Dream of the Rood Flashcards
Hwæt! Ic swefna cyst secgan wylle,
hwæt me gemætte to midre nihte,
syðþan reordberend reste wunedon!
Listen! (1) I (2) want (6) to speak (5) of the best (4) of dreams, (3)
which (7) came (9) to (10) me (8) in the middle (11) of the night, (12)
when (13) speech-bearers (14) dwelt (16) in rest (15)
reordberend - Poetic language “speech-bearers”
þuhte me þæt ic gesawe syllicre treow
on lyft lædan, leohte bewunden,
beama beorhtost –>
It seemed (1) to me (2) that (3) I (4) saw (5) a wondrous (6) tree (7)
lifted (10) in (8) the air, (9) enveloped (12) by light, (11)
the brightest (14) of beams (13) –>
Eall þæt beacen wæs
begoten mid golde. Gimmas stodon
fægere æt foldan sceatum, swylce þær fife wæron
uppe on þam eaxlegespanne.
All (1) that (2) beacon (3) was (4)
covered (5) with (6) gold; (7) gems (8) stood (9)
fair (10) at (11) the earth’s (12) surface, (13) also (14) there (15) were (17) five (16)
up (18) on (19) the (20) shoulder-span (cross). (21)
“eaxlegespanne” - Hapax word + kenning “shoulder span”
Beheoldon þær engel dryhtnes ealle,
fægere þurh forðgesceaft.
There (2) all (5) beheld (1) the angel (3) of the Lord, (4)
fair (6) through (7) eternity. (8)
forðgesceaft - Poetic word - “creation”
Ne wæs ðær huru fracodes gealga,
ac hine þær beheoldon halige gastas,
men ofer moldan, ond eall þeos mære gesceaft
It was (2) not (1) there (3) indeed (4) a criminal’s (5) gallows, (6)
but (7) on him (8) there (9) gazed (10) holy (11) spirits, (12)
men (13) over (14) the earth, (15) and (16) all (17) this (18) glorious (19) creation. (20)
Syllic wæs se sigebeam, ond ic synnum fah,
forwunded mid wommum –>
Wondrous (1) was (2) that (3) victory-beam, (4) and (5) I (6) stained (8) by sins, (7)
wounded (9) with (10) blemishes. (11)
Geseah ic wuldres treow,
wædum geweorðode, wynnum scinan,
gegyred mid golde; gimmas hæfdon
bewrigene weorðlice wealdendes treow
I (2) saw (1) the glorious (3) tree, (4)
honoured (6) with garments, (5) shining (8) joyously, (7)
adorned (9) with (10) gold (11); gems (12) had (13)
covered (14) splendidly (15) the Lord’s (16) tree. (17)
Hwæðre ic þurh þæt gold ongytan meahte
earmra ærgewin, þæt hit ærest ongan
swætan on þa swiðran healfe. Eall ic wæs mid sorgum gedrefed,
However, (1) I, (2) through (3) that (4) gold, (5) was able (7) to perceive (6)
the ancient hostility (9) of wretched ones, (8) then (10) it (11) first (12) began (13)
to bleed (14) on (15) the (16) right (17) side (18). I (20) was (21) all (19) troubled (24) with (22) grief; (23)
ærgewin - Hapax word: “ancient hostility”
forht ic wæs for þære fægran gesyhðe. Geseah ic þæt fuse beacen
wendan wædum ond bleom; hwilum hit wæs mid wætan bestemed,
beswyled mid swates gange, hwilum mid since gegyrwed.
I (2) was (3) afraid (1) because (4) of that (5) fair (6) sight (7). I (9) saw (8) that (10) lively (11) beacon (12)
change (13) its coverings (14) and (15) colours (16); sometimes (17) it (18) was (19) drenched (22) with (20) moisture, (21)
soaked (23) with (24) the flow (26) of blood (25), sometimes (27) adorned (30) with (28) treasure. (29)
“Bestemed” - Poetic word “drenched”
Hwæðre ic þær licgende lange hwile
beheold hreowcearig hælendes treow,
oððæt ic gehyrde þæt hit hleoðrode.
