Judith University of Oxford CLASP Project nick.white@ell.ox.ac.uk https://clasp.ell.ox.ac.uk/poem/A.4.2 Distributed by the University of Oxford under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License Library of Congress Subject Headings English, Old (ca. 450-1100) Poems Judith
tweode gifena in ðys ginnan grunde heo ðar ða gearwe funde mundbyrd æt ðam mæran ðeodne ða heo ahte mæste ðearfe hyldo ðæs hehstan deman ðæt he hie wið ðæs hehstan brogan gefriðode frymða waldend hyre ðæs fæder on roderum torhtmod tiðe gefremede ðe heo ahte trumne geleafan a to ðam ælmihtigan gefrægen ic ða holofernus winhatan wyrcean georne ond eallum wundrum ðrymlic girwan up swæsendo to ðam het se gumena baldor ealle ða yldestan ðegnas hie ðæt ofstum miclum ræfndon rondwiggende comon to ðam rican ðeodne feran folces ræswan ðæt wæs ðy feorðan dogore ðæs ðe iudith hyne gleaw on geðonce ides ælfscinu ærest gesohte hie ða to ðam symle sittan eodon wlance to wingedrince ealle his weagesiðas bealde byrnwiggende ðær wæron bollan steape boren æfter bencum gelome swylce eac bunan ond orcas fulle fletsittendum hie ðæt fæge ðegon rofe rondwiggende ðeah ðæs se rica ne wende egesful eorla dryhten ða wearð holofernus goldwine gumena on gytesalum hloh ond hlydde hlynede ond dynede ðæt mihten fira bearn feorran gehyran hu se stiðmoda styrmde ond gylede modig ond medugal manode geneahhe bencsittende ðæt hi gebærdon wel swa se inwidda ofer ealne dæg dryhtguman sine drencte mid wine swiðmod sinces brytta oððæt hie on swiman lagon oferdrencte his duguðe ealle swylce hie wæron deaðe geslegene agotene goda gehwylces swa het se gumena aldor fylgan fletsittendum oððæt fira bearnum nealæhte niht seo ðystre het ða niða geblonden ða eadigan mægð ofstum fetigan to his bedreste beagum gehlæste hringum gehrodene hie hraðe fremedon anbyhtscealcas swa him heora ealdor bebead byrnwigena brego bearhtme stopon to ðam gysterne ðær hie iudithðe fundon ferhðgleawe ond ða fromlice lindwiggende lædan ongunnon ða torhtan mægð to træfe ðam hean ðær se rica hyne reste on symbel nihtes inne nergende lað holofernus ðær wæs eallgylden fleohnet fæger ymbe ðæs folctogan bed ahongen ðæt se bealofulla mihte wlitan ðurh wigena baldor on æghwylcne ðe ðær inne com hæleða bearna ond on hyne nænig monna cynnes nymðe se modiga hwæne niðe rofra him ðe near hete rinca to rune gegangan hie ða on reste gebrohton snude ða snoteran idese eodon ða stercedferhðe hæleð heora hearran cyðan ðæt wæs seo halige meowle gebroht on his burgetelde ða wearð se brema on mode bliðe burga ealdor ðohte ða beorhtan idese mid widle ond mid womme besmitan ne wolde ðæt wuldres dema geðafian ðrymmes hyrde ac he him ðæs ðinges gestyrde dryhten dugeða waldend gewat ða se deofulcunda galferhð gumena ðreate bealofull his beddes neosan ðær he sceolde his blæd forleosan ædre binnan anre nihte hæfde ða his ende gebidenne on eorðan unswæslicne swylcne he ær æfter worhte ðearlmod ðeoden gumena ðenden he on ðysse worulde wunode under wolcna hrofe gefeol ða wine swa druncen se rica on his reste middan swa he nyste ræda nanne on gewitlocan wiggend stopon ut of ðam inne ofstum miclum weras winsade ðe ðone