god ælmihtig), | He stripped himself then, young hero - that was God almighty - | |
| 40 | strang ond stiðmod. | Gestah he on gealgan heanne, | strong and resolute; he ascended on the high gallows, |
| modig on manigra gesyhðe, | þa he wolde mancyn lysan. | brave in the sight of many, when he wanted to ransom mankind. | |
| Bifode ic þa me se beorn ymbclypte. | Ne dorste ic hwæðre bugan to eorðan, | I trembled when the warrior embraced me; even then I did not dare to bow to earth, | |
| feallan to foldan sceatum, | ac ic sceolde fæste standan. | fall to the corners of the earth, but I had to stand fast. | |
| Rod wæs ic aræred. | Ahof ic ricne cyning, | I was reared a cross. I raised up the powerful King, | |
| 45 | heofona hlaford, | hyldan me ne dorste. | the Lord of heaven; I did not dare to bend. |
| þurhdrifan hi me mid deorcan næglum. | On me syndon þa dolg gesiene, | They pierced me with dark nails; on me are the wounds visible, | |
| opene inwidhlemmas. | Ne dorste ic hira nænigum sceððan. | the open wounds of malice; I did not dare to injure any of them. | |
| Bysmeredon hie unc butu ætgædere. | Eall ic wæs mid blode bestemed, | They mocked us both together. I was all drenched with blood | |
| begoten of þæs guman sidan, | siððan he hæfde his gast onsended. | poured out from that man's side after he had sent forth his spirit. | |
| 50 | Feala ic on þam beorge | gebiden hæbbe | I have experienced on that hillside many |
| wraðra wyrda. | Geseah ic weruda god | cruelties of fate. I saw the God of hosts | |
| þearle þenian. | þystro hæfdon | violently stretched out. Darkness had | |
| bewrigen mid wolcnum | wealdendes hræw, | covered with clouds the Ruler's corpse, | |
| scirne sciman, | sceadu forðeode, | the gleaming light. Shadows went forth | |
| 55 | wann under wolcnum. | Weop eal gesceaft, | dark under the clouds. All creation wept, |
| cwiðdon cyninges fyll. | Crist wæs on rode. | lamented the King's fall. Christ was on the cross. | |
| Hwæðere þær fuse | feorran cwoman | Yet there eager ones came from afar | |
| to þam æðelinge. | Ic þæt eall beheold. | to that noble one; I beheld all that. | |
| Sare ic wæs mid sorgum gedrefed, | hnag ic hwæðre þam secgum to handa, | I was all drenched with sorrow; nevertheless I bowed down to the hands of the men, | |
| 60 | eaðmod elne mycle. | Genamon hie þær ælmihtigne god, | humble, with great eagerness. There they took almighty God, |
| ahofon hine of ðam hefian wite. | Forleton me þa hilderincas | lifted him from that oppressive torment. The warriors forsook me then | |
| standan steame bedrifenne; | eall ic wæs mid strælum forwundod. | standing covered with moisture; I was all wounded with arrows. | |
| Aledon hie ðær limwerigne, | gestodon him æt his lices heafdum, | They laid the weary-limbed one down there, they stood at the head of his body, | |
| beheoldon hie ðær heofenes dryhten, | ond he hine ðær hwile reste, | they beheld the Lord of heaven there, and he himself rested there a while, | |
| 65 | meðe æfter ðam miclan gewinne. | Ongunnon him þa moldern wyrcan | weary after the great battle. They began to fashion a tomb for him, |
| beornas on banan gesyhðe; | curfon hie ðæt of beorhtan stane, | warriors in the sight of the slayer; they carved that from bright stone, | |
| gesetton hie ðæron sigora wealdend. | Ongunnon him þa sorhleoð galan | they set the Lord of victories in there. They began to sing the sorrow-song for him, | |
| earme on þa æfentide, | þa hie woldon eft siðian, | wretched in the evening-time; then they wanted to travel again, | |
| meðe fram þam mæran þeodne. | Reste he ðær mæte weorode. | weary from the glorious Lord. He rested there with little company. | |
| 70 | Hwæðere we ðær greotende | gode hwile | Nevertheless, weeping, we stood there a good while |
| stodon on staðole, | syððan stefn up gewat | in a fixed position, after the voice departed up | |