Nevertheless, (1) I, (2) lying (4) there (3) a long (5) time (6)
gazed (7), sorrowful (8), at the Saviour’s (9) tree (10)
until (11-12) I (13) heard (14) that (15) it (16) spoke. (17)
Hreowcearig - poetic word - “sorrowful” (transferred epithet for the tree itself also)
Ongan þa word sprecan wudu selesta:
“þæt wæs geara iu, (ic þæt gyta geman),
þæt ic wæs aheawen holtes on ende,
astyred of stefne minum.
The best (6) tree (5) began (1) then (2) to speak (4) the words: (3)
“That (7) was (8) long ago (9-10): I (11) still (13) remember (14) that (12),
that (16) I (17) was (18) cut (19) from (21) the edge (22) of the forest, (20)
removed (23) from (24) my (26) root. (25)
Genaman me ðær strange feondas,
geworhton him þær to wæfersyne, heton me heora wergas hebban.
Bæron me ðær beornas on eaxlum, oððæt hie me on beorg asetton,
gefæst me þær feondas genoge.
Strong (4) enemies (5) seized (1) me (2) there, (3)
made (6) me there (8) into (9) a spectacle (10) for themselves, (7) commanded (11) me (12) to bear (15) their (13) criminals. (14)
Men (18) bore (15) me (16) there (17) on (19) their shoulders, (20) until (21-22) they (23) set (27) me (24) on (25) a hill; (26)
many (32) enemies (31) fastened (28) me (29) there (30)
“beornas” - poetic language - “man”
Geseah ic þa frean mancynnes
efstan elne mycle þæt he me wolde on gestigan.
I (2) saw (1) then (3) the Lord (4) of mankind (5)
hasten (6) with great (8) zeal (7), that (9) he (10) wished (12) to climb (14) upon (13) me (11)
“frean” - Poetic word - “lord” (Christ - Lord/Retainer bond)
“elne” - Poetic language - “great zeal”
þær ic þa ne dorste ofer dryhtnes word
bugan oððe berstan, þa ic bifian geseah
eorðan sceatas. Ealle ic mihte
feondas gefyllan, hwæðre ic fæste stod.
There (1) I (2) then (3) did not (4) dare, (5) against (6) the Lord’s (7) words, (8)
bow (9) or (10) break (11), when (12) I (13) saw (15) tremble (14)
the earth’s (16) surface. (17) I (19) was able (20)
to fell (22) all (18) the enemies, (21) however (23), I (24) stood (26) firmly (25)
Ongyrede hine þa geong hæleð, (þæt wæs god ælmihtig),
strang ond stiðmod. Gestah he on gealgan heanne,
modig on manigra gesyhðe, þa he wolde mancyn lysan.
The young (4) hero (5) stripped (1) himself (2) then (3) - that (6) was (7) God (8) Almighty (9),
strong (10) and (11) resolute (12) He (14) ascended (13) onto (15) the high (17) gallows (16)
brave (18) in (19) many’s (20) sight (21) when (22) he (23) wished (24) to release (26) mankind (25)
“Haeled” - mostly poetic word (man)
Bifode ic þa me se beorn ymbclypte. Ne dorste ic hwæðre bugan to eorðan,
feallan to foldan sceatum, ac ic sceolde fæste standan
I (2) trembled (1) when (3) the (5) man (6) embraced (7) me (4). I (10) dared (9) not (8) however (11), bow (12) to (13) earth (14)
fall (15) to (16) the earth’s (17) surface (18), but (19) I (20) had (21) to stand (23) fast (22)
Rod wæs ic aræred. Ahof ic ricne cyning,
heofona hlaford, hyldan me ne dorste.
I (3) was (2) raised (4) a rood (1). I (6) raised (5) the mighty (7) king (8)
the lord (10) of the heavens (9), I (12) dared (14) not (13) bow (11)
þurhdrifan hi me mid deorcan næglum. On me syndon þa dolg gesiene,
opene inwidhlemmas. Ne dorste ic hira nænigum sceððan.
