Judith

Verse Indeterminate Saxon

        tweode
gifena in ðys ginnan grunde.         Heo ðar ða gearwe funde
mundbyrd æt ðam mæran þeodne,         þa heo ahte mæste þearfe,
hyldo þæs hehstan deman,         þæt he hie wið þæs hehstan brogan

5

gefriðode, frymða waldend.         Hyre ðæs fæder on roderum
torhtmod tiðe gefremede,         þe heo ahte trumne geleafan
a to ðam ælmihtigan.         Gefrægen ic ða Holofernus
winhatan wyrcean georne         ond eallum wundrum þrymlic
girwan up swæsendo.         To ðam het se gumena baldor

10

ealle ða yldestan ðegnas;         hie ðæt ofstum miclum
ræfndon, rondwiggende,         comon to ðam rican þeodne
feran, folces ræswan.         þæt wæs þy feorðan dogore
þæs ðe Iudith hyne,         gleaw on geðonce,
ides ælfscinu,         ærest gesohte.

15

Hie ða to ðam symle         sittan eodon,
wlance to wingedrince,         ealle his weagesiðas,
bealde byrnwiggende.         þær wæron bollan steape
boren æfter bencum gelome,         swylce eac bunan ond orcas
fulle fletsittendum;         hie þæt fæge þegon,

20

rofe rondwiggende,         þeah ðæs se rica ne wende,
egesful eorla dryhten.         ða wearð Holofernus,
goldwine gumena,         on gytesalum,
hloh ond hlydde,         hlynede ond dynede,
þæt mihten fira bearn         feorran gehyran

25

hu se stiðmoda         styrmde ond gylede,
modig ond medugal,         manode geneahhe
bencsittende         þæt hi gebærdon wel.
Swa se inwidda         ofer ealne dæg
dryhtguman sine         drencte mid wine,

30

swiðmod sinces brytta,         oðþæt hie on swiman lagon,
oferdrencte his duguðe ealle,         swylce hie wæron deaðe geslegene,
agotene goda gehwylces.         Swa het se gumena aldor
fylgan fletsittendum,         oðþæt fira bearnum
nealæhte niht seo þystre.         Het ða niða geblonden

35

þa eadigan mægð         ofstum fetigan
to his bedreste         beagum gehlæste,
hringum gehrodene.         Hie hraðe fremedon,
anbyhtscealcas,         swa him heora ealdor bebead,
byrnwigena brego,         bearhtme stopon

40

to ðam gysterne,         þær hie Iudithðe
fundon ferhðgleawe,         ond ða fromlice
lindwiggende         lædan ongunnon
þa torhtan mægð         to træfe þam hean,
þær se rica hyne         reste on symbel

45

nihtes inne,         nergende lað,
Holofernus.         þær wæs eallgylden
fleohnet fæger         ymbe þæs folctogan
bed ahongen,         þæt se bealofulla
mihte wlitan þurh,         wigena baldor,

50

on æghwylcne         þe ðær inne com
hæleða bearna,         ond on hyne nænig
monna cynnes,         nymðe se modiga hwæne
niðe rofra         him þe near hete
rinca to rune gegangan.         Hie ða on reste gebrohton

55

snude ða snoteran idese;         eodon ða stercedferhðe,
hæleð heora hearran cyðan         þæt wæs seo halige meowle
gebroht on his burgetelde.         þa wearð se brema on mode
bliðe, burga ealdor,         þohte ða beorhtan idese
mid widle ond mid womme besmitan.         Ne wolde þæt wuldres dema

60

geðafian, þrymmes hyrde,         ac he him þæs ðinges gestyrde,
dryhten, dugeða waldend.         Gewat ða se deofulcunda,
galferhð gumena ðreate        
bealofull his beddes neosan,         þær he sceolde his blæd forleosan
ædre binnan anre nihte;         hæfde ða his ende gebidenne

65

on eorðan unswæslicne,         swylcne he ær æfter worhte,
þearlmod ðeoden gumena,         þenden he on ðysse worulde
wunode under wolcna hrofe.         Gefeol ða wine swa druncen
se rica on his reste middan,         swa he nyste ræda nanne
on gewitlocan.         Wiggend stopon

70

ut of ðam inne         ofstum miclum,
weras winsade,         þe ðone wærlogan,
laðne leodhatan,         læddon to bedde
nehstan siðe.         þa wæs nergendes
þeowen þrymful,         þearle gemyndig

75

hu heo þone atolan         eaðost mihte
ealdre benæman         ær se unsyfra,
womfull, onwoce.         Genam ða wundenlocc
scyppendes mægð         scearpne mece,
scurum heardne,         ond of sceaðe abræd