| hilderinca. | Hræw colode, | of the warriors. The corpse grew cold, | |
| fæger feorgbold. | þa us man fyllan ongan | the fair live-dwelling. Then men began to fell us | |
| ealle to eorðan. | þæt wæs egeslic wyrd! | all to the ground: that was a terrible fate. | |
| 75 | Bedealf us man on deopan seaþe. | Hwæðre me þær dryhtnes þegnas, | Men buried us in a deep pit; nevertheless the Lord's thanes, |
| freondas gefrunon, | friends, discovered me there, | |
| ond gyredon me | golde ond seolfre. | adorned me with gold and silver. | |
| Vision II | ||
| Nu ðu miht gehyran, | hæleð min se leofa, | Now you might hear, my beloved hero, | |
| þæt ic bealuwara weorc | gebiden hæbbe, | that I have experienced the work of evil-doers, | |
| 80 | sarra sorga. | Is nu sæl cumen | grievous sorrows. Now the time has come |
| þæt me weorðiað | wide ond side | that I will be honoured far and wide | |
| menn ofer moldan, | ond eall þeos mære gesceaft, | by men over the earth and all this glorious creation; | |
| gebiddaþ him to þyssum beacne. | On me bearn godes | they will pray to this beacon. On me the Son of God | |
| þrowode hwile. | Forþan ic þrymfæst nu | suffered for a while; because of that I am glorious now, | |
| 85 | hlifige under heofenum, | ond ic hælan mæg | towering under the heavens, and I am able to heal |
| æghwylcne anra, | þara þe him bið egesa to me. | each one of those who is in awe of me. | |
| Iu ic wæs geworden | wita heardost, | Formerly I was made the hardest of punishments, | |
| leodum laðost, | ærþan ic him lifes weg | most hateful to the people, before I opened for them, | |
| rihtne gerymde, | reordberendum. | for the voice-bearers, the true way of life. | |
| 90 | Hwæt, me þa geweorðode | wuldres ealdor | Listen, the Lord of glory, the Guardian of the kingdom of heaven, |
| ofer holmwudu, | heofonrices weard! | then honoured me over the forest trees, | |
| Swylce swa he his modor eac, | Marian sylfe, | just as he, almighty God, also honoured | |
| ælmihtig god | for ealle menn | his mother, Mary herself, for all men, | |
| geweorðode | ofer eall wifa cynn. | over all womankind. | |
| Vision III | ||
| 95 | Nu ic þe hate, | hæleð min se leofa, | Now I urge you, my beloved man, |
| þæt ðu þas gesyhðe | secge mannum, | that you tell men about this vision: | |
| onwreoh wordum | þæt hit is wuldres beam, | reveal with words that it is the tree of glory | |
| se ðe ælmihtig god | on þrowode | on which almighty God suffered | |
| for mancynnes | manegum synnum | for mankind's many sins | |
| 100 | ond Adomes | ealdgewyrhtum. | and Adam's ancient deeds. |
| Deað he þær byrigde, | hwæðere eft dryhten aras | Death he tasted there; nevertheless, the Lord rose again | |
| mid his miclan mihte | mannum to helpe. | with his great might to help mankind. | |
| He ða on heofenas astag. | Hider eft fundaþ | He ascended into heaven. He will come again | |
| on þysne middangeard | mancynn secan | to this earth to seek mankind. | |
| 105 | on domdæge | dryhten sylfa, | on doomsday, the Lord himself, |
| ælmihtig god, | ond his englas mid, | almighty God, and his angels with him, | |
| þæt he þonne wile deman, | se ah domes geweald, | so that he will then judge, he who has the power of judgement, | |
| anra gehwylcum | swa he him ærur her | each one of them, for what they themselves have | |
| on þyssum lænum | life geearnaþ. | earned here earlier in this transitory life. | |
| 110 | Ne mæg þær ænig | unforht wesan | Nor may any of them be unafraid there |
| for þam worde | þe se wealdend cwyð. | because of the words which the Saviour will speak: | |
| Frineð he for þære mænige | hwær se man sie, | he will ask in front of the multitude where the person might be | |
| se ðe for dryhtnes naman | deaðes wolde | who for the Lord's name would | |
| biteres onbyrigan, | swa he ær on ðam beame dyde. | taste bitter death, just as he did before on that tree. | |