They (2) pierced (1) me (3) with (4) dark (5) nails (6). On (7) me (8) are (9) the (10) wounds (11) visible (12)
open (13) malicious wounds (14). I (17) did not (15) dare (16) injure (20) any (19) of them (18)
“inwidhlemmas” - Hapax word - “malicious wound”
Bysmeredon hie unc butu ætgædere. Eall ic wæs mid blode bestemed,
begoten of þæs guman sidan, siððan he hæfde his gast onsended.
They (2) mocked (1) us (3) both (4) together (5). I (7) was (8) all (6) drenched (11) with (9) blood (10)
poured (12) from (13) the (14) man’s (15) side (16) after (17) he (18) had (19) sent forth (22) his (20) spirit (21)
“Bestemed” - Poetic word “drenched”
Feala ic on þam beorge gebiden hæbbe
wraðra wyrda. Geseah ic weruda god
þearle þenian. þystro hæfdon
bewrigen mid wolcnum wealdendes hræw,
scirne sciman, sceadu forðeode,
wann under wolcnum. Weop eal gesceaft,
cwiðdon cyninges fyll. Crist wæs on rode.
I (2) had (7) endured (6) on (3) that (4) hill (5) many (1)
cruel (8) events (9). I (11) saw (10) the Lord (13) of Hosts (12)
severely (14) stretched out (15). Darkness (16) had (17)
covered (18) with (19) cloud (20) the Lord’s (21) corpse (22)
its shining (23) splendour (24) a shadow (25) went forth (26)
dark (27) under (28) the sky (29). All (31) creation (32) wept (30)
they lamented (33) the King’s (34) fall (35). Christ (36) was (37) on (38) the cross (39)
Hwæðere þær fuse feorran cwoman
to þam æðelinge. Ic þæt eall beheold.
Nevertheless (1) there (2) eager ones (3) came (5) from afar (4)
to (6) the (7) prince (8); I (9) beheld (12) all (11) that (10)
Sare ic wæs mid sorgum gedrefed, hnag ic hwæðre þam secgum to handa,
eaðmod elne mycle. Genamon hie þær ælmihtigne god,
ahofon hine of ðam hefian wite. Forleton me þa hilderincas
standan steame bedrifenne; eall ic wæs mid strælum forwundod.
Painfully (1) I (2) was (3) afflicted (6) with (4) sorrow (5); however (8) I (7) bowed (6) to (11) the (9) men’s (10) hands, (12)
humble (13), with great (15) zeal (14). There (18) they (17) took (16) almighty (19) God (20)
lifted (21) him (22) out of (23) that (24) heavy (25) torment (26). The (29) warriors (30) abandoned (27) me (28)
to stand (31) drenched (33) with blood (32). I (35) was (36) completely (34) wounded (39) with (37) arrows (38)
“elne” - Poetic language - “great zeal”
Aledon hie ðær limwerigne, gestodon him æt his lices heafdum,
beheoldon hie ðær heofenes dryhten, ond he hine ðær hwile reste,
meðe æfter ðam miclan gewinne
They laid (1) him (2) there (3) weary-limbed (4), stood (5) themselves (6) at (7) his (8) body’s (9) head (10)
they (12) beheld (11) there (13) the Lord (15) of heaven (14) and (16) he (17) rested (21) himself (18) there (19) for a while (20)
weary (22) after (23) that (24) great (25) battle (26)
“limwerigne” - Hapax word - “weary of limb”
–> Also litotes for dead
Ongunnon him þa moldern wyrcan
beornas on banan gesyhðe; curfon hie ðæt of beorhtan stane,
gesetton hie ðæron sigora wealdend.
The men (6) began (1) then (3) to create (5) a sepulchre (4) for him (2)
in (7) the slayer’s (8) sight (9). They (11) carved (10) that (12) from (13) bright (14) stone (15)
they (17) set (16) therein (18) the Lord (20) of victories (19)
“moldern” - poetic language + kenning - “grave” / “earth house”
“beornas” - poetic language - “man”
Ongunnon him þa sorhleoð galan
earme on þa æfentide, þa hie woldon eft siðian,
meðe fram þam mæran þeodne. Reste he ðær mæte weorode.
