The Exeter Book

those that control sanctuary for yourself—
their life by chance. We have never found a flee to where there is hope for friends
greater arrogance if you care about your spirit!” (277b-91)
in just one man throughout middle-earth.
You have vowed that you will occupy our But Guthlac was prepared — God had made
home in our very midst? him
You are God’s poorling! And though you strong of answer, strong of courage. He did
possess this land, not quail
by what shall you live? No man will nourish at these words, but spoke sorrow to his
you here with meals— opposing foes
hunger and thirst shall be your harsh knowing full well the truth: “Wide is the
adversaries, wilderness—
should you go forth like a wild animal, alone there are many wrack-homes here,
from your homeland. (262-77a) secret ground for wretched ghasts.
They are pledge-breakers that inhabit these
“There is nothing to this venture! Give up houses.
your refuge! Though you have congregated all these
No one can give you better counsel than all devils,
this horde brings! each laboring for wider strife,
We will be loyal unto you if you will heed you will draw out a victory-less journey
us, in pursuit of raging vengeance. (292-302a)
else we will seek you again ill-prepared for
our greater strength— I don’t mean to bear sword against you,
so that we need not strike you with hands a worldly weapon in my rage-swollen hand.
nor fell your corse with weapons’ wounds. This good country shall not be inhabited
We can beat down this hut with our feet— through the gushing of blood, but I think to
our folk with both cavalry force and foot satisfy
soldiers will trample it. my lord Christ with a dearer sort of play
They will be swollen in rage then when Now that I have climbed up into this land
strike you down— your idle words have offered me many other
pounding you and paining you, wreaking dwellings.
upon you their violent rage. My breast-core is not afraid or appalled,
They will carry you away—leaving behind but he that wields all power over his work
bloody footprints— keeps me in peace over mankind. (302b-
if you think to resist us. We will assault you 12a)
with malicious deeds. Start desiring “There is not a speck of love due to you, nor
may you do the tiniest part of evil.

48

I am the servant of the Lord: he often endure for his Lord,
comforts me through an angel. so that neither sleepy slumber nor sluggish
Therefore few longings visit me, and rarely spirit
sorrow. would deprive him of the strength to rise up.
Now a soul-kindred shepherd preserves me. Thus a warrior should always campaign for
My hope is with God— God in his heart,
I do not care for anything of earth-weal for and often bear his soul into hatred of him
my own use, that wishes
nor do I yearn for much with my heart. to prosecute every soul wherever he can
Instead every day the Lord sends me snare them. (336-47)
what I require by hands of men.” (312b-322)
Always the demons found Guthlac stout in
So he exulted standing against the many, God’s will,
glory’s worthy warrior supported by the whenever the wild-fliers came through the
strength of angels. darkness of night—
The entire multitude of fiends departed those ones that occupied secret dwellings—
thence. seeking whether his delight in that plain had
No great time they intended to grant decreased.
Guthlac. They desired that a sorrow for human love
He was brave and humble-hearted, should invade his heart,
building in his barrow—his desired home— so that he would make a journey again to his
forsaking the longings for loaned pleasures. homeland. (348-55a)
He never separated himself from the mercy
of men, There was no such enterprise: when the
but asked for the health of every soul, angel in the wasteland
when in lonely desert he lowered his face to approached Guthlac most eagerly and gave
the ground. him gifts so that yearning
His inner heart became incited with a joyful could not hinder him for the will of God.
spirit. (323-35) Instead he remained
in covenant with his instructor. Often he
Often, with an angel near him, he meditated asserted:
upon how “Indeed! It behooves that the Holy Spirit
he might least need to brook the joys of this directs him
world. into determination and bolsters his works,
He did not doubt the truth for terror of inviting him with gentle words, promising
wretched devils, life’s repose,
nor did he defer the time that he should so that he heeds the teachings of the Leader

49

and does not allow the Olden-Foe to misturn bliss,
his mind from the Measurer. where it may enjoy a homestead more fair.
How shall my spirit come to safety, unless I There is no home on this height as good or
give to God better
my handsome heart in order that my inner that befits a man who labors daily in the
thoughts to him […] (355b-68) passion of his prince’s will.
Nor must the servant of the Lord desire in
[at least one folio is missing here] his heart-case
more of these earthy possessions than his
IV. sole share,
so that he may keep an exculpation for his
[The manuscript resumes in the middle of body.” (379b-89)
Guthlac’s speech]
“…early or late there may come an end Then there appeared, just as before, the
to when you all are allowed to lift me up as malice of olden-foes,
a wonder. their quarrel brought again to boil—
Nor can my body-house against this there resounded a second cry, not at all
perishing creation small,
partake of death, but it is destined to when the clamor of care-ridden demons
crumble mounted the breeze.
just as the entire earth upon which I stand. Always the praise of Christ swelled and
Although you may carry away my flesh-coat dwelled
to the fire’s welling, in Guthlac’s heart for good things,
fierce-minded with greedy flames, you will and the God of Multitudes maintained him
never avert me on the mountain,
from these words, so long as my wit as he keeps every spirit in safety, wherever
endures. their ghost
Although you afflict my body with pains, thrives in their customs. Guthlac was one of
you can never penetrate my soul— these men—
rather you will bring it into a better state. he worked not after worldly things, but
Therefore I wish to suffer what my Lord instead heaved
deems proper for me. (369-79a) the pleasures of his heart up into Eternal
Glory.
“There is no worry for death in me. Who could have been greater than he?
Though my bones and blood both will be A lone warrior revealed within our own
rendered to the earth’s profit, times, the champion
the perpetual part of me shall voyage into

50

for whose sake Christ manifested more short while.
mortal wonders? (390-403) They might not long afflict his body-house
with tortures,
V. nor vex him by any abuse they might
achieve. (421-26)
God shielded Guthlac against the loathsome
clutches Then they conducted him from the sky
of spirits, wretched and wracking— to his most beloved home on earth,
they were fierce to rush upon him with so that he again climbed the barrow in the
greedy grasp. grove.
God never wanted his soul should suffer The killers groaned and moaned
bodily pain mournsomely
from them, he granted that the harmers may that a child of man had excelled them in
only touch calamities,
him with their hands, and that his peace was and thus, destitute and alone, this would
protected against them. (404-11) come
as a hardship to them, if they could not
Then the demons heaved Guthlac onto the painfully pay him a greater blow in
high breeze, return. (427-34a)
giving him power beyond the kindred of
men, Guthlac set his hope in the heavens, trusting
so that he was shown before his eyes in salvation—
everything he had endured the fiends’ embrace with his
under the dominion of holy shepherds, life.
the bearing of men in monasteries whose use The insurrection of miserable demons was a
their lives in lusting, temptation vanquished.
idle possessions and arrogance, in The champion remained, happy on the hill:
ostentatious clothing, his reward was with God.
as will be the custom of youth where they It seemed in his thought that he was blessed
are not among mankind who protected his noble
checked by the fear of the elder. (412-20) soul alone
so that the enemy’s hand at the uttermost
The fiends need not have rejoiced there— end
rather they had too swiftly consumed the should hurt him not, when the Lord’s glory
fruits would guide him, compelled to die at
of their endeavor, only granted them for a last. (434b-45)

51

Nevertheless yet, remembering their griefs, We conducted you upon the breeze,
the blame-blabbers promised him the depriving you of the land’s joys,
baleful for we desired you would see for yourself
with furious blasphemies. His faith was that we have bring the truth against you.
revealed: All of these torments you have endured
that God had rewarded Guthlac with courage because you could not change this
with his favors since he struggled fact.” (467-69)
alone. (446-50)
Then it happened that God wished to give
An accursed demon said to him wordfully: him
“We should not need to toil this arduously favor after his suffering, so that he esteemed
for you, martyrdom
if you would have readily heeded the in his breast. He gave Guthlac wisdom
precepts of friends. in his heart’s thoughts and a might-fast
When you first came, humbled and memory.
wretched, into this flash-point, He stood against many old devils,
then you vowed that the Holy Ghost would emboldened by courage, and said to vex
shield you readily them that they,
against hardships, because of the token that vanquished, must abandon that green
turned plain. (470-77)
the hand of men away from your noble
face.” (451-59) “You are scattered! Sin weighs upon you!
You know not how to beseech the Lord of
(Within that mask dwell many men, Multitudes,
resigned to fault. nor humbly seek for mercy, even though he
They don’t serve God at all, but please their permitted it for you
bodies some little while that you were allowed to
for love of delicate food’s delights — possess power over me.
so you all render unto the Lord You were willing to accept that with
worthy memorials in foolish delight. patience,
You all hide before men many things but conducted me up angrily so that I could
that you conceive in your heart. see from the air
Although you practice them in secret, the constructs all over this country.
your deeds will not be kept hidden.) (460- The radiant light of heaven was revealed to
66) me,
though I might have endured your
fury. (478-87)

52

“You set me in scorn because I suffered for the comfort that you may experience any
meekly improvement
the roomy regula and the wild hearts of in your wrack-journeys. Often you stand
young men accused,
in God’s temples. By this you would make for which comes chastisement from heaven.
game That one who has sent me can reconcile us,
of the praise of saints. You sought the he that controls the length of every
inferior, life.” (505-12)
and did not judge the better by their deeds.
Yet these acts shall not be kept secret. (488- So the sainted soldier shouted out—
93) he was a martyr for mankind, sundered from
“I wish to speak a truth refuting you all— his sins.
God has shaped the youth and the delight of Yet he must endure his share of pain,
men though the Lord ruled over his torments.
so they cannot bear themselves with Listen—
maturity in their early bloom that seemed some wonder to men that
but instead they delight in the joys of the Guthlac would further
world allow miserable demons to strike him with
until the count of winters subdues their savage seizures,
youngness. and that it happened yet! (513-20)
Thus their spirit feels affection for the
demeanor Greater still was that Christ sought middle-
and deportment of a more mature state, earth himself,
which many throughout middle-earth and shed his blood into the hands of slayers.
appropriately serve in their ways. He held dominion over both life and
Men will reveal their wisdom to other death when he suffered
people: willingly and meekly the malice of
they lose their arrogance after their youth persecutors on earth.
flees folly. (494-504) Therefore it is now fitting that we consider
the deeds
“You do not distinguish that fact, rather you of law-fast men, and say praise to the Lord
speak of the sins for all these exempla,
of the wicked, and never celebrate the hearts the wisdom that his books reveal for our
and practices sakes through his glorious works. (521-9)
of the soothfast. You rejoice in crimes and
do not look VI.

