Dream of The Rood Commentary Flashcards
Hwæt, iċ swefna cyst secgan wylle,
hwæt mē ġemǣtte tō midre nihte
syðþan reordberend reste wunedon.
Þūhte mē þæt iċ ġesāwe syllicre trēow
5on lyft lǣdan, lēohte bewunden,
bēama beorhtost. Eall þæt bēacen wæs
begoten mid golde; ġimmas stōdon
fæġere æt foldan scēatum swylċe þǣr fīfe wǣron
uppe on þām eaxleġespanne. Behēoldon þǣr enġel Dryhtnes ealle
10fæġere þurh forðġesceaft. Ne wæs ðǣr hūru fracodes ġealga,
ac hine þǣr behēoldon hāliġe gāstas,
men ofer moldan, ond eall þēos mǣre ġesceaft.
Sylliċ wæs se siġebēam ond iċ synnum fāh,
forwunded mid wommum. Ġeseah iċ wuldres trēow
15wǣdum ġeweorðode, wynnum scīnan,
ġeġyred mid golde; ġimmas hæfdon
bewriġene weorðlīċe Wealdendes trēow.
What, i dream best shall tell,
what me came in middle night
when voice-bearer rest remained.
thought i that i saw unique tree
on air lifted, light wonderful,
beam bright. All that becon was
begotten with gold; jewels some
beautiful near ground’s surface while there five were
up on that shoulderspan. Beheald there Lord’s
angels all
beautiful through eternity. Nor was there indeed wicked gallows
but he there beheald holy spirits,
men over earth, and all those fair creations
Unique was the crossbeam and i sin guilty
for wounded with sin. saw I lord’s true
clothing adorn, joy shine
covered with gold; jewels had
cover worthily Lord’s tree.
Hwæðre iċ þurh þæt gold onġytan meahte
earmra ǣrġewin, þæt hit ǣrest ongan
20swǣtan on þā swīðran healfe. Eall iċ wæs mid sorgum ġedrēfed;
forht iċ wæs for þǣre fæġran ġesyhðe. Ġeseah iċ þæt fūse bēacen
wendan wǣdum ond blēom; hwīlum hit wæs mid wǣtan bestēmed,
beswyled mid swātes gange, hwīlum mid since ġeġyrwed.
Hwæðre iċ þǣr licgende lange hwīle
25behēold hrēowċeariġ Hǣlendes trēow,
oð ðæt iċ ġehȳrde þæt hit hlēoðrode.
Ongan þā word sprecan wudu sēlesta:
Þæt wæs ġeāra iū (iċ þæt ġȳta ġeman)
þæt iċ wæs āhēawen holtes on ende,
30āstyred of stefne mīnum. Ġenāman mē ðǣr strange fēondas,
ġeworhton him þǣr tō wǣfersȳne, hēton mē heora wergas hebban.
However i through that hold began might
miserable former-strife, that he before began
to sweat on the right half. all i was with blood covered
afriad i was for that fair side. Saw i that eager beacon
turn clothing and colour; while he was with water drenched,
while with sweat flowing, whilst with treasure adorned.
However i there lay long while
beheald sad-minded Lord’s tree
until i heard he spoke.
Began he word spoke word good,
that was long ago (but i still remember)
that i was hewn forest on end,
moved from my roots. Saw me there strange enemies
made me there to spectacle, commanded me then to lift
Bǣron mē ðǣr beornas on eaxlum oð ðæt hīe mē on beorg āsetton;
ġefæstnodon mē þǣr fēondas ġenōge. Ġeseah iċ þā Frēan mancynnes
efstan elne myċle þæt hē mē wolde on ġestīgan.
35Þǣr iċ þā ne dorste ofer Dryhtnes word
būgan oððe berstan, þā iċ bifian ġeseah
eorðan scēatas. Ealle iċ mihte
fēondas ġefyllan, hwæðre iċ fæste stōd.