| 115 | Ac hie þonne forhtiað, | ond fea þencaþ | But then they will be fearful and little think |
| hwæt hie to Criste | cweðan onginnen. | what they might begin to say to Christ. | |
| Ne þearf ðær þonne ænig | anforht wesan | Then there will be no need for any of those to be very afraid | |
| þe him ær in breostum bereð | beacna selest, | who bear before them in the breast the best of trees. | |
| ac ðurh ða rode sceal | rice gesecan | But by means of the rood each soul | |
| 120 | of eorðwege | æghwylc sawl, | who thinks to dwell with the Ruler |
| seo þe mid wealdende | wunian þenceð." | must seek the kingdom from the earthly way.' | |
| Epilogue | ||
| Gebæd ic me þa to þan beame | bliðe mode, | I prayed to the tree with a happy spirit then, | |
| elne mycle, | þær ic ana wæs | with great zeal, there where I was alone | |
| mæte werede. | Wæs modsefa | with little company. My spirit was | |
| 125 | afysed on forðwege, | feala ealra gebad | inspired with longing for the way forward; I experienced in all |
| langunghwila. | Is me nu lifes hyht | many periods of longing. It is now my life's hope | |
| þæt ic þone sigebeam | secan mote | that I might seek the tree of victory | |
| ana oftor | þonne ealle men, | alone more often than all men, | |
| well weorþian. | Me is willa to ðam | to honour it well. My desire for that is | |
| 130 | mycel on mode, | ond min mundbyrd is | great in my mind, and my protection is |
| geriht to þære rode. | Nah ic ricra feala | directed to the cross. I do not have many wealthy | |
| freonda on foldan, | ac hie forð heonon | friends on earth; but they have gone forward from here, | |
| gewiton of worulde dreamum, | sohton him wuldres cyning, | passed from the joys of this world, sought for themselves the King of glory; | |
| lifiaþ nu on heofenum | mid heahfædere, | they live now in heaven with the High Father, | |
| 135 | wuniaþ on wuldre, | ond ic wene me | they dwell in glory. And I myself hope |
| daga gehwylce | hwænne me dryhtnes rod, | each day for when the Lord's cross, | |
| þe ic her on eorðan | ær sceawode, | that I looked at here on earth, | |
| on þysson lænan | life gefetige | will fetch me from this transitory life, | |
| ond me þonne gebringe | þær is blis mycel, | and then bring me where there is great bliss, | |
| 140 | dream on heofonum, | þær is dryhtnes folc | joy in heaven, where the Lord's people |
| geseted to symle, | þær is singal blis, | are set in feasting, where there is unceasing bliss; | |
| ond me þonne asette | þær ic syþþan mot | and then will set me where I might afterwards | |
| wunian on wuldre, | well mid þam halgum | dwell in glory fully with the saints | |
| dreames brucan. | Si me dryhten freond, | to partake of joy. May the Lord be a friend to me, | |
| 145 | se ðe her on eorþan | ær þrowode | he who here on earth suffered previously |
| on þam gealgtreowe | for guman synnum. | on the gallows-tree for the sins of man. | |
| He us onlysde | ond us lif forgeaf, | He redeemed us, and gave us life, | |
| heofonlicne ham. | Hiht wæs geniwad | a heavenly home. Hope was renewed | |
| mid bledum ond mid blisse | þam þe þær bryne þolodan. | with dignity and with joy for those who suffered burning there. | |
| 150 | Se sunu wæs sigorfæst | on þam siðfate, | The Son was victorious in that undertaking, |
| mihtig ond spedig, | þa he mid manigeo com, | powerful and successful, when he came with the multitudes, | |
| gasta weorode, | on godes rice, | a troop of souls, into God's kingdom, | |
| anwealda ælmihtig, | englum to blisse | the one Ruler almighty, to the delight of angels | |
| ond eallum ðam halgum | þam þe on heofonum ær | and all the saints who were in heaven before, | |
| 155 | wunedon on wuldre, | þa heora wealdend cwom, | who dwelled in glory, when their Ruler came, |
| ælmihtig god, | þær his eðel wæs. | almighty God, to where his native land was. | |
| End |