53

Grace in sacred power was discovered would deliver him from hatred. He would
within Guthlac. sternly judge
There is much to relate, all after the their forceful vengeance. So the Lord can,
beginning, almighty and alone,
what he endured in courage: (530-32) easily protect every one of the blessed
against hardships. (547-56)
The vanguard whom the Almighty Father
himself Nevertheless, fury-swollen, the wracked
had decreed against the hidden adversaries wrathfully brought him,
of life. the champion of glory, the holy Host-thane,
There his soul became pristine and proven. to the doors of hell,
It is widely known throughout middle-earth where the doomed spirits of the sinful
that his heart first seek entry after their death-pangs
flourished in God’s design— into that horrible house, the bottomless pit
there is still much to tell about what he down below the cliffs.
suffered himself They shook him, wickedly offering him
under the narrow bonds of his malicious battle, dread and hatred,
guests. (533-40) and a savage journey, as is the custom of
fiends,
Then he scorned the pain and always was when they wish to betray the souls of the
mindful of his soul, soothfast
of the protector who kept his mind, so that with sins and crafty tricks. (557-68)
Guthlac did not doubt
the truth in his breast, nor with grieving Grim-hearted they began to harass God’s
injure his spirit, warrior
but that steadfast heart dwelt in the holy man in his heart, affirming strongly that he must
until he had overcome these troubles. (541- go into
6) that terrible and grim place and go down
humbled
His torments were harsh, grim the servants, to hell’s citizens and there suffer in burning
all of them that promised his life’s downfall. bonds.
They were not allowed to condemn Guthlac They desired to drag the miserable wretch
to death, into hopelessness
the shepherds of sin, but his soul waited among the angry words, the Creator’s
within its body-house champion. It could not be so! (569-76)
until a dearer hour. Readily they observed
that God

54

Lornsome and loathly to Christ, they spoke I must submit myself wholly to his sole
to Guthlac harshly: judgment everywhere
“You are not worthy, no servant of the Lord, and wish forever to be subordinated to him
pristinely proven, eagerly
nor a righteous champion, well known by with my soul’s thoughts, and faithfully
word and deed, follow my Savior,
holy in his heart. Now you must dive deep in both my practice and presence. I wish to
into hell, thank him
to have no more of the light of the Lord in for all these gifts that God shaped—first the
Heaven, angels
the lofty houses, the seat in the sky, and then the earth-dwellers. I will bless him
because you have performed too many sins with a blithe heart
and evils the Light-Origin of Life and day and night
in your flesh-home. We wish to repay you a sing praises to him
bounty through honor befitting, praise in my heart
for every blot, where it will be the most the Warden of the Heaven-Realm.
loathsome That will never be allowed you from above,
for you, in the most horrific soul- in the light’s leniency,
torment.” (577-89) that you may speak the Lord’s praise. Rather
you must,
Guthlac the blessed man gave answer to welling with woe in death, whooping bewail
them in his spirit, your lamentation
with the power of God: “Do so much, if in Hell, to never have the holy exaltation of
Christ the Lord, the Heaven-King. (599-617)
the Light-Origin of Life will permit you, the
Wielder of Hosts, VII.
to be able to led his pledge-pilgrim into that
hateful flame. “I will worthy that Deemer by words and
That deed would be in the power of the deeds
Glory-King, in my days, love him in my lifetime,
Christ the Savior, he that humiliated you and as his lesson and grace spring forth as
routed you sprouting speech,
into servitude under close to those who with their works accomplish
confinement. (590-8) his will.
You are pledge-breakers, so you have lived
“I am his humble serving-man, his vassal
patient.

55

long on the exile’s track, (637-651a)
given flame to drink, enticed by darkness,
deprived of heaven, bereaved of joy, Truly I am satisfied, sweetly in my soul’s
committed to death, caught up in crimes and box,
hopeless of life— by graceful belief and with the love of the
you would devise a cure for your blindness. Lord,
You readily scorned then the fairer creation instigated in my breast unto that better
in former-days, home,
the spiritual heaven-joy, when you enlightened in my limbs to that everlasting
conceived contrary to the Holy Lord. dwelling most precious. There is my native
You would not ever be allowed to abide in land,
joy-days, pleasant and joyous in the Father’s Glory,
but in shame were shaven with sins where the light’s radiance nor life’s hope in
for your over-pride, in eternal fire, God’s realm
where you must suffer death and darkness, was never rendered to you for the savior’s
wailing the width of your years. sake,
Never should you expect an improvement to because of your over-pride that mounted you
this state. (618-36) in mind
through idle boast provoked too
“And I believe that fact in the Life-Origin, powerfully. (651b-62)
the Eternal Ruler of all creation, that he,
for his mercies and powerful means, the “You believed and desired, you evil-
Savior of Men, thinkers,
never will abandon me in the valor-works that you must be like the Shaper in glory.
for which I have There a worse thing happened to you,
long campaigned for God in my body-house when the Wielder gave you wrath to wassail
and in my soul in gloomy torment—there a pyre was
through the mysteries of multifold powers. kindled
Therefore I trust in the glory of the brightest for you afterwards, blended with poison,
Trinity, and through his deep doom expelled
which holds in its hands heaven and earth, you from joy, the society of angels. (663-
by their consent— 70a)
so that you never can, rage-hearted with
malice Now and forever it shall be so that you have
drag me into torments, vile murderers damnation
and man-harmers, dark and unvictorious. in welling-flame, and no blessings at all.

56

Nor need you believe, beshorn of glory, that the proud protector rich in mighty deeds.
you, He bound the servants of darkness into
sinful in the shade with guile-tricks, can agonizing restraints,
shove me into shame, imposing hardship and earnestly
nor drag me into the fire-blaze down into commanding them: (684b-97)
this hell-house,
where a home for you has been created, “Let there be no break of bone nor bloody
the darkness of everlasting night, wound,
strife without end and grim ghast-killing. no welts on his body nor one whit of injury
There you mourning must be dragged into which you could do to harm to him.
death Rather you will place him whole where you
while I will have the delight of joys among grabbed him.
the angels He shall control the countryside —
in that lofty realm of the stars, where is the you may no longer defend that place against
Lawful King: him.
the succor and salvation for the race of I am the judge; the Lord commanded me to
heroes, utter at once,
their company and community.” (670b- that you will heal him of every injury with
684a) your own hands,
and after be obedient to him in his own
Then came a messenger of the Lord, holy judgments.
from the heavens, I must not conceal my countenance before
who with his voice pronounced fear the lot of you.
of a sublime sort for the miserable demons. I am the servant of the Maker. I am one of
He ordered them to immediately lead glory’s twelve who he cherished
champion in his heart, most faithful in the form of
limb-whole and unharmed from that wrack- men. (698-710)
trip,
so that the dearest soul, prepared in God’s “The Lord dispatched me here from heaven,
protection, seeing that you, on the earth for your envies,
should journey unto joy. The press of fiends lay torments upon this pledge-pilgrim.
were trembling He is my brother, his hardship grieves me.
in their terror. The powerful being spoke, I bring this about, where my friend dwells in
the Lord’s precious thane, shining day- his refuge,
bright. who I will keep the peace with. Now I may
He held the soul of Guthlac in his power, aid his task —
and for that you will often be shown my

57

face. serving the Lord and taking unto himself the
Now I will seek him out frequently. joys
I must conduct his words and works to the of wild beasts since rejecting those of the
Lord in witness— world. (732b-41)
so he will know his deeds.” (711-21)
Tranquil was the triumph-field and the hall
VIII. renewed,
the voice of birds fair and the earth
Then Guthlac’s spirit was overjoyed after blossoming;
Bartholomew the cuckoos announced the spring.
had proclaimed God’s message. The Guthlac was allowed, blessed and resolute,
obedient captives stood ready, to brook his dwelling.
those who did not deviate from the word of That green plain stood in God’s protection.
that saint. The warden, who had come from the
Glory-blessed the Lord’s champion then heavens,
began to draw himself had enfeebled the fiends. What design has
on the dear journey to that desired portion of become fairer
earth. in men’s lifetime, which our elders
They bore him and held him from breaking, remember
heaving him with their hands and protecting or we know for ourselves since? (742-51)
him from a fall.
Smooth and soft, their travels were done What wonders are these known to us!
under the terror of God. (722-32a) All this has come to pass within the period
of our own times. Therefore none of men’s
Victor-triumphant the builder returned to the kindred
barrow. across the earth need doubt it,
Many species, the race of tree-fowl blessed indeed such good is worked as a
him with insistent chirping, confirmation of the souls’ life,
revealing the return of the blessed man in lest weaker hearts have need to turn from
tokens. that testimony
Often he held out food for them when they when they might profit by the truth in their
flew about his hands, own sight. (752-9)
hungry and greedily eager, exulting in his
aid. So the Almighty adores all creation beneath
So that mild heart parted himself from the the breeze
joys of mankind, in its body-housing, the tribes of men
throughout middle-earth.

58

The Wielder wishes that we always and a seat in the skies, where he might always
prudently exist,
swallow up his wisdom, so that his truth established in life, and continue in calm
becomes forever.
a recompense for his gifts among us, The Child of God is his patient protector,
which he grants and sends to us as an honor the Mighty Lord and Holy Herdsman,
and understanding, the Warden of Heaven’s Realm. (781-9)
clearing lenient life-courses for our souls
that reach towards radiance. (760-8) So the souls of the sooth-fast may climb up
into that perpetual home, the realm of the
This is certainly not the least that his love stars,
makes known, those who accomplish the Glory-King’s life-
when it builds godly gifts in the heart of long lesson here
men. in words and works, and in their life’s
So he exalted Guthlac’s days and deeds season
through his decree. earn eternal life on earth and a home on
He was the first—firm in fights with his high.
foes, set against sins, Those are the Host-men, chosen champions
where he little wanted afterwards for dear to Christ,
vigilance. bearing in their breasts bright belief and
Often his word was sent up to God through holy hope. (790-99a)
his humility;
his prayer allowed to come into that bright With clean hearts they worthy the Wielder,
creation. holding thought both prompt and prudent
He thanked the Prince for those things he onto the forth-way
was given to their Father’s homeland. They ready the
to endure in his sufferings—until the soul’s house,
moment when, expertly overfighting the Enemy and
through God’s will, a better life may be eschewing sinful desires
granted him. (769-80) in their own breasts. These men attend to
brother-love eagerly—
And so was Guthlac’s spirit carried into the in God’s purpose they trouble themselves,
high heavens adorning
in the embraces of angels, conducting him their souls with holy thoughts. The
lovingly command of the Heaven-King
before the face of his Eternal Judge. The they effect on earth. They love fasting—they
reward was granted him,

59

are sheltered God’s favor in Paradise-plain,
from baleful evil and strive after their where there was no want of delightful things
prayers. nor decay of prosperity,
They struggle against sins and keep truth the fumbling of life nor tumbling of body,
and right. (799b-810) the crumbling of delight nor the arrival of
death—
Their hence-going will never grieve them instead Adam was allowed to live in that
after, land free from all frailties,
when they voyage to that holy city, and enjoy these new pleasures at length. (1-
departing directly for Jerusalem, where 15a)
they may joyfully behold the face of God
and her peace and panorama unto the There he had no need to await, through the
world’s end, passing season of men,
where she truly abides, beautiful the end of life or delight in that radiant
and glory-fast, for the entire width of life, home,
in the delight of the land of living. (811-8) but after a time would be allowed to return
to the joys
The Death of St. of the most beautiful heaven-realm—
Guthlac (Guthlac B) limbs and body and the spirit of life as one,
and there afterwards always in ever-delights
[line numbers refer to Muir’s edition, for would be allowed to dwell
ASPR line numbers, add 818] for the expanse of life in the sight of the
Lord,
I. without the journey of death,if they had
desired to keep the word
It is widely known among the generations of of the Holy One bright in their breasts,
men, and execute his decrees and labor in his
heard by the people, that the God of homeland. (15b-25a)
Beginnings,
the Almighty King, created the first of the Too soon it wearied them that they should
kindred of men work
from the purest earth. Then was the novel at the Wielder’s pleasure, but his wife Eve
origin of the human race, seized
a joyous composition, fair and rejoicing. by the serpent’s lore the forbidden fruit and
Adam the Father was first conceived by plucked from the tree
a blossom prohibited by the word of God the
Glory-King.