The wretched (6) began (1) to sing (5) him (2) then (3) a sorrow-song (4)
in (7) the (8) evening-time (9), then (10) they (11) wanted (12) to travel (14) again (13)
wearily (15) from (16) the (17) glorious (18) prince (19). He (21) rested (20) there (22) with little (23) company (24)
Hwæðere we ðær greotende gode hwile
stodon on staðole, syððan stefn up gewat
hilderinca. Hræw colode,
fæger feorgbold. þa us man fyllan ongan
ealle to eorðan. þæt wæs egeslic wyrd!
Nevertheless (1) we (2) wept (4) there (3) a good (5) while (6)
stood (7) in (8) a fixed position (9) after (10) the voice (11)
of the warriors (14) departed (13) up (12). The body (15) cooled (16)
the fair (17) life-dwelling (18). Then (19) someone (21) began (23) to fell (22) us (20)
all (24) to (25) earth (26). That (27) was (28) a terrible (29) event (30)!
“feorgbold” - Hapax word - “soul-dwelling”
Bedealf us man on deopan seaþe. Hwæðre me þær dryhtnes þegnas,
freondas gefrunon,
ond gyredon me golde ond seolfre.
Someone (3) buried (1) us (2) in (4) a deep (5) pit (6). However (7) there (9) the Lord’s (10) thanes (11)
friends (12) discovered (13) me (8),
and (14) adorned (15) me (16) with gold (17) and (18) silver (19)
Nu ðu miht gehyran, hæleð min se leofa,
þæt ic bealuwara weorc gebiden hæbbe,
sarra sorga
Now (1) you (2) can (3) hear (4), my (6) hero (5) the (7) beloved (8),
that (9) evildoers’ (11) work (12) I (10) have (14) experienced (13),
the sore (15) pain (16).
“bealuwara” - Hapax word - “evildoer”
Is nu sæl cumen
þæt me weorðiað wide ond side
menn ofer moldan, ond eall þeos mære gesceaft,
gebiddaþ him to þyssum beacne.
The time (3) is (1) now (2) come (4)
that (5) men (11) honour (7) me (6) far (8) and (9) wide (10)
over (12) the earth (13) and (14) all (15) this (16) glorious (17) creation (18)
they (20) pray (19) to (21) this (22) sign (23)
On me bearn godes
þrowode hwile. Forþan ic þrymfæst nu
hlifige under heofenum, ond ic hælan mæg
æghwylcne anra, þara þe him bið egesa to me.
On (1) me (2) the son (3) of God (4)
suffered (5) a while (6). Therefore (7) I (8) glorious (9) now (10)
rise (11) under (12) the heavens (13), and (14) I (15) can (17) heal (16)
each (18) one (19) of those (20) who (21) themselves (22) are (23) in awe (24) of (25) me (26).
“prymfaest” - poetic word “glorious” - emphasises that it is a special type of glory
Iu ic wæs geworden wita heardost,
leodum laðost, ærþan ic him lifes weg
rihtne gerymde, reordberendum.
Long ago (1), I (2) became (3-4) the hardest (6) of torments (5),
most hateful (8) to people (7), before (9) I (10) to them (11),
the speech-bearers (16), opened (15) the right (14) path (13) of life (12).
reordberendum - Poetic language “speech-bearers”
Hwæt, me þa geweorðode wuldres ealdor
ofer holmwudu, heofonrices weard!
Swylce swa he his modor eac, Marian sylfe,
ælmihtig god for ealle menn
geweorðode ofer eall wifa cynn.
Lo (1), the prince (6) of glory (5), honoured (4) me (2) then (3)
over (7) the trees of the forest (8), kingdom of heaven’s (9) Guardian (10),
just (11) as (12) he (13) honoured (24) his (14) mother (15) also (16), Mary (17) herself (18),
almighty (19) God (20), before (21) all (22) men (23),
over (25) all (26) woman (27) kind (28)
“holmwudu” - poetic word & compound diction
Nu ic þe hate, hæleð min se leofa,
þæt ðu þas gesyhðe secge mannum,
Now (1) I (2) command (4) you (3), my (6) warrior (5) the (7) beloved (8),
that (9) you (10) tell (13) this (11) vision (12) to men (14)
onwreoh wordum þæt hit is wuldres beam,
se ðe ælmihtig god on þrowode
for mancynnes manegum synnum
ond Adomes ealdgewyrhtum
reveal (1) in words (2) that (3) it (4) is (5) the tree (7) of glory (6),
on which (8) almighty (9) God (10) suffered (12) on (11)
for (13) mankind’s (14) many (15) sins (16)
and (17) Adam’s (18) ancient deeds (19)
Deað he þær byrigde, hwæðere eft dryhten aras
mid his miclan mihte mannum to helpe.