Onġyrede hine þā ġeong hæleð - þæt wæs God ælmihtiġ,
40strang ond stīðmōd. Ġestāh hē on ġealgan hēanne,
mōdiġ on maniġra ġesyhðe, þā hē wolde mancyn lȳsan.
Bifode iċ þā mē se beorn ymbclypte. Ne dorste iċ hwæðre būgan tō eorðan,
feallan tō foldan scēatum, ac iċ sceolde fæste standan.
Bore me there men on shoulders and set me on the ground
fast-stood me there enemies many. saw i there Lord’s mankind
set strength much that me me would on ascend.
there i didn’t dare over Lord’s word
bend or break, that i tremble say
earth’s surface. All i might
Enemies fall, however i stood fast.
Undressed him then young warrior- that was god almighty
strong and courageous. Saw he on gallows high,
brave on many side, that he would mankind redeem.
Tremble i in the man’s embrace. But i didn’t however bend to earth
fall to earth’s surface, but i had to stand fast.
Rōd wæs iċ ārǣred. Āhōf iċ rīċne Cyning,
45heofona Hlāford, hyldan mē ne dorste.
Þurhdrifan hī mē mid deorcan næġlum. On mē syndon þā dolg ġesīene
opene inwidhlemmas. Ne dorste iċ hira nǣnigum sceððan.
Bysmeredon hīe unc būtū ætgædere. Eall iċ wæs mid blōde bestēmed,
begoten of þæs guman sīdan siððan hē hæfde his gāst onsended.
50Feala iċ on þām beorge ġebiden hæbbe
wrāðra wyrda. Ġeseah iċ weruda God
þearle þenian. Þȳstro hæfdon
bewriġen mid wolcnum Wealdendes hrǣw,
scīrne scīman; sceadu forðēode
55wann under wolcnum. Wēop eal ġesceaft,
cwīðdon Cyninges fyll. Crist wæs on rōde.
Rood i was rearer. Lifted i Lord’s kind
Heaven’s lord, bend i didn’t dare.
pierced me with dark nails. on me came visible wound
open malicious wound. I didn’t dare injure any of them.
They mocked us both together. All i was with blood covered,
begotten from the man’s side since he had his spirit sent forth
Many ic on that hill had awaited
terrible fate. Saw i god’s army
terribly stretched out. darkness had
covered with cloud Lord’s body
shining brightness; shadow sent forth
black under cloud. Wept all creation,
lamented king’s fal. Christ was on rood
Hwæðere þǣr fūse feorran cwōman
tō þām æðelinge; iċ þæt eall behēold.
Sāre iċ wæs mid sorgum ġedrēfed; hnāg iċ hwæðre þām secgum tō handa,
60ēaðmōd, elne myċle. Ġenāmon hīe þǣr ælmihtiġne God,
āhōfon hine of ðām hefian wīte. Forlēton mē þā hilderincas
standan stēame bedrifenne. Eall iċ wæs mid strǣlum forwundod.
Ālēdon hīe ðǣr limwēriġne, ġestōdon him æt his līċes hēafdum;
behēoldon hīe ðǣr heofenes Dryhten, ond hē hine ðǣr hwīle reste,
65mēðe æfter ðām miċlan ġewinne. Ongunnon him þā moldern wyrċan
beornas on banan ġesyhðe. Curfon hīe ðæt of beorhtan stāne;
ġesetton hīe ðǣron sigora Wealdend. Ongunnon him þā sorhlēoð galan
earme on þā ǣfentīde. Þā hīe woldon eft sīðian
mēðe fram þām mǣran þēodne; reste hē ðǣr mǣte weorode.
however there eager far came
to that prince; i that all beheald.
Sore i was with sorrow afflicted; bent i however then man to hand,
humble, strength great. Seized then there almighty god,
rose him from heavy punishment. Abandoned me the warrior
standing blood drenched. All i was with arrows wounded.