60

Then she by the devil’s guile gave the that did God’s will, spirit-holy in various
mortal-making morsel human habitations,
to her husband so that the couple was throughout the open fields. Some early,
constrained to die. (25b-33) some late,
and some within our own times’ memory,
Afterwards that land was estranged to Adam by the date, sought the reward of
and Eve— victory. (47b-60a)
the bright country of choice carried away,
and so with their children and heirs Books tell us how Guthlac became blessed
following, in Anglia
they were shoved into the struggling world, through the pleasure of God. He elected
shamefully shivering in a strange land. They eternal power
paid the price for this deed, and protection for himself. Renowned wide
these profound faults, through the killing and broad
blow of death, were his miraculous works, famous in the
which they had brought to pass through their cities
folly. throughout the interior of Britain:
Since their wracking sin women and men how, by the power of God, he often healed
must be punished for their enormities many that sought him
a God-guilty grief through soul-parting, for from the travel-ways; men of heavy
these profound faults. torments, heart-sorrowed
Death crowded in upon the kindred of and tremble-minded, bound by disease,
men— discomforted and sorry.
our enemy tyrannized us throughout our Always they found comfort ready there at
world. (34-47a) the side
of that champion of God, help and healing.
There was never again any man from that There is no man
triumphant stock that can recount or reckon the number of all
so eager for God’s will or so wise that he of those miracles
might be able to avoid that Guthlac here in this world here
that bitter drink which Eve gave Adam of performed
old, for the multitudes through the grace of the
that his young bride poured out for him. Lord. (60b-75)
It injured both of them in their beloved
home. II.
Death reigned over earth-dwellers, although
there were many

61

Often to that habitation came a death- and worthied him
powered host of devils, with insistent chirping. Sometimes again
in gangs shorn of glory, bearing down on human messengers humbly
him where the sainted sought him and there, journey-bold on the
and resolute servant of valor defended his triumph-plain,
dwelling. they found help at the hand of the holy
There they raised a resounding army-shout servant, and solace of the soul.
with many voices, Indeed there were none that journeyed back
of diverse noise, in the waste, denied shape again ashamed,
and deprived of their joys. abased, without hope—rather the holy man
The champion of the Lord, the bold battle- healed through virtuous power
leader, ably withstood both body and soul of every man who when
the swarming enemy. The hour of horrid tormented sought him in need,
ghasts was never delayed, heroes heart-sorrowed as long as the Warden
nor was it long to await the crime-wrights to of Life, the Eternal Almighty,
heave up a war-cry, wished to grant that Guthlac be allowed to
joylessly clamoring, audibly moving to and enjoy the fruits of life here on Earth. (98-
fro. (76-88) 114a)

Sometimes the furious ones would cry like Then the ending-day of Guthlac’s earthly
wild animals in packs, struggle and miseries
sometimes again the malicious man-harmers pressed closely, the enforced separation of
turned into human shape life. Then, fifteen years
with the greatest noise, and other times the after he had chosen his dwelling-place in the
accursed pledge-breakers desert, the Spirit of Succor
drew themselves into the form of dragons, blessedly was sent from above to the Law’s
pained and plague-clad proclaimer,
spewing forth venom. Always they found holy from the heights. Guthlac burned with
Guthlac prepared his breast,
and prudent of thought. He awaited them goaded unto his going-forth. Suddenly
patiently, though disease shot through him.
the band of fiends should menace him with Yet in courage undismayed, he awaited the
life-killing. (89-97) bright promises,
restful in his refuge. His bone-close was
Sometimes the kindred of birds flew to his oppressed closely
hands, urged by hunger, during the night-gloom, his breast-hoard
where they would assuredly find sustenance

62

enfeebled. though his body and soul, a conjugal pair,
His joyful spirit was eager for the forth- should soon separated their precious joined
way. (114b-127a) meal. (139b-52a)

The Father of Angels did not wish to allow The days danced past, the night-helms’
him to endure darkness.
in this miserable worldly life a long space The moment was near when he must satisfy
after that, that sinless man that former deed
who pleased him with his deeds here during through the arrival of death, draw lots for
his days’ time glory,
with acts of quick spirit. Then the Help- even that same death as our fallen parents
mighty let his hand assumed of old,
come where his sainted servant waited, and as that first race of creatures did before
brave-minded and doom-blessed them. (152b-158)
in his secret cell, stern and strong-hearted.
Guthlac’s joy was renewed, III.
the bliss in his breast. His bone-coffer was
kindled in sickness, Then was Guthlac’s strength wearied in that
fixed with inward bands — his body-hoard dire moment,
unclosed. the heart so stern and steadfast of courage.
His limbs heavied, persecuted by The disease was terrible,
pains. (127b-39a) hot and savage. His breast welled within, his
bone-case burned.
Guthlac recognized the truth that the The barrel was tapped that Eve brewed for
Almighty sought him from above, Adam
the Maker for his mercies. He fortified his at the start of the world. The Enemy first
heart’s mind stoutly poured it for that woman—
against the hedging fear of the fiends’ and afterwards she served up that bitter
struggles. Yet he was not afraid— tankard for Adam, her own dear
neither taloned fever nor death-parting was husband. (158-67a)
terrifying in his mind.
Instead the praise of the Lord burned in his Ever since their children have paid a terrible
breast, his brand-hot love price for these former deeds:
triumph-true in his spirit, which had always so that none of the human race, no man on
surpassed his every pain. the earth after its start,
Nor was there pained anxiety in this loaned has been able to defend himself and avoid
time,

63

that miserable drink, assailed?
the deep death-cup, instead in that cruel I have never found you, dearest lord,
moment the door opens distressed like this before.
itself at once, revealing its ingress to Can you muster a word in conversation?
him. (167b-75a) It seems to my mind that some weakness
from the onset of disease has afflicted you
Powerful or humble no one caught up in during the recent night,
flesh can persecuting you with pained wounds.
oppose that end with his life, but it rushes That will be the keenest of sorrows in my
upon him breast
with greedy claws. So, cruel and solitary and until you comfort my heart and spirit.
close to Guthlac, Do you know, my generous lord,
after the night-shade, Death was what end must be decreed for this
encroaching nearby, illness?” (192b-204)
a slaughter-greedy warrior. (175b-81a)
After a moment Guthlac replied to him—
A single serving-man dwelt with him, who he could not immediately draw in a breath:
visited him every day. this bitter bane-sickness had sunk within
Deep-hearted and wise-minded, he went to him.
God’s temple, where he knew The bold one spoke, blessed in courage, and
the native apostle, his chosen teacher most gave answer:
dear, would be “I wish to say that agony has reached out to
and when he went inside to speak blessedly, me,
he wished to hearken pain wading through in this wan night,
to the saint’s instruction, conversation with unlocking my body-hoard.
the meek man. My limbs grow heavy, beset by pains. This
Then he found his patron wearied with his soul-house,
disease, this fated flesh-home, must be covered over
a fact that fell heavy upon his heart. in its earth-lodge,
Heart-sorrow moved him, a great mind- my limbs in a loamy shroud, and, fixed upon
care. (181b-92a) my final bed,
abide upon the couch of death. (205-214a)
Guthlac’s servant then asked him: “How has
it happened, The warrior approaches, quick to battle-
my cherished lord, my father, shelter to his play.
friends, My wait for soul-parting will be no longer
that your spirit is thus afflicted and closely

64

than seven nights’ time-mark, IV.
when my spirit will seek its end hence on
the eighth day that passes. Holy of soul, Guthlac perceived the pensive
Then my days upon this mould-way will heart
have bounced by: of his sad-minded servant. Then that shelter
my sorrow will have abated and then I might for many
be allowed glad at heart and dear to God, cheered the
to gain my meed, renewed gifts at the knees younger man,
of the Creator, speaking in words to his dearest friend:
and to follow the Lamb of God ever after in “Don’t be upset, though this disease burns
perpetual joys. me within.
Now my soul is eager and ready for the It is no hardship to suffer the will of the
journey there. Prince my Lord:
Now you readily know of my limbs’ life- I have no sorrow in my mind for death in
parting. this infirm hour,
Long is the lingering of this worldly nor do I dread much the reaving raiders of
life.” (214b-229a) Hell’s thanes,
nor can sin’s first-born set any torment or
There was wailing and lamentation then: the frailty of body upon me.
youth’s heart was sad Instead they must be frustrated in flame,
and the mind mourning after he heard that seething in pain
the saint and welling in sorrow, weeping in the
was eager for the going forth. For that wrack-way,
fearful news he carried sorrow beshorn of pleasures in that Death-hall, of
for his patron, heavy in his heart. His breast every glory,
darkened within, of love and leniency. My cherished child,
his regretful mind anxious after he saw his don’t be so sick at heart.
lord eager for death. I am hastening to the henceforth to take up
He could hardly keep composure for this, my heavenly home,
but let his burning tears flow, suffering his eager for its rewards in eternal joy, and to
grief, see,
welling wave-drops. The world’s way could for my life-deeds, the Victorious Lord. (242-
not contain life, 62a)
that dear ornament, in anyone fated to go
for longer than was ordained for
them. (229b-41)

65

“My beloved son, there will be no suffering Majesties, heaving up
or struggle, the greatest crowd to the heavens; when he
when I seek the God of Glory, the Heaven- climbed up from hell. (276-86)
King,
where is bliss and brotherhood, the joy of So then on that bright day, in that noble
the glory-fast, hour,
and the Lord is present, who I in this dreary clamorous with grace, the blessed man, mild
hour have readily satisfied and modest,
with soul-secrets and deeds, with mind and not soft in strength, worked courageously.
might. Then the joy of noble men, stern and heart-
Faultless I will know at that moment my wise,
reward, rose as quickly as he could, weary from his
my perpetual recompense, holy on the great affliction.
heights. Then his mind confirmed his dazzling belief,
There my hope guides me to seek, my soul and Guthlac offered thanksgiving in God’s
aspires temple,
from this body-vessel towards those meditating upon soul-mysteries according to
enduring joys in blessed weal. the will of the Lord. (287-95)
This home is no longer for me, neither pain
nor sorrow. And Guthlac began to proclaim the good
I know there is an eternal requital after the news unto his thane,
body’s crumbling.” (262b-275) as the Lord rose through the grace of the
spirit,
Then glory’s servant grew still of his words, to speak in triumph-tokens. He strengthened
the stout secret-keeper: he was in need of his servant’s mind
rest by miracles of glory and happy weal in that
and weary-minded. The sky grew dark over lovely creation,
the children of men, as he had never heard in this loaned time, no
the count of nights passing by, murky over other lesson like it,
their multitudes. before nor since nor ever in his life—nor the
Then the day arrived when the Living God, secrets of the Lord
The Lord and Eternal Almighty was joyfully so deeply narrated, in such broad
resurrected understanding, by human mouth. (296-305
within his body-shroud; when he arose from
death, in single dominion It seemed to him more likely that it was the
of the earth at Easter-tide, Majesty of All word