wærlogan laðne leodhatan læddon to bedde nehstan siðe ða wæs nergendes ðeowen ðrymful ðearle gemyndig hu heo ðone atolan eaðost mihte ealdre benæman ær se unsyfra womfull onwoce genam ða wundenlocc scyppendes mægð scearpne mece scurum heardne ond of sceaðe abræd swiðran folme ongan ða swegles weard be naman nemnan nergend ealra woruldbuendra ond ðæt word acwæð ic ðe frymða god ond frofre gæst bearn alwaldan biddan wylle miltse ðinre me ðearfendre ðrynesse ðrym ðearle ys me nu-ða heorte onhæted ond hige geomor swyðe mid sorgum gedrefed forgif me swegles ealdor sigor ond soðne geleafan ðæt ic mid ðys sweorde mote geheawan ðysne morðres bryttan geunne me minra gesynta ðearlmod ðeoden gumena nahte ic ðinre næfre miltse ðon maran ðearfe gewrec nu mihtig dryhten torhtmod tires brytta ðæt me ys ðus torne on mode hate on hreðre minum hi ða se hehsta dema ædre mid elne onbryrde swa he deð anra gehwylcne herbuendra ðe hyne him to helpe seceð mid ræde ond mid rihte geleafan ða wearð hyre rume on mode haligre hyht geniwod genam ða ðone hæðenan mannan fæste be feaxe sinum teah hyne folmum wið hyre-weard bysmerlice ond ðone bealofullan listum alede laðne mannan swa heo ðæs unlædan eaðost mihte wel gewealdan sloh ða wundenlocc ðone feondsceaðan fagum mece heteðoncolne ðæt heo healfne forcearf ðone sweoran him ðæt he on swiman læg druncen ond dolhwund næs ða dead ða gyt ealles orsawle sloh ða eornoste ides ellenrof oðre siðe ðone hæðenan hund ðæt him ðæt heafod wand forð on ða flore læg se fula leap gesne beæftan gæst ellor hwearf under neowelne næs ond ðær genyðerad wæs susle gesæled syððan æfre wyrmum bewunden witum gebunden hearde gehæfted in hellebryne æfter hinsiðe ne ðearf he hopian no ðystrum forðylmed ðæt he ðonan mote of ðam wyrmsele ac ðær wunian sceal awa to aldre butan ende forð in ðam heolstran ham hyhtwynna leas hæfde ða gefohten foremærne blæd iudith æt guðe swa hyre god uðe swegles ealdor ðe hyre sigores onleah ða seo snotere mægð snude gebrohte ðæs herewæðan heafod swa blodig on ðam fætelse ðe hyre foregenga blachleor ides hyra begea nest ðeawum geðungen ðyder on lædde ond hit ða swa heolfrig hyre on hond ageaf higeðoncolre ham to berenne iudith gingran sinre eodon ða gegnum ðanonne ða idesa ba ellenðriste oððæt hie becomon collenferhðe eadhreðige mægð ut of ðam herige ðæt hie sweotollice geseon mihten ðære wlitegan byrig weallas blican bethuliam hie ða beahhrodene feðelaste forð onettan oð hie glædmode gegan hæfdon to ðam wealgate wiggend sæton weras wæccende wearde heoldon in ðam fæstenne swa ðam folce ær geomormodum iudith bebead searoðoncol mægð ða heo on sið gewat ides ellenrof wæs ða eft cumen leof to leodum ond ða lungre het gleawhydig wif gumena sumne of ðære ginnan byrig hyre togeanes gan ond hi ofostlice in forlæton ðurh ðæs wealles geat ond ðæt word acwæð to ðam sigefolce ic eow secgan mæg ðoncwyrðe ðing ðæt ge ne ðyrfen leng murnan on mode eow ys metod bliðe cyninga wuldor ðæt gecyðed wearð geond woruld wide ðæt eow ys wuldorblæd torhtlic toweard ond tir gifeðe ðara læðða ðe ge lange drugon ða wurdon bliðe burhsittende syððan hi gehyrdon hu seo halige spræc ofer heanne weall here wæs on lustum