Laydown they there limb weary, stood at his corpse’s head
beheald him there Heaven’s Lord, and he there for a while rested,
weary after that great battle. Began him then earth-house make
men on slayer’s sight. Carved him there from bright stone;
set him there victory lord. Began him the sorrow song to sing
sorrowful on the evening. the he would often travel
weary from the battle; rested he there weary army.
Hwæðere wē ðǣr grēotende gōde hwīle
stōdon on staðole syððan stefn ūp ġewāt
hilderinca. Hrǣw cōlode
fæġer feorgbold. Þā ūs man fyllan ongan
ealle tō eorðan. Þæt wæs eġesliċ wyrd!
75Bedealf ūs man on dēopan sēaþe; hwæðre mē þǣr Dryhtnes þeġnas,
frēondas ġefrūnon,
ġyredon mē golde ond seolfre.
Nū ðū miht ġehȳran, hæleð mīn se lēofa,
þæt iċ bealuwara weorc ġebiden hæbbe,
80sārra sorga. Is nū sǣl cumen
þæt mē weorðiað wīde ond sīde
menn ofer moldan ond eall þēos mǣre ġesceaft,
ġebiddaþ him tō þyssum bēacne. On mē bearn Godes
þrōwode hwīle; for þan iċ þrymfæst nū
85hlīfiġe under heofenum, ond iċ hǣlan mæġ
ǣġhwylċne ānra þāra þe him bið eġesa tō mē.
However we there wept a long while stood on foundation, after voice up depart warrior. Body cool fair body-hoard. then i man Kill began all to earth. that was good fate! Buried me man in deep pit, however i there God's thane Friends ask prepared me gold and silver Now you might hear, my beloved warrior that i evil one's work had endured sorrowful sorrow. Is now time come that I worthy widely and amply men over earth and all that great creation, bid them to this beacon. On me God's man suffered awhile. for the i glorious now raised under heaven, and i heal may anyone who to me shows awe
Iū iċ wæs ġeworden wīta heardost, lēodum lāðost, ǣr þan iċ him līfes weġ rihtne ġerȳmde reordberendum. 90Hwæt, mē þā ġeweorðode wuldres Ealdor ofer holtwudu, heofonriċes Weard, swylċe swā hē his mōdor ēac, Marian sylfe, ælmihtiġ God for ealle menn ġeweorðode ofer eall wīfa cynn. 95Nū iċ þē hāte, hæleð mīn se lēofa, þæt ðū þās ġesyhðe secge mannum, onwrēoh wordum þæt hit is wuldres bēam se ðe ælmihtiġ God on þrōwode for mancynnes manegum synnum 100ond Adomes ealdġewyrhtum.
Long ago i was converted punishment brave person hateful, before then i him life's way correct make-room speech bearer what, i then worship wondrous lord over wood, heavenly guardian. Likewise so he his mother each, Mary's self almighty god for all men worshipped over all woman kind. Now i then command, by beloved warrior that you this sight reveal to mankind reveal word that this is wondrous beam the the almighty god on suffered for man kinds sin and Adam's ancient deed
Dēað hē þǣr byriġde; hwæðere eft Dryhten ārās
mid his miċlan mihte mannum tō helpe.
Hē ðā on heofenas āstāg, hider eft fundaþ
on þysne middanġeard mancynn sēċan
105on dōmdæġe Dryhten sylfa,
ælmihtiġ God ond his enġlas mid,
þæt hē þonne wile dēman, se āh dōmes ġeweald,
ānra ġehwylcum swā hē him ǣrur hēr
on þyssum lǣnum līfe ġeearnaþ.
110Ne mæġ þǣr ǣniġ unforht wesan
for þām worde þe se Wealdend cwyð.
Frīneð hē for þǣre mæniġe hwǣr se man sīe,
se ðe for Dryhtnes naman dēaðes wolde
biteres onbyriġan, swā hē ǣr on ðām bēame dyde.