66

of a heaven-kindred angel down from the unlocking his life-hoard, seeking him with
soaring joys, crafty keys.
a much greater servant of power than the When the wise hero, the messenger, his
teaching servant
of any man among earthly men. The sight sought out that nobleman at that holy home.
seemed to him He found him then hopeless, reclining and
the greatest miracle, that such learning-craft eager for the forth-way,
was kept ghost-holy in the temple of God, boiling in
in the breast of any noble among the bubbling troubles.
children of humanity. It was the sixth hour then, at mid-day,
Every word, all his wisdom was so profound when the final moment approached his
and the composure of this man, his mind and master. (323b-34)
mighty skill
that the Maker of Angels, the Succor of Guthlac was assailed with the closeness of
Souls had given to Guthlac. (306-15) his unavoidable ordeals,
struck with slaughter-spears. Though he
V. could not easily draw in breath,
he raised his voice in brave speech. Then his
Then the number of four days had passed servant, heart-saddened,
by, shivering and soul-weary, began to beseech
which the thane of the Lord endured the man,
bravely, exhausted yet mind-glad and eager to die,
assaulted by disease, harried in agonies. asking him,
Guthlac did not bear in sorrow grievous if he by the Shaper of Might could muster
thoughts of soul-parting, his word-talk
his dreary heart. Death drew near him, and heave up speech so that he might
stepping in its thieving course, declare to him
strong and swift, seeking his soul- the news and reveal the course of his words,
house. (316-23a) how he trusted his own counsels, his
practice
Then came the seventh day, present to the in that hidden disease before death had laid
people, him flat. (335-44)
since it sank within him, fierce, near to his
heart, The blessed man gave him answer, a
in war-showers, a flickering of fletched beloved man among the beloved,
force, although he could but slowly, the courage-
hard nobleman,

67

draw in breath: “My precious child, it is not angels.
now Say to her as well that she must entrust this
very far to that uttermost end day of needful bone-vessel
parting, in a barrow, enclose it in clay, my soul-less
so that you, who never lacked reward, must shell in a dark enclosure,
obey my instruction, where it afterwards must abide for a time in
the last of my words in this worldly life, no its sandy house.” (371b-78)
long while long from now.
Attend faithfully to all your promises and Then his servant’s thought became greatly
friendship, troubled,
those words we spoke to each other, dearest overwhelmed by oppression, by the words
of men.” (345-55a) of that lord,
when he recognized at once the soul-parting
“I will never in your need, my master, of his master,
permit our brotherly love to that end-day was not far away. Then he
weaken.” (355b-7a) speedily began to converse
wordfully to his dear lord: “I beg you by the
“Be ready for a journey after my body and Ward of Souls,
limbs most beloved hero of the kindred of men,
and this soul of life sunder their conjugal joy of noblemen,
meal by spirit’s separation. that you ease my heart-sorrowed breast.
Hasten after that moment and tell my dearest The end is not far as I have recognized in
sister your orations.
of my forth-way to the eternal home upon a Often my sad thought reminds me of my
long road to fair joy. anxieties, hot at heart,
Also reveal my words to her, that I have my lamenting mind constrained by night
kept myself from her face and I would never dare, my father, my
all the days of this world-life for I desired comfort, to question you. (379-93)
that we would be allowed
to see each other soon, free from our “Always I have heard, when Heaven’s gem,
frailties, in the perpetual pleasances the joy-candle of men,
of Heaven-glory and the sight of our declines to the west, the heaven-bright sun
Everlasting Redeemer. (357b-71a) hastens to its setting
in the evening time, another man in debate
There must our love remain pledge-fast, with you. I have heard the words
where we will always may enjoy delights of that lord, that unknown herald often
in that radiant city, prosperity among the seeking you between the day-roar

68

and the dark night, the conversing words of always sent me
this man, and in the morning a holy spirit, an angel of the highest kind,
so sorrow-minded perceived the speech of a a mighty thane of the Creator, who was to
sagacious spirit seek me
on your dwelling. Indeed, I yet do not know, every evening and morning too, fixed in
until you, victory,
my lord, reveal more to me through your and heal me of every pain and heart-sorrow.
words, And glory’s favorable messenger enclosed
whence his origin might be.” (394-405) in my breast
the gift of wisdom much more complex than
VI. any known in this life,
which is permitted to reveal to no living
And then the blessed man returned a reply man,
to his dear servant after a long while, so he so that one could but scarcely conceal what
could slowly, he conceived
his courage evident, wield his breath: (406- in his heart’s thoughts, after he was visible
08) before my eyes. (420-37)

“Listen, you address me, my friend, in “Until this day I always had concealed in my
words, mind
questioning this hastening man of secrets the glorious arrival of the Lord from every
which I have never wished to inform upon man.
to any humans across the earth, the servants Dearest of men, now for your love and
among the people, companionship
except to you now, lest that men and women that we have long observed between us, I do
should marvel not wish that you
at it and pour it forth in folly, in songs while are ever sorrowful after my life-decree
I still lived. makes of you
Truly, I never wished through boasting an exhausted and heart-sick man, seethed in
words to hinder welling sorrow.
the comfort of my own soul, nor provoke the Ever I desire to keep peace with you.
wrath of God, my Father.” (409-19) Now my soul hastens from my breast-box
unto its true joy.
“In the second space of a year since I began The time is not delayed, this bone-vessel
to inhabit this hermitage, grows weak,
my Victor-Lord, Life-Granter to man, has the earth-hoard mourns, the soul hurries him

69

into its eternal home, The shadows receded, dissolving under the
eager for its outward journey, to be given its breeze.
seats. The radiance of light was all about that holy
Now I am greatly wearied with work.” (438- house, the heavenly candle,
51a) from the even-gloom until from the east
came the dawn’s roaring
Then Guthlac collapsed against the wall, across the profound path, the warm weather-
bending his head — still courage braced him token. (460b-75a)
within.
From time to time he drew breath by force, a The servant of glory rose, blessed and
spirited man, mindful of bravery, speaking
and from his mouth came the sweetest smell. to his serving-man, splendid to his faithful
Like in summer’s time blossoming flowers companion:
are smelled “It is time that you go and remember all of
joyfully across the fields, fixed in their my errand.
places by the root Carry it with haste, as I have instructed you
and honey-flowing, so that saint’s breath earlier,
was drawn forth the whole day long until the my message to my dear sister. Now from my
coming of evening. (451b-60a) body,
eager for God-joys, my soul is quite
Then the radiance of the glorious heavens ready.” (475b-481)
sought its setting,
the northward heavens darkened, black Then Guthlac raised his hands, fed by the
under the clouds, Host
the world was drawn over by mist, covered and humble from that honorable bite, he also
over by shadows— opened his eyes,
the expanse of night thronged over the the holy head gems, seeing then to the Reign
earth’s adornments. of Heaven,
Then came the greatest brilliance, holy from glad-minded for the rewards of its joys and
heaven, then he sent by his deeds
shining radiantly, bright over the sheltering his beautiful soul into the Delight of
hall. Majesty. (482-6)
Obliged to do so, Guthlac, blessed in valor,
awaited his last day, struck by slaughtering VII.
arrows.
The splendor of glory, noble about that
noble, all night long, sparkled clearly.

70

Then was Guthlac’s spirit carried away, swift under his sorrows. The sky glittered
blessed upon the lofty road. warmly,
Angels carried him unto that enduring shining over the shelter-hall. The brim-wood
delight, and his body cooled, hurried, light and fast on its course.
unlifed under the lofty sky. Then a brilliance The lake-steed made speed, bearing on the
blazed there, brightest of trees: harbor,
That beacon was entirely about the holy that sandy place where the sea-floater would
house, heavenly of arms, perch after its swim-playing,
rising straight up from the earth like a grinding against the gravel. (508b-17a)
flaming tower up to the roof of the stars,
visible under heaven, more splendid than the He bore his mourning sadness burning in his
sun, the beauty of the noble stars. breast,
Troops of angels sang triumphant hymns, his sad heart, his weary mind-sense, he who
their voice heard in the wind beneath the knew his master,
heavens, the saints’ joy. (487-98) his dearest friend, watched his tracks, having
sailed away from life.
So that sheltering stead was filled with The ring of his woes reminded him
happiness throughout grievously.
its inner parts, with the sweetest odors and Tears welled forth in waves, hot cheek-
skyward miracles— drops,
the ancestral seat of the blessed and the song and he carried in his chest a great mind-care.
of angels. There was more He had to deliver to that woman
of the surpassing and overjoyed than any Guthlac’s message, hateful news all too true.
voice in this world could reckon: (517b-25)
how that fragrance and that melody were
heard; the heavenly sound and holy song; Then the spirit-cold servant came to where
God’s high-majesty; how each voice the woman lived,
harmonized with its accompanying voice. glory’s joyous maid. He did not conceal
That island quaked, the earth-field trembled. what had occurred,
(499-508a) the forward-course of the doomed, but sang
out,
Then Guthlac’s messenger was afraid, friend-lacking, a parting song and spoke
wanting courage, these words: (526-9)
when he hastily departed; an unhappy man
that climbed into a boat “Courage is best for him that very often
and drove that wave-horse,a journey upon a must endure lord-killing—
water-runner, he must deeply meditate upon the oppressive

71

prince-parting among the brethren-rights, the glorious
when its ill season comes, woven with fate- rewards of your deeds,
songs. and to enjoy its profit and blissful things.
He knows that who grieves sad-souled… (548b-56a)
Ah! he knows that his beloved treasure-giver
is buried. “My victory-lord also ordered me to
He must depart from there, abjected and sad. announce to you,
Mirth’s lack is the hardship that he often when he was eager for the journey, that you,
suffers in his pained heart. (530-8a) dearest maid,
should cover over his body-home. Now you
“At any rate, I need not make so light of his know
hence-journey. my journey’s purpose at once. Now I, pain-
My lord, leader of warriors and your own souled,
brother, low-minded must go forth now with my
best of those between the seas who we in heart drooping…” (556b-61)
England
have ever heard, conceived in child’s form, [End missing]
and of the kindred of men.
He has turned toward the judgment of God, Azarias
the support of the weary. He has turned from
worldly joys, [A strip has been cut off the top of this folio,
O delight of your cherished kin, perchance and it is unknown how much of the poem
into the majesty was found on previous lost folios. An
of glory and his protection. He is departed to introduction to the situation of the Three
seek out the dwellings, Youths seems likely, but is now non-
a home upon the upward way. (538b-48a) extant…]