Death (1) he (2) tasted (4) there (3). However (5), again (6) the Lord (7) arose (8)
with (9) his (10) great (11) power (12) to help (14) men (13)
He ða on heofenas astag. Hider eft fundaþ
on þysne middangeard mancynn secan
on domdæge
He (1) then (2) ascended (5) into (3) the heavens (4). Hither (1) again (2), he strove (3)
in (4) this (5) world (6) to seek (8) mankind (7)
on (9) doomsday (10),
ryhten sylfa,
ælmihtig god, ond his englas mid,
þæt he þonne wile deman, se ah domes geweald,
anra gehwylcum swa he him ærur her
on þyssum lænum life geearnaþ.
the Lord (1) Himself (2),
almighty (3) God (4) and (5) His (6) angels (7) with (8) Him,
that (9) He (10) then (11) intends (12) to judge (13) he (14) who has (15) power (17) of judgement (16)
each (19) one (18), just as (20) he (21) for himself (22) formerly (23) here (24)
earned (29) in (25) this (26) transitory (27) life (28)
Ne mæg þær ænig unforht wesan
for þam worde þe se wealdend cwyð.
Nor (1) can (2) there (3) be (6) any (4) unafraid (5)
because (7) of the (8) words (9) which (10) the (11) Lord (12) will say (13).
Frineð he for þære mænige hwær se man sie,
se ðe for dryhtnes naman deaðes wolde
biteres onbyrigan, swa he ær on ðam beame dyde.
He (2) will ask (1) before (3) the (4) multitude (5), where (6) the (7) man (8) might be (9),
who (10-11) for (12) the Lord’s (13) name (14) wishes (16) to taste (18)
bitter (17) death (15), as (19) He (20) did (25) before (21) on (22) the (23) cross (24).
Ac hie þonne forhtiað, ond fea þencaþ
hwæt hie to Criste cweðan onginnen.
But (1) they (2) then (3) fear (4), and (5) few (6) think (7)
of what (8) they (9) begin (13) to say (12) to (10) Christ (11)
Ne þearf ðær þonne ænig anforht wesan
þe him ær in breostum bereð beacna selest,
ac ðurh ða rode sceal rice gesecan
of eorðwege æghwylc sawl,
seo þe mid wealdende wunian þenceð
Not (1) any (5) have need (2) there (3) then (4) to be (7) afraid (6),
he (9) who (8) already (10) bears (13) in (11) his breast (12) the best (15) of signs (14),
but (16) through (17) the (18) cross (19) shall (20) the kingdom (21) seek (22)
from (23) the earth-way (24), every (25) soul (26),
those (27) who (28) with (29) the Lord (30) intend (32) to dwell (31).”
“eordwege” - Poetic word and diction -“Earthly region”
Gebæd ic me þa to þan beame bliðe mode,
elne mycle, þær ic ana wæs
mæte werede.
I (2) myself (3) prayed (1) then (4) to (5) the (6) cross (7) with friendly (8) spirit (9),
with great (11) zeal (10), where (12) I (13) was (15) alone (14)
with little (16) company (17).
“elne” - Poetic language - “great zeal”
–> Spoken by all 3 protagonists: Now worship him with humility rather than with thoughtless heroic action (Point of the poem? Christian humility)
Wæs modsefa
afysed on forðwege, feala ealra gebad
langunghwila.
My mind (2) was (1)
impelled (3) on (4) the forth-way (5), it experienced (8) very (7) many (6)
times of longing (9).
“modsefa” - poetic language - “mind”
“langunghwila” - Hapax word - “long word”
“fordwege” - Poetic langauge - “journey forth” (Litotes for death, ambiguity blurs lines of death and glory)
Is me nu lifes hyht
þæt ic þone sigebeam secan mote
ana oftor þonne ealle men,
well weorþian.