80

swiðran folme;         ongan ða swegles weard
be naman nemnan,         nergend ealra
woruldbuendra,         ond þæt word acwæð:
"Ic ðe, frymða god         ond frofre gæst,
bearn alwaldan,         biddan wylle

85

miltse þinre         me þearfendre,
ðrynesse ðrym.         þearle ys me nu ða
heorte onhæted         ond hige geomor,
swyðe mid sorgum gedrefed.         Forgif me, swegles ealdor,
sigor ond soðne geleafan,         þæt ic mid þys sweorde mote

90

geheawan þysne morðres bryttan;         geunne me minra gesynta,
þearlmod þeoden gumena.         Nahte ic þinre næfre
miltse þon maran þearfe.         Gewrec nu, mihtig dryhten,
torhtmod tires brytta,         þæt me ys þus torne on mode,
hate on hreðre minum."         Hi ða se hehsta dema

95

ædre mid elne onbryrde,         swa he deð anra gehwylcne
herbuendra         þe hyne him to helpe seceð
mid ræde ond mid rihte geleafan.         þa wearð hyre rume on mode,
haligre hyht geniwod;         genam ða þone hæðenan mannan
fæste be feaxe sinum,         teah hyne folmum wið hyre weard

100

bysmerlice,         ond þone bealofullan
listum alede,         laðne mannan,
swa heo ðæs unlædan         eaðost mihte
wel gewealdan.         Sloh ða wundenlocc
þone feondsceaðan         fagum mece,

105

heteþoncolne,         þæt heo healfne forcearf
þone sweoran him,         þæt he on swiman læg,
druncen ond dolhwund.         Næs ða dead þa gyt,
ealles orsawle;         sloh ða eornoste
ides ellenrof         oðre siðe

110

þone hæðenan hund,         þæt him þæt heafod wand
forð on ða flore.         Læg se fula leap
gesne beæftan,         gæst ellor hwearf
under neowelne næs         ond ðær genyðerad wæs,
susle gesæled         syððan æfre,

115

wyrmum bewunden,         witum gebunden,
hearde gehæfted         in hellebryne
æfter hinsiðe.         Ne ðearf he hopian no,
þystrum forðylmed,         þæt he ðonan mote
of ðam wyrmsele,         ac ðær wunian sceal

120

awa to aldre         butan ende forð
in ðam heolstran ham,         hyhtwynna leas.
Hæfde ða gefohten         foremærne blæd
Iudith æt guðe,         swa hyre god uðe,
swegles ealdor,         þe hyre sigores onleah.

125

þa seo snotere mægð         snude gebrohte
þæs herewæðan         heafod swa blodig
on ðam fætelse         þe hyre foregenga,
blachleor ides,         hyra begea nest,
ðeawum geðungen,         þyder on lædde,

130

ond hit þa swa heolfrig         hyre on hond ageaf,
higeðoncolre,         ham to berenne,
Iudith gingran sinre.         Eodon ða gegnum þanonne
þa idesa ba         ellenþriste,
oðþæt hie becomon,         collenferhðe,

135

eadhreðige mægð,         ut of ðam herige,
þæt hie sweotollice         geseon mihten
þære wlitegan byrig         weallas blican,
Bethuliam.         Hie ða beahhrodene
feðelaste         forð onettan,

140

oð hie glædmode         gegan hæfdon
to ðam wealgate.         Wiggend sæton,
weras wæccende         wearde heoldon
in ðam fæstenne,         swa ðam folce ær
geomormodum         Iudith bebead,

145

searoðoncol mægð,         þa heo on sið gewat,
ides ellenrof.         Wæs ða eft cumen
leof to leodum,         ond ða lungre het
gleawhydig wif         gumena sumne
of ðære ginnan byrig         hyre togeanes gan,

150

ond hi ofostlice         in forlæton
þurh ðæs wealles geat,         ond þæt word acwæð
to ðam sigefolce:         "Ic eow secgan mæg
þoncwyrðe þing,         þæt ge ne þyrfen leng
murnan on mode.         Eow ys metod bliðe,

155

cyninga wuldor;         þæt gecyðed wearð
geond woruld wide,         þæt eow ys wuldorblæd
torhtlic toweard         ond tir gifeðe
þara læðða         þe ge lange drugon."
þa wurdon bliðe         burhsittende,

160

syððan hi gehyrdon         hu seo halige spræc
ofer heanne weall.         Here wæs on lustum.
Wið þæs fæstengeates         folc onette,
weras wif somod,         wornum ond heapum,
ðreatum ond ðrymmum         þrungon ond urnon

165

ongean ða þeodnes mægð         þusendmælum,
ealde ge geonge.         æghwylcum wearð
men on ðære medobyrig         mod areted,
syððan hie ongeaton         þæt wæs Iudith cumen
eft to eðle,         ond ða ofostlice

