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Maxims II

Old English · Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records · 66 sections

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   Cyning sceal rice healdan. Ceastra beoð feorran gesyne,

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   orðanc enta geweorc, þa þe on þysse eorðan syndon,

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   wrætlic weallstana geweorc. Wind byð on lyfte swiftust,

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   þunar byð þragum hludast. þrymmas syndan Cristes myccle,

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   wyrd byð swiðost. Winter byð cealdost,

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   lencten hrimigost (he byð lengest ceald),

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   sumor sunwlitegost (swegel byð hatost),

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   hærfest hreðeadegost, hæleðum bringeð

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   geres wæstmas, þa þe him god sendeð.

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    Soð bið switolost, sinc byð deorost,

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    gold gumena gehwam, and gomol snoterost,

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    fyrngearum frod, se þe ær feala gebideð.

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    Weax bið wundrum clibbor. Wolcnu scriðað.

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    Geongne æþeling sceolan gode gesiðas

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    byldan to beaduwe and to beahgife.

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    Ellen sceal on eorle, ecg sceal wið hellme

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    hilde gebidan. Hafuc sceal on glofe

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    wilde gewunian, wulf sceal on bearowe,

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    earm anhaga, eofor sceal on holte,

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    toðmægenes trum. Til sceal on eðle

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    domes wyrcean. Daroð sceal on handa,

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    gar golde fah. Gim sceal on hringe

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    standan steap and geap. Stream sceal on yðum

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    mencgan mereflode. Mæst sceal on ceole,

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    segelgyrd seomian. Sweord sceal on bearme,

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    drihtlic isern. Draca sceal on hlæwe,

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    frod, frætwum wlanc. Fisc sceal on wætere

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    cynren cennan. Cyning sceal on healle

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    beagas dælan. Bera sceal on hæðe,

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    eald and egesfull. Ea of dune sceal

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    flodgræg feran. Fyrd sceal ætsomne,

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    tirfæstra getrum. Treow sceal on eorle,

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    wisdom on were. Wudu sceal on foldan

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    blædum blowan. Beorh sceal on eorþan

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    grene standan. God sceal on heofenum,

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    dæda demend. Duru sceal on healle,

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    rum recedes muð. Rand sceal on scylde,

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    fæst fingra gebeorh. Fugel uppe sceal

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    lacan on lyfte. Leax sceal on wæle

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    mid sceote scriðan. Scur sceal on heofenum,

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    winde geblanden, in þas woruld cuman.

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    þeof sceal gangan þystrum wederum. þyrs sceal on fenne gewunian

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    ana innan lande. Ides sceal dyrne cræfte,

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    fæmne hire freond gesecean, gif heo nelle on folce geþeon

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    þæt hi man beagum gebicge. Brim sceal sealte weallan,

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    lyfthelm and laguflod ymb ealra landa gehwylc,

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    flowan firgenstreamas. Feoh sceal on eorðan

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    tydran and tyman. Tungol sceal on heofenum

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    beorhte scinan, swa him bebead meotud.

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    God sceal wið yfele, geogoð sceal wið yldo,

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    lif sceal wið deaþe, leoht sceal wið þystrum,

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    fyrd wið fyrde, feond wið oðrum,

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    lað wið laþe ymb land sacan,

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    synne stælan. A sceal snotor hycgean

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    ymb þysse worulde gewinn, wearh hangian,

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    fægere ongildan þæt he ær facen dyde

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    manna cynne. Meotod ana wat

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    hwyder seo sawul sceal syððan hweorfan,

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    and ealle þa gastas þe for gode hweorfað

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    æfter deaðdæge, domes bidað

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    on fæder fæðme. Is seo forðgesceaft

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    digol and dyrne; drihten ana wat,

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    nergende fæder. Næni eft cymeð

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    hider under hrofas, þe þæt her for soð

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    mannum secge hwylc sy meotodes gesceaft,

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    sigefolca gesetu, þær he sylfa wunað.

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