It is (1) now (3) my (2) life’s (4) hope (5)
that (6) I (7) may (11) seek (10) the (8) victory-tree (9)
alone (12) more often (13) than (14) all (15) men (16),
honour (18) it well (17).
“Sigebeam” - Exists only in 1 other text - “victory beam”
Me is willa to ðam
mycel on mode, ond min mundbyrd is
geriht to þære rode. Nah ic ricra feala
freonda on foldan, ac hie forð heonon
gewiton of worulde dreamum, sohton him wuldres cyning,
My (1) desire (3) for (4) that (5) is (2)
great (6) in (7) heart (8), and (9) my (10) patronage (11) is (12)
directed (13) to (14) the (15) cross (16). I (18) have not (17) many (20) powerful (19)
friends (21) on (22) earth (23), but (24) they (25) forth (26) hence (27)
departed (28) from (29) worldly (30) joys (31), they (33) sought (32) the King (35) of glory (34);
lifiaþ nu on heofenum mid heahfædere,
wuniaþ on wuldre, ond ic wene me
daga gehwylce hwænne me dryhtnes rod,
þe ic her on eorðan ær sceawode,
on þysson lænan life gefetige
they live (1) now (2) in (3) the heavens (4) with (5) the high Father (6)
they dwell (7) in (8) glory (9), and (10) I (11) myself (13) expect (12)
each (15) day (14) when (16) me (17) the Lord’s (18) cross (19),
that (20) I (21) here (22) on (23) earth (24) previously (25) saw (26)
in (27) this (28) temporary (29) life (30), will fetch (31)
ond me þonne gebringe þær is blis mycel,
dream on heofonum, þær is dryhtnes folc
geseted to symle, þær is singal blis,
and (1) bring (4) me (2) then (3) to where (5) is (6) great (8) bliss (7)
joy (9) in (10) the heavens (11) where (12) the Lord’s (14) people (15) are (13)
seated (16) to (17) feast (18), where (19) everlasting (21) bliss (22) is (20);
ond me þonne asette þær ic syþþan mot
wunian on wuldre, well mid þam halgum
dreames brucan.
and (1) set (4) me (2) then (3) where (5) I (6) afterwards (7) might (8)
dwell (9) in (10) glory (11), well (12) with (13) the (14) saints (15)
enjoy (17) joy (16)
Si me dryhten freond,
se ðe her on eorþan ær þrowode
on þam gealgtreowe for guman synnum.
May (1) the Lord (3) be a friend (4) to me (2),
who (5-6) suffered (11) here (7) on (8) earth (9) before (10)
on (12) the (13) gallows-tree (14) for (15) men’s (16) sins (17).
He us onlysde ond us lif forgeaf,
heofonlicne ham. Hiht wæs geniwad
mid bledum ond mid blisse þam þe þær bryne þolodan.
He (1) redeemed (3) us (2) and (4) gave (7) us (5) life (6),
a heavenly (8) home (9). Hope (1) was (2) restored (3)
with (4) blessings (5) and (6) with (7) bliss (8), those (9) who (10) endured (13) the fire (12) there (11)
Se sunu wæs sigorfæst on þam siðfate,
mihtig ond spedig, þa he mid manigeo com,
gasta weorode, on godes rice,
anwealda ælmihtig, englum to blisse
ond eallum ðam halgum þam þe on heofonum ær
wunedon on wuldre, þa heora wealdend cwom,
ælmihtig god, þær his eðel wæs.
The (1) Son (2) was (3) victorious (4) on (5) that (6) journey (7),
mighty (8) and (9) successful (10), when (11) he (12) came (15) with (13) the multitude (14)
the host (17) of souls (16) into (18) God’s (19) kingdom (20)
the ruler (21) almighty (22), to (24) the angels’ (23) delight (25)
and (26) all (27) of the (28) saints (29) who (30-31) in (32) the heavens (33) before (34)
dwelled (35) in (36) glory (37) when (38) their (39) Ruler (40) came (41)
almighty (42) God (43), where (44) his (45) homeland (46) was (47)
