|
Mec
feonda sum feore besnyþede,
|
|
A life-thief stole my world-strength,
|
|
|
woruldstrenga binom, wætte
siþþan,
|
|
Ripped off flesh and left me skin,
|
|
|
dyfde on wætre, dyde eft
þonan,
|
|
Dipped me in water and drew me out,
|
|
|
sette on sunnan þær
ic swiþe beleas
|
|
Stretched me bare in the tight sun;
|
|
|
herum þam þe ic hæfde. Heard
mec siþþan
|
5 |
The hard blade, clean steel, cut,
|
5 |
|
snað seaxses ecg, sindrum
begrunden;
|
|
Scraped-fingers folded, shaped me.
|
|
|
fingras feoldan, ond mec fugles
wyn
|
|
Now the bird's once wind-stiff joy
|
|
|
geond speddropum spyrede geneahhe,
|
|
Darts often to the horn's dark rim,
|
|
|
ofer brunne brerd, beamtelge
swealg,
|
|
Sucks wood-stain, steps back again
|
|
|
streames dæle, stop eft
on mec,
|
10 |
With a quick scratch of power, tracks
|
10 |
|
siþade sweartlast. Mec
siþþan wrah
|
|
Black on my body, points trails.
|
|
|
hæleð hleobordum, hyde
beþenede,
|
|
Shield-boards clothe me and stretched hide,
|
|
|
gierede mec mid golde; forþon
me gliwedon
|
|
A skin laced with gold. The
bright song
|
|
|
wrætlic weorc smiþa,
wire bifongen.
|
|
Of smiths glistens on me in filigree tones.
|
|
|
Nu
þa gereno ond se reada telg
|
15 |
Now decorative gold and crimson dye,
|
15 |
|
ond þa wuldorgesteald wide
mære
|
|
Cloisoned jewels and a coat of glory
|
|
|
dryhtfolca helm-- nales dol wite.
|
|
Proclaim the world's protector far and
wide--
|
|
|
Fif
min bearn wera brucan willað,
|
|
Let no fool fault these treasured claims.
|
|
|
hy beoð þy gesundran
ond þy sigefæstran,
|
|
If the children of men make use of me,
|
|
|
heortum þy hwætran
ond þy hygebliþran,
|
20 |
They will be safer and surer of heaven,
|
20 |
|
ferþe þy frodran,
habbaþ freonda þy ma,
|
|
Bolder in heart, more blessed in mind,
|
|
|
swæsra ond gesibbra, soþra
ond godra,
|
|
Wiser in soul: they will find friends,
|
|
|
tilra ond getreowra, þa
hyra tyr ond ead
|
|
Companions and kinsmen, more loyal and
true,
|
|
|
estum ycað ond hy arstafum
|
|
Nobler and better, brought to new faith--
|
|
|
lissum bilecgað ond hi lufan
fæþmum
|
25 |
So men shall know grace, honor, glory,
|
25 |
|
fæste clyppað. Frige
hwæt ic hatte,
|
|
Fortune, and the kind clasp of friends.
|
|
|
niþum to nytte. Nama min is mære,
|
|
Say who I am--glorious, useful to men,
|
|
|
hæleþum gifre ond halig sylf.
|
|
Holy and helpful from beginning to end.
|
|
iddle
24
