Cædmon's Hymn. Composed in the 680s; Northumbrian text from 737

Nu scylun hergan         hefaenricaes uard,
Now we ought to praise heaven-kingdom's guardian
metudæs maecti         end his modgidanc,
God's might and the thought of his mind
uerc uuldurfadur,         sue he uundra gihuaes,
the work of the father of glory, as he, of each of wonders,
eci dryctin,         or astelidæ.
eternal lord, the beginning established.
He aerist scop         aelda barnum
He first created for the children of men
heben til hrofe,         haleg scepen;
heaven as a roof, the holy creator;
tha middungeard         moncynnæs uard,
then middle-earth mankind's guardian,
eci dryctin,         æfter tiadæ
eternal lord afterwards made
firum foldu,         frea allmectig.
for men the earth, lord almighty.


A more readable translation can be found on p. 197 of The Anglo-Saxon World.


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