Behold Christ, the ingenious
cross-bearer,
the holy Savior, a homestead gave
when He was, the glory Son,
sin's destroyer, Creator of the
earth,
and there felled Satan's kingdom.
Before the ruin removed joy,
the first Adam, earth's son,
lived healthily, holy father of
mankind
without sin; but he tasted the
fruit—
death of man came, the
living-inheritance died.
Then sent the Lord, the Ruler of
Days,
Preserver with night-piercing sight,
darkness to Adam's kind.
Drove to misery, the Potentate of
Heaven.
All creation wept; joy wrenched
from Adam.
But the Lord sent a beacon
glorious,
a generous gift: Author of Life on
victory-field,
mighty Warrior on beam utterly
crushed Devil;
a blest-with-victory man. That was
a blessed day!
Yet thanes heeded cursed counsel,
turned to evil cursed High Father.
Still God loved, gave light to
souls.
The Second Adam, Almighty Son of
man,
quickened mankind with mercy,
bounteous in benefits; darkness
fled,
thanes received sight— the
Trinity's work!
All mankind sings; earth itself
rejoice;
then was sung triumph's song, song
of the righteous Father,
The Savior with power mankind's sin
cured;
Thus we must now praise the Creator
of Salvation!
- D. Benning
_____________________________________
I was so into Old English (Anglo-Saxon) whilst an undergraduate at UC Davis that I took as many courses in pre-Shakespearean literature as possible and ended up taking several classes in Old English and related literature. I thoroughly loved it. I was even encouraged by my professor to try my hand at writing in Old English and submitting it to an annual contest. (No. Not even an honorable mention for my efforts.) But the above is the translation of the following Old English words. I know that it is correct, having gone back and forth with my professor several times over the wording and the syntax.
Dauides Ymen
Hwæt Crist cræftig rod-bora,
halig Hæland hám-steall geaf
þa he wæs, wuldor-Sunu,
synna sceaða, Scyppend eorþes,
and þar gefylde feondes rices.
Foran fiell geferste wynne,
ærest Adam, eorþes sunu,
gefilde hælig, halige ielda fæder,
butan synne; ac biergode ofet—
mann-cwealm com, cwic-erfe for
eode.
Þa sende Drihten, dæges Rædend,
niht-eáge Nergend, nifol
Adam-cynne.
Fordrif to wan-sceaft Wealdend
heofone.
Weop eal gesceaft; wynne forless
Adam.
Ac Brego sende beacen þrym-fæst,
lac ungieðe. Lyf-fruma on
sige-wang,
Hæle on beame bana forþrycte;
sigor-eadig secge. Þæt wæs sælig
dæg!
Hwæþre hedon þeowas þeostre
ræd,
hweorfon to beale, heah-Fæder
wiergodon.
Þeah God lufende lecht sawolum
geaf.
Se oþere Adam, almihtig byre
rince,
cwycode menn mid mild-heortnesse,
duguþa éstige; dwolman fleah,
Þecgon sihðe þegnas— Þrynesse
weorc.
Eal menn sungon; middangeard
gefeah;
ða wæs sigeleóþ galen, sang
rihtwis-Fæder.
Hæland mid meahte mannes synna
lacnode.
For on sculon nu herigean hæles
Scyppend.
- D. Benning