wið ðæs fæstengeates folc onette weras wif somod wornum ond heapum ðreatum ond ðrymmum ðrungon ond urnon ongean ða ðeodnes mægð ðusendmælum ealde ge geonge æghwylcum wearð men on ðære medobyrig mod areted syððan hie ongeaton ðæt wæs iudith cumen eft to eðle ond ða ofostlice hie mid eaðmedum in forleton ða seo gleawe het golde gefrætewod hyre ðinenne ðancolmode ðæs herewæðan heafod onwriðan ond hyt to behðe blodig ætywan ðam burhleodum hu hyre æt beaduwe gespeow spræc ða seo æðele to eallum ðam folce her ge magon sweotole sigerofe hæleð leoda ræswan on ðæs laðestan hæðenes heaðorinces heafod starian holofernus unlyfigendes ðe us monna mæst morðra gefremede sarra sorga ond ðæt swyðor gyt ycan wolde ac him ne uðe god lengran lifes ðæt he mid læððum us eglan moste ic him ealdor oððrong ðurh godes fultum nu ic gumena gehwæne ðyssa burgleoda biddan wylle randwiggendra ðæt ge recene eow fysan to gefeohte syððan frymða god arfæst cyning eastan sende leohtne leoman berað linde forð bord for breostum ond byrnhomas scire helmas in sceaðena gemong fyllan folctogan fagum sweordum fæge frumgaras fynd syndon eowere gedemed to deaðe ond ge dom agon tir æt tohtan swa eow getacnod hafað mihtig dryhten ðurh mine hand ða wearð snelra werod snude gegearewod cenra to campe stopon cynerofe secgas ond gesiðas bæron sigeðufas foron to gefeohte forð on gerihte hæleð under helmum of ðære haligan byrig on ðæt dægred sylf dynedan scildas hlude hlummon ðæs se hlanca gefeah wulf in walde ond se wanna hrefn wælgifre fugel wistan begen ðæt him ða ðeodguman ðohton tilian fylle on fægum ac him fleah on last earn ætes georn urigfeðera salowigpada sang hildeleoð hyrnednebba stopon heaðorincas beornas to beadowe bordum beðeahte hwealfum lindum ða ðe hwile ær elðeodigra edwit ðoledon hæðenra hosp him ðæt hearde wearð æt ðam æscplegan eallum forgolden assyrium syððan ebreas under guðfanum gegan hæfdon to ðam fyrdwicum hie ða fromlice leton forð fleogan flana scuras hildenædran of hornbogan strælas stedehearde styrmdon hlude grame guðfrecan garas sendon in heardra gemang hæleð wæron yrre landbuende laðum cynne stopon styrnmode stercedferhðe wrehton unsofte ealdgeniðlan medowerige mundum brugdon scealcas of sceaðum scirmæled swyrd ecgum gecoste slogon eornoste assiria oretmæcgas niðhycgende nanne ne sparedon ðæs herefolces heanne ne ricne cwicera manna ðe hie ofercuman mihton swa ða magoðegnas on ða morgentid ehton elðeoda ealle ðrage oððæt ongeaton ða ðe grame wæron ðæs herefolces heafodweardas ðæt him swyrdgeswing swiðlic eowdon weras ebrisce hie wordum ðæt ðam yldestan ealdorðegnum cyðan eodon wrehton cumbolwigan ond him forhtlice færspel bodedon medowerigum morgencollan atolne ecgplegan ða ic ædre gefrægn slegefæge hæleð slæpe tobredon ond wið ðæs bealofullan burgeteldes werigferhðe hwearfum ðringan holofernus hogedon aninga hyra hlaforde hilde bodian ærðon ðe him se egesa on ufan sæte mægen ebrea mynton ealle ðæt se beorna brego ond seo beorhte mægð in ðam wlitegan træfe wæron ætsomne iudith seo æðele ond se galmoda egesfull ond afor næs ðeah eorla nan ðe ðone wiggend aweccan dorste oððe gecunnian hu ðone cumbolwigan wið ða halgan mægð