“Now his portion of earth, the bone-house Then Azarias, within inward thoughts,
broken out of its refuges sainted, cried aloud
from within, abides upon its death-couch, through the heated flame,
and his portion of glory eagerly busied with deeds, praising the Lord,
voyages from its body-vessel into the light wise in his works, and with a word he spoke:
of God, its triumphant reward. (1-4)
I am ordered to tell you that you two will
always be allowed “Measurer of everything, you are great in
to take a common home at your desire, in might
those everlasting joys

72

sparing all men. Your name is widely of the sword-grim—we must…
known, the wretched punishment of heathens… (25-
lovely and glory-fast across the tribes of 29)
men. [….]
Your judgments upon every deed “To Abraham and to Isaac and Jacob,
are trusty to the truthful and those set in Shaper of Spirits. You have promised them
victory — through your pronouncements
also your desires in worldly success that you wished to increase their offspring
are correct among the counselors. in days gone by, so that they were begotten
Wielder of the Heavens, preserve us after them into their royal realms,
zealously, augmented on earth, to be as uncountable—
Shaper of Souls, a people heaved up—as the heaven-stars
and by the help of your grace, bending in broad orbit, unto the sea-
Holy Lord, now we ask you for mercies floods—
in our need and in our pained necessity as the sands of the shore about the salty
and out of our humility, water,
circumscribed by flames. (5-16a) in waves beyond the earthen ground—
so that they must become so innumerable
“We the lively have sinned in this world, across the course of swirling winters. (30-
likewise we have done 41)
much stain unto our ancestors,
in our overweening minds, “Fulfill now this first covenant—
among the town-sitters. though they should live as our joy—
We have broken your commandments, beautify your wordful statements
contemning the order of holy living. and your glory in us.
We have become scattered Reveal your means and your might,
across the broad earth, now that the Chaldeans have asked you—
dispersed into bands, and also all these many folk—
lacking your grace— that you are alone the Eternal Lord,
Our lives were throughout many lands Victory-Bold Enthroned and the True
abominable notorious among the earth- Measurer,
dwellers. (16b-24) the Wielder of Glory and the Worldly
Creation.” (42-48)
“Now you send us into exile, into the
keeping So the sainted man was saluting
of this worst of earthly kings, into the his Mild Measurer, and his inner mind
clutches
73

stretched forth through his voice. swift in their minds, through a well-known
Then from the heavens an angel word: (65-72)
all-bright was sent from above,
a beautifully-shining human in his glorious “Bless you, mild father,
coat, Glory of Worldly Creation
came to them right then as grace— and all his works,
the preservation of life— heaven and angels and the clear pure waters
through love and through mercy. (49-55a) and all the virtues of the earth’s creation!
(73-76)
This one scattered those flames,
him holy and heaven-bright, of the heated “Bless you, Truthfast King,
fire, for the sun and the moon,
so that the bitter burning must be shielded beams of light, Living God,
from the terror of that angel, his lawfast bright and clear, full of heavenly joys,
majesty. worthied in blossoms. Very often you,
Sweeping and driving through the power of Glory-King,
his right hand allow by the breezes a mild morning rain
the crackling limbs of flame, so their bodies to fall for the people’s sake. Afterwards
were not harmed, many are the herbs which must be
yet they were inside that furnace, when the awakened,
angel arrived, also the woody groves sprouting with
windy and winsome, much like the breeze shoots.
when on a summer’s day a falling of The earthly weal is strengthened,
raindrops warmed and purified. The Measurer
is sent down during the course of the day. has never owned fame so widely-known,
(55b-64) when he for the child of man worked so
kindly. (77-87a)
He was in the fire, for the might of the Lord,
in his holiness as a help. The heated flame “Wise is he who knows how to perceive
was driven and diminished, the Preserver, who gives us all good
wherever the three deed-bold princes that we possess so long as we are here,
praised in their thoughts, and our Mild Measurer promises us more,
praying to bless the children of the world, if we merit it,
all of creation, and the Eternal Lord, desiring it bravely,
the Sovereign of Nations. So these three when the soul must venture away from the
spoke, body,

74

at the Lord’s behest, one apart from the “They are and they grow, every human
other. (87b-93) nation,
living by your mildness,
“And souls should praise you, Lord God, which the King beloved by us,
the burning fire and the bright summer, Eternal Lord, set down before us to be
the warm weather-days, Sovereign of Men, useful
Master in the spirit. You have made earthly to his own children, Celebrated Lord. (113-
weal, 16)
of so many sorts, Mild Lord,
and the day and the night, Doom-fast King, “And you, Holy God, the lofty peaks
should praise you and love you, light and throughout middle-earth, should praise you
shadow, meekly,
which holds them, as wardens of the tribal the fair earth, and realm of your father.
nations. Therefore the Sovereign shaped the woody
They work the Lord’s profound moors,
commandment so long (94-101) requited with praise, the Herdsman of Light.
“And the ships should worthy you, Christ (117-21)
King,
our father, frost and snow, Wielder of “Bless you, Truth-fast King, for the seas and
Peoples, the waters,
the winter-bitter weather and the shades of the high oceans, Holy Lord,
the sky, the gloriously deep water,
and the flickering lightning should praise and the Lord’s commandment,
you, every ocean’s flood holds it dear eagerly,
shining, voice-bold, Warden of the Spacious when the sea-streams roil the water,
Kingdom, for the counsellors of the Measurer. (122-
secretly, O Lord. Always may your 27a)
judgments
be good and seasonable. “The elder kindred know
You operate so eagerly, that the Eternal Lord shaped
O Glory-King. You praise with blossoms, the course of the watery tide,
blessing us with fruits, in days before, the Herdsman of Light,
and your fruit should be on whose wide-faring ambit
eternal onwards forever, Almighty God. abide the swimming of many wondrous
(102-12) creatures. (127b-31)

“May they all bless you, Eternal Lord,
who by your pleasure, Glory-Fast King,

75

every one springs forth, Eternal Lord, Therefore send us, Sovereign of Triumph,
and should praise you humbly. an angel as a favor to us, who will shelter
Very often you allow the pure waters us from the fire and the fiends,
delightful to fall from the spotless cliffs and cover us over with his wings
as a worldly joy. These things the King against the burning terror.” (153-61a)
shaped for us, for mankind,
as a mercy and a gathering of strength. (132- With their voices about that overheated
38) house
they turned that heathen chieftain —
“May they bless you, Gentle Father, when the opponents of God perceived that
the fish and the fowl, many-powered, they could not destroy the young men’s
all those that stir the rough waves, life—
upon the broad ocean, Celebrated Lord— nor did the Measurer will it—but Christ
may they be praised, the holy and the shielded them. (161b-65)
heavenly birds
those that go bouncing across the breeze. Then he turned to the hall, the earl
(139-44) affrighted,
as he could most swiftly, so that he stood
“May they bless you, Lord, the beasts and over his princes. Then he sent forth a prayer
the cattle. on behalf of the multitudes, a profound
May they praise the Measurer, the Child of message
Men protecting those holy ones—listening
with mildness, and Eternal God, the kindred therein—
of Israel. a hostile-minded man: (166-170a)
May they bless you, Soothfast King, your
priests, “ReadilyI know, that we have here three
the mild mass-makers, Wide-Known Lord, men,
your servants, Herdsman of Peoples— counsellors to the people, three young men,
likewise with the pure soul of the holy for their soul’s love bound into burning,
and with humble hearts, Eternal God. (145- in the limbs of the flaming fire.
52) Now I see truly four men are in there—
this is not at all my imagination. (170b-75)
“Now Ananias and Azarias and Misachel,
O Measurer, praise you with mildness. “They turn away now from the heat—
Now we three young men bless God, it creates no discomfort for any of them—
the many-powered Father in heaven, the kindling of the oven,
that True Son, and that Victory-Fast Spirit. yet there is an angel among them—
he has a bright spirit—

76

nor can the burning harm his lovely glory- by folk-rulers,
robe!” (176-79a) many across middle-earth, for it is
withdrawn beyond them
Then the lord of the Chaldeans swallowed the sin-makers, by the might of the
these words, Measurer. Lovely is this whole land,
turning then to go towards that kindling, blessed with joys and with the fairest odors
an earl resolute, so that he stood over that of the earth.
pyre. Unique is that well-watered realm, noble
Then Nebuchadnezzar commanded them, that wright, proud
the living children, and abounding in might, he who established
to approach nearer to him from the flame. that ground.
(179b-83) Often there is open the door of heaven’s
empire and revealed
Nor did those holy ones despise to do that, to the blessed the bliss of singing. That is a
bold-minded, after they heard the joyful place,
admonition the groves green and roomy beneath the
of that worldly king, yet they went from the heavens.
fire, Neither the rain or the snow can spoil it a
lives unspoiled, beautified in their glory, bit—
so their garments were not harmed not the frost’s blowing nor the fire’s
by the malice of the gluttonous gleeds, throwing,
but they with their spirit-love, not the hail’s tumbling nor the rime’s
oppressed their affliction and knew triumph, fumbling,
wise in their minds, in their manners, not the heat of the sun nor the everlocking
through their forethought— cold,
they escaped the fire! (184-91) not the warm weather nor winter’s shower—
but that realm endures, prosperous and
The Phoenix absolute. (1-20a)

I. The noble province is blown with blossoms.
Neither peaks nor steep hills stand there, nor
I have learned that there is the best of lands stony cliffs
far from here, hang over the heights, as they do here
in eastern places, according to the report of among us,
men. not caves nor clefts nor carvings in the hill-
This corner of the world cannot be reached sides,

77

rills neither ridges, nor any kind of rough against the heaving way of the rough waves
scarps blessed, unspoiled, through the mercy of
but that worthy plain ever burgeons under God.
the skies, It endures blossoming until the coming of
increases its pleasures. That bright land is the blaze,
higher of the judgment of the Lord, when the death-
than the surrounding earth by twelve halls,
fathoms— the shadowy coffers of men, become
as is revealed to us by the report of the wise, unclosed. (33-49)
the prophets through the wisdom of the
Scriptures— There are no hated foes there in that land,
than any of these bright mountains that here neither weeping nor pain, no grief-signs at
among us all,
hang over the heights under the stars of old age nor misery nor the goading of death,
heaven. (20b-32) neither the life’s losing nor the hateful
coming,
Prosperous is that victory-plain, shining the no sin nor strife nor sore-wrack’s knife,
sunny groves, not the struggle of poverty nor the want of
joyful the wooded forests. The flowers never prosperity,
fail, not sorrow nor sleep nor the sad grave—
the bright blossoms, but the trees ever stand neither storming snow nor change of
green, weather,
just as God commanded. The woods in harsh under the heavens, nor the stern frosts,
winter and summer with icicles cold and chilly crashes down
are alike, hanging with fruit. The leaves upon any. (50-59)
under the breeze
are never corrupted, nor does the flame ever There neither hail nor frost falls to the earth,
harm them— nor windy cloud; no waters tumble down
as it was before the change of the world there,
occurred. troubled by the breeze, but there streams of
When the majesty of the water, the sea-flood water,
covered wondrously intricate, springs forth in wells,
all of middle-earth of old, the circle of the in fair surgings of flood. The ground is
world slaked
so that noble plain, altogether perfect, stood with winsome waters from the midst of the
steadfast woods.
Then every month from the turves of the

