The Fates of the Apostles

Old English · Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records · 123 sections

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Hwæt! Ic þysne sang siðgeomor fand
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on seocum sefan, samnode wide
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hu þa æðelingas ellen cyðdon,
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torhte ond tireadige. Twelfe wæron,
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dædum domfæste, dryhtne gecorene,
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leofe on life. Lof wide sprang,
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miht ond mærðo, ofer middangeard,
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þeodnes þegna, þrym unlytel.
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Halgan heape hlyt wisode
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þær hie dryhtnes æ deman sceoldon,
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reccan fore rincum. Sume on Romebyrig,
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frame, fyrdhwate, feorh ofgefon
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þurg Nerones nearwe searwe,
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Petrus ond Paulus. Is se apostolhad
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wide geweorðod ofer werþeoda!
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Swylce Andreas in Achagia
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for Egias aldre geneðde.
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Ne þreodode he fore þrymme ðeodcyninges,
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æniges on eorðan, ac him ece geceas
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langsumre lif, leoht unhwilen,
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syþþan hildeheard, heriges byrhtme,
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æfter guðplegan gealgan þehte.
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Hwæt, we eac gehyrdon be Iohanne
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æglæawe menn æðelo reccan!
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Se manna wæs, mine gefrege,
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þurh cneorisse Criste leofast
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on weres hade, syððan wuldres cyning,
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engla ordfruma, eorðan sohte
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þurh fæmnan hrif, fæder manncynnes.
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He in Effessia ealle þrage
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leode lærde, þanon lifes weg
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siðe gesohte, swegle dreamas,
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beorhtne boldwelan. Næs his broðor læt,
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siðes sæne, ac ðurh sweordes bite
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mid Iudeum Iacob sceolde
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fore Herode ealdre gedælan,
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feorh wið flæsce. Philipus wæs
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mid Asseum, þanon ece lif
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þurh rode cwealm ricene gesohte,
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syððan on galgan in Gearapolim
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ahangen wæs hildecorðre.
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Huru, wide wearð wurd undyrne
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þæt to Indeum aldre gelædde
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beaducræftig beorn, Bartholameus!
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þone heht Astrias in Albano,
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hæðen ond hygeblind, heafde beneotan,
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forþan he ða hæðengild hyran ne wolde,
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wig weorðian. Him wæs wuldres dream,
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lifwela leofra þonne þas leasan godu.
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Swylce Thomas eac þriste geneðde
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on Indea oðre dælas,
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þær manegum wearð mod onlihted,
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hige onhyrded, þurh his halig word.
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Syððan collenferð cyninges broðor
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awehte for weorodum, wundorcræfte,
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þurh dryhtnes miht, þæt he of deaðe aras,
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geong ond guðhwæt, ond him wæs Gad nama,
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ond ða þæm folce feorg gesealde,
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sin æt sæcce. Sweordræs fornam
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þurh hæðene hand, þær se halga gecrang,
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wund for weorudum, þonon wuldres leoht
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sawle gesohte sigores to leane.
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Hwæt, we þæt gehyrdon þurg halige bec,
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þæt mid Sigelwarum soð yppe wearð,
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dryhtlic dom godes! Dæges or onwoc,
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leohtes geleafan, land wæs gefælsod
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þurh Matheus mære lare.
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þone het Irtacus ðurh yrne hyge,
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wælreow cyning, wæpnum aswebban.
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Hyrde we þæt Iacob in Ierusalem
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fore sacerdum swilt þrowode.
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ðurg stenges sweng stiðmod gecrang,
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eadig for æfestum. Hafað nu ece lif
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mid wuldorcining, wiges to leane.
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Næron ða twegen tohtan sæne,
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lindgelaces, land Persea
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sohton siðfrome, Simon ond Thaddeus,
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beornas beadorofe! Him wearð bam samod
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an endedæg. æðele sceoldon
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ðurh wæpenhete weorc þrowigan,
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sigelean secan, ond þone soðan gefean,
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dream æfter deaðe, þa gedæled wearð
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lif wið lice, ond þas lænan gestreon,
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idle æhtwelan, ealle forhogodan.
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ðus ða æðelingas ende gesealdon,
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XII tilmodige. Tir unbræcne
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wegan on gewitte wuldres þegnas.
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Nu ic þonne bidde beorn se ðe lufige
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þysses giddes begang þæt he geomrum me
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þone halgan heap helpe bidde,
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friðes ond fultomes. Hu, ic freonda beþearf
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liðra on lade, þonne ic sceal langne ham,
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eardwic uncuð, ana gesecan,
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lætan me on laste lic, eorðan dæl,
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wælreaf wunigean weormum to hroðre.
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Her mæg findan foreþances gleaw,
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se ðe hine lysteð leoðgiddunga,
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hwa þas fitte fegde. ᛇ þær on ende standeþ,
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eorlas þæs on eorðan brucaþ. Ne moton hie awa ætsomne,
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woruldwunigende; ᚹ sceal gedreosan,

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