hæfde geworden metodes meowlan mægen nealæhte folc ebrea fuhton ðearle heardum heoruwæpnum hæfte guldon hyra fyrngeflitu fagum swyrdum ealde æfðoncan assyria wearð on ðam dægeweorce dom geswiðrod bælc forbiged beornas stodon ymbe hyra ðeodnes træf ðearle gebylde sweorcendferhðe hi ða somod ealle ongunnon cohhetan cirman hlude ond gristbitian gode orfeorme mid toðon torn ðoligende ða wæs hyra tires æt ende eades ond ellendæda hogedon ða eorlas aweccan hyra winedryhten him wiht ne speow ða wearð sið ond late sum to ðam arod ðara beadorinca ðæt he in ðæt burgeteld niðheard neðde swa hyne nyd fordraf funde ða on bedde blacne licgan his goldgifan gæstes gesne lifes belidenne he ða lungre gefeoll freorig to foldan ongan his feax teran hreoh on mode ond his hrægl somod ond ðæt word acwæð to ðam wiggendum ðe ðær unrote ute wæron her ys geswutelod ure sylfra forwyrd toweard getacnod ðæt ðære tide ys mid niðum neah geðrungen ðe we sculon nyde losian somod æt sæcce forweorðan her lið sweorde geheawen beheafdod healdend ure hi ða hreowigmode wurpon hyra wæpen of dune gewitan him werigferhðe on fleam sceacan him mon feaht on last mægeneacen folc oð se mæsta dæl ðæs heriges læg hilde gesæged on ðam sigewonge sweordum geheawen wulfum to willan ond eac wælgifrum fuglum to frofre flugon ða ðe lyfdon laðra lindwerod him on laste for sweot ebrea sigore geweorðod dome gedyrsod him feng dryhten god fægre on fultum frea ælmihtig hi ða fromlice fagum swyrdum hæleð higerofe herpað worhton ðurh laðra gemong linde heowon scildburh scæron sceotend wæron guðe gegremede guman ebrisce ðegnas on ða tid ðearle gelyste gargewinnes ðær on greot gefeoll se hyhsta dæl heafodgerimes assiria ealdorduguðe laðan cynnes lythwon becom cwicera to cyððe cirdon cynerofe wiggend on wiðertrod wælscel on innan reocende hræw rum wæs to nimanne londbuendum on ðam laðestan hyra ealdfeondum unlyfigendum heolfrig herereaf hyrsta scyne bord ond bradswyrd brune helmas dyre madmas hæfdon domlice on ðam folcstede fynd oferwunnen eðelweardas ealdhettende swyrdum aswefede hie on swaðe reston ða ðe him to life laðost wæron cwicera cynna ða seo cneoris eall mægða mærost anes monðes fyrst wlanc wundenlocc wagon ond læddon to ðære beorhtan byrig bethuliam helmas ond hupseax hare byrnan guðsceorp gumena golde gefrætewod mærra madma ðonne mon ænig asecgan mæge searoðoncelra eal ðæt ða ðeodguman ðrymme geeodon cene under cumblum on compwige ðurh iudithe gleawe lare mægð modigre hi to mede hyre of ðam siðfate sylfre brohton eorlas æscrofe holofernes sweord ond swatigne helm swylce eac side byrnan gerenode readum golde ond eal ðæt se rinca baldor swiðmod sinces ahte oððe sundoryrfes beaga ond beorhtra maðma hi ðæt ðære beorhtan idese ageafon gearoðoncolre ealles ðæs iudith sægde wuldor weroda dryhtne ðe hyre weorðmynde geaf mærðe on moldan rice swylce eac mede on heofonum sigorlean in swegles wuldre ðæs ðe heo ahte soðne geleafan to ðam ælmihtigan huru æt ðam ende ne tweode ðæs leanes ðe heo lange gyrnde ðæs sy ðam leofan drihtne wuldor to widan aldre ðe gesceop wind ond lyfte roderas ond rume grundas swylce eac reðe streamas ond swegles dreamas ðurh his sylfes miltse