170

hie mid eaðmedum         in forleton.
þa seo gleawe het,         golde gefrætewod,
hyre ðinenne         þancolmode
þæs herewæðan         heafod onwriðan
ond hyt to behðe         blodig ætywan

175

þam burhleodum,         hu hyre æt beaduwe gespeow.
Spræc ða seo æðele         to eallum þam folce:
"Her ge magon sweotole,         sigerofe hæleð,
leoda ræswan,         on ðæs laðestan
hæðenes heaðorinces         heafod starian,

180

Holofernus         unlyfigendes,
þe us monna mæst         morðra gefremede,
sarra sorga,         ond þæt swyðor gyt
ycan wolde,         ac him ne uðe god
lengran lifes,         þæt he mid læððum us

185

eglan moste;         ic him ealdor oðþrong
þurh godes fultum.         Nu ic gumena gehwæne
þyssa burgleoda         biddan wylle,
randwiggendra,         þæt ge recene eow
fysan to gefeohte.         Syððan frymða god,

190

arfæst cyning,         eastan sende
leohtne leoman,         berað linde forð,
bord for breostum         ond byrnhomas,
scire helmas         in sceaðena gemong,
fyllan folctogan         fagum sweordum,

195

fæge frumgaras.         Fynd syndon eowere
gedemed to deaðe,         ond ge dom agon,
tir æt tohtan,         swa eow getacnod hafað
mihtig dryhten         þurh mine hand."
þa wearð snelra werod         snude gegearewod,

200

cenra to campe.         Stopon cynerofe
secgas ond gesiðas,         bæron sigeþufas,
foron to gefeohte         forð on gerihte,
hæleð under helmum,         of ðære haligan byrig
on ðæt dægred sylf.         Dynedan scildas,

205

hlude hlummon.         þæs se hlanca gefeah
wulf in walde,         ond se wanna hrefn,
wælgifre fugel.         Wistan begen
þæt him ða þeodguman         þohton tilian
fylle on fægum;         ac him fleah on last

210

earn ætes georn,         urigfeðera,
salowigpada         sang hildeleoð,
hyrnednebba.         Stopon heaðorincas,
beornas to beadowe,         bordum beðeahte,
hwealfum lindum,         þa ðe hwile ær

215

elðeodigra         edwit þoledon,
hæðenra hosp.         Him þæt hearde wearð
æt ðam æscplegan         eallum forgolden,
Assyrium,         syððan Ebreas
under guðfanum         gegan hæfdon

220

to ðam fyrdwicum.         Hie ða fromlice
leton forð fleogan         flana scuras,
hildenædran,         of hornbogan,
strælas stedehearde;         styrmdon hlude
grame guðfrecan,         garas sendon

225

in heardra gemang.         Hæleð wæron yrre,
landbuende,         laðum cynne,
stopon styrnmode,         stercedferhðe,
wrehton unsofte         ealdgeniðlan
medowerige;         mundum brugdon

230

scealcas of sceaðum         scirmæled swyrd,
ecgum gecoste,         slogon eornoste
Assiria         oretmæcgas,
niðhycgende,         nanne ne sparedon
þæs herefolces,         heanne ne ricne,

235

cwicera manna         þe hie ofercuman mihton.
Swa ða magoþegnas         on ða morgentid
ehton elðeoda         ealle þrage,
oðþæt ongeaton         ða ðe grame wæron,
ðæs herefolces         heafodweardas,

240

þæt him swyrdgeswing         swiðlic eowdon
weras Ebrisce.         Hie wordum þæt
þam yldestan         ealdorþegnum
cyðan eodon,         wrehton cumbolwigan
ond him forhtlice         færspel bodedon,

245

medowerigum         morgencollan,
atolne ecgplegan.         þa ic ædre gefrægn
slegefæge hæleð         slæpe tobredon
ond wið þæs bealofullan         burgeteldes
werigferhðe         hwearfum þringan,

250

Holofernus.         Hogedon aninga
hyra hlaforde         hilde bodian,
ærðon ðe him se egesa         on ufan sæte,
mægen Ebrea.         Mynton ealle
þæt se beorna brego         ond seo beorhte mægð

255

in ðam wlitegan træfe         wæron ætsomne,
Iudith seo æðele         ond se galmoda,
egesfull ond afor.         Næs ðeah eorla nan
þe ðone wiggend         aweccan dorste
oððe gecunnian         hu ðone cumbolwigan

260

wið ða halgan mægð         hæfde geworden,
metodes meowlan.         Mægen nealæhte,
folc Ebrea,         fuhton þearle
heardum heoruwæpnum,         hæfte guldon
hyra fyrngeflitu,         fagum swyrdum,

265

ealde æfðoncan;         Assyria wearð
on ðam dægeweorce         dom geswiðrod,
bælc forbiged.         Beornas stodon
ymbe hyra þeodnes træf         þearle gebylde,
sweorcendferhðe.         Hi ða somod ealle

270

ongunnon cohhetan,         cirman hlude
ond gristbitian,         gode orfeorme,
mid toðon torn þoligende.         þa wæs hyra tires æt ende,
eades ond ellendæda.         Hogedon þa eorlas aweccan
hyra winedryhten;         him wiht ne speow.