78

earth There that lone-dweller observes that land,
they break forth sea-cold, cross every grove, brave-minded of bearing. Death shall never
gloriously at times. That is the order of the harm him
Lord: in that desired land, so long as the world
that twelve times a year that majestic land remains.
overflows with the delights of watery floods. He must behold the course of the sun
(60-70) and come toward God’s candle,
the gem of gladness, eagerly attending it,
There are groves hanging with blossoms, when up comes the most noble of stars
fair fruits which never fade there — over the waved sea, gleaming from the east,
holy beneath the heavens, treasures of the the Father’s olden work dazzling with
forest. jewels,
The flowers never fall fallow to the ground the bright token of God. The stars are
there hidden,
from the lovely wood-beams, but there departed beneath the waves towards the
wondrously west,
the boughs in the trees are always bearing obscured in the daybreak and the dark night
fruit again— descends dusky. Then the strong-winged
at every season the brightest bowers stand bird
on the green grassy plain, joyously adorned proud in its wandering, in the mountain
with power of the Holy One. The form of stream
the forest under the sky, eagerly makes witness over
is never broken. There a sacred odor abides the water
throughout that delightful land. It will never when the light of the heavens comes up from
be changed the east
ever forever, not before the Wise One who gliding over the broad expanse of the sea.
shaped it (85-103)
at its origin finishes his ancient work. (71-
84) So the noble and beauty-fast bird dwells
by the welling streams at the fountain-head,
II. where he, glory-blessed, bathes himself in
that brook
That wood is watched over by a wondrously twelve times before the coming of that
fair beacon
fowl, strong of feathers, which is called the the sky’s candle, and always as often
Phoenix. from that delightful surging spring

79

the sea-cold water preserves him with every and more fair than all other powers of
bath. singing
Afterwards the high-minded bird heaves and more winsome than every other melody.
himself Nor can trumpets or horns exceed its
onto a lofty tree after his swim-play, beauty—
and from there he can most easily behold not the strain of harps nor the voice of men
the journey on the east-ways, when the taper in any way on earth, not organs, not the
of the skies strains of melody
sparkles clearly over the churning waves, nor the feathers of the swan nor any joyful
the light’s beam. (104-16a) thing
that the Lord made to cheer men in this
These lands are adorned, the world miserable world. (125-39)
beautified,
after the gem of glory illumines the ground So he sings and entunes, blissful and joyous
over the ocean’s course throughout middle- until the sun is rested in the southern sky.
earth, Then he falls quiet and pays heed, lifting
the most famous of the stars. At once, as the his brave head, wise of thoughts, shaking
high sun his flight-swift feathers thrice—the bird is
overtops the salty streams, so the pale grey silent.
bird Always he measures the hours twelve times
turns from his tree, bright from the bowers, by day and night. So they are ordained
venturing by wing a swift flight on the by this denizen of the grove, so that he
breeze, might brook them there, the field at his
keening and trilling towards the heavens. favor,
(116b-24) and enjoy their wealth, their life and their
bliss,
Then the voice of the bird will be so fair, the the ornaments of the land until he,
breast-hold warden of the wooded copse knows
so inspired, exultant in many joys— one thousand winters of this life. (140-52)
wonderfully weaving his bright song with
song-craft, Then the old bird, grey of feathers will be
when the Child of Man, heard under heaven, burdened, aged with years, departing
afterwards the High-King, the Craftsman of the green earth, the joy of fowl, the
Glory, flowering land,
ever founded the world, the heaven and the and then it seeks out a broad realm of
earth. middle-earth,
The sound of that music will be more sweet where no humans dwell, no yard or

80

homeland. dwelling unscathed, so long as the world
There he assumes the rulership foremighty stands. (167b-81)
over the kindred of the birds, exalted among
their kind, III.
and for a space abides with them in the
wastelands. When the wind lies still, the weather will be
Then, strong in flight, he seeks the west, fair and
weighed the holy gem of the heavens will shine so
down by winters, to fly there swiftly by clear,
wings. the clouds shall disperse, the raging waters
The birds throng about around their lord. will stand still,
Each one wishes to be the thane and servant every storm will be calmed under the skies,
of their famous lord, until they must visit the warm weather-candle sparkles from the
the Syrians’ land in the greatest band. (153- south,
67a) giving light to the hosts of men on earth,
then that bird begins to build in the boughs,
There the pure bird hurries away from them to prepare a nest.
abruptly, so that he may take hold of a secret There will be a great need that he be allowed
refuge to turn hastily then
in a woody bower, a deserted place, hidden towards life, to assume a younger spirit
and concealed from many men. There he through the surge of mind.
dwells Then the sweetest herbs are gathered from
and inhabits a tall tree in the forest, fixed by far and near,
the roots winsome and wooded fruits too, all brought
under the roof of heaven. Men call that one to that bird’s abode,
the Phoenix every one with a noble scent, the most
on the earth, from the name of those birds. delightful herbs,
He has granted that tree, the Glory-Mighty which the Glory-King, the Father of Every
King, Beginning,
the Measurer of Mankind, as I have heard, created across the earth as a blessing for the
which is alone of all lofty trees on the earth- kindred of men,
way, sweet under the skies. (182-99a)
blossoming with the brightest. Nor can
anything bitter There that bird bears bright ornaments
injure it with evils, but it is shielded always, within the tree.
There the wild fowl builds his house in the

81

wilderness ashes
over that high tree, lovely and fair, and begin to lock together after the flame’s
dwells there wrack,
himself in that sun-filled room, and contracting into a ball. Then the brightest
surrounds himself without, nest
body and feather in that leafy shade, on will be purified, the brave house burned out
every side by the pyre—the body will grow cool,
with blessed scents and the earth’s most the bone-vessel broken, and the flames die
noble blossoms. down.
He sits there eager for a journey. When the Then in the fire something like an apple
gem of the skies soon is found in the ashes, and from that
in a summer season, hottest with the sun, grows
shines across the shadows a worm, wonderfully fair, as if led forth
and performs its destiny, surveying the out of an egg, glorious from the shell.
world, Then it grows in the shadows, so that it first
then the bird’s house becomes heated by the appears like an eagle’s chick, a fair bird in
glowing sky. the making.
The herbs are warmed, the house of desire Then further still, it flourishes in delight
steams so that it bears something like the form of an
with sweet fragrance, then in flames that old eagle,
bird burns and after that, adorned with feathers such as
through the grip of the fire amid its nest. he was
(199b-215) at the start, blossoming brightly. (222b-
240a)
The pyre will be kindled. Then the torch
engulfs Then his flesh becomes whole, soon made
the life-dreary house, the fierce one hurries, afresh,
the fallow flame feeds upon it and the sundered from his sins—somewhat
Phoenix burns, similarly,
wise with passing years. Then the fire just as a man brings home the fruits of the
consumes earth
the loaned life-house—it shall go traveling, at harvest-time for his sustenance, a joyful
the fated soul-hoard, when flesh and bone meal,
are lighted by the corpse-fire. (216-222a) before the winter comes, in the ripe season,
lest the rain’s shower spoil them under the
Nevertheless the spirit soon comes for him, sky.
renewed after the appointed time, after those

82

There they find a support, the joy of food- the remains of the fire, cunningly collected
taking the moldering bones after the pyre’s cruel
when the frost and snow covers the earth grasp
with its overwhelming power and winter- and then he soon brings together bone and
weeds. cinder,
From those fruits shall the fortunate weal of the remains of the pyre, and then that dead
men corpse
soon be led forth through the nature of grain, is adorned with herbs, fairly ornamented.
whose pure seeds were sown before. Then he soon becomes eager to seek his own
Then the sun’s gleam in the springtime, the home.
sign of life, Then he grasps the fire’s leavings with his
awakens the world’s treasures, so that those feet,
fruits seizing them with his talons, and soon his
are again born by their own nature, the homeland,
adornments of the earth. (240b-57a) his sun-bright abode, he seeks delightfully,
that blessed native country. All is renewed,
So the fowl, aged after its years, renewed in the soul and the feather-home, just as he was
youth, at the start,
becomes clothed in flesh. He eats no food at when first God made him in that noble plain,
all, triumph-fast. (265-82a)
meat on this earth, except the bit of nectar he
tastes, The Phoenix brings his own bones to that
which often falls in the midst of the night. place,
By this means the proud bird feeds his flesh, those that the torch’s surging enwrapped
until he soon seek his own lands, his ancient before
home. (257b-64) by the pyre in that sheltering stead, and the
ashes besides.
IV. Then battle-brave he buries all together,
bone and cinder,
Then the bird, proud in feathers, will grow on that island. He is renewed by the sign of
amidst the herbs. the sun,
His spirit will be new and young, full of when the light of the skies, the gladdest of
grace, gems,
when he gathers his limb-crafty body from joy of noble stars, up over the spear-waves,
the earth, gleams from the east. (282b-90)
that which the flame had destroyed before,

83

That fowl is fair of hue from the front but he is nimble and quick and so light,
flecked with various colors about his breast lovely and delightful, marked out with glory.
before. Eternal is that noble who gives his that
His head is green behind, wondrously varied blessing! (305-19)
and blended with purple. Then is his tail
fairly Then he seeks to go to the plains, his old
colored, some brown, some red, some with home,
black spots, from this native ground. As the fowl flies, it
cunningly covered. Those wings are white at appears
the back, to the people, to many men throughout
and the neck green below and above, and the middle-earth,
beak then they assemble from the south and the
shines like glass or gemstone, his jaws north,
sparkle from east and west, in a band on horseback,
within and without. The nature of his eye is they travel far and near in a host of people
piercing where they behold the gift of the Shaper
and much like the hue of a stone, a merry fair in that fowl, just as he established him at
gem the start,
when it is set into a golden vessel by the the Truth-King of Victories, the best of his
skill of smiths. (290-304) species,
more lovely in adornments than the kindred
About its neck, just like a ring of sunlight, of birds. (320-30)
is set the brightest bracelet of feathers.
Wonderful is the belly beneath, wondrously Then men marvel across the earth at its
fair, beauty and form,
bright and brilliant. His crest overhead reveal it in writing, marking it by hand in
is fitted with ornaments over the bird’s back. marble stone,
His legs are covered with scales, the fallow the day and the season when it was revealed
feet. to the multitude,
The fowl is absolutely unique in its hue, swift-flighted in adornments. Then the
much like the peacock, grown up in joys, kindred of birds
as the book tells us. He is not slothful thronged in crowds on every side, flying in
nor wanton, heavy nor sluggish like some from the far-ways,
birds, praising him in song, glorifying the proud
which slowly flap their wings through the one
breeze, with mighty voices, and so that holy bird is
surrounded

