The Metrical Preface to Waerferth's Translation of Gregory's Dialogues

Verse Late Saxon

        ...e ðe me rædan ðance,
he in me findan mæg,         gif hine feola lysteð
gastlices lifes         godre biesene,
þæt he ful eaþe mæg         upp gestigan

5

to ðam heofonlican hame,         þar byð a hyht and wyn,
blis on burgum,         þam þe bearn godes
sielfes hiora eagum         geseon motan.
þæt mæg se mon begytan,         se þe his modgeðanc
æltowe byþ,         and þonne þurh his ingehygd

10

to þissa haligra         helpe geliefeð,
ond hiora bisene fulgað,         swa þeos boc sagað.
Me awritan het         Wulfstan bisceop,
þeow and þearfa         þæs þe alne þrym aof,
and eac walden is         wihta gehwelcre,

15

an ece god         eallra gesceafta.
Bideþ þe se bisceop,         se þe ðas boc begeat
þe þu on þinum handum nu         hafast and sceawast,
þæt þu him to þeossum halgum         helpe bidde,
þe heora gemynd her on         gemearcude siendon,

20

and þæt him god ællmihtig        
forgyu... þa gyltas         þe he geo worhte,
and eac resðe mid him,         se ðe ah ealles rices geweald,
and eac swa his beahgifan,         þe him ðas bysene forgeaf,
þæt is se selesða         sinces brytta,

25

ælfryd mid Englum,         ealra cyninga
þara þe he sið oððe ær fore         secgan hyrde,
oððe he iorðcyninga ær         ænigne gefrugne.