275

þa wearð sið ond late         sum to ðam arod
þara beadorinca,         þæt he in þæt burgeteld
niðheard neðde,         swa hyne nyd fordraf.
Funde ða on bedde         blacne licgan
his goldgifan         gæstes gesne,

280

lifes belidenne.         He þa lungre gefeoll
freorig to foldan,         ongan his feax teran,
hreoh on mode,         ond his hrægl somod,
ond þæt word acwæð         to ðam wiggendum
þe ðær unrote         ute wæron:

285

"Her ys geswutelod         ure sylfra forwyrd,
toweard getacnod         þæt þære tide ys
mid niðum neah geðrungen,         þe we sculon nyde losian,
somod æt sæcce forweorðan.         Her lið sweorde geheawen,
beheafdod healdend ure."         Hi ða hreowigmode

290

wurpon hyra wæpen of dune,         gewitan him werigferhðe
on fleam sceacan.         Him mon feaht on last,
mægeneacen folc,         oð se mæsta dæl
þæs heriges læg         hilde gesæged
on ðam sigewonge,         sweordum geheawen,

295

wulfum to willan         ond eac wælgifrum
fuglum to frofre.         Flugon ða ðe lyfdon,
laðra lindwerod.         Him on laste for
sweot Ebrea         sigore geweorðod,
dome gedyrsod;         him feng dryhten god

300

fægre on fultum,         frea ælmihtig.
Hi ða fromlice         fagum swyrdum,
hæleð higerofe,         herpað worhton
þurh laðra gemong,         linde heowon,
scildburh scæron.         Sceotend wæron

305

guðe gegremede,         guman Ebrisce;
þegnas on ða tid         þearle gelyste
gargewinnes.         þær on greot gefeoll
se hyhsta dæl         heafodgerimes
Assiria         ealdorduguðe,

310

laðan cynnes.         Lythwon becom
cwicera to cyððe.         Cirdon cynerofe,
wiggend on wiðertrod,         wælscel on innan,
reocende hræw.         Rum wæs to nimanne
londbuendum         on ðam laðestan,

315

hyra ealdfeondum         unlyfigendum
heolfrig herereaf,         hyrsta scyne,
bord ond bradswyrd,         brune helmas,
dyre madmas.         Hæfdon domlice
on ðam folcstede         fynd oferwunnen

320

eðelweardas,         ealdhettende
swyrdum aswefede.         Hie on swaðe reston,
þa ðe him to life         laðost wæron
cwicera cynna.         þa seo cneoris eall,
mægða mærost,         anes monðes fyrst,

325

wlanc, wundenlocc,         wagon ond læddon
to ðære beorhtan byrig,         Bethuliam,
helmas ond hupseax,         hare byrnan,
guðsceorp gumena         golde gefrætewod,
mærra madma         þonne mon ænig

330

asecgan mæge         searoþoncelra;
eal þæt ða ðeodguman         þrymme geeodon,
cene under cumblum         on compwige
þurh Iudithe         gleawe lare,
mægð modigre.         Hi to mede hyre

335

of ðam siðfate         sylfre brohton,
eorlas æscrofe,         Holofernes
sweord ond swatigne helm,         swylce eac side byrnan
gerenode readum golde,         ond eal þæt se rinca baldor
swiðmod sinces ahte         oððe sundoryrfes,

340

beaga ond beorhtra maðma,         hi þæt þære beorhtan idese
ageafon gearoþoncolre.         Ealles ðæs Iudith sægde
wuldor weroda dryhtne,         þe hyre weorðmynde geaf,
mærðe on moldan rice,         swylce eac mede on heofonum,
sigorlean in swegles wuldre,         þæs þe heo ahte soðne geleafan

345

to ðam ælmihtigan;         huru æt þam ende ne tweode
þæs leanes þe heo lange gyrnde.         ðæs sy ðam leofan drihtne
wuldor to widan aldre,         þe gesceop wind ond lyfte,
roderas ond rume grundas,         swylce eac reðe streamas
ond swegles dreamas,         ðurh his sylfes miltse.