Genesis A, B

Old English · Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records · 2,936 sections

900
and þa reafode, swa hit riht ne wæs,
901
beam on bearwe and þa blæda æt."
902
þa nædran sceop nergend usser,
903
frea ælmihtig fagum wyrme
904
wide siðas and þa worde cwæð:
905
"þu scealt wideferhð werig þinum
906
breostum bearm tredan bradre eorðan,
907
faran feðeleas, þenden þe feorh wunað,
908
gast on innan. þu scealt greot etan
909
þine lifdagas. Swa þu laðlice
910
wrohte onstealdest, þe þæt wif feoð,
911
hatað under heofnum and þin heafod tredeð
912
fah mid fotum sinum. þu scealt fiersna sætan
913
tohtan niwre; tuddor bið gemæne
914
incrum orlegnið a þenden standeð
915
woruld under wolcnum. Nu þu wast and canst,
916
lað leodsceaða, hu þu lifian scealt."
917
ða to Euan god yrringa spræc:
918
"Wend þe from wynne! þu scealt wæpnedmen
919
wesan on gewealde, mid weres egsan
920
hearde genearwad, hean þrowian
921
þinra dæda gedwild, deaðes bidan,
922
and þurh wop and heaf on woruld cennan
923
þurh sar micel sunu and dohtor."
924
Abead eac Adame ece drihten,
925
lifes leohtfruma, lað ærende:
926
"þu scealt oðerne eðel secean,
927
wynleasran wic, and on wræc hweorfan
928
nacod niedwædla, neorxnawanges
929
dugeðum bedæled; þe is gedal witod
930
lices and sawle. Hwæt, þu laðlice
931
wrohte onstealdest; forþon þu winnan scealt
932
and on eorðan þe þine andlifne
933
selfa geræcan, wegan swatig hleor,
934
þinne hlaf etan, þenden þu her leofast,
935
oðþæt þe to heortan hearde gripeð
936
adl unliðe þe þu on æple ær
937
selfa forswulge; forþon þu sweltan scealt."
938
Hwæt, we nu gehyrað hwær us hearmstafas
939
wraðe onwocan and woruldyrmðo.
940
Hie þa wuldres weard wædum gyrede,
941
scyppend usser; het heora sceome þeccan
942
frea frumhrægle; het hie from hweorfan
943
neorxnawange on nearore lif.
944
Him on laste beleac liðsa and wynna
945
hihtfulne ham halig engel
946
be frean hæse fyrene sweorde;
947
ne mæg þær inwitfull ænig geferan
948
womscyldig mon, ac se weard hafað
949
miht and strengðo, se þæt mære lif
950
dugeðum deore drihtne healdeð.
951
No hwæðre ælmihtig ealra wolde
952
Adame and Euan arna ofteon,
953
fæder æt frymðe, þeah þe hie him from swice,
954
ac he him to frofre let hwæðere forð wesan
955
hyrstedne hrof halgum tunglum
956
and him grundwelan ginne sealde;
957
het þam sinhiwum sæs and eorðan
958
tuddorteondra teohha gehwilcre
959
to woruldnytte wæstmas fedan.
960
Gesæton þa æfter synne sorgfulre land,
961
eard and eðyl unspedigran
962
fremena gehwilcre þonne se frumstol wæs
963
þe hie æfter dæde of adrifen wurdon.
964
Ongunnon hie þa be godes hæse
965
bearn astrienan, swa him metod bebead.
966
Adames and Euan aforan wæron
967
freolicu twa frumbearn cenned,
968
Cain and Abel. Us cyðað bec,
969
hu þa dædfruman dugeþa stryndon,
970
welan and wiste, willgebroðor.
971
Oðer his to eorðan elnes tilode,
972
se wæs ærboren; oðer æhte heold
973
fæder on fultum, oðþæt forð gewat
974
dægrimes worn. Hie þa drihtne lac
975
begen brohton. Brego engla beseah
976
on Abeles gield eagum sinum,
977
cyning eallwihta, Caines ne wolde
978
tiber sceawian. þæt wæs torn were
979
hefig æt heortan. Hygewælm asteah
980
beorne on breostum, blatende nið,
981
yrre for æfstum. He þa unræden
982
folmum gefremede, freomæg ofsloh,
983
broðor sinne, and his blod ageat,
984
Cain Abeles. Cwealmdreore swealh
985
þæs middangeard, monnes swate.
986
æfter wælswenge wea wæs aræred,
987
tregena tuddor. Of ðam twige siððan
988
ludon laðwende leng swa swiðor
989
reðe wæstme. Ræhton wide
990
geond werþeoda wrohtes telgan,
991
hrinon hearmtanas hearde and sare
992
drihta bearnum, (doð gieta swa),
993
of þam brad blado bealwa gehwilces
994
sprytan ongunnon. We þæt spell magon,
995
wælgrimme wyrd, wope cwiðan,
996
nales holunge; ac us hearde sceod
997
freolecu fæmne þurh forman gylt
998
þe wið metod æfre men gefremeden,
999
eorðbuende, siððan Adam wearð

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