84

by a ring, flying on the breeze. The Phoenix those facts
is in the middle, are wonderful, the lovely and ancient decree
encircled by a throng. The people gaze upon of the bird’s gender.
him, There the blessed one may enjoy his
looking at him in wonder, how that joyous homeland,
band the welling waters within the wooded glade,
worthies the wild one, one throng after the dwelling upon the plain until a thousand
other, winters have run.
proclaiming craftily and adoring him for Then is the end of his life; the pyre will
their king, engulf him
the most loved of chiefs, led among delights, through kindled flame. Yet will it be
the noble to his home, until that solitary bird awakened again
flies away, miraculously and wonderfully back to life.
swift of feathers, so that he cannot be (350-67)
followed by them,
the exultant multitude, when the joy of the Therefore he never fears drooping death,
many the sore killing blow, because he knows that
seeks his homeland from the ground of this life
earth. (331-49) is always renewed after the flame’s wrack,
the soul after its fall, when it is swiftly
V. restored
from the ashes through the bird’s nature,
And so the blessed bird after the hour of his rejuvenated under the sheltering sky.
death He is both his own son and his dear father,
soon revisits his olden home, fairest on and always again heir to the remains of his
earth. life.
The birds return from that warfarer sad- The Mighty Origin of Mankind grants him
minded again that he so wonderfully must become again
to their homes. Then that noble one is young the same that he was before, clothed
in his yard. in feathers, though the fire took him. (368-
God alone knows, the King Almighty, what 80)
sex he is:
whether female or male. None of the kindred So every blessed man himself chooses
of men eternal life
knows that, except the Measurer alone, how after the painful wrack through dark death,
so that he may enjoy the gifts of the Lord
in perpetual bliss after his past days,

85

and abide ever after in deeds of glory as baleful sorrow.
reward. Afterwards their child paid for their sorrow,
The nature of this bird, much like the chosen they who
thanes of Christ in the cities, betokens how accepted that morsel over the word of the
they held bright joy through the father’s help Eternal.
in this dangerous time under the heavens, Therefore they must forsake sad-minded the
and how they secured the highest profit joys of home
for themselves in that heavenly homeland. through the spite of the serpent, when it
(381-92) deceived
closely our forefather in days of old by its
We have learned that the Almighty made guileful heart,
man and woman so that they sought a dwelling far thence
through the fullness of his wonder, and they in the valley of death, a sorrowful home.
were A better life was hidden from them in
then established in that best corner of the shadow,
earth, and that holy plain was closed up fast by the
that the children of men call Paradise-plain, enemy’s wiles
where there was no want of prosperity while for many winters, until the Glory-King, the
the word of the Eternal, his holy Joy of Mankind,
commandment Comforter of the Weary, and our Only Hope
would be kept in the newness of their joy. opened it
There hatred harmed them, the malice of up again for the holy by his coming hither.
their olden-foe, (407-23)
who offered them eat the fruit of the tree,
which they VI.
both ate, with ill counsel over the mercy of
God, This is most like, as learned men say to us
and they tasted the forbidden apple. There wordfully
misery and reveal by writing, the journey of this
became bitter for them after the eating and bird,
for their heirs, when the aged Phoenix forsakes his home
a grievous feast for their sons and daughters. and native seat,
(393-406) and is grown old. He departs weary-hearted,
weighed down by winters, to where he
Their busy teeth were terribly punished after discovers
their guilt.
They held the wrath of God, a bitter and

86

a high shelter in the woods, and in that he There a nest is wrought for them against
builds every malice
with the most noble twigs and herbs a new by their glorious deeds and the champion of
abode, the Lord
a nest in the grove. There is a great desire in when he gives out alms to the wretched,
him deprived of glory,
to be allowed, soul-young once again, to and invokes the Lord, the Father as a
take up fulcrum,
through the blast of fire life after death and and is well employed on forth, and wipes
be renewed, out the iniquities
and then seek out his olden home, his sun- of this loaned life, the dark deeds of evil,
bright land and he holds the law of the Measurer bold in
after the flaming bath. Just so when our his breast,
forefathers, and seeks out his prayers with clean
Adam and Eve our ancestors, forsook that thoughts,
beautiful plain, and bends his knee, noble to the earth, and
the seat of glory, lovely in their tracks, and flies
undertook from every evil, the grim guilts, for terror of
the long journey in the harmer’s hand, where God,
the hater, and yearns glad-minded to perform deeds of
the miserable wretch, often did them injury. the most good.
(424-42) The shield of God shall be theirs in every
journey,
Nevertheless there were many, who obeyed the Warden of Victories, the Will-Giver of
the Measurer Hosts. (451-65a)
under the heavens with holy customs,
glorious deeds, These are the herbs, the fruits of the
so that the Lord, Heaven’s High-King, blossom,
became kindly in his heart which the wild fowl gather under the sky
towards them. That is the high tree in which from far and wide
the blessed to his dwelling-place, where the Phoenix,
now make their abode, where the olden-foe fixed in wonder,
cannot scathe against every malice, constructs his nest.
them a bit with venom, the sign of sin, in So now in that place the champions of the
this terrible time. (443-50) Measurer
perform his pleasures with mind and might,

87

and strive for renown, for which the Eternal experience resurrection, just as the Mighty
Almighty King
wishes to repay them with blessed reward. commanded, the Lord of Angels, with a
A home shall be established from these trumpet’s voice
herbs for them across the broad ground, the Savior of Souls.
in a city of glory as recompense for their Through the Lord’s power dark death will
works, be ended
because they have kept holy precept, hot at for the blessed. Nobly they shall turn,
their heart, thronging in crowds,
welling in their mind, all day and all night, when this sin-working world shall burns in
and they love the Lord, choosing the light shame,
and beloved belief over the worldly wealth. kindled in the pyre. Everyone shall become
They have no joyful hope that they will fearful
live long in this loaned life. (465b-81) in their souls when the fire destroys this
loaned land-wealth,
Thus the blessed man earns in courage the flames consuming all the treasures of
eternal joy earth,
and a heavenly home with the High-King, appled gold gripped greedily, speedily
until the end of the count of days will come, swallowed
when death, a slaughter-greedy warrior, will the adornments of this world. Then in that
seize revelatory hour
armed with many weapons, the lives of the fair and joyous symbol of that bird shall
everyone, come
and into the bosom of the earth swiftly send into the light for all these men, when all that
the captured souls and loaned life-houses, power shall be raised
where they will be covered by loam for a from the tombs, gathering up the bones and
long time the body’s limbs
until the coming of the fire. (482-90) alike, and the spirit of life before the knee of
Christ.
Then many will be led to the moot, the Majestically the King from his high throne
kindred of men— will shine
the Father of Angels, the Truth-King of upon the holy, the beautiful Gem of Glory.
Victories, It would be well for him to be allowed to be
the Lord of Armies will hold council and pleasing to God on that sorrowful day. (491-
judge them 517)
with righteousness. Then all men of earth
shall all

88

VII. shall become merciful unto him. Then the
holy souls
There those life-homes, clean of their sins shall sing, the spirits truthfast, heaving up
shall go their song,
glad-minded, turning their spirits in their the pure and the elect, praising the majesty
bone-vessels, of the King,
when the burning ascends high to the voice after voice, ascending to glory—
heavens. lovely scented amid their good deeds.
Many will be hot, terrifyingly kindled when Then the ghosts of men shall be cleansed,
every one brightly purified by the burning flames.
the truthfast and the sinning, soul with the (518-45)
body,
from the mouldy grave shall seek the glory Let none of the sons of men reckon that I
of the Lord, render
terrified. The flames will be in motion, with false words this song, or write only in
ignited by sin. verse-craft.
There those blessed men shall be, after their Hear the prophecy of the story of Job.
season of exile, By the fruit of the soul he was inspired in his
clothed by their works, their own deeds. breast,
That is what those noble and winsome herbs speaking boldly, worthying in glory, and he
betoken, spoke these words:
that wild fowl among them, his own nest “I do not reject it with the thoughts of my
surrounding him without, heart,
which is suddenly burned by the fire, so that in my nest I choose my death-bed, a
scorched under the sun, life-weary man,
and himself therein, and then after the and depart thence abjected upon a lengthy
flames journey,
life is again taken up renewed. So will be covered by loam, miserable of my former
any one deeds,
of the kindred of men clothed in flesh, in the embrace of earth—and then after
unique death
and revived, who works his own will here through the Lord’s gift, just as the Phoenix
on earth bird
so that the mighty Glory-King at the is allowed to possess life again renewed
judgment after its resurrection, joys with the Lord,
where that beloved throng praised the loved.

89

I cannot wait for the end of this life forever, much like the bird in blessedness with noble
of light and bliss. Though my body must scents,
decay where the lovely and truth-fast sun shines
in its mouldy hall, the pleasure of worms, over the multitude in the city of glory. (570-
yet the God of Hosts after the season of 88)
death
will release my soul and wake it in glory. VIII.
My hope will never be found wanting in my
breast, Then holy Christ, high over its roofs, will
for which I have everlasting delight fixed in shine
the Lord of Angels.” (546-69) upon the sooth-fast souls. Brilliant birds
follow him,
Thus the aged man in his elder-days sang brightly renewed, exultant in bliss in the
wise-minded, gladsome home,
God’s messenger, about his resurrection into selected spirits, eternal forever. There evil
eternal life, cannot
so that we could understand the more do him injury, the stained fiend with
eagerly malicious crimes,
the glory-fixed sign that the bright bird yet there an illuminated host lives forever,
betokens just as that bird the Phoenix, in the peace of
by its burning. The remains of its bones, the Lord,
ashes, and cinders, lovely in glory. The deeds of each one
he gathers together after the fire-lighting, sparkles
afterwards brightly in that blissful home ever in
the bird bears them in his claws to the home concord,
of his Lord, before the face of the Eternal Lord, just like
towards the sun. There they dwell after for the sun.
many winters, There the brightest bracelet, set with
renewed with blossoms, everything wondrous
rejuvenated, precious stones, each one blessed, towering
where nothing can menace them with harm overhead.
in that land. Their heads glisten, covered by majesty.
So now after death through the power of the The wonderful crown of the Prince graces
Lord each one
soul fares together with body, fairly of the sooth-fast, light in their life, where
ornamented,

90

that lengthy joy, with your glory
eternal and forever young, will never up among the angels and upon the earth at
diminish, the same time.
but they will abide in beauty, arrayed in Protect us, Shaper of Beginnings! You are
glory, our Father
with lovely ornaments, by the Father of Almighty in your heights, the Warden of
Angels. (589-610) Heaven!” (611-31)

Nor will there be anything in that place to Thus regale the right-doing, cleansed of
sorrow them their evils,
evil nor poverty nor days of struggle, in the famous city. They proclaim the kingly
burning hunger majesty,
nor severe thirst, misery nor old age. The singing the praises of the Emperor in the
Noble King skies,
shall grant them every good thing. There the the multitude of the truth-fast, for whom
flock of souls alone
shall exalt the Savior and shall celebrate the is their honor perpetual forwards without
power end.
of the Heaven-King, mounting praises to the There was never a start, a beginning of his
Measurer. blessing.
The heavenly host shall sing the greatest of Though he was conceived in childhood here
songs, on earth,
clear about the holy throne of God, blessing in the middle-land, yet the bounty of his
the best power,
and joyous Lord, abounding amid the holy and high over heaven, remains, a glory
angels, unending.
speaking thus in harmonious voices: Though he must suffer the blow of death on
“Peace be to you, true God, and your the rood tree,
wisdom-craft, that terrible torment, by the third day after
and thanks be to you sitting in majesty for his body’s fall
these fresh gifts, he assumed life again through the help of the
each one good! Great strength and Father.
unmatched in power, So the Phoenix signifies, fresh in the fold,
high and holy! The heavens are filled with the might
your fairness, of the God-child, when he rises once more
Father Almighty, majesty of all majesties, from the ashes

