Metrical Epilogue to the Pastoral Care

Verse Early Saxon

ðis is nu se wæterscipe         ðe us wereda god
to frofre gehet         foldbuendum.
He cwæð ðæt he wolde         ðæt on worulde forð
of ðæm innoðum         a libbendu

5

wætru fleowen,         ðe wel on hine
gelifden under lyfte.         Is hit lytel tweo
ðæt ðæs wæterscipes         welsprynge is
on hefonrice,         ðæt is halig gæst.
ðonan hine hlodan         halge and gecorene,

10

siððan hine gierdon         ða ðe gode herdon
ðurh halga bec         hider on eorðan
geond manna mod         missenlice.
Sume hine weriað         on gewitlocan,
wisdomes stream,         welerum gehæftað,

15

ðæt he on unnyt         ut ne tofloweð.
Ac se wæl wunað         on weres breostum
ðurh dryhtnes giefe         diop and stille.
Sume hine lætað         ofer landscare
riðum torinnan;         nis ðæt rædlic ðing,

20

gif swa hlutor wæter,         hlud and undiop,
tofloweð æfter feldum         oð hit to fenne werð.
Ac hladað iow nu drincan,         nu iow dryhten geaf
ðæt iow Gregorius         gegiered hafað
to durum iowrum         dryhtnes welle.

25

Fylle nu his fætels,         se ðe fæstne hider
kylle brohte,         cume eft hræðe.
Gif her ðegna hwelc         ðyrelne kylle
brohte to ðys burnan,         bete hine georne,
ðy læs he forsceade         scirost wætra,

30

oððe him lifes drync         forloren weorðe.