115Ac hīe þonne forhtiað, ond fēa þenċaþ
hwæt hīe tō Criste cweðan onġinnen.
death he there tasted; however often Lord arose with his great might man to help. he to the heavens arose, hither then came on this middlearth mankind seek on doomsday lord's self almighty god and with his angels, that he then wish demand, that he judgement power. anyone each so he him before here on this fleeting life earn. nor may there any unafraid was for that word that the lord said. asked he for the many where the man be thatt for the Lord's name death wold bitterly welcome, as he before on that beam died. but they then fear and little think what they to Christ say begin
Ne þearf ðǣr þonne ǣniġ anforht wesan þe him ǣr in brēostum bereð bēacna sēlest, ac ðurh ðā rōde sceal rīċe ġesēċan 120of eorðweġe ǣġhwylċ sāwl sēo þe mid Wealdende wunian þenċeð. Ġebæd iċ mē þā tō þan bēame blīðe mōde, elne myċle, þǣr iċ āna wæs mǣte werede. Wæs mōdsefa 125āfȳsed on forðweġe; feala ealra ġebād langunghwīla. Is mē nū līfes hyht þæt iċ þone siġebēam sēċan mōte āna oftor þonne ealle men, well weorþian. Mē is willa tō ðām 130myċel on mōde, ond mīn mundbyrd is ġeriht tō þǣre rōde. Nāh iċ rīċra feala frēonda on foldan, ac hīe forð heonon ġewiton of worulde drēamum, sōhton him wuldres Cyning,
No there then unafraid any was that he before in breast bore becon good but there through the rood must kingdom seek from earth every soul who to be with Lord dwell think. Prayed i me then to that beam, joyous heart great joy, there i alone was small company. was heart urge on departure; many all experience time of longing. It is now life's hope that i through the holybeam seek might one often when all men well worship. It is my will to he who much of mind, and my protection is right to the rood. Nor i have great many friends on earth, but they have hence forth from world's joys, sought him wondrous King,
lifiaþ nū on heofenum mid hēahfædere, 135wuniaþ on wuldre, ond iċ wēne mē daga ġehwylċe hwænne mē Dryhtnes rōd þe iċ hēr on eorðan ǣr scēawode on þysson lǣnan līfe ġefetiġe ond mē þonne ġebringe þǣr is blis myċel, 140drēam on heofonum, þǣr is Dryhtnes folc ġeseted tō symle, þǣr is singal blis, ond mē þonne āsette þǣr iċ syþþan mōt wunian on wuldre, well mid þām hālgum drēames brūcan. Sī mē Dryhten frēond, 145se ðe hēr on eorþan ǣr þrōwode on þām ġealgtrēowe for guman synnum.
lifted now to heaven with high-father, dwell in glory, and i think me each day when I Lord's room that i here on earth previously say on this transient life seize and me then bring there is great joy joy in heaven, there is Lord's folk set to feast, there is great bliss and me then set there at right side dwell in glory, well with that saint joy enjoy. be then Lord's friend whoever on earth before suffering on that exile-tree for man's sin
Hē ūs onlȳsde ond ūs līf forġeaf
heofonlicne hām. Hiht wæs ġenīwad
mid blēdum ond mid blisse þām þe þǣr bryne þolodan.
150Se Sunu wæs sigorfæst on þām sīðfate,
mihtiġ ond spēdiġ þā hē mid maniġeo cōm,
gāsta weorode, on Godes rīċe,
Anwealda ælmihtiġ, enġlum tō blisse
ond eallum ðām hālgum þām þe on heofonum ǣr
155wunedon on wuldre þā heora Wealdend cwōm,
ælmihtiġ God, þǣr his ēðel wæs.
he saved us, and our life forgave heavenly home. Hope was renewed mid glory and with merriment he who fire suffered. the son was victorious on that journey mighty and speedy the he with many came spirit army, to god's kingdom, almighty ruler, angels to bliss and all those saints, that in heaven before dwell in glory when they to lord came, almighty god, there his homeland was.