91

into the life of lives, equipped with his possess a home of pleasant gladness
limbs. enjoy fruiting days gracious and mild
So the Savior effected us aid, through the see the Lord of Victories with everlasting
parting praise
of his life, life without end, so the bird lades blessed amid the angels. Hallelujah! (667-
his two wings with sweet and pleasant herbs, 77)
with fair earth-fruits, when he becomes
incited. (632-54) Juliana

Those are the words, just as the books say to I.
us,
the speech of the sainted, whose heart will Listen—we have heard of heroes
be kindled deliberating,
to heaven, to the merciful God, into the joy deed-brave men determining what occurred
of joys, in the days
where they bring to their Lord, to their of Maximian, who throughout middle-earth
Measurer, raised up
the wholesome scent of their words and persecution, an infamous king killing
deeds Christian men
as a gift into that famous creation, into that and felling churches—a heathen war-leader
light life. pouring out
May their praises to him be enduring upon the grassy field the sainted blood of the
through this world of worlds, God-praising,
and the fruit of glory, power and honor, the right-performing. His realm was broad,
in the lofty kingdom of heaven. He is by wide and mighty
rights across human nations—very nearly across
the King of middle-earth and the power the enormous earth. (1-10)
majestic,
wound about with glory in that beautiful They traveled among the cities, as he had
city. (655-66) commanded,
the Emperor’s awful thanes. Often they
The author of light has granted us roused strife with perverted acts,
that we may here obtain those that loathed the Lord’s law through
attain with good deeds joy in heaven criminal skill.
that we may in the greatest kingdom Fiend-ship was aroused, heaving up heathen
seek out and occupy in that high seat, idols
live in the delight of light and peace and slaying the holy, breaking the book-

92

crafty and burning the chosen, prepared for him,
terrifying the champions of God with spear a bride unto his home. She firmly set herself
and flame. (11-17) against
that warrior’s love, although he owned
There was a certain wealthy man of noble wealth acquired
kind, within hoard-locks, uncountable jewels upon
a mighty count. He ruled over guard-cities, the earth. (32-44a)
ever defending
that ground and holding hoarded treasure in Condemning it all, Juliana spoke a word
the city of Nicomedia. amongst
Often he eagerly sought an idol, heathen- a multitude of men: “I can say to you that
worship you need not
over the word of God. His name was trouble yourself so greatly. If you adore and
ascribed as Eleusius believe
and he had a great and renowned authority. in the True God and exalt his praise, you
When his mind began to yearn after the would recognize
virgin Juliana the Comfort of Souls and I would
curiosity broke him. She bore in her soul the immediately, without faltering,
holy troth, be prepared to submit to your desire.
eagerly intending that her maidenhood Likewise I say to you,
would be preserved if in fact you confide in an inferior god
for the love of Christ, pure from any sin. through devil-worship,
(18-31) or call to heathen idols, you cannot have me
nor can you compel me to be your wedded
Then was that woman, with the wish of her wife.
father, Never will you, through your violent spite,
betrothed to that wealthy man. He did not prepare so harsh pain of severe torments
fully know the outcome— that you should turn me from these words.”
how she, young in spirit, despised espoused (44b-57)
friendship.
Fear of God was greater in her mind than all Then the nobleman grew swollen with fury,
the riches that rested stained with criminal acts, hearing that
in the possession of that nobleman. Then the woman’s words.
wealthy one, Rough and heart-blind, he ordered then a
that gold-rich man, was eager in his heart for swift messenger
marriage, to fetch the saint’s father to deliberation at
when the woman would most promptly be once.

93

Voices mounted up after they leaned their famous prince, unto your authority for her
spears together, ruination.
these war-great men. They were heathens Sentence her to death, if you deem it
sick in their sins, appropriate,
father-in-law and son-in-law. (58-65) or allow her to live, whatever may be more
pleasing to you.” (78-88)
Then spoke the ward of realms with that
woman’s father Then her father boldly went to speak with
and a dangerous mind, spear-holding: Juliana,
“Your daughter has shown me shame. She resolute and wrath-wretched, swollen with
says to me— rage,
singling me out—that she does not care for where he knew the glad-hearted young
my husband-love woman kept her home.
nor my conjugal ways. These great He spoke then by word: “You are my
difficulties daughter, the dearest
are a disgrace to me in my heart’s ken. and the sweetest in my heart, alone upon the
She quite viciously offers me abuse before earth, the light of my eyes,
these people— Juliana! You have in foolishness taken,
she commanded me to worship an alien god through your idle hostility,
with my wealth, a way contrary to the judgment taken by
—over the other gods that we have known wise men.
before— You renounce too strongly, against your
to praise him wordfully, to extol him in my own advice,
mind, your bridge-groom, who is better than you,
or else I will never possess her.” (66-77) more noble in this world, more wealth-
endowed in moneyed riches.
Then darkened the bold father-in-law after He is good to have as a friend.
these words, Therefore it is worthy that you be the love of
Juliana’s father, unbinding his mind-hoard: this man,
“I swear it by the true gods, as I find favor at his eternal love’s blessing, yet not forsake
their hands, him.” (89-104)
or else, my prince, comfort at yours in wine-
halls, II.
if these words are true, dearest of men,
which you say to me, Then blessed woman gave answer to her
then I will not spare her, but will give her to father,
you,

94

Juliana, who had firmly founded her wifely “I wish to speak a truth to you, so long as I
friendship to God: am of the living,
“Never will I endure this prince’s husband- I will not tell a lie. Never will I fear your
love judgments,
unless he should cultivate the God of Hosts nor are your torturing perils bitter to me,
more eagerly your battle-crash
than he has previously done, loving with by which you with violent evil-doing
gifts threaten me,
him that created the light, heaven and earth nor will you ever cause by your idolatry
and the course of the seas, the orbit of the me to turn from the praise of Christ.” (130-
universe. 9)
He cannot otherwise bring me to his bed.
Eleusius must look with his goods to another Then Affricanus was infuriated, angry and
woman for bride-love—he will have nothing ferocious,
here.” (105-16) maddened and mind-grim, the father against
the daughter.
Then her fiendly father replied to her in Then he ordered her beaten, threatening her
rage— with torment,
and he was not promising her ornaments: troubling her with tortures and spoke this
“I shall make it such, as my life endures, speech:
that if you do not abandon “Exchange your thoughts and convert these
this crime first, if you henceforth attend to words that you spoke
alien gods in folly before when you disparaged the
and abandon those that are dearer to us, who worship of our gods.” (140-6)
stand as succor to our people,
then you shall succumb to death, quickly Unafraid she then gave him answer through
forfeiting your life spiritual thought,
through the clutch of beasts, if you do not Juliana: “Never will you persuade me to
wish to submit to promise tribute
the legal union, the partnership with brave by hypocrisy unto deaf and dumb devil-
Eleusius. idols, the enemies of souls,
Great is that enterprise and terrible too for the worst thanes of torture but I will worship
one like you, the Lord of Glory,
one that despises our lord.” (117-29) of Middle-earth and the Power Majestic—
The blessed then gave him back answer, and to him alone do I entrust all things, that
wise and dear to God, Juliana: he may become

95

my guarantor, my helper and savior against in whose power are all created things
the hell-harmers.” (147-57) forever.” (175-83)

Then Affricanus wrathfully delivered her, Then before the people with an angry mind
the father of that woman, Eleusius spoke
into the power of her enemy, Eleusius. with boast-words, growing quite infuriated,
He ordered her at daybreak to be led unto the folk-owning man,
his judgment seat. and he ordered the woman through spite-
The crowd was astonished at the woman’s wrack to be stretched out
beauty, the people all together. naked and sinless and beaten with scourges.
Then noble Eleusius greeted her at first, her (184-8)
bridegroom,
with soothing words: “My sweetest shine of The battle-warrior then laughed, speaking
sun, Juliana! sarcastically:
What gleam you have! What perpetual “Thus is control of our struggle seized at its
plenitude of grace! start!
What fruit of youth’s kind! If you will serve Yet I will grant you your life, though you
our gods yet first
and betake yourself to their protection so spoke many unwary words and refused too
mild, strongly
the succor of sainted ones, then shall be to adore the true gods. Your reward for your
turned aside from you counter-thinking
innumerable tortures cruelly contrived, must be frightful tortures afterwards, unless
savage sorrows that are you are reconciled
prepared for you if you do not wish to and sacrifice thankworthy gifts unto them—
sacrifice unto our true gods.” (158-74) after your vice-words setting your peace
with them. (189-201a)
Him the noble maid gave answer: “Never
will you constrain me “Let rest this strife Juliana, this hateful civic
with your threats, nor will you prepare infighting.
torments of such great wrath, If you, long after this, through your rashness
that I would love your lord-ship, except if again
you renounce these false beings, follow perversity, then I must be compelled
your idol-worship and recognize wisely the to revenge,
God of Glory, constrained by hatred, your god-breaking—
Creator of Souls, the Measurer of your grievous strife-speech—
Mankind— that you with blasphemy began to contend

96

against the best gods she, sun-bright, should suffer blows, strife
and the most merciful of those that men unstintingly fierce
know, for six hours of the day, and he, her foe,
that these people have long worshipped for ordered her forthwith
themselves.” (201b-8) to be taken down again and he commanded
her be led to prison.
That noble heart unafraid spoke to him: Within her was the praise of Christ fast
“I do not fear your judgments, accursed wound within her heart-lock;
harm-doer, in her mild heart, a strength unbroken. (225-
nor your baleful torments. I have as my hope 35)
Heaven-realm’s Ward, the Mild Protector,
the Wielder of Power, The prison door was bolted closed then by
he who shields me against your shine-play, the work of hammers.
from the grip of the fierce ones whom you The holy woman abode within pledge-fast.
consider your gods. Always she praised
They are lacking of every good, idle, the Glory-King in her heart, Heaven-realm’s
worthless, God, the Savior of Men,
without profit, nor may any man meet with within her constraining cell, covered with
comfort there, darkness.
true concord. Though he may seek The Holy Spirit was her enduring
friendship for himself, companion. (235-42a)
he will not find there help among those
devils. Then came suddenly into the closed hall the
I have affixed my heart in the Lord, enemy of heroes
He who over every power rules wide-lived, skilled in evil. He wore the shape of an
Owner of Glory, of every victory— angel—
That is a True King.” (209-24) a soul’s foe crafty in afflicting songs, a
captive of Hell,
III. who spoke to the sainted one: “Why do you
suffer,
Then it seemed base to the folk-leader to be dearest and most worthy to the Glory-King,
unable our Lord?
to turn the heart of that woman, or her This deemer has prepared the worst tortures
intentions. for you,
He ordered her to be seized by the hair endless pain, if you do not wish, wise-
and heaved up onto a high branch, where minded, to make sacrifice
and propitiate his gods. Be hasty, as he

97