The Dream of the Rood

Question 1

Ac hīe þonne forhtiað, ond fēa þenċaþ
hwæt hīe tō Criste cweðan onġinnen.

Answer 1

But they are afraid, they think little
what they would begin to say to Christ.

Question 2

Ne þearf ðǣr þonne ǣniġ anforht wesan
þe him ǣr in brēostum bereð bēacna sēlest,

Answer 2

Then no one needs to be afraid there who
already carries on his chest the best of signs

Question 3

ac ðurh ðā rōde sceal rīċe ġesēċan
120 of eorðweġe ǣġhwylċ sāwl
sēo þe mid Wealdende wunian þenċeð.

Answer 3

but through the cross every soul which
thinks to dwell with the lord must seek
the kingdom of heaven away from the world

Question 4

Ġebæd iċ mē þā tō þan bēame blīðe mōde,
elne myċle, þǣr iċ āna wæs
mǣte werede.

Answer 4

Then I prayed to the tree with a cheerful mind
with great zeal with a small troop where I was alone

Question 5

Wæs mōdsefa
125 āfȳsed on forðweġe; feala ealra ġebād
langunghwīla.

Answer 5

my heart was inspired with longing for the way hence
it had experienced many of all times of longing

Question 6

Is mē nū līfes hyht
þæt iċ þone siġebēam sēċan mōte
āna oftor þonne ealle men,
well weorþian.

Answer 6

Now my joyful hope for life
that I alone may seek the tree of victory
more often then all people
that I may honour it well.

Question 7

Mē is willa tō ðām
130myċel on mōde, ond mīn mundbyrd is
ġeriht tō þǣre rōde.

Answer 7

In my mind there
is great desire for this, my hope of protection
is directed to the cross

Question 8

Nāh iċ rīċra feala
frēonda on foldan, ac hīe forð heonon
ġewiton ofworulde drēamum, sōhton
him wuldres Cyning,

Answer 8

I do not have many powerful
friends on earth, but they departed forth from here
from the joys of the world, they sought the king of glory for themselves,

Question 9

lifiaþ nū on heofenum mid hēahfædere,
135wuniaþ on wuldre,

Answer 9

they live now in the heavens with the high father